The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for April 6, 2017
Active Influence: Gerda/Page of Coins
Rune: Ear/Grave
Hidden Influence: Jord/Queen of Coins

Today is all about practical matters—work, money, home, health, and material goods. With two strong females in the cards, expect to deal with the effects of these things (or the lack of them) on your emotional well-being. Today you must take care of yourself physically so you can deal with your emotions.

You have plenty to do, and today is the day. Let go of what isn’t helpful, and focus on the what is truly important. The perfect is the enemy of the done; decide what balance you can live with so you complete your work before the end of the day. Finish what you start, so tomorrow will be less complicated.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for April 5, 2017
Active Influence: Bestla/Ten of Coins
Rune: Erda/Earth
Hidden Influence: Asvid/Hierophant

Whatever is on today’s agenda, you are more than equal to the tasks and challenges—as well as the joys. Bestla, the Mother of Odin, and thus the Mother of the Aesir, is shown with Her throne marked with Berkana, Nauthiz, and Perthro. She encourages you to take the chance on growth, on new opportunities, to help you find what you need. Bestla tells you that you have skills and resources, so now is the time to act.

Erda, the Earth Mother, reinforces the message of mothering—that is, take care of yourself. Whatever is going on, no matter how busy you are, you need to take the time to eat properly, drink plenty of water, and nurture your body and soul.

Asvid brings in the esoteric wisdom and personal knowledge you need today. He also brings a message of caution to accompany the Perthro on Bestla’s throne—take reasoned chances, not wild ones. Partial progress is better than a setback.

Be wise in all ways, and take prompt action when the opportunity arises.

A Strange New Cottage In Berkeley
~ Alan Ginsberg

All afternoon cutting bramble blackberries off a tottering
brown fence
under a low branch with its rotten old apricots miscellaneous
under the leaves,
fixing the drip in the intricate gut machinery of a new toilet;
found a good coffee pot in the vines by the porch, rolled a
big tire out of the scarlet bushes, hid my marijuana;
wet the flowers, playing the sunlit water each to each,
returning for godly extra drops for the stringbeans and daisies;
three times walked round the grass and sighed absently:
my reward, when the garden fed me its plums from the
form of a small tree in the corner,
an angel thoughtful of my stomach, and my dry and love-
lorn tongue.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for April 4, 2017
Active Influence: Hela/Death
Rune: Inguz/Fertility
Hidden Influence: Jarnsaxa/Queen of Swords

Hela is here to tell you that, whatever is over, it really is over. Freyr (in Inguz) brings the creativity to celebrate your rebirth, and Jarnsaxa is here to keep you focused on taking action and moving forward. A lot is going on, and there is much to be done; do it with joyful awareness of your new goals and dreams, and focus solely on what is ahead. The past is dead and gone; the future lies before you, bright and shining.

The South
~ Wang Chen
Translated from Chinese by Arthur Waley
(I was unable to find a web page referencing Wang Chen. If you know of one, please enlighten me!)

In the southern land many birds sing;
Of towns and cities half are unwalled.
The country markets are thronged by wild tribes;
The mountain-villages bear river-names.
Poisonous mists rise from the damp sands;
Strange fires gleam through the night-rain.
And none passes but the lonely seeker of pearls
Year by year on his way to the South Sea.