Tünzale Memmedzade, a painter in Azerbaijan, has created a beautiful work of art that is also an amazing act of devotion.

For three years, she patiently painted the words of the Quran onto silk panels.

Tünzale Memmedzade, Nov. 2016. (AA Photo)

From the Daily Sabah article: “Memmedzade, a 33-year-old artist, used 50 meters of transparent black silk, and 1,500 milliliters of gold and silver inks in the project, which has taken three years to complete.”

Ms. Memmedzade, thank you for your example and inspiration to us all.

Today’s poem has a bit of humor, and also an important question.

Troubles with the Soul at Morning Calisthenics
~ Anna Swir
Translated from Polish by Czeslaw Milosz and Leonard Nathan

Lying down I lift my legs,
my soul by mistake jumps into my legs.
This is not convenient for her,
besides, she must branch,
for the legs are two.

When I stand on my head
my soul sinks down to my head.
She is then in her place.

But how long can you stand on your head,
especially if you do not know
how to stand on your head.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for November 27, 2016:
Active Influence: Bestla/Ten of Coins
Rune: Gebo/Gift
Hidden Influence: Loki/The Magician

This is the second time this week Bestla has appeared, and the third time Gebo has turned up. Material matters are on your mind, and perhaps too much on your mind.

Bestla reminds you that you have what you need, even if you don’t realize it. Is there a Bestla figure in your life you could speak with to help you find some perspective? Or is it your turn to provide that role to someone, paying forward what someone has done for you on a prior occasion?

Gebo once again connects a Major Arcana card and a Minor Arcana card, reminding you to balance the practical and spiritual. Your practical work permits you to take space and time to do spiritual work; your spiritual work gives you the tools to return to your practical work with new energy and enthusiasm. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and render unto your Gods that which belongs to Them.

I’m amused by Loki as the Hidden Influence, because He is so often the star of the show, rather than running things from backstage. Loki brings you a creative jump start (or maybe a kick to get you out of your chair), new ideas (perhaps far-fetched, but within them is a kernel of a workable idea—talk it over with Him to refine it to something you can do), and the enthusiasm that accompanies a new project.

It’s your job to sort through His suggestions (maybe selling saunas in Hawaii isn’t quite the idea yo want to pursue), and to take the idea and do something with it. The Magician has all the tools of creation—but they remain disparate elements and mere symbols until they are combined through effort to create something new.

In the Middle of the Road
~ Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Translated from Portuguese by Elizabeth Bishop

In the middle of the road there was a stone
there was a stone in the middle of the road
there was a stone
in the middle of the road there was a stone.

Never should I forget this event
in the life of my fatigued retinas.
Never should I forget that in the middle of the road
there was a stone
there was a stone in the middle of the road
in the middle of the road there was a stone.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for November 26, 2016:
Active Influence: Nidhogg/Strength
Rune: Os/The God Voice—reversed
Hidden Influence: Narvi & Vali/Ten of Swords

Yesterday’s energies of patience, perseverance, and small actions continue. It’s a mess, and you have to deal with it. Nidhogg’s message of strength is reassuring, because She requires that you engage in clean-up work, whether on the external or internal level (and probably on the internal level, although this would also be a good day to clean out that hall closet that’s so full the door won’t close). The Ten of Swords is a clear message of betrayal and heartbreak, possibly to come, but more likely something in your past that is still unhealed. This is what Nidhogg is strengthening you to face. However ghastly it was, and however painful it still is, you must begin to heal it, or it will continue to haunt you. Seek professional help if necessary—a healer, a Priestess/Priest, a licensed psychotherapist, a support group.

In contrast to Bestla as the Mother of Gods, calm and powerful, today Sigyn is the Mourning Mother, powerless and abused. She encourages you to acknowledge the truth of what happened, and to allow yourself to mourn. You cannot fully heal until you fully acknowledge the loss and pain, and mourn what was taken from you.

Os recurs from yesterday, but reversed this time. Associated with both Loki and Odin (among others), its reversed position reflects Odin’s betrayal of his blood brother, and Loki’s loss of power resulting from Odin’s actions. Loki is unable to protect His children from harm, or His wife from trauma. Reversed, Os cautions us to think before we speak, and to use our words to guide our actions, and those of others, in a positive direction. If you can’t say something nice, shut up; if your words incite others to destructive action, shut up and go sit in the corner until you work out your issues and can return as a reasonable adult. Do not take your issues out on others, no matter how much you think they “deserve” it. Work on cleaning up your own stuff, and let the Norns handle the other person.

Mind your own business, and proceed with caution in all your interactions today.