If the words unspoken, get stuck in your throat...

I seem to have lost my voice. I had hoped to find it during/with my Mars spagyric project. But I am up to the calcination step, and my part of New Jersey is currently under a red flag/no open burn regulation. Much like my words, this is virtually unheard of in north west New Jersey in the Spring. Writing, difficult under the best of circumstances (my inner editor is very strict) is now almost impossible.

Brief and Late...

...on the Four Powers of the Sphynx thread.

Jasons thoughts on the different depths of reading those powers was very familiar. Last night at our (non-Facebook) Seder it occured to me why. In the Seder there is a part about the 4 Sons, how they ask questions and how those questions should be answered. This also relates to what is known as PARDES, which is an acronym for the different types of interpretation. They are: Pashat, which is the authoritative method, the outward and obvious meaning; Remez, the allegorical or philosophic method; Drash, which is homiletic or Midrashic (story telling to illustrate the point) and finally Sod, the esoteric or mystical method.

And, finally, regarding the Power of Silence; it has been noted by several bloggers that either they have trouble with this one, or that they don't always see the point. Silence is something that I do not have any trouble with. In fact, for me this is the easiest of the four. But, as is the case with so many things that are naturally easy, without care and attention, instead of being a power and a strength, it can become a prison. Discretion and the balancing of strengths, on all levels of reading is of upmost importance to the magician or mystic.

What the hell...

I've posted this link everywhere else...

http://9a4440c5.fb.joyent.us/haggadah/ultraModern2.php

(well, I enjoyed it, and thought to share, that's not wrong, is it?)

Spring Cleaning

The Spring cleaning continues. 2 yahoo groups unsubbed, and in fact 1 yahoo ID scrubbed. Counters and inside the drawers in the kitchen, scrubbing and cleaning is in process. The kitchen is also my workshop and laboratory, as well as the center of all the everyday life giving processes. Having it pristine (well, clean and non cluttered, at any rate) helps everything.

Yesterday, I started work on my Mars tincture. I am working my way through all of the "old" Planetary Powers, the better to internalize and utilize their influences. But Mar is the first one where as I was putting together the herb and the alcohol that it really hit me how much I needed this one. I am using dried ginger root and from the moment I started measuring it out to the time I sealed the jar, I had a sense of drive, of energy, of push, that I don't normally have. And once the jar was sealed and wrapped, I missed that feeling, for the rest of the day.

A year or so ago, when Mars was retrograde, I remember sitting in bed, crying, because I felt that I had "lost my fire." I don't feel that way now. But, oh, to feel the way I felt for that little while yesterday morning! On the other hand, knowing that there are people who feel like that all the time explains alot about the economic and political problems the world is facing. So rather than working to feel that way all the time, I will work on balance, a kinetic balance, perhaps, but balance, none the less.

I have also made arrangements to meet face to face with another person I've been emailing with. Perhaps she might not qualify as an entirely new friend, but having not spent any time with her for the last 30 years, ought to count for something!