HRH, Poet-Cat of Genius

Hello everyone. Her Royal Highness the Cat here once again.

VICTORY IS MINE!!!!!

I'm THRILLED to announce that I am the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of this year's Anti-Valentines Day Contest held by Rawknrobyn over at Life by Chocolate: Robyn Alana Engel's Blog! Yes, my poetic genius has FINALLY been recognized and rewarded!

Rawknrobyn, who is just EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY JADED by online dating and relationships, asked for submissions on the topic "Damned Be the Fairytale."

[Collage art by Rawknrobyn for this year's contest]

My useless human Debra She Who Seeks tried IN VAIN for an HOUR to come up with an entry but FAILED because that NAIVE SENTIMENTAL SAP actually LIKES Valentines Day, can you imagine? So she suggested I try MY paw at coming up with something.

Well, with my VAST experience of the TRUE nature of TOMCATS, it took me like TWO SECONDS to come up with a DEATHLESS POEM OF GENIUS, worthy of the Great Bard WILLIAM SHAKESPURR himself!

                                                  Roses are red,
                                                  Violets are blue,
                                                  Toms pretend to be Super Cat
                                                  But are really Pepe le Pew.

Wow, I amaze EVEN MYSELF sometimes. How could this NOT be the Best Entry??? The majority of Rawknrobyn's DISCERNING READERS (Connaisseurs of Fine Literature ALL) who voted for my poem AGREED that it was the BEST in a fair and democratic vote that was not in ANY way influenced by Russia. NYET! My old pal Mr. Whiskervitch did NOT spread DISINFORMATION or threaten ANYONE, contrary to the FAKE NEWS reported by those Enemies of the People, the LIBERAL MEDIA.

Anyway, my prize package has now ARRIVED! And what was in that lovely kitty cat gift bag, you ask? It was positively STUFFED with CHOCOLATE and other goodies, including Rawknrobyn's original collage art featured above!

Some items were CLEARLY meant for me, THE CHAMPION, like the celebratory BUBBLY BOTTLE filled with champagne-flavoured Jelly Bellies, the U-NO and GOOD NEWS chocolate bars and the cat POST-IT NOTES that warn "Dis better be important." There was no actual MONEY, alas, but the bag DID include a chocolate bar wrapped in a fake $100 American bill (worth $125 in fake Canadian money!)

Rawkynrobyn is SO GENEROUS that she even included some items for my HUMAN -- a couple of RAINBOW Sixlets and a FLAKE chocolate bar, which I'm sure is an EDITORIAL COMMENT (entirely accurate, by the way) on my human's personality. I'll give the Chocolate Cherries and the Sea Side Caramel chocolate bar to my human's RARE ONE, because EVERY year when I was alive she always used to slip me a choice bit of Thanksgiving TURKEY right off the bird. And as they say --

THANK YOU again for this GREAT HONOUR, Rawknrobyn!

My human is NEVER going to hear THE END of this.

Hahahahahahahaha!

Tarot Soul Card -- High Priestess (Number 2)

[Connolly Tarot]

A High Priestess's personal knowledge, understanding and truth always come from within. Men and women who have the High Priestess as their soul card tend to be deeply intuitive. Unlike other people, they easily perceive all the unspoken truths and subtle undercurrents in any given situation. Receptive and empathic, they can often experience other people's feelings as well as their own. This can result in High Priestesses displaying quickly-changing moods and emotions that can surprise other people who are less sensitive.

In a relationship, High Priestesses are independent and self-sufficient, needing neither spouse nor children to feel truly complete or whole. They are motivated primarily by their own feelings and emotions. A certain amount of solitude is necessary for them to process their deep emotions and intuitive natures.

If, however, High Priestesses get lost on their soul journey, they can veer wildly from one extreme to the other. Paradoxically, they can simultaneously appear to be both deep and superficial, flexible and fickle, logical and illogical, warmly sensitive and coolly distant.

There are two other major arcana cards in this constellation which influence a High Priestess's soul path: Justice and Judgement.

[Hanson-Roberts Tarot]

In the lives of many High Priestesses, the influence of the Justice card falls into their Shadow as a hidden factor. Their sense of right and wrong becomes too overdeveloped and, as a result, they can become hypercritical of both themselves and others. The challenge of a High Priestess's soul journey then becomes to learn from this hidden factor. The Shadow can be integrated by taking responsibility for their own lives rather than by blaming circumstances or other people.

But when the influence of the Justice card is positively felt, it causes High Priestesses to be true to themselves above all else. High Priestesses will not tolerate unfairness or imbalance in their life, community or society.

[Easy Tarot]

When the Judgement card falls into a High Priestess's Shadow, it too causes extreme self-criticism but, in addition, also makes the High Priestess feel that others are so much more powerful that change and transformation are impossible. High Priestesses must learn to take action and be responsible for changing their own lives. Bringing truths up from the depths to the surface can be liberating.

When the Judgement card is experienced as a positive influence, it becomes a source of awakening for a High Priestess. Limitations of the past can be overcome and transcended. High Priestesses typically have a number of such epiphanies during their lifetimes. Often the Judgement card will also result in the occurrence of many synchronicities over the years  -- seeming coincidences that are nevertheless heavily imbued with personal, emotional or spiritual significance.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Next Week: the Empress Soul Card

[NOTE: If you haven't yet determined what your Soul Card is and would like to, please go to the introductory post of this series found here, do the calculation and play along!]

So It's Come to This

Now that I'm a lady of leisure enjoying seven day weekends, I'm doing a lot more lying around than I used to. I've come to the realization that I need to build more exercise into my daily routine.

Exercise is not my favourite thing, to put it mildly.

Of course, exercise alone is only half the solution. There's another issue involved. Isn't there always?

Well, I should at least strive for some kind of balance, I guess . . . .

On the other hand, exercise does have one terrible side effect . . . .

Dare I risk it?

Tarot Soul Card -- Magician (Number 1)

[Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot]

People whose soul card is the Magician are skilled communicators. They have analytical minds and think quickly on their feet. They speak well, write well and are very persuasive. Magicians can also be gifted craftspeople, especially with their hands, producing work of exquisite detail and accomplishment. Magicians tend to be self-motivated, focused, strong-willed and individualistic people. Often it is hard for Magicians to work for someone else; they much prefer to be their own boss, if possible.

If Magicians stray from a positive expression of their soul path, they become easily distracted by new ideas. Sometimes they refuse to grow up and take responsibility for their lives, preferring to live for immediate gratification in the moment. If Magicians really get lost in life, they can become glib grifters or con men, silver-tongued fast-talkers who play games and create illusions for their own personal gain.

There are two other major arcana cards in this constellation which influence a Magician's soul path: the Wheel of Fortune and the Sun.

[tarot art by SpaceTurtleStudios]

The Wheel of Fortune turns constantly, bringing both good and bad experiences to everyone's life. Whereas most people are scared of such changing fortunes, Magicians understand the Wheel's nature and are philosophical about its movement. Because of this, Magicians are more likely to gamble and take risks in life. Magicians learn through change. They are flexible and willing to grasp opportunities when other people simply cower in the face of the unknown.

[Tarot de Marseille]

As for the Sun's influence, some Magicians quite literally have sunny personalities. They are cheerful optimists and enthusiastic leaders who enjoy being in the limelight. They love having friends and partners who are equally as interested in the Magician's work and ideas -- someone who can be the Magician's Assistant, so to speak!

However, for other Magicians, the Sun's influence on their soul path can be a hidden factor (or, in Jungian terms, their Shadow). These Magicians lack confidence and keep their many talents hidden. They do not trust others easily and fear that if they show their true selves, others will hurt or punish them. The challenge of these Magicians' soul journey is to bring this hidden factor into the open, to learn to trust themselves and others, to let their true magnificence shine out for all to see. As Jung taught: when the Shadow is integrated, wholeness is achieved and a person will finally live their true life and reach their full potential.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Next Week: the High Priestess Soul Card

[NOTE: If you haven't yet determined what your Soul Card is and would like to, please go to the introductory post of this series found here, do the calculation and play along!]

Time For More Puns!

But first, a necessary disclaimer --

And now, behold the results of my selfless research forays into the depths of history, grammar, science, romance languages and the great works of literature, all in search of the most elusive and greatest puns I could find --

Remember, I do it all for YOU. No, no, please, there is no need to thank me.

You can't fool me -- I know how much you secretly love puns!

'Tis But a Scratch

Who DOESN'T love the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

He's a bona fide CULTURAL ICON now! And the Black Knight always seems to pop up when you LEAST expect him.

Here he is helping everyone to TELL TIME . . . .

Moonlighting as a POPULAR DJ . . . .

Shrugging off a CAR ACCIDENT . . . .

He's even made it to CANADA!

LATE-BREAKING ADDITION!

Many thanks to Pickleope of Strangely Naked for providing a link to this fabulous Black Knight art print by Alexander Wells, which is for sale here! In the background, you can see the French castle where the English knights were so mercilessly taunted and, speaking of merciless, my personal favourite, the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog!

Determining Your Tarot Soul Card

It's been quite awhile since I did any major posts on tarot, so I am starting a new series concerning Tarot Soul Cards!

Just by way of background, I've been reading tarot for 25 years now and have always found it to be interesting and instructive. I subscribe to the Jungian view of tarot as a psychological expression and reflection of our inner self, rather than believing tarot to be some woo-woo manifestation of the Occult.

Similar to the symbol system of astrology, the major arcana cards of the tarot can be used to describe and categorize someone's soul path or soul journey through this world. Every person's Soul Card will fall into one of the following nine types:

1. Magician

2. High Priestess

3. Empress

4. Emperor

5. Hierophant

6. Lovers

7. Chariot

8. Strength

9. Hermit

These Soul Card types are often called "constellations" because each type is made up of one dominant, plus one or two secondary, major arcana cards.

To find which Soul Card is yours, do the following calculation.

First, add up the month, date and year of your birth. For example, let's say your birth date is July 26, 1943:

                                                                  7

                                                                26

                                                            1943

                                                           --------

                                                            1976

Take the resulting sum and then add each digit across: 1 + 9 + 7 + 6 = 23.

If you end up with a double-digit number, again add each digit across: 2 + 3 = 5.

The goal is to reach a single-digit number. Once you reach it, that number is your Tarot Soul Card. In this example, the Soul Card is number 5 -- the Hierophant.

Every week, I will write a post describing one of the Tarot Soul Card constellations in turn. I hope you'll play along, calculate your Soul Card number and enjoy learning about your own constellation when it is posted!

As always, anything about tarot on this blog is just meant as fun and entertainment, rather than as serious advice about how to live your life.

[Note: My reference source for this series is Mary K. Greer, Tarot Constellations: Patterns of Personal Destiny (1987)]

Next Week: the Magician Soul Card