Tabula Mundi Tarot – Page 5 – an inspired Thoth based tarot deck by M.M. Meleen

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 3, TEN OF DISKS – Part II

Decan Virgo 3

This is the Part II update for the third decan of Virgo, just a recollection of observances during the decan. For the introduction to the correspondences, see Virgo decan 3 Part I for the Ten of Disks, known as the Lord of Wealth.

But first – a check-in and info about the Decan Walk process.

I’d like to point out that with the completion of this decan, and the approaching September equinox and Libra decan 1, we are now at the exact halfway point of this Decan Walk process, that began on the March equinox in Aries decan 1. It is a good time to check in, and reflect on the process itself. How is it going for you?

Are you still committed, enjoying the process? If not, it is not too late to switch things up. The next decan is after all about balance.

Crop from the center of the decan wheel diagram from *Tarot Deciphered*

A decan walk is simply a conscious observance of the 36 astrological decans over the period of a continuous year. But it is a commitment to make an agreement with yourself that you will show up somehow for each and every decan, to observe it consciously. You decide how. It could be just reading these posts, but ideally, it also involves some reflection and thought, noticing how it applies to you in your world, or to your understanding of the astrology factors of the decan, or to your understanding of the meanings of the related tarot card. It is meant to, and will, deepen your comprehension of these things. It can provide a Wealth of information.

I have also heard, somewhere, though I cannot remember the source, that doing the decan walk provides a layer of protection from planetary influences, somewhat inuring the decan-walker to their harmful effects. It seems to be so, after having done this in one form or another for many years. I do wonder if the sort of “sunscreen” it provides also blunts the benefic effects, much like actual sunscreen blocks the harmful rays but also the good vitamin D production. Just an observation. Obviously no way to know.

As the Sun moves through each decan, one notes the flavors of the decan and how it changes their experience of time and space.

The possible activities one might perform during the period to deepen the connection are innumerable and personal to the aspirant.

They can include (but certainly are not limited to):

invocations and evocations, or other acts of related magic
the creation of art
writing poetry, or journaling
meditations on the card of the decan, doing pathworking and interacting with the figures
creation of an altar displaying the decan card and related cards, with appropriate offerings to planetary or other deities
lectio divina, or devotional reading
educational reading: the astrology, the deities, and their stories

It is also a serious commitment, to show up for something continuously over an entire year. It can be done as a discipline, or as a devotion, or ideally, it can be both. It is a way of placing yourself on a continuum, orienting yourself as a soul in the fabric of space-time, here as a human being between heaven and earth.

I’ve done this year-long process many times now, in different ways. This particular time around , it means showing up to write the post for each decan Part I, and then observing in my own world what relates to it, and then showing up again to write about that for each decan in Part II. So that involves writing 6 posts per month. That is a lot! For me anyway, who is not a wordsmith type of person. Also while writing a book! Which actually it has turned into several books! About the decans, and the other cards, making it all a sort of holistic writers retreat of sorts. Though it is by no means a retreat, because I do have self-employment and other work to do every day, seven days a week. Life goes on, stuff happens. But the commitment to the decan walk means still showing up.

For the last few years (2020 through 2024 and up until vernal equinox 2025) my decan walk process was mostly taken up by the making of Telos Tarot of 777. One decan walk year it involved making the drawings for the 36 minors during their related decan, and then inking them in a sort of ritual process. Another year it involved painting those inked drawings in color during their respective decan. The other years referenced were about doing the Majors, Aces, and Courts, also tied to the timing of the decans. All that was a huge multi-year, year after year, continuous commitment. I was determined that every single drawing and inking would get done in that 10 day decan period. That every single one would get painted in that subsequeent 10 day decan period. Etc.

10 days is NOT a lot of time to conceive of, and execute a piece of art. Making art, especially art with deeply embedded meanings and correct to a description and correspondences, is a challenge. To do so on such a short timeline is HARD. Life happens! And sometimes life is in the way because it is good, or because it is bad. The fact that I did this for four continuous years, without even once failing to get the art for the related card done in the specific astrologically correct timeline, in spite of life, is to me nothing short of miraculous.

So it can be done. Just commit to showing up for one year, in whatever way you choose, and then stick to it for at least ONE entire CONTINUOUS year. You don’t have to start at the March equinox. You can start anytime, perhaps your solar return, perhaps at this next decan for the September equinox. It is like committing to doing a 40 day mantra practice. With that, the idea is that by doing the mantra daily, without missing a day, for a committed amount of time, the benefits are accrued and then deposited.

If life gets in the way, just begin again until you get that unbroken chain.

THE BOOK! An update

I’d also like to update you on the progress of my new book, or in this case, books. Just some final decisions to make and final tweaking to the formatting! Because of the length, I’m deciding whether to make it one volume or two. Leaning towards one, for convenience and cost issues. Plus an optional workbook…more to say about that below.

At 6×9, the text of the two combined is around 700 pages, which might be unwieldy as one volume, and I don’t want to make it larger than 6×9 for shipping reasons. It is NOT because of a large font or large spacing either. I tried to balance a readable nicely sized font and readable but not excessive spacing for all text. The voluminous tables though, if included, would be a smaller font.

Anyway, still deciding if the two volumes (part 1 and part 2) should be printed together as one fat book or two separate books. It may come down to printing costs as doing two separately would likely cost more. Maybe I can cut some of the text, and do one big book that combines the two volumes.

About the workbook: The tables I made for the decans, will be offered in a separate workbook, that can lay flat, and would be useful that way. It would have the line drawings of the art in a large format, and other useful things for the making of talismans, and for any decan walk experience. The tables contain:

general correspondences:

Approximate dates

Astrology

Modality and Element

Decan degrees Decan ruler

Triplicity ruler

Nakshatras/Manazil(lunar mansions) per 777

Sephira/world

Associated majors

Associated minors

Color(s)

Colors of the associated Majors

Sacred Book of Hermes to Asclepius (SBHA) stone

SBHA plant

SBHA dietary taboo

Body correspondences

Perfume suffumigation

Some materia suggestions

Deity names:

Liber Hermetis name

Egyptian name 777 [Scaliger]

Ancient Egyptian name (Budge)

Greco-Egyptian name (Brugsch, per Gundel)

Aristobulos name (per Gundel)

Testament of Solomon name [Gundel]

Apotelesmatics Greek name (Hephaistio)

Mathêsis Latin name (Firmicus)

Sacred Book of Hermes to Asclepius (Ruelle) name [Gundel]

Angel of the decanate per 777

Goetic demons Day/Night

“36 Airs of the Zodiac” fragment; Kosmas

Ptolemaic Egyptian deity (Kircher; 777)

Decan image descriptions from various traditions, plus some significations and applications:

Magical image of the decan in 777

Picatrix image and significations

Henry Cornelius Agrippa image and significations (Three Books of Occult Philosophy)

Giordano Bruno image (De Umbris Idearum)

Varahamihira Vedic image (Brihat Jataka)

Raphael image and significations

Ibn Ezra image (The Beginning of Wisdom)

Liber Hermetis image

Sacred Book of Hermes to Asclepius (Ruelle) image

36 Faces (Coppock) image

Talismanic applications Arabic Picatrix

Talismanic applications Latin Picatrix

In addition to the pages of tables, the workbook would have things useful for a decan walk process, and for the making of talismans. And it will include the black and white ink drawings from Telos Tarot in a large size, to study, to color, or to use for your own talisman making process.

The workbook, if it happens, will be optional, so if that does not interest you, no need to get it as the book purchase will be separate. Still trying to factor options about the book as in, one two-part book with all tables, or separate volumes, or excluding the tables, and it may come down to what people are interested in, as well as practicalities.

As far as the book goes, Volume 1 is all about the 36 decans, and the 36 related minor cards. It goes into image magic, magical viewing, the making of talismans, invocations, materia, and obscure or original magical practices that I relate to the decans. It has a lot of introductory material introducing the topics, and explains the process of making Telos and the “secrets” embedded in the card back design of Telos. It gives some info on tarot magic, deck consecration, loading a talisman, astrology, decan walks, some unique tarot spreads, proactive magic, etc. For each decan and tarot card, there is a section about the decan image, the correspondences and an explanation of the symbolism in the decan image description, and in the card. It more than likely covers things you may not have even noticed were in the card, or did and did not realize.

That is followed by a section called “Artist Notes” which explains the inspirations and technicalities for each image. Then there is an introduction to several deities related to each decan and how they relate to the decan, and some are definitely obscure ones you probably have never heard of! It also includes unique ancient “predictions” for the life of natives born under the auspices of each decan, from two different sources. That is followed by talismanic applications for each, what they were once used for and might be used for in modern times. There is a section for each on the making of “permanent” or astrologically elected talismans made in permanent materials like metal or stone. Then suggestions for temporary talismans on paper, with ideas. Then a section for eclectic magical practices that I relate to the correspondences of the decan. That is a very diverse and interesting wide-ranging selection of magical, creative/artistic, meditative, or other practices that somehow relate to the energies of the decan. Then if course, how the card shows up in a divination during card readings. The Appendices follow with a bunch of random related stuff, from info on the important fixed stars, divination by the rising decans of the horoscope, an ancient divinatory lottery, and a PGM rite.

Volume 2 is about the Majors, Aces, and Courts, with an additional focus on how they relate and are used in magic, and the timings of their creation. It describes the images themselves, and delineates the reasons for the long and involved Golden Dawn descriptions behind each card that they are based on, and WHY I think the GD included every element of those descriptions. It offers my own unique method for elementally consecrating a deck, separate and more powerful than the one in Volume 1. It introduces the cards as planets, as elements, and as signs, and the differences. It describes the differences between how the elemental majors, zodiacal majors, and planetary majors are used magically.

For each it covers all sorts of correspondences and includes my own Alchemical assignments, beyond the more commonly known ones. It includes magical weapons, planetary epithets known and obscure, the Seven Hermetic Principles, Hermetic titles, zodiacal mottos and purviews of the planet or sign, planetary magical effects, “Artist Notes” on each as described above, and meanings in a reading.

It offers some of my own unique spreads, including one using just the Majors and some very interesting ones with the whole deck. Also how the Aces are used magically, and in a reading. It has a huge and extensive introduction to the court cards, everything from their faces and shadows, rank, elemental considerations, modalities, gunas, etc.

For each court it explains the symbolism of the image, includes the Artist Notes and inspirations, talks about their face decans and shadow decans, and provides an explanation of how they appear “as a person” versus how they appear “as a situation” in a reading. It also has two large chapters on Princesses in esoteric tarot, and their uniqueness and power.

This is followed by a chapter on the various ways of how to choose a significator. Last is a very unique spread of my own containing, well, just about everything in life. Actually, last is the 8 page bibliography, of all the sources referenced, and suggested related reading.

Whew. You can see why it is going to be either one fat two-part book, or two separate volumes, plus a workbook. It is a Wealth of information, on all sorts of things.

Speaking of Wealth, back to the Part II update for the Virgo 3 decan.

Virgo 3 decan Part II update

This decan has been very full, but in a good way. The only hard part is keeping up! With both work and commitments, and keeping up in terms of energy expenditure overall. Out of town friends are visiting, so there has been lots more socializing than usual, fun day trips, good meals, good conversations, time spent together in work and play, etc. Plus a few family members with birthdays approaching, so plans being made for Libra 1 decan. The Virgo 3 decan into is culminating on the actual Equinox as the decan transits to Libra 1, with a party for an extended group of good friends. All in all, I feel great gratitude for having great friends and good health, for self and loved ones. Friends, family, and health for all, plus good times. True Wealth!

Thank you for being here through the decan walk, here at the half-way mark.

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 3, TEN OF DISKS – Part I

That there above is the original line drawing for the Ten of Disks, decan Virgo 3. The Ten of Disks, Wealth, from Telos Tarot of 777. It feels so long ago, even though it was done during this decan in 2021, at least just the drawing and inking. The decan, and the sign, is ruled by Mercury. It is the last of the numeric disk cards, and last minor card of the numeric cards if you are going in order Ace thru Ten of each suit, in elemental or YHVH order of Wands-Cups-Swords-Disks. And it is the exact opposite to the actual last card of the zodiac, Pisces decan 3. So the card has a definite hint of endings and legacies.

Here are some of the decan images. Virgo decan 3 is one of the few that Crowley based on Agrippa’s image (a white woman and deaf OR an old man leaning on a staff) rather than the Picatrix image, as you can see he used the Picatrix image here for Virgo decan 2. I rather like his switch; the old age theme makes sense for the final minor. It aligns with the Bruno and Raphael images too.

Per 777: Cadent decan of Virgo: An old man leaning on a staff and wrapped in a mantle.

Here it is in color, done during this decan in 2023. (2022 I think was spent on the Majors) striking colors on this one. The main color for Virgo decan 3 is Black, rayed with Yellow; plus the colors of the associated Majors.

Colors of the associated Majors

The Hermit: Yellowish Green – Slate Grey – Greenish Grey – Plum
The Magus: Yellow – Purple – Grey – Indigo, rayed Violet

The statue above was the inspiration for this old man leaning on a staff and wrapped in a mantle, as per the description. I think this is a figurine of a Chinese myth, the Divine Fisherman. He is holding a round basket rather than a cornucopia as shown in my image, and the basket is full of fish rather than the ten coins I’ve added. But the figurine almost looks like he is standing on a pile of coins, though that might just be the stylistic effect of the carving. The Chinese character for fish, yu, is a homophone for words meaning “plenty” and “affluence;” thus, fish are symbols of wealth.

The Divine Fisherman casts his line into chaos and darkness to bring forth the creations of the material world. The myth is seen as a metaphor, where the act of fishing represents the cyclical process of the continuous renewal of life. Within the story lies the theme and moral of contentment. The Immortal Fisherman learns that true happiness does not stem from wealth, but from appreciation of more simple blessings in life. His journey reflects the universal truth: that fulfillment comes from within.

A sad truth about this figurine is that I inherited it when I had to clean out a loved one’s house after they died, someone I loved very much, who was still very young but had an old soul. For me it thus echoes the card’s themes of inheritance, legacies, and inevitable mortality. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Here are other takes on the cards:

RWS, Thoth, Tabula Mundi. RWS has the old man, perhaps at his estate with family. Thoth has the ten coins all marked with symbols of Mercury – except for one solar one, symbolizing renewal of a cycle.

Tabula Mundi has the ten coins as a sort of Adam Kadmon figure, based on the cards of the Hermit and the Magus. Here is the black and white version of Tabula Mundi, that I started in 2011 and released in 2015. Yes, I’ve been working with the decans for a long time! Before they became popular.

It shows how I combined the Hermit (Virgo) with the Magus (Mercury ruling the sign and decan) to make the Adam Kadmon figure. The supernal triad at the top of the tree has the Mercurial winged helm, and its two profiles – the three faces of deity. The pentacle the Magus touches with his right hand forms the Geburah disk/sphere, the galaxy he holds in his left hand is on the Chesed disk. The sun and the serpent on each side of his turntable are combined in Hod and Netzach, the Mercury lever on the turntable forms Yesod, and the four trees of life on the front of the turntable are on the Malkuth disk. The yod-flame is at the heart in Tiphareth. The coins are either rising from the earth-vault (crust of earth=Virgo), or sinking into it.

The black and white Nox et Lux version of Tabula Mundi (2011-2015)

The Rosetta, started in 2008 and released in 2011, has the ten coins similarly marked with various but different Mercury symbols, and one solar, like the Thoth version. But all except the Malkuth coin are tied together, as the Chinese coins as a feng shui symbol of wealth. The Malkuth dangles free, ready to drop to the next world.

The deities are Cronus, associated with Saturn, age and endings, and Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home, where true happiness comes from.

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 2, NINE OF DISKS – Part II

The is the Part II update for Virgo decan II – find Part I with the correspondences and other info here.

This has been a pleasant, decan, though quite busy. None of Venus’ languishing about eating bonbons here in Virgo. But there was a very fun wedding (Venus) of some good friends that we went to. I gave them a giant lidded handwoven Amish basket – with a 23.1 pound cabbage hidden inside it, as a joke. And a poem about all the metaphysical virtues and superstitions about cabbage. Venus-Mercury is a poet, that seems right.

That thing was huge! Bigger than a beach ball, that’s for sure. Babied it all season. They got a kick out it, as farmers themselves. I’ll have to find the picture and update this post.

There has been lots of harvesting. Tomato picking and canning, and various seeds are ripe, like this beautiful amaranth – a gold variety and a red.

Look at that fall color palette! It is a hint of what is to come.

We had the full moon eclipse, in Pisces on the Pisces/Virgo axis at 15 degrees. I harvested the giant poppy heads and poppy seeds on the day before, while the Moon was waxing full in Pisces, as I associate poppies with Pisces and the Moon, and seeds with Virgo. The variety is called Giant Rattle, and you could tell for sure the seeds were ready to harvest as when you shake the pods, it indeed rattles.

It is also time for the first fruits of the season. The earliest apples (Venus) are out, though only the early varieties. The red raspberries are really putting out now. They have been at it for weeks but still going strong. But what I’m super excited about is the grape season. I thought they might not be good after a long rainless period. But I just went out and checked and they are loaded, and perfectly ripe right now. Makes sense – the star Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis) in Virgo, called the “grape-harvestress” is associated with the Virgo II decan.

There is lady Venus, surrounded by grapes!

Perhaps these two harvested Virgo’s grapes and grape seed oil after all – though it could be Venusian olives and olive oil. I left it purposely ambiguous.

It is a beautiful day, so after finishing this post and starting the one for the next decan, I just may have to go pick some. I had several clusters for breakfast, and they are at perfect ripeness.

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 2, NINE OF DISKS – Part I

Virgo decan 2: Nine of Disks, Gain. Telos Tarot of 777 original

Welcome to the second decan of Virgo.

Magical image of the decan per 777: Tall, fair, large man, with him a woman holding a large black oil jar.

The disks are all decorated with the emblems and colors of the nine spheres below Kether, all in the Empress Scale colors of Assiah, the material world. The male figure holds the disk of Mercury, ruler of Virgo, and the Moon, ruler of the Nines. The female figure holds the disk for Venus, Chaldean ruler of the decan.

Crowley seems to have mostly used a simplified version of the Latin Picatrix images for the magical images of the decans in 777. However, here for Virgo II he seems to have based his image more like the Picatrix Virgo III image, and for Virgo III he based his on Agrippa’s Virgo III image.

Picatrix Virgo II: A man of beautiful color, dressed in leather, and over his garment of leather is another garment of iron.

Picatrix Virgo III: A white man, with a great body, wrapped in white linen, and with him is a woman holding in her hand black oil.

Agrippa Virgo II: A black man clothed with a skin, and a man having a bush of hair, holding a bag.

Agrippa Virgo III: A white woman and deaf, or an old man leaning on a staff.

I actually think it was intentional, but of course there is no way to know. Raphael’s image is: Two men, one having a purse in his hand. What the images have in common is that one of the two figures is holding something, perhaps even something of value. The tarot card, the Nine of Disks, is associated with affluence, and is called the Lord of Gain.

The Hellenistic deity, or in this case deities: The Moirai, also known as the Fates, who apportioned out the length of life. Moirai comes from a Greek word meaning an apportionment or share of the whole.

The Ptolemaic deity given in 777 is Pi-Osiris. Literally translated this would mean “House of Osiris,” but in this context could also just refer to the “domain of Osiris,” or Osiris in his function there. In Pert-M-Hru, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Pi-Osiris is associated with the Judgement Hall of Osiris, where the deceased faces judgement.

Both the Fates and Pi-Osiris as judge share an overall flavor of something being doled out, or not; a destiny assigned according to some standard of virtuous behavior, accrued over time.

The sign is ruled by Mercury, who has an affiliation with merchants. The decan is ruled by Venus, who grants bounty. Together, the combination brings material Gain. But the triplicity ruler is Saturn, whose austerity may complicate things a bit. It may be why the RWS figure seems affluent but alone in a walled garden. I don’t get much flavor of Saturn here though, except for perhaps the rewards for hard work, and the specific mention of a black oil jar.

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 1, EIGHT OF DISKS – Part II

We are about 85% through this decan, so I wanted to do this Part II update today, Sunday, as the Sun, giver of life and health rules this decan. This is the day, and the hour, of our life-giving Sun. And Virgo itself has a lot to do with health, and the maintenance of such via our prudent daily practices.

This decan, Virgo decan 1, started out in a way that was both traumatic and miraculous. All I want to say about it is that on the day of the new moon in Virgo, a person I love more than life itself was injured in a serious workplace accident, and it was a very traumatic experience. I’m still in shock about it, but the good news is, it is rather a miracle, because it could have been so, so, much worse. It definitely could have resulted in death or permanent crippling, and by some miracle it did not.

I’m giving this one to the deities of the decan, Isis and Themis. The Great Mother Isis gave protection, and hopefully Titaness Themis ensures that order is restored and practices changed so that this can never happen there again.

The following is a hymn given to Isis in gratitude. It is somewhat based on the Ancient Egyptian Offering Formula in which the titles and epithets of the deity are listed first, followed by a list of offerings.

an artwork I made years ago honoring Isis – collage, paint, and found objects on canvas

Hail Isis! Queen of Heaven! Sothis gleams upon your brow!
Universal Mother of All! Lady of the Stars, who shelters the weak and seeks justice for the poor. Goddess of 10,000 appellations! Lady of 10,000 names! Isis the Great and Golden, whose perfect face rests in the barque of Eternity, the Boat of Millions of Years.
Auset em Renu Nebu!
Aset, divine mother who heals! Who knows the hidden name of Re! Isis, the giver of joy, who saved my heart and hope, returned joy to me.
Years ago I offered you my hands – they are still yours to command. Everything I have or will create with them is ever dedicated to you. Now I offer you my heart, for you saved it from breaking, kept it whole. I lay all before your throne, am yours for eternity. I offer milk and honey, sacred scent and flame. I offer all I am and ever will be.
You who knows the spells of healing. You who knows the secret name. You who hears the laments of mothers and turns them to song. Most powerful goddess of magic, every blessing upon you. Blessed forever is Isis – O look towards me, Everwhite!

Words alone are not enough. All praises to Isis. I have always felt close to her.

The last line is from this, a recitation I use to praise Isis, though it is Tolkein’s hymn to Elbereth, Queen of the Stars.

There is not much else to note after events like this in life, except that they crack open the heart. I do also notice that as far as natural cycles go, this decan begins the time for harvesting seeds here. The sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, and amaranth seeds are all almost ready for harvest, and definitely will be harvested in Virgo season, even if not in this decan. Interesting in that an occult name for Virgo is “the secret seed.”

DECAN WALK: VIRGO 1, EIGHT OF DISKS – Part I

Decan Virgo I and the Eight of Disks — First decan of Virgo, the Eight of Disks

Ascendant decan of Virgo: A virgin clad in linen, with an apple or pomegranate

Sephira/world	Hod in Assiah
Associated majors	The Hermit and the Sun
Associated minors	Knight-King of Disks
Color(s)	Yellowish Brown, flecked white; plus the colors of the associated Majors
Colors of the associated Majors	The Hermit: Yellowish Green – Slate Grey – Greenish Grey – Plum The Sun: Orange – Gold Yellow – Rich Amber – Amber, rayed Red

Welcome to the first decan of Virgo, corresponding to the Eight of Disks. This won’t be the longest post, as there are a lot of other things to patiently tend to here. But it should prudently cover and illuminate what you need to know.

Looking at the magical description of the decan image, the virgin obviously equals Virgo, the Virgin. Linen is associated with purity and humility. The apple or pomegranate suggests Pomona, or maybe Eve. Some of the other decan images specify that her clothing is old, worn out, or dirty, which makes me think of Cinderella, who seems like a very Virgo-like archetype.

The pomegranate she holds, unlike those on the tree, is actually a detailed jeweled construction, a box of exquisite craftsmanship, like a Faberge egg. In the foreground, an enlarged diagram reveals that it contains a miniature golden Sun.

Virgo the sign is ruled by Mercury, the first decan is ruled by the Sun, but ruled by Mercury in the triplicity system, and the Eights are ruled by Mercury. That’s a lot of Mercury, lit by the Sun. Mercury and the Sun are natural companions in the solar system, with little Mercury the planet who most closely orbits our solar center.

Virgo is Mutable Earth, the last sign of summer here in the Northern hemisphere. Still a whole month of calendar summer, but we sense a shift and start to consider preparing for Autumn.

The card is called the Lord of Prudence.

The card combines the humility of the Hermit, with the very much non-humble Sun. The Hermit quietly pays attention, and the Sun shines its light in the lantern he carries, illuminating details so that nothing is missed.

The major deities are:

Hellenistic: Themis, the female Titan of law and order
Ptolemaic: Isis, the mighty Queen of Heaven

The decan has associations and significations with sowing and germination, plowing and peopling, and good harvests. Talismanically, the Picatrix suggests using it for skill in writing and business promotion. I’m not in the mood for business promotion (ever, really) but as I’m in the home stretch of this book project (two books, actually) it bodes well.

The card is about attention to detail, and the patient cultivation of things over time yielding dividends.

DECAN WALK: LEO 3, SEVEN OF WANDS – Part II

This will be a shorter Part II update than usual for Leo decan 3. The original Leo decan 3 post is here.

Leo ruled by Sun, decan ruled by Mars, 7s ruled by Venus.

The reason the update is short is just way more activity than usual happening, which may be an expression of the decan ruler Mars. During this decan there was a family reunion event on my Dad‘s side (Mars-Sun = males in the family, Venus via the 7s, Netzach) is relating to others). As a result, I had relatives flying in, and lots of related social events to see everyone while they were here. No battles at all, the only struggles for me have been fitting everything in that I need to keep going on. All in all, it was fun (Leo) partying and talking with everyone, especially all the cousins. There was also some discussion about inheritance related stuff with the elders, which called to mind the underworld deities mentioned for Leo decan 3 in the Part I post.

But there was a lot to do, over and above socializing, which could be that Leo is a social sign, but also that Leo falls in my 7th house of “other people.” There has been a lot of going places to meet up, having people over (cooking! cleaning!) on top of regular life like working, keeping up with the garden tasks and the endless harvesting. Plus watering, so much watering. As another manifestation of Sun-ruled Leo and decan ruler Mars was that we had the longest hot and dry stretch without a drop of rain in a long time. It was for most of the decan, and most of Leo season actually. But it was really hot and really dry and very noticeable for most of Leo decan 3.

It is only now that it cooled off a bit, and a little rain happened yesterday, finally.

So between family stuff, household stuff, work related stuff, watering stuff, and gardening, I’ve also had to make time to keep going on the book, and now stop that to write this post and the one for Virgo decan 1, which is just around the corner.

Friends are coming to stay with us in mid Virgo season too, so more of the same to follow soon. Trying to pace myself! There is a short respite between now and then, which I’m using to keep working on the book in between more harvesting tasks. Volume 1 is done, edited, formatted, and designed. Volume 2 is coming along, writing is almost done, editing is partially done, formatting and design to follow.

It has just been busy, and social, which I guess can be attributed to the Leo-Mars-Netzach combination.

Right on schedule, the sunflowers are almost fully mature here at the almost end of Leo season. This picture does not do this sunflower justice. It is the biggest one I’ve ever grown, almost 14 feet tall, and with a stalk like a small tree!

Party on, see you in Virgo decan 1, which starts tomorrow, Friday afternoon at 4:34 PM EDT.

DECAN WALK: LEO 3, SEVEN OF WANDS – Part I

Leo decan 3, Seven of Wands, Telos line art

Welcome to Leo decan 3, the Seven of Wands, the Lord of Valour. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and the Sevens/Netzach by Venus. We don’t see much of Venus here, but Netzach is also called “victory” and “endurance” and is associated with fire and fortitude. But the major player in this card is the decan ruler, Mars. Mars is the decan ruler in both the Chaldean order system we use in tarot, and the triplicity system.

**Cadent Decan of Leo: A swarthy hairy man, with a drawn sword and shield.**

You can see from the description it is all Mars: a hairy warrior with sword and shield. The man with sword-and-shield motif is the literal glyph of Mars, which is said to either be a pictogram of an erect phallus or a sword and shield or a spear and shield.

It is a simple image as the meaning is not complicated. The figure is dressed in martial reds, and the sky and wands are shades of the amber color of Netzach in Atziluth. He faces the viewer, ready to fight. His sword is drawn as he advances toward six sharp and threatening spears, martial stand ins for the wands of the suit. The seventh wand is the spear that is the flagpole of his banner. The overall impression is that he is advancing towards his attackers. Though he is outnumbered, he is determined to hold ground and defend his flag. With Valour.

The Hellenistic deity is Serapis, and the Ptolemaic Egyptian god is Nephthys. You can see a theme here with these two, both associated with the underworld.

Most of the other decan images call the man dark, but also ugly and/or sad, which seems Saturnian though there is no influence of Saturn here. Perhaps it is that underworld/afterlife threat-of-death aspect of things. The hill you may die on, and all that.

Agrippa’s signification is interesting, mentioning the “loss of one’s right for avoiding strife.”

It is time to step up, gird your loins, fight the good fight. “Stick them with the pointy end.”

DECAN WALK: LEO 2, SIX OF WANDS – Part II

This is the Part II “update of musings and/or events” for the Leo decan II post, which has all the info and correspondences.

As of the date of this post, the Sun is at around 17 Leo, so we are about three-quarters of the way through the decan. As the next few days are going to be busy, I figured it was a good time to do the Part II post. If anything significant happens near the end of the decan I’ll edit and update.

Telos Tarot of 777 Six of Wands Victory second decan of Leo

So far, the biggest thing in terms of “Victory” to report is that I’ve made huge progress and reached a significant checkpoint on my book on the Telos Tarot, magick, and the decans. All of which feel like major victories, to me at least. I’ll take any excuse to celebrate, though; that’s kind of how I roll.

I got the editing round one done. Round two will happen after formatting, just to double-check.
The book, even with text only, was way too large for user-friendly comfortable use, so I made the executive decision to split it into two volumes. I decided that was better than skimping on illustrations or font size. Each volume has a slightly different focus. Volume One is larger, as it is about the decanic minors, which I had a lot to offer about.
I finalized the title and subtitles of the volumes.
Now I’m working on formatting and overall book design, and adding images and tables. Volume one is almost done. Volume two is written and edited and will be up for designing/formatting next.
I also want to offer a spiral bound book of the minor cards line art, and possibly the decan image descriptions and other related info, as a workbook that will lay flat for coloring, notes, and paper talisman making purposes. If there is any interest in that. Is there any interest in that? Let me know in the comments or email you thoughts.

After Volume One gets done, I then have to format and add images for Volume Two. The next job is after the book design is finished for Vol I & II is designing covers for both volumes. After that, it is getting quotes from printers, to see which printing service is best for the job. Then, if it is printed rather than using a “print on demand service,” there will be deciding on quantity to print, and figuring out how to pay for the printings.

As you can see, there is a lot to making a book beyond just writing it, especially when the author also takes on the roles of proofreader, copy editor, developmental editor, line editor, image creator, book designer, cover artist, and publisher. I totally get why many authors farm those tasks out. It’s a lot of hats to wear. One step at a time, it gets done. I still feel on target for getting it out this year, as I print everything I do in the USA, so there will be no international delays to factor in, in terms of manufacturing.

So, the book is big (Jupiter!) I hope it will shine and shed some light (Leo and the Sun.)

Other than that, the weather has been day after day of perfect sunny summer weather, with everything in the forecast indicating more to come. 80s but not humid, clear calm blue skies. Family reunion coming up in the next decan, so lots of family already flying in.

And a big party with friends, who are celebrating 20 years of their business and marriage, is happening right at the cusp of this decan and the next. It’s going to be a good one I think.

Still harvesting and preserving vegetables, and giving away what we just don’t have time or space for. Check out that funny cucumber I found in this decan – it looks like a heart (the heart is ruled by Leo)!

Jupiter, Leo, and the Sun are all known for generosity, so rather than set up a farm stand on the side of the road, like so many other people in the area, we just put out the excess produce with a free sign to give them away to all takers. It feels like the right thing to do. And the stuff disappears quick, so I know it is appreciated. Even the big honking yellow squashes! Which could also be called Sun-Jupiter.

Leo decan II: Six quarts of summer squash pickles. Victory in terms of using a bounty of veggies.

One thing I’ve noticed in this decan is how balanced and harmonious the energy has been. The Sixes, in Tiphareth at the center of the Tree of Life, are known for that. Even though there are tons of things happening all in disparate areas, it has been easier in terms of balancing the polarities of work and play, family and friends, career and home, beauty and necessity. I’ve gotten a lot done in all areas, and still made time for fun.

This decan had both the Leo/Aquarius full moon, and the Lughnasadh cross-quarter holiday – both by date (around Aug 1, or sometimes, the closest Sunday, which is Leo and the Sun’s day), and astronomical midpoint, by solar degree Leo 15, which was around Aug 7. Lughnasadh is considered harvest season. It is also associated with a tradition of hill-climbing, which the figure in the Telos Tarot of 777 image above is doing.

All the cross-quarter holidays, which fall between the Equinoxes, feel like a hint of the approaching turning points of the Equinoxes, that happen in the cardinal signs. As in, though it feels like the height of summer on these warm sunny Leo days, I anticipate the shift coming. The spring crops are just about gone, though the summer stuff like tomatoes and peppers are just starting to ripen. Leo is time to plant any last hurrah quick-growing fall crops. The days are just a little shorter, the nights a little cooler. Very subtly so, but noticeable.

In terms of the upcoming book, now is the time to make any suggestions before it is finalized, as this is definitely an approaching turning point. I cannot promise that I can or will do everything suggested, but I’ll always listen and consider. Let me know!

DECAN WALK: LEO 2, SIX OF WANDS – Part I

The best of the Leo decan cards, the doubly solar Leo decan 2, the Six of Wands, Victory. It hits the sweet spot between the Five, Strife, and the Seven, Valour, each of which has its own Mars-flavored challenges. But here we have Sun-ruled Leo in Sun-ruled sephira Tiphareth, with the decan itself ruled by the greater benefic Jupiter in both the Chaldean AND triplicity systems.

Succedent Decan of Leo: A man crowned with a white myrtle wreath, holding a bow.

The planets dignified here are rulers and leaders. The Sun, center of the entire planetary system, largest body, source of light and life and our star, is and has always been associated with sovereigns and commanders. Jupiter is the largest orbiting body, and is associated with Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. This is a straightforward image, of a triumphant leader on horseback, dressed in imperial purple, crowned with myrtle, raising his bow triumphantly. He is at the top of a hill, and rising towards the Sun. He looks back at his followers, who raise their staffs and banners to him, honoring him by throwing roses in the air. There is no ambiguity at all: this is victory being celebrated, and a time to shine.

The rider raises his bow in a victorious salute, as he pauses at the top of hill on his way towards a throne crested by the Sun. He is given a bow as described in the Picatrix description, which is apt for Jupiter’s association with Sagittarius the Archer.

The deity per the 36 Airs of the Zodiac fragment is Isis: “Mighty one, foremost of the goddesses, Ruler in heaven, Queen on earth…all the gods are under her command.” Isis is the Greek version of her name, which was Iset in Egyptian. Iset means “throne,” or seat, and was used in the sense of seat as the “seat of power,” the place of command.

The deity per 777 is Perseus, son of Zeus (Jupiter) and Danaë, conceived in a shower of gold (Sun). Perseus is one of the most celebrated heroes of the Greek myths who performed many great feats. He was the rescuer of Andromeda, the slayer of Medusa, and the founder of vast dynasties.

Six of Wands and related Majors: RWS top row, Thoth middle, then Tabula Mundi

This is a winning combination of Fortune and Strength, at the very center of the Tree of Life, in the highest world of Atziluth.

But there is always something. The Picatrix: “A man who wears a crown of white myrtle on his head, and he has a bow in his hand. Beauty, riding, the ascension of a man who is ignorant and base, war and naked swords.” Per Agrippa: “An image with hands lifted up, and a man on whose head is a crown; he hath the appearance of an angry man, and one that threateneth, having in his right hand a sword drawn out of the scabbard, and in his left a buckler. Hidden contentions, and unknown victories, and upon base men, and upon the occasions of quarrels and battles.” The “ascension of a man who is ignorant and base” and suggestions of war and contention is unpleasant and all too apt for our times. Not all who are crowned with high positions are worthy of them. There is always the danger of hubris, which can be a fault of Leo.

Talismanically, the Picatrix applications use the Leo 2 decan image for chasing away predators and keeping wild beasts away. In more modern times, this could be used metaphorically. One might choose to use this face for great feats, excelling, and creative pursuits. It can lead to victorious outcomes – the joy of battle followed by triumph and acclaim. As I’m sure this will be a popular decan for talismanic and decan-based magic, in the upcoming book I list ways to make special solar-based talismanic materia, spells for Victory from the PGM, Egyptian recitations to Isis, and a way to make a talismanic object charged with the corresponding powers of the Leo 2 decan.

I’m really looking forward to this one! Stay tuned for Part II of Leo decan 2.