Cockle Doddle Doo! Outta the Way for the Year of the Rooster!

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

If you think that the past few months have been some loud and raucous sound bytes, just wait until January 28 when the Yin Fire Rooster begins in the Chinese zodiac.

There’s a different element and gender energy that defines each of the 12 animals that take turns ruling over a specific year. While every animal repeats after a 12-year cycle, the gender energies—Yin (female) and Yang (male)—switch places every new year. However the elements—metal, wood, water, fire or earth—won’t repeat again for 60 years. Thus, the last Fire Rooster Year was 1957. What occurred that year? That’s what we should consider when determining what this Fire Rooster Year—January 28, 2017 to February 15, 2018—will be like.

Here are some glimpses back at 1957 with many events sounding similar to what’s occurred during the tail end of this year:

*The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first ever space satellite, inciting some Americans to build backyard bomb shelters. Relations between the two countries were hostile, to say the least.

"Humph! He thinks he's smarter than us!"

*Skirmishes arose between Egypt versus Britain, France and Israel over the Suez Canal.

"This is mine!" "No, it's mine!"

*In Little Rock Arkansas, the governor calls out the National Guard to prevent nine black students from integrating an all-white high school. Later, the president deploys federal troops to assist the students. Earlier, the Brown v. the Board of Education school desegregation case reaches the Supreme Court.

"Did you just lay an egg?"

*The first nuclear power plant begins operations in Pennsylvania.

*Ghana and Singapore are liberated from the British while Papa Doc becomes dictator of Haiti.

"I rule!"

*Hurricane Audrey kills over 500 people in Texas.

*In between international assassinations and political coups, and European colonizers withdrawing from countries they’d previously occupied, it was a tumultuous time that saw the rise of the VietCong. Meanwhile, Americans were buying new suburban homes and starting families 12 years following the end of WWII.

"Why, yes. I AM interested in remodeling. 2017, that is."

Get ready for the burn, folks. The Year of the Fire Rooster is almost here! 

Mike Reed attempts to pet a rooster at the West Seattle Community Festival

The term “hard working” is often used to describe rooster folks. If you ever observe an animal rooster (in Hawai’i they’re often feral), you’ll notice they’re the first ones up each morning, crowing loudly to get everyone else going. And, like animal roosters, human roosters can also be arrogant and boastful; although, for the most part, people find them quite charming. However, they are sometimes too blunt and easily hurt others’ feelings.

"I understand some folks find us quite charming." "Speak for yourself."

"Although I have a nice appearance, I've been told I'm too blunt."

Active, independent, with normally nice appearances, human roosters are sometimes overly fussy about their looks, earning them the reputation of being conceited. They also exhibit great leadership skills but, just like the animal rooster, can give off the appearance of being egocentric. You’ve seen the pompous rooster strutting around the barnyard with his scarlet comb atop his head? Then, you get the picture.

As an element, fire is both dangerous and powerful. Because it can spread rapidly, it has the ability to destroy everything in its path. On the other hand, harnessing it as an energy source to create heat and a method for cooking foods has been lifesaving.

Yin years are female in energy so the new year should bring a renewed focus on women’s issues worldwide. Overall, there will be a more feminine sensibility attached to everything, albeit a fiery one.

There are lots of sites where you can learn what the upcoming year holds in store for each astrological animal, like Rats, Oxen and Tigers, etc. but Chinese astrologers believe that sharing the year with your animal makes the animal jealous. So, if you’re a Fire Rooster by birth, you should exercise caution this year.

Meanwhile, Gypsy Stars has had a Facebook profile page since 2009, but funky administrators decided she had to create a fan page instead. That should be up in the next few weeks. Although she can’t currently log on to her own page to manage The Urban Goddess, created for 

you and metaphysicians like you, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still like it.

Once upon a time, Gypsy Stars also sold T-zing t-shirts on Cafe Press, but Cafe Press suddenly decided that all stores need to pay a $25 fee just for staying open. With the very low profit that’s earned with each t-shirt, the fee’s just not worth it.

Therefore, Gypsy Stars will no longer advertise T-zing t-shirts or her Facebook profile page.

You see, Gifted Reader, the Fire Rooster has already made its arrogant presence known.

Until March 31 when we meet again, here’s to a Happy New Year!

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars

 

SHOCKING!!!

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

What’s the most shocking thing you’ve ever encountered?

Was it a pig with a bee’s stripes and wings? Or, how about a pair of mannequins in bondage in an apparel shop window?

With the Moon in Aquarius this weekend, one can expect all sorts of unexpected events to occur. Yes, even SHOCKING ones. So, be on the alert.

Saturn has also stationed direct several days ago, so there’s the possibility of delays. Saturn is a harsh taskmaster and it’s interesting that he possesses rulership over fathers, since this weekend is also Father’s Day.

It’s a pretty loaded time right now. Besides Father’s Day, there’s also Juneteenth, the day slaves in Texas celebrated their freedom because they were not notified about the Emancipation Proclamation until three years after its passage. Since Aquarius rules freedom, it’s also fitting that the Moon will be located in that sign on that day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

This week, we experienced a Lunar Full Moon Eclipse in Saggitarius. Since Full Moons are a time of great revelations, did you discover anything? Personally, with my Sag Moon, I found out a lot about the meaning of friendship. Even though Aquarius is the sign of friendship, per se, Sag is also a sign that loves its buddies—sometimes even more than its lovers. With a Jupiter rulership, Sag has a tendency to embrace everybody making it impossible to focus on just one. Over-consumption is a typical Sag trait. On that note, let me take my leave. Since I’ve overbooked myself, I need to run! Is that SHOCKING enough?

Remember you can friend Gypsy Stars on Facebook, “like” The Urban Goddess page that encourages and supports all metaphysicians, and buy one of our t-shirts at CafePress.

Until the next moon cycle…

Good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars

T-Day Thoughts And Fire Gazing

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

How’s it going this long holiday weekend?

Personally, it’s not my favorite time of the year. Maybe it’s because I associate November with the intensely secretive sign Scorpio even though the Sun has now entered fun-loving Sagittarius. But while the Sun is transiting Scorpio, there’s always much emotional drama to navigate through many hidden layers. That’s just how Scorpio rolls—inside deep recesses and hidden from view.

Another reason this season annoys me is because I have a healthy respect for living creatures. So, I don’t eat them. The longer I abstain, the harder it is for me to reconcile that others don’t, especially near T-day celebrations when most carnivores incessantly discuss how they’ll prepare and consume an unfortunate, butchered fowl. (See my nice Tofurky plate, below.) Since the subject is a sensitive one that both sides get distressed over, I’ll just move on…to something even more disturbing.

Like, how can I justify commemorating a day that brought so much misery to the indigenous people of this nation?  As a child, I naively accepted that T-day was a time of sharing. But as an adult with Native American friends, I realized it meant something entirely different for them. In fact, for some families I know it’s considered a day of national mourning for the loss of their people, land, language, history and culture.

Apologies for this depressing post, but it seems like my thoughts are on the gloomy side right now. Of course, it’s late fall when things are dark and dead so maybe my reflections are being influenced by outside forces.

If you’re feeling down, too, a great solution is to do some fire gazing. If you have a fireplace, sit in front of it on the floor on a comfortable pillow. Grab a nice hot mug of spiced cider along with some freshly popped corn. Then, while staring into the fire, let your body completely relax without falling over. Allow your eyes to just let go. Whatever images manifest in the fire, let them be. Don’t try to control or edit anything. If you can stay relaxed and write at the same time, do so. Just keep a large pad and marker nearby. A marker works better because it takes less effort to write with one. Just keep taking notes until you get to the point where you’re spent or tired. Then, slowly, allow yourself to come out of your trance. Look at the words or images you wrote down. Some of them will be obvious. If you wrote about seeing a big house, you might want to analyze whether that house made you feel safe or smothered. Or, was it a person you saw? Who was it, and how do you react to their presence when they’re actually around you?

One of the hardest things for me to see in so-called real life is a sick child. A good friend has a young son who suffers from too much protein in his urine. I’m not good at explaining all the technical terms of Tyler’s illness, so please visit his website to learn more. He is truly an adorable child and could really use your help.

www.healingtyler.com

Hopefully, I didn’t depress you too much with all my bad news. But, remember, there’s always a light in every darkness.

And, t-shirts, too. Pick up a T_zing and get happy!

Remember to friend us on Facebook and "like" The Urban Goddess, too.

Until next time, I am...

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

FYI: How To Get A Tarot Card Reading

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

As my friend George Patton likes to say, we’re living in a time of turmoil propelled by tumultuous events. However, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by surrounding circumstances. Even if the world around you seems to be spinning out of control, you can still get a handle on your own life through a Tarot card reading. If you have the money and time, I suggest Astrology for a more in-depth analysis. But, that method takes much longer to get down to the nitty-gritty while Tarot can hone in on one specific area quickly.

What’s the best way to get the best Tarot card reading? Well, for one, try not to read the cards while the reader is doing it. So many times in the past, I’ve noticed people trying to read the cards as I lay them out in a spread on the table.

“What does that one mean, ‘Confusion’?” they’ll ask pointing to the card that reads ‘Confusion’.

Without considering the context of the entire spread, they will indicate first one card and then another asking me all the while, “What does that one mean? ‘The Chariot’? Am I’m going to travel? ‘Love and Desire’? Does that mean I’m in love?”

I then ask if they want a reading or if they want to learn to read Tarot cards. Because if they want to learn to read for themselves, it’s going to take more than the 10 or 20 minutes we’ve set aside for the reading. Just explaining what a few cards mean can take awhile. After all, there are 78 of them in most Tarot decks. Further, learning about only one or two cards can be pretty meaningless because the spread works as a unit.

As for the style of Tarot cards to use, there are so many these days and I own a dozen different decks. Personally, I prefer the Egipcios Kier deck (see below) although I wished the artist had made the Egyptians look a little more, well, Egyptian. Still, these cards speak to me on an intuitive level and after nearly 20 years of using them, I can glance at a spread and quickly assess what is going on with the person I’m reading.

When you get a Tarot card reading, you should go with an open mind. Please do not be afraid. No professional reader should ever be the bearer of really bad news. Even if I see something horrific in your reading, I will try to deliver the information in a caring and concerned way.

You should also have some idea of what you’d like to focus on. Think of meeting with a reader as being similar to going to a doctor or therapist. Would you say to your physician, “Hey doc, guess what’s wrong with me?” Or, do you think it’s more effective to say: “Doctor, I’ve been having a lot of stomach pain, but the rest of me is just fine.” Now, your doctor can focus on the part of you that needs healing the most.

Of course, every reader is going to be different, but I like to move things to the forefront by asking outright if the person has any particular questions. That way, the spread will come alive immediately for me. Sometimes, that magic moment happens regardless of the person’s question, but it’s still good to have a focal point.

I’ve actually had people ask me, “Should I tell you who the evil woman is that you’re seeing holding me back on my job?” Of course you should. This is not a guessing game or about hiding information between the cards and the reader. The sooner we can pinpoint your problem, the sooner we can come up with a resolution.

My favorite spread is called the Ten Card Spread. The first card I lay down represents the Questioner and the second card crosses them. The next one goes behind the Questioner card; the next one, below it; the next one, in front of it; and then, above it. To the right of the Questioner, I lay out four cards representing the future and spelling out the answer to the question. The first one, once again, represents the Questioner, then, environmental factors; emotional state; and, final outcome.

I also suggest an interactive approach for best results. With me, you don’t just have to sit quietly and listen. You can interject information like, “Are you sure that’s my husband you’re seeing and not my young lover?” Sometimes, a card like the Fool represents someone youthful like your young lover, and sometimes it represents someone naïve like your gullible husband that you think you’re fooling with your affair.

So, there you have some suggestions about the best way to get a Tarot card reading. Stay tuned as we bring you more metaphysical moments every other Saturday.

At the top, is a snapshot of me holding Papa Legba who sits at my door. Yes, I use a coconut to represent the Trickster who decides who I will and will not communicate with--among other things. Legba or Ellegua has 21 paths and enjoys rum, cigars, candy and chewing gum. The naughty boy will not allow you to communicate with the other loas or orishas if you don’t go through him first.

Speaking of communications, dreams are a wonderful way to be in touch with your higher consciousness. That’s me, above, daydreaming about my mother’s dog dreaming.

Remember, we have T*zing t-shirts for you at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

And, don't forget to friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess, too.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

Jupiter: The Gigantic, Giving, Goof

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

Did ya miss me? Apologies for not appearing here last week, but this blogger has moved to a biweekly format. From now on, look for us keeping you in the know with our metaphysical musings on an every-other-week basis.

Since last we connected, Gypsy Stars has been experiencing her own Jupiter Retrograde disappointments. How has Jupiter been treating you?

As you may know, Jupiter’s generosity is legend. Here is a big fat, jolly planet that lives to give. Jupiter also loves to laugh and because of his naïveté can be a total dork. Due to his hedonistic tendencies like over-imbibing and overeating, Jupiter is also the quintessential partier slash playboy. In Ifa, Obatala is sometimes compared to Jupiter. Children of Obatala wear white, are considered chaste and holy, and not allowed to drink alcohol. Obatala, it is said, created humans. But as he sat in heaven, making people of clay then blowing them down to earth with his breath, he thought he’d have a shot of palm wine to make his work go faster. In fact, Obatala thought he’d have several shots. Soon, he became so tipsy that he accidentally began breaking off the arms, legs and even the heads of the unfortunate earthlings; sending them to earth as disabled and undeveloped.

Discipline, boys and girls, is not Jupiter’s forte either. In the case of retrogrades, Jupiter will often take back what he gave you in abundance while he was in direct motion. Because Jupiter is in Aries now, generally (because it will differ for each individual), we’re looking at issues dealing with ego, personality and the physical body. For instance, if you have Aries Ascendant, Jupiter Retrograde over your First House could be that time when you lose weight. On September 8, Jupiter will be retrograding his way backwards into Pisces while both Venus and Mars enter Scorpio! Okay, I think I’ll sit this one out in my Gypsy Stars cave. Scorpio is intense and with both Venus and Mars in it, you can expect lots of fireworks or firearms going off in personal relationships.

Switching subjects now, a lot of people often ask me for advice about how to attain mental clarity. First of all, stop ingesting dead animals. Seriously. Although it’s a good way to stay physically healthy, too, not eating putrid carcasses is also a way for you to avoid taking in any residue negative vibrations. An animal in its last moments of life, realizing that it’s dying, is fighting hard to live. That is what you’re bringing into your psyche—fear, helplessness, and the overwhelming pain of loss. Check out most Eastern religions like Buddhism and you will note that priests do not eat dead animals, for a good reason.

Once you’ve gotten to that point (and I’m not saying to do it overnight), be sure you’re always well hydrated. Drink lots of water and natural non-concentrated juices. If you have a juicer, excellent. For tea, I stick with genmai (green with brown rice bits) and if I really want to open my chakras, I use gotu kola, which is made from elephants’ favorite leaves. Drink gotu kola regularly and you will never forget. If you don’t already practice yoga, try it for both the physical rewards and meditative qualities.

After you’ve gotten yourself physically conditioned, create a place in your home where only you alone can always go. That will become your altar space where you will meditate and ask your higher consciousness, gods and/or goddesses, spirit guides, or whatever you look to for guidance, to assist you with a clearer, calmer mind.

Another time, I’ll give you some ideas of what to put in your altar space.

Above are some of my fave photos of the psychic vibes surrounding Santa Monica, a city chock full of ghosts and legends. For instance, a statue of Saint Monica stands on Ocean Boulevard and Wilshire. It’s reported that Ms. Monica was beyond consoling because her son, the future St. Augustine, was a drunkard and womanizer. Monica cried every day until her tears formed a pool near downtown Los Angeles where Spanish explorers landed. Seeing the spring of water there, they decided to name the area Santa Monica (not to be confused with present-day Santa Monica located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean). As Fate would have it, the city of Santa Monica is Sagittarius which means it's ruled by generous, jovial Jupiter and the same sign that my Moon (home) is in.

That’s me at the top in my favorite Santa Monica cemetery on 14^th Street followed by a shot of Zoltar, the famous psychic living on Santa Monica Pier. Drop in a coin, and voila! Zoltar will tell you whether or not that knuckle-headed boyfriend will call you with an apology, or if your lottery ticket holds the winning combo.

Santa Monica:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ETg2kS_IzOmjWBsbCmiLUw?select=0lYxCJnAOA6DTjO29ZNx8w

Zoltar:

http://wiki.worldflicks.org/boardwalk_on_the_pier.html#coords=(34.009438,-118.497154)&z=19

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5B56_Zoltar_Santa_Monica_Pier_California

And, don't forget our T*zing t-shirts at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing and George Patton's book about his great Uncle Herman, a famous magician during the Harlem Renaissance.

Remember, you can friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess, too.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars