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Hotel Divination

13bt24

00:00 / 04:05

HOTEL DIVINATION

Night Manager

I had grown weary after a long journey and decided to stop for the night. I found a hotel near the freeway named "Hotel Divination," a name which intrigued me.
As I was checking in, the night manager stated, "We offer everyone who stays here a complimentary divination. Would you like a Tarot reading, my friend?"
I grinned and nodded in the affirmative.
"Wonderful," the night manager smiled. "I will lay out a three-card spread. The first card signifies the past. The second card reveals the present. The third card suggests a potential future based on the state of your soul at this moment."

Portal to Five of Pentacles

The night manager shuffled the deck and dealt the first card. "The Five of Pentacles," she stated. "Mercury in Taurus." Suddenly a portal opened in the hotel office and I found myself on a street next to a church as snow fell all around me. A woman trudged through the snow a few feet ahead of me.

Five of Pentacles: Mercury in Taurus

I could somehow still hear the night manager's voice: "I sense that you have been crippled in some way, but unlike the man in the card who can only walk with crutches, your condition is not immediately apparent. Perhaps you have suffered from a chronic illness of some kind."

The Magician: Mercury

Suddenly The Magician appeared, and the night manager continued, "Because of your suffering, you are now able to see beyond appearances--you can see the subtle forces associated with the elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth--which includes the energies of the triplicities of the zodiac and their ruling planets."

The Hierophant: Taurus

Suddenly The Hierophant appeared, and the night manager continued, "You also know the profound element of Spirit. Like the Hierophant, you touch the dimensions of Universal Consciousness and receive intuitions from the celestial realms above the Abyss--which on the Tree of Life is a border that separates the heavens from the planes of manifestation."

Hotel Room Portal

Then the night manager dealt the second card, and another portal appeared. The night manager stated, "The Two of Swords, The Moon in Libra."

Two of Swords: Moon in Libra

Suddenly I found myself standing before a blindfolded woman on a bench by the sea balancing two long swords. The night manager continued, "In the present, you are showing deep inner balance despite all of the flux around you."

The High Priestess: The Moon

As I gazed at the moon, The High Priestess appeared. The night manager continued, "The High Priestess is connected with all of the paths of the Tree of Life. She knows all of the subtle forces and has attained balance within all of the dimensions of Universal Consciousness. Her path on the Tree of Life leads from Beauty, the Emanation of the Sun, to the Source, the Crown of Creation."

Justice: Libra

The night manager continued, "Like the figure in Justice, you are able to create and maintain harmony within yourself and within your sphere of influence despite all of the changes in the world around you."

Portal in Hotel Room

"We are now going to look into the future," the night manager stated as she placed the third card on the counter. "The Ten of Pentacles, Mercury in Virgo."

Ten of Pentacles: Mercury in Virgo

"You have a bright future ahead of you," the night manager claimed.

The Magician: Mercury (AI Version)

"Obviously Mercury is a strong influence in your life. The Magician, wherever she is, knows all the paths of the Tree of life, which means that she knows the dimensions of her being as well as the dimensions of Universal Consciousness," the night manager stated.

The Hermit: Virgo

"Through the influence of Virgo, you have experienced great inner abundance. You might not be extremely wealthy, but you have experienced the abundance, magnificence, and harmony of the human spirit. You are sympathetic and creative, which means that you have an active imagination and a rich inner life. Your path is lit by the Star of David, which represents the paths of the Tree of Life."

Portal

Suddenly another portal appeared. I had no idea where I was going to end up this time.

Night Manager

"Here is the key to your room," the night manager said. "I hope you enjoy your stay at our hotel-- the Hotel Divination."

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2024 by Jim Robbins.

Wheel

beatn8

00:00 / 04:22

CIRCUS DIVINATION

Fool

The circus was in town. As I was wandering through the fair grounds, I encountered a clown, who offered to give me a Tarot reading.
"Sure, why not?" I responded. "What kind of spread will you be using?"
"A three-card spread that reveals the past, present, and future," the clown replied.

Fun House

"Follow me. This way," the clown commanded. "There's a room in the fun house where I give readings."

Three of Swords: Saturn in Libra, Saturn in Understanding

We sat down at a table in the fun house. "If you are ready, I will draw the first card. Ahhh, the Three of Swords, Saturn in Libra, Saturn in Understanding," the clown stated. A portal suddenly became energized and pulled me into it.

Portal

On the other side of the portal, I encountered the Three of Swords. Somehow, I could still hear the clown's voice: "A decan, as you know, represents ten degrees of the zodiac and includes the subtle forces of a zodiac sign and a planet. The Tree of Life association refers to the Emanation on the Tree of Life associated with the subtle forces. The Tree of Life is a glyph that reveals the subtle dimensions of Universal Consciousness. Because you are a facet of Universal Consciousness, the Tree of Life also exists within you. That, you know, is how you are made in God's image."

The World: Saturn

The clown continued, "This card represents the past, which reveals that at some point you have experienced suffering and loss. Let's start with the decan. Saturn is the Father of the Gods associated with restriction and abundance. In other words, Saturn restricts subtle spiritual force in form, and that restriction allows us to survive and create abundance in the physical plane. But all form dissolves, so inevitably we suffer loss and death."

Justice: Libra

"Survival in the physical plane requires great discipline and resilience, but within this state of suffering and uncertainty, we develop a sense of inner balance through spiritual practices and create harmony in the community by upholding justice through the rule of law," the clown stated. "This is one way we grow through the discipline associated with Saturn, individually and within a community.

Fun House Portal

"I am now going to draw the second card, which represents the present," the clown stated. "Nice. The Three of Pentacles, Mars in Capricorn and Saturn in Understanding, or 'Binah' in Hebrew." Suddenly I noticed another portal, which soon became energized and drew me in.

Three of Pentacles: Mars in Capricorn, Saturn in Understanding

The clown continued, "Mars can burn away negativity and purify the mind so that you know the divinity of your essential self and touch the dimensions of Universal Consciousness, but notice that this card reveals that Mars is also a disciplining force. Mars is Saturn on a lower arc on the Pillar of Severity on the left side of the Tree of Life. Through Mars we discipline the mind so that we can create great cathedrals. We can also discipline the mind in order to see into spiritual dimensions and then bring spiritual symbols into our dimension. Through Mercury, who is Mars on a lower arc, we can use the intellect to create plans. Then we can then bring those plans into manifestation in the physical plane."

The Tower: Mars

"Mars is a great disciplining force. Through Mars we establish courage and inner strength. The lightning bolt of Mars destroys whatever is destructive to the community and the individual, and it often strikes when least expected, but Mars also uses the lightning bolt to neutralize or destroy unbalanced forces so that we can then create and maintain balance. This card reveals that you are creating harmony within your personal sphere of influence through great discipline," the clown stated.

The Devil: Capricorn

"Capricorn is also associated with the Three of Pentacles," the clown continued, "Capricorn can appear terrifying to some people. Capricorn reveals all the life forces within the physical plane, some of which are powerful and beyond the control of human beings. We can let unbalanced forces imprison us in darkness, but we can slip out of our chains and experience all the life forces as dimensions of Universal Consciousness. That is why the Devil is holding up his right hand in a gesture of blessing. So this card suggests that you can see with the inner eye and experience the life forces in a positive way."

Fun House Portal

"I am now going to draw the third card, which represents the future," the clown stated. "The Six of Swords, Mercury in Aquarius, The Sun in Beauty." Another portal appeared and pulled me through it.

Six of Swords: Mercury in Aquarius, The Sun in Beauty

The clown continued, "This is another good card. Saturn, Mars, and Mercury exist on the Pillar of Severity on the left side of the Tree of Life. Mercury is Mars on a lower arc. Mercury enables the human intellect to envision and plan and manifest form--as well as the ability to envision the future to create a higher good."

The Magician: Mercury

"Mercury also enables us to understand the subtle energies known as the Elements of the Wise, Air, Fire, Spirit, Water, and Earth, which includes the triplicities of the zodiac and their ruling planets. Through Mercury, we can know the Beauty of the Sun and manifest all of the other subtle energies of the Tree of Life," the clown stated.

The Star: Aquarius

The clown continued, "And through Aquarius, we activate a higher awareness, which some call the higher self or the Holy Guardian Angel. Through Aquarius, we can see the world in different ways and safely reach distant shores. The mythological principle of Aquarius is 'The Opening of the Heart.' This card suggests that you have opened your heart so that you can continue to experience and manifest the energies of the dimensions of Universal Consciousness in the future."

The Fool

Suddenly I was standing again next to the Fool. "I hope that you have benefited from the reading and that you continue to enjoy our circus, my friend," the Fool stated as he bowed.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2024 by Jim Robbins.

Art Museum

smharm

00:00 / 05:40

MUSEUM DIVINATION

Paintings in the Art Museum

As I was riding my bike through the park, an old building caught my eye. I locked up my bike in front of the building and paid a small fee as I entered the front door. People were meandering through the rooms gazing at paintings. "Oh, this is an art museum," I realized. "I haven't been to an art museum in years. This might be fun!"

Bird Flying Out of Painting

I wandered through the rooms gazing at the works of art. As I was examining a forest scene, a blue bird flew out of the painting. "Did that really just happen?" I gasped.

Angel Stepping Out of Painting

I moved to the next painting and suddenly an angel stepped out of the picture. "This must be some new kind of holographic art that I haven't heard about!" I thought.

The Fool

A fool stepped out of the next picture. The fool spoke to me, "I can give you a Tarot reading if you would like."
I stepped back, my jaw nearly hitting the ground. "How can you give me a Tarot reading? You're not really real, are you?"
The fool grinned, "I am as real as you are, my friend."
I asked, "So the bird and the angel who came out of paintings are also real?"
"Of course," the fool replied. "The bird likes to leave the forest and explore the museum occasionally. The angel likes to hang out with open-minded people every now and then. She is known as 'The Angel of the Tarot.' You probably cannot see her right now, but she is standing right next to me."

Portal

"Okay, a Tarot reading might be fun. What kind of spread will you be using?" I asked.
"A four-card spread. The first three cards reveal the past, present, and future. The fourth provides advice," the fool responded. "With your permission, I will draw the first card."
I nodded my head, and suddenly a painting turned into a portal and pulled me in.

Death: Scorpio

Even though I seemed to be in another dimension, I could still hear the fool. "This card represents the past," the fool stated. "It is one of the most feared cards in the deck: Death, which represents Scorpio."
"This can't be good," I muttered.
Even though the fool seemed to be on the other side of the portal, he could somehow hear me. The fool replied, "That depends on your perspective. You have experienced the death of significant people in your life, and you have suffered the kind of grief that makes you examine the meaning of life and how you fit into the universe. Through much suffering, you have opened your heart. Death symbolizes transformation. Through your suffering, you now feel deep compassion and love for others, which is a significant transformation for you in your life."

Death Stepping Out of Painting

Suddenly the figure of death stepped out of a nearby painting. "Oh, my god!" I gasped. Many people ran away, but a few remained still, as though paralyzed by fear.
The fool continued, "A sudden and unexpected change can be difficult to accept or understand, but change is the only constant. Change can mire us in negativity or motivate us to grow. Knowing that death might be around the corner helps us to see from the perspective of eternity."

Portal

The fool continued, "I am going to draw the next card now, which represents the present." Suddenly another portal appeared near me and pulled me in.

The High Priestess: The Moon

"Ahhh, The High Priestess, who represents The Moon. This card appears to be proving my point," the fool stated. "The High Priestess knows all the paths of the Tree of Life. When you see from the perspective of eternity, you too can experience the paths of the Tree of Life and touch the dimensions of Universal Consciousness."

Moon Goddess

Suddenly a Moon Goddess stepped out of a painting near me. "I present the magical symbols that represent subtle spiritual forces to those who can see the spiritual dimensions in their mind's eye," she claimed. "In one tradition, I am known as the Holy Spirit. Through me you can experience a profound transformation. Once you understand the spiritual principle and force represented by a magical symbol, you can rise toward the Emanation of the Sun, also known as the Son of the trinity, where all form dissolves in light. From there you can experience the unity of the many in the One and the One in the many as you rise toward the Source of all creation."

Portal

"I am going to draw the next card now, which represents the future." Suddenly another portal appeared near me and pulled me in.

The Empress: Venus

"Nice, The Empress, who represents Venus," the fool stated. Again I could hear him even though I couldn't see him.

Venus Stepping Out of a Painting

Suddenly Venus stepped out of a painting near me. "I am the Goddess of Love, who represents Victory, the seventh Emanation of the Tree of Life," she stated. "I am also the Goddess of nature and the arts. Experiencing the splendor of nature and the beauty of the arts can open your heart and mind so that you know 'The Marriage of Heaven and Earth,' which is the mythological principle associated with the seventh Emanation of the Tree of Life. All creatures in nature, including people, are facets of Universal Consciousness. When you know and love other beings, you touch dimensions of Universal Consciousness, just as do when you journey on the paths of the Tree of Life. Love is what leads to 'The Marriage of Heaven and Earth."

Portal

Suddenly I again heard the voice of the fool. "I shall now draw the fourth card, which provides advice." I was soon pulled into another portal.

King of Swords: Air

"The King of Swords, who represents the element of Air," the fool stated.

King Stepping Out of a Painting

Suddenly a king stepped out of a painting near me and stated, "An important aspect of spiritual development is the expansion of the mind. The more enlightment and inspiration you experience, the more you experience the golden butterflies of transformation. With them, you can attain greater and greater heights as you touch the dimensions of Universal Consciousness." The king smiled and bowed, then disappeared back into the painting.

The Fool Stepping Back into a Painting

Suddenly I was standing next to the fool. "I hope that you have benefited from the reading," the fool stated as he bowed and stepped into a hallway that turned out to be a painting.
I shouted as the fool disappeared, "Thank you, my friend!" Then I thought to myself, "This is a great museum! I need to come here more often."

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2024 by Jim Robbins.

Shopping Mall

goddes

00:00 / 04:48

MALL DIVINATION

I hadn't shopped at a mall in many moons. In my younger years, even though everyone else seemed to think that malls were great places to shop and hang out, I eventually began to associate the nearby mall with conspicuous consumption and empty consumerism, and I had realized that I could spend months, even years, hanging out in a shopping mall without making any human or spiritual connections, but I needed some new clothes, so I decided to shop at the nearby mall one more time to find out if anything had changed.

Tarot Reader

On an emotional, mental, and spiritual level, nothing much had changed. Most people in the madding crowd avoided eye contact and rarely talked to each other. I quickly found the clothes I needed, but as I was leaving I encountered a young woman in a booth who looked me straight in the eye and asked if I would like a Tarot reading.
Since she was the only person in the mall who had looked directly at me, I smiled and blurted out, "Sure, why not? What kind of spread will you be using?"
"A four-card spread," she replied. "The first three cards reveal the past, present, and future, in that order. The fourth card provides advice."
"Great! Sounds like fun!" I exclaimed.

Eight of Swords: Jupiter in Gemini, Mercury in Splendor

The Tarot reader shuffled the deck and then drew the first card. "This card reveals the past. Ummm. The Eight of Swords: Jupiter in Gemini, Mercury in Splendor."
"Is that bad?" I asked.
"Not entirely. This card contains powerful positive energies as well as limiting negative energies."

Portal

Suddenly a portal appeared in the mall and pulled me in. Other people wandering through the mall didn't even notice.

Wheel of Fortune: Jupiter

Even though I seemed to be in a different dimension, I could still hear the Tarot reader's voice.
"Jupiter represents the fourth Emanation of the Tree of Life known as Mercy. The fourth Emanation is also known as 'Glory' and is referenced at the end of The Lord's Prayer, as in 'The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,' which suggests that Jesus Christ knew about the Tree of Life. Jupiter is a powerful God of upbuilding force who represents the magnificence, harmony, and abundance of the spirit. The spiritual experience of the fourth Emanation is the 'The Vision of Love,' and the mythological principle is 'Aspiration.' Remember that the energy of each Emanation of the Tree of Life, except for the two highest, contain a positive and negative pole. The positive pole in this Emanation is the aspiration to build up the world in a positive way for the highest possible good of all as well as the aspiration to know all the energies and dimensions of Universal Consciousness, the highest energy of which can be thought of as love within unity. The negative energy associated with Jupiter is known as 'The Breaker into Pieces,' which is, of course, the opposite of the ideal energy."
She paused for a moment, then continued. "In the card, the wheel reveals the change of fortune as it constantly turns. You can be a king one moment and lower than the dust the next. You can be destitute or imprisoned for a period of your life and then feel liberated from all false beliefs and negativity. The pharaoh at the top of the wheel is a sphinx, who represents the four basic elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, like the golden animals in the corners of the card. The four elements represent the triplicities of the zodiac and their ruling planets, in other words, all of the subtle spiritual energies represented by the Tree of Life. If you explore the Tree of Life and experience the dimensions of Universal Consciousness, you can become like a sphinx, a magnificent spiritual being who manifests the energies of Universal Consciousness in the Kingdom."

The Lovers: Gemini

The Tarot Reader continued, "I'm sorry. I can get a little long-winded sometimes. Let's move on to the card known as 'The Lovers,' which represents Gemini. In other words, the planet Jupiter rules the zodiac sign Gemini, which is revealed by the decan correspondence associated with this card. The Lovers depicts paradise regained by Adam and Eve. The Archangel Raphael, 'Healer of God,' invites humanity back to Eden. This card on a deeper level reveals the healing and integration of three levels of the individual psyche. Adam and Eve represent the duality of the male and female aspects of the human psyche. Raphael represents the soul of the individual, which evolves through many experiences. The sun behind Raphael's head represents the divine core of the individual. One can experience a process of healing so that all three aspects of the mind are purified and liberated and integrated, in other words. By experiencing the dimensions of Universal Consciousness represented by The Tree of life, we can experience the unity of all aspects of the self and all creation. In that sense, we can regain paradise."

The Magician: Mercury

The Tarot reader continued, "We have examined the decan correspondence of the Eight of Swords. Now we need to examine the Tree of Life association. Because this Number card is an Eight, it is associated with Mercury in the eighth Emanation of the Tree of Life known as Splendor. In this Emanation we experience the energies of the human mind, which includes the intellect. This card has an alternate title: Lord of Shortened Force." In other words, the human intellect can limit or 'shorten' force through thought. Human thought and imagination can create splendor, or they can imprison people, even a whole society, in false or destructive beliefs. An authoritarian leader, for instance, might believe he is like a god, above the rest of humanity and above the law. On the other hand, people can imprison themselves with their own false beliefs. If you look carefully at the woman in the card, you will see that her bonds are loose, and her blindfold looks like it is about to fall off. The energies associated with Jupiter and Gemini could liberate her. Mercury might also liberate her since she can, like the Magician, work with the four elements, which can also free her as she touches the dimensions of Universal Consciousness."

Portal

She continued, "It is time now to focus on the second card in the spread, which represents the present." Suddenly I was drawn into another portal as she drew the card.

Judgement: Fire

"Ahhh, Judgement, a card that represents the subtle element of Fire. Think about Fire for a moment--Fire can destroy, but it can also cleanse and purify. In this card, we see the Archangel Gabriel purifying the souls of the dead as they rise from the tombs that had imprisoned them, and they hold up their hands in joyful liberation. A flag with a red equal-armed cross flies from Gabriel's trumpet. The red balanced cross not only represents the four elements in harmony with each other--it also symbolizes compassion. These souls are experiencing the power of the four Elements of the Wise and the dimensions of Universal Consciousness. They know the underlying unity all creation and therefore also feel compassion for their brothers and sisters and all the creatures of the earth."

Toy Shop Portal

The Tarot reader continued, "It is time now to draw the third card, which represents the future." The Tarot reader drew the Six of Cups. I was suddenly drawn into another portal. This time I ended up in a toy shop.

Six of Cups: Sun in Scorpio, Sun in Beauty

"The Six of Cups, The Sun in Scorpio, The Sun in Beauty. This is one of the best cards in the deck. An adult figure, often described as a dwarf, hands a flower in a golden cup to a child, who accepts the gift with open arms. This is an act of compassion and love, which reveals an acceptance of otherness and diversity. They are able to trust each other enough to experience the joy of giving and receiving. This card suggests the awakening of the heart and mind, which is similar to the card 'Judgement.' Perhaps the positive energies of the present will carry on into the future."

The Sun

She continued, "The Sun, associated with the sixth Emanation of the Tree of Life, is the source of all life within the Kingdom. On the Tree of Life, The Sun is the center of equilibrium and symbolizes the awakening of the mind to the divinity of all life. The spiritual experiences of the sixth Emanation, known as Beauty, are 'The Vision of Harmony' and 'The Mysteries of the Crucifixion.' Through compassion and love, we create and maintain harmony in ourselves, in our family, in the community. Sacrifice of some kind is almost always involved in the creation of balance. Some people give their life for others. Some people neutralize negative forces to create balance. Some people work for the highest good of others through their religion or their political activities. Some people create works that exalt the soul. Creating and maintaining beauty and harmony often requires great sacrifice."

Death: Scorpio

She continued, "But it also often requires a great transformation. On the Tree of Life, the path represented by the Tarot card known as 'Death' connects with the Emanation of the Sun. In the Tarot, the card Death represents Scorpio. A great transformation of some kind can feel like a kind of death, and that is represented by three symbols: the scorpion, the snake, and the eagle. The scorpion is an earthly creature. The snake is too, but it experiences a kind of rebirth as it sheds its skin. Through the process of rebirth, we can rise from our limited earthly nature to see from the perspective of eternity, like the eagle. We can experience the vision of harmony and know the mysteries of sacrifice, the spiritual experiences associated with The Sun. People often fear this process of rebirth as much as they fear death because it can cause a profound inner change which motivates them to adopt values that are different from the values of the other people in their society. They can experience other spiritual dimensions and know that all energy is holy and all life is divine, which enables them to see beyond materialism and empty consumerism. On the physical plane and within the inner planes, the sun is an extremely powerful influence."

Food Court Portal

The Tarot reader stated, "It is time now for a little advice." As she drew the fourth card, I was drawn through another portal.

Three of Wands: The Sun in Aries, Saturn in Understanding

"Aw, very interesting," she mused. "The Three of Wands: The Sun in Aries, Saturn in Understanding. The Sun is obviously having an extremely powerful and positive influence on you. This card suggests that through adventure and exploration, you see the big picture. You have become free enough now to experience the dimensions of this plane and the dimensions of Universal Consciousness."

The Emperor: Aries

She continued, "The Sun in Aries is the decan correspondence of this card. We have already talked about The Sun, so let's talk a little about Aries. The Emperor sits on a throne in a world of molten change. In other words, his dynamic masculine energy enables him to maintain stability in a world of flux. The path of The Emperor originates in connects the Emanation of The Sun with the most dynamic, masculine energy in the cosmos, represented by the second Emanation on the Tree of Life known as Wisdom. Aries is also associated with spring and rebirth, hence the poppies at his feet. He is a powerful figure who understands the need for sacrifice to maintain harmony in his kingdom. Through the mysteries of sacrifice, he maintains spiritual dominion in a world of fire and flux."

The World: Saturn

She continued, "Saturn is the Tree of Life association represented by the Tarot card known as 'The World.' Saturn is associated with the third Emanation on the Tree of Life known as Understanding. The mythological principle of the path is 'The Descent into the Underworld.' Sometimes we must go down in order to rise and experience all of the dimensions of the four elements, as well as the fifth element of Spirit." A figure dances within a victory wreath with a red ribbon in the shape of an infinity symbol at the top and bottom holding it together. Animals representing the four elements surround the wreath. On this path, we can either descend or ascend. If we descend, we can know the elements as they manifest in the physical plane. If we ascend we can know the elements as they manifest in the spiritual dimensions. In that way, we come to know ourselves. Adventure almost always involves risk, but the more we explore the world and our inner selves, the more we touch the dimensions of Universal Consciousness."

Tarot Reader in Booth

Suddenly I was back with the Tarot reader, who was still sitting in her booth. "Thank you so much!" I exclaimed. "That was quite an insightful reading as well as an amazing journey!"
The Tarot reader looked me straight in the eye. "Your welcome!" she replied. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey here."

Leaving the Mall

I smiled and wandered through the mall for awhile. "This mall is much more interesting than it used to be!" I thought as I was leaving.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2024 by Jim Robbins.

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