So concludes another rotation of the Earth around Sol. By the Gregorian calendar, at least, counting from the approximated birth date of the Christian Savior. For many years now I have also counted my year Samhain-to-Samhain, emphasized by the fact that my birthday is only seven days after. And most recently, I have also come to live and die by the academic calendar, which is not quite half done. By any of those counts, though, this has not been the best year ever. Not by a wide margin.
It’s been a trial-by-fire since the end of the last Spring semester: going back to the mall for the summer, but somehow not making enough money to actually cover my rent; an art class that consumed twice as much time and energy as it was supposed to; higher costs of education combined with a slightly smaller financial aid package—culminating in the very real possibility that I might not have been able to go back to classes in January if I had not been able to find work over the break; financial policy madness in the United States which may STILL reduce my financial aid to the point where I am unable to finish my degree; fewer friends on campus and fires all over the terrain of my social life; the paranoia and insanity associated with Chaos Magick; and, just for spice, a little bit of inheritance drama on my father’s side of the family.
Don’t get me wrong: I’ve gotten a lot done, magically, and there’s been some significant awesomeness in my personal and academic lives. I finished off the ceremonial experiment and started Project Null, and in doing so I’ve made friends and inroads all over the cosmos. I’ve come to new levels of understanding and communication with my lovers and our burgeoning polyamory. I’ve solidified a few friendships, and maybe even started a couple new ones. Despite the exhausting workload, I ended the semester with a 3.69 GPA, bringing my cumulative at the new school up to 3.44. And yet, especially as I look a the two lists … it definitely doesn’t weigh out the way I want it to.
So fuck you 2012. Good riddance.
With that in mind, I did a Tarot reading for the coming year. My card for the year is the XX Aeon; as I was shuffling, I also caught glimpses of the XVI Tower and XXI the Universe. When I did a full spread, 0 the Fool, XIII Death, XIX the Sun, and VI the Lovers were all prominent, as were the Queen of Wands and the Page of Swords. II the Priestess and XVII the Star also made appearances. Except for Death in my 10th House (professional recognition; clarified as 6 Swords, not III the Empress), the reading is overwhelmingly positive.
Sure, that could be the 6 of Swords as “travel” not “fleeing disaster”, but … I don’t like that shiny red reset button blinking on my career dashboard. It makes me nervous. I don’t graduate until 2014. This is the year I take the GRE and start filling out grad school applications. An ill-timed “Death” in my professional life …. well, y’all get the idea.
When I get back to the Sunrise Temple – I’m in Kansas City with Aradia for the winter break – I’ll compare this reading with the annual I did at Samhain. This should be … interesting.