Tarot Yin & Yang - The Wheel of Fortune & The Wolrd, part 9

The Wheel of Fortune aligns harmoniously with the Tarot World card. The primary alignment deals with the four winged angels in each corner.

Starting in the upper right there is an eagle, winged lion, winged ox, and finally an angel - all are seated in the clouds. In the four corners of The World the same pattern repeats but it is a close up of their faces. These divine creatures in the four corners are influenced by the mysterious creatures described in the biblical book of Ezekiel.

In the Wheel of Fortune the four angels are each studying a book. But in the The World they have abandoned their books and convey a regal dominance over their studies in their assigned corner.

The Wheel of Fortune is popularly known as a game show hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. But the concept of a wheel of fortune or wheel of fate goes back thousands of years before the rise of the Roman Empire. This seemingly random fate of ones fortune has been associated with a spinning wheel.

This Tarot Wheel of Fortune interestingly has Hebrew written upon it. Starting from Hebrew Letter Yod and going either clockwise or counterclockwise it spells the Hebrew Word for God. The wheel also has English letters upon it. Starting from the Letter T and going clockwise it spells out TAROT, but from the same starting position and going counterclockwise it spells out TORA. There are also some alchemical symbols that have a coded meaning.


The card for The World conserves the circular shape of the Wheel of Fortune with a green wreath. It is tied with two red ribbon at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. The mythical red and blue creatures of the Wheel of Fortune are gone. Rather a women suspended in the air apparently by her own will, holds two wands and is wearing a purple sash. She rests at the center of her world - confident, cool, and collected.

In the New Testament the four creatures were often associated with the four Gospels - the winged lion is associated with St. Mark, the winged bull is tied to St. Luke, the Eagle is linked to St. John and finally the angel is represented by St. Matthew. This Gospel-majestic creature association was evident in the 7th century Lindisfarne Gospels - see below.

LINK TO PART 10

(click the picture below for a more clear image)

Tarot Yin & Yang - Emperor & Empress, part 8

The Emperor and Empress make a harmonious pair, obviously they match as male and female rulers over an Empire. The Emperor and Empress sit upon thrones and both carry a golden metal wand in their hands. The wand of the Empress is capped with a golden ball while the Emperor holds a golden ball in his left hand.

Their thrones differ in traditional expectations of men and women. The Empress sits in a relaxed pose on a throne on several pillows. On the other hand the Emperor sits on a hard stone throne while wearing armor. The Emperor is for business and the Empress rules for pleasure.

The backgrounds also differ like Yin and Yang. The Emperor's office has no trees, it is reflective of modern industrial development. The background is desolate, hard, rocky, and lifeless. The Empress's office is the complete opposite. There are trees, grasses, bushes, and healthy crop of wheat in the foreground.


The Empress and Emperor mirror Mars and Venus. There is a heart shaped icon below the Empress and on it is the planetary symbol for Venus - which is also the symbol for woman. The Emperor card does not show us the planetary symbol for Mars which also the symbol for male, but the four ram heads are visible at the far corners of his grey throne.

LINK TO PART 9

Tarot Yin & Yang - Strength & the Star, part 7

In the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, strength is tied to the star. The first yin-yang aspect is of day and night. The woman of Strength is bending over to tame the lion during in the day, while Star woman is kneeling at the waters edge at night.

The woman of Strength is fully clothed but the woman of the star is completely nude. The clothed woman is occupied with a Lion. This imagery not only refers a show of stregth towards external issues, but having the inner strength to tame the passionate Lion within.

The woman of the Star conveys a different message. She is pouring water into a pond and upon the earth. Her nakedness shows that she at ease with her naked self exposing her will and emotions. She no longer has to hold in emotions, but rather let them flow in a calm and serene manner.

The background of these cards reflect a Yin and Yang dynamic. There are trees in the background of the Strenth that lie below a blue hill in the distance. But in the Star card the paradigm has shifted, rather a tree is planted on hill that has higher ground than the purple hills in the background.


Besides women, both cards have animals of opposite temperaments. The lion of Strength in the foreground is tied to the bird perched on a tree in the background of the Star. People need not fear our avian cousins but a lion is the most fearsome of our earthly neighbors. The roar of lion and song of a bird are two dialects that stir our hearts in different ways.

Eight eight pointed stars are visible on the star card. The central star above the nude woman is shining the brightest. Above the clothed woman is an infinity symbol. Just as their is an infinite power in our universe - the stars at night seem to sing of this infinite power.

These two cards show women interacting with their environment. One woman demonstrates her power over the world by dominating the King of Beasts, while the other humbly returns the what she taken back to he earth. She dose not dump it carelessly, but with a keen sense, carefully with one leg on land (logically) and another in the water (emotionally).

LINK TO PART 8

Tarot Yin & Yang - The Hierophant & Justice, part 6

The Hierophant and Justice feature two men dressed in red robes sitting on a grey throne with two solid grey pillars on their left and right. Their crowns are golden - Justice wears a crown with three square helms and the Hierophant wears a triple crown reminscent of the Pope.

In many Tarot Decks the Hierophant is called the Pope, but the term Hierophant is more general of any spiritual doctrine. But no matter, the imagery of the Pope is conserved with the papal cross keys at the Hierophants feet.

These two cards tells of divine law and man made laws or rather the reality that man has discovered and of the higher reality that religious leaders are aware of. Likewise law men and women - police, judges, and lawyers.............(under construction)

LINK TO PART 7

Tarot Yin & Yang - The Fool & The Hermit, part 5

The Fool and the Hermit are linked by the dynamic dichotomy of youth and old age, or rather an immature neophyte and wise elder.

Their cards differ like night and day. The Fool seems to be trotting off a cliff in broad daylight with the shining sun at his back, while the Hermit stands at attention on a dark moonless midnight hour. The Fool wears an elaborate, fancy shirt full of vitality but the Hermit wears a plain grey robe.

Both of these men carry a stick. The Fool uses his wand to carry his material belongings in a manicured purse, while the Hermit uses his golden staff for balance on his high ground.


The Fool holds a white rose in his left hand - that symbolizes his innocence. In stark contrast, the Hermit holds a lantern of enlightenment - to guide those below. The lantern shines as a golden six pointed star.

These Tarot Cards illustrate the common theme of youthful indiscretion versus the wise man of the mountain. Whatever your stage in life or personal endeavor in a martial art, work, life or love - these two cards represent the two extremes of a journey.

The Hermit is a serious card. The man's dress, stature, and imagery convey humble and almost divine calling, while the imagery of the fool is lighthearted, playful, and of course foolish.


Back in 1971 the Hermit gained a note popularity thanks to Led Zeppelin. The design of The Hermit was used on the inside cover art of Led Zeppelin's fourth album. The Hermit is associated with one of their most popular songs - A Stairway to Heaven. You can often find lyrics printed beside the image of The Hermit. In this song the wondering English Minstrels tell us of a foolish stairway to heaven...they combine ancient instruments with modern rock. Perhaps Led Zeppelin will have to write a song that is inspired by the fool?

LINK TO PART 6

Tarot Yin & Yang - The Lovers & the Devil, part 4

The Lovers Tarot Card
the card of love

It is nothing new that the Tarot Lovers Card is considered the complement to the Tarot Devil Card. One card exudes 'Love' white the other shows us 'Hate.'

Both cards feature a nude Man and Woman. The Lovers are reminiscent of the the Garden of Eden. There is even a serpent in a tree behind the woman.

In the Lovers Cards the woman stands in front of a tree that bears an orange fruit, while the man stand in front of a tree that bears a flaming leaf. In the Devil's Card the fruits of the tress have become attached to the naked man and women as tails. At the end of the woman's tail is a purple fruiting body - perhaps a bunch of grapes. She is aware that she is picking at it as if to offer it to the man. The man also has a tail with a flaming leaf but the Devil is flaming his passion by goating him with torch.

When combined the dichotomy of an Angel and Devil are apparent. Their colours are even counter charged. The Angel of the Lovers is wearing a purple robe and has red avian wings, while the Devil has purple bat wings and a red body. The Angel appears at high noon when the sun is directly overhead and clearly shines a loving energy, while the Devil appears in darkness. The light hidden and occulted.

The Angel has golden skin while the devil has horns on his head. The Angel intuitively appears loving, while the Devil is frightening.

The Devil Card
the card Hate

The Angel appears out the clouds and shows the lovers that they are to be united. But the Devil sits on a black monolith that chains the lovers around their necks. The Devil is the less than friendly middle man who keeps the lovers in a wicked bondage.

The Devils hands are in two different positions. The Devil has his right hand over the woman with a tattoo upon it. While his left hand holds a torch that manipulates the flaming tail of the man.

The Devil is manipulating man and woman, or two points of view for his own benefit. One of the Devils most powerful tool is hatred - it is his perfect tool that allows it to control and manipulate lovers, families, and nations.

The Devil has an upside down pentagram on his head. The suit of pentacles also has pentagrams, but they are right side up and surrounded by a circle. This pentacle suit usually deals with earthly issues or advancement - wealth, trade, and life skills. But an upside down pentagram symbolizes a corruption of earth skills or rather greed.

These two tarot cards match in design like yin and yang or rather - love and hate.

LINK TO PART 5

Tarot Yin & Yang - the High Priestess & the Chariot, part 2

The High Priestess is aligned with Chariot for several reasons. Firstly they have a balance of black and white via the pillars of the High Priestess and black and white sphinxes.

In scientific terms the pillars represent potential energy while the chariot is its complement - kinetic energy. The High Priestess is holding the TORAH in her hands, which is considered by many the most important part of the Old Testament. Over her heart she wears an equal length white cross. In balance to that the Charioteer has rectangle of equal length -a square - in the center of his chest. He holds a wand that acts the 'steering wheel' on the unharnessed sphinxes.

Another common element is their sky blue dress and both wear crescent moons. The woman wears a crown that has rims that that look like the phases of the moon and by her feet there is a golden crescent. The man has two golden crescents hidden in his shoulder pads.

The colourful cloth behind the woman reflects a pattern of Mother Nature, while the drapery around the man reflects a pattern of the Night Sky - or rather Father Sky.

The black and white pillars next to woman have the letters B and J written upon them. This is in reference to the two sacred bronze columns at Solomon's Temple - Boaz & Jachin. Boaz is painted black and translates from Hebrew as 'Divine Strength.' Jachin is also a Hebrew word that approximately means, 'Holy Foundation.' In between these pillars sits the High Preistess holding a sacred document - the Torah. By no accident the chariot looks like Chupah - the four pillared Jewish 'wedding gazebo.'


On a side note, the Pillars of Boaz and Jachin are important in Freemasonry. The pillars found on the Tarot High Priestess card can often be found on Masonic Aprons. If you click on the Masonic Apron to the left you can see more clearly the letters 'J' and 'B' on the columns - but on this apron they are on opposite sides when compared to the High Priestess.

It's no accident that this deck of Tarot Cards uses Masonic Imagery, since the artist was belonged to the Golden Dawn. An organization with similar rituals and coded secrets. However Golden Dawn was co-ed, Freemasonry is not.

The pillars of Solomon of the High Priestess are a natural counterbalance to the black and white sphinxes of Ancient Egypt. In a way the mystery of Solomon's Temple is on par with the mysticism associated with the Magical Sphinx.


LINK TO PART 4

(Part 3 not allowed by Google)

Tarot Yin & Yang - Death & the Sun, Part 1

Suits of Playing &

Tarot Cards Compared

In this eleven part series, the 22 Trump Cards will be presented in 'flag symmetry' order. Flags like Tarot Cards convey a deep sense of symbolism. Flags are symbols of nations, likewise Tarot Cards are symbols of the human condition.

Tarot Cards are related to playing cards. Essentially the four suits match up with four suits of a Tarot Deck of cards. Clubs match to Wands, Diamonds match Pentacles, Hearts match to Cups, and Spades match to Swords. Tarot decks have Royal suits - Kings, Queens, and Jacks...but instead of a Jack or Knave there is Page for Tarot.

Tarot Cards also have an extra royal suit called a Knight - that ranks above a Page and below a Queen. Imagine if regular cards had a extra royal suit. How much fun would that be?

The most important difference between a regular deck of cards and Tarot Deck is that Tarot has 22 trump cards - also known as Major Arcana. Essentially Trump Cards are related to varied personal challenges that an individual must deal with in life - if it is to be lived fully.

One should wisely use the hand that fate has deals you, since "you'll never know what life will deal you next" - Jack Dalton of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.



The cards used in these posts are from the most popular deck - the Rider-Waite Deck. This deck is grounded to the English Language and Judeo-Christian tradition.

There is no better place to begin with than two cards that feature flags - DEATH & THE SUN.

The flag of Death has a black background and features a wholly white rose similar to that of English Royalty. The flag is square like a military regimental flag. A human skeleton in black armor is holding the flag with its left hand and is riding a white horse.

The flag of the Sun is wholly red and extends lengthwise beyond the bottom of the card with no seeming end. In contrast to the Death Card a naked child wearing a wreath of flowers joyfully rides towards us on a white horse. But the white horse of the sun is unharnessed. It is essentially naked like the child. The child is crowed in a red feather in its fullness, also the black skeleton knight has red feather that has wilted on his helmets crest.

The sun can be found on both flags. The sun in the Death Card is at the point of transition on the upper horizon. Whether the sun is rising or setting an unwelcome change marches on. While the sun of the Sun Card is high in sky - in full splendor.

The Death Card and Sun Card are a balance of life in the beginning and at its end. Where do souls come from and where do they go? Both are 'horsemen' bearing two different flags. Likewise life & death are two interlinked concepts like Yin and Yang.

LINK TO PART 2

Origins of the Rattle Snake Flag - May 9 1751, not May 9 1754

260 years ago Benjamin Franklin published an sarcastic note entitled To the Printers of the Gazette - May 9, 1751.

In this article Franklin addresses the Empire's issue of sending "Felons" to the Colonies. In order to balance this immigration policy, Franklin suggests that North American Rattle snakes should then be sent back to England.

Ben wrote on today 260 years ago... "And Rattle-Snakes seem the most suitable Return for the Human Serpents sent us by our Mother Country. In this, however, as in every other Branch of Trade, she will have the Advantage of us. She (England) will reap equal benefits without equal risque of the Inconveniences and Dangers. For the Rattle-Snake gives Warning before he attempts his Mischief, which the Convict does not. I am."

Yours, Americanus
Gazette (May 9, 1751)

Three years later on May 9, 1754, Franklin printed his famous rattle snake image that became an American Symbol on several US flags. Did Ben Franklin have a fondness for May 9th? Maybe it's just a coincidence? Franklin was many things - insightful, creative, thoughtful, calculating, sarcastic, and keenly aware of natural cycles. He published an Almanac after all.

Franklin's Famous Rattle Snake Image
Printed in 1754, three years after
" I Am Americanus" Immigration Proposal

In any case Franklin shook his patriotic rattle in a threatening tone towards England three years before his famous rattle snake print was printed.

It seems the association of the rattle snake with America was set in Franklin's mind, long before his famous "JOIN, or DIE" rattle-snake print of 1754.

Happy Mother's Day, 2011

Mothers Day Flag
Mother & Daughter Jarvis

In honor of Mothers Day, here is a Mother's Day flag. Mother's Day took its form under the guidance of Ann Marie Jarvis and her mother Ann Maria Jarvis.

In order to distinguish the founders of Mother's Day it will be a bit easier to refer to them as Daughter Marie and Mother Maria.

Mother Maria was born in Virginia when it was still united with West Virginia 1832 in Culpeper County. Culpeper county is also vexillologically famous for Culpeper County Minute Men Flag from the US Revolution of 1776.

Culpeper Minute Men Flag 1775
Clupeper County later became a
birthplace of Mother's Day due to US Civil War
under the leadership of the Jarvis Family

Daughter Marie was born in West Virginia a year after it had broken away from Mother Virginia on May 1, 1864. West Virginia officially separated from the older eastern Virginia on June 20, 1863.

Likewise Virginia is considered to be the 'Mother State' of the United States, since Virginia is the oldest. The American Dream, at least in English started in Virginia, without interruption.


History books also call Virginia the Mother of Presidents since many of the early and founding father presidents of were born there: Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taylor, Wilson, and of course the grandest of all - Washington.

In honor of this privileged position I have created a Mother's Day Flag that combines the state flags of Virginia and West Virginia, since both states coincidentally gave birth to the founders of Mother's Day - as it is in the USA. The blue border and cross wreath are taken from West Virginia, while the inner head wreath is from the current flag of Virginia. In the center are portraits of the Jarvises - Mom Jarvis on the right and Daughter Jarvis on the left.

Mother Maria Jarvis organized women to help injured men on both sides of the US Civil War and became a pacifist. She like many other women and men thought a day to honor motherhood would help reconcile the tragedies of Civil War.

West VA Flag with Mother's Day Founder

Mother Maria Jarvis never lived to see Mother's Day officially adopted. But Daughter Marie Jarvis did, in 1914 under the last US President born in "Unbroken Virginia" - President Wilson.

Soviet Union & Red Afghan Flag - Fraternal Partners

Soviet Red Flag of Afghanistan
1978-1980

The flag of the Soviet Union is partnered up with the Red Soviet Flag of Afghanistan. From 1978 unto 1980 these flags were harmoniously aligned in the last quarter of the Cold War.

The scythe is simply a farm tool but when combined with the hammer - it became the essential icon of Communism.

The red flag of Afghanistan was the final harvest for the Soviet Union. In the 1980s the Red Army would fight is final fight against Islamic Militants & Osama Bin Laden.

Previously the Soviet Union was America's greatest ally against Nazi Europe and Imperial Japan. But soon afterwards the Soviet Union and United States became fierce political rivals that erupted into the Cold War - or rather World War III. It was fought on all five continents and in outer space.


The last of nations to raise a Red Communist Flag was Afghanistan. Both flags have yellow stars in the crest position. The Red Afghani flag officially flew for three years. It features a cross-wreath of wheat wrapped in a red ribbon. This harmoniously aligns with the scythe of the Soviet Emblem, since wheat is the primary crop associated with the sickle.

But the reaper also represents death. The conjunction of these flags hint at a notion of life and death. Likewise bread is a symbol of life. The Afghan flag has Arabic Script written upon it. In the center is reads in Pashtu "Khxalaq," which means the "Masses." On the banner written near the compartment is "Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, April 1378 (Islamic Calendar)."


During the proverbial sunset of the Cold War, the United States and her Mujahideen Allies delivered the death blow to an ailing and economically frustrated Soviet Union in the 1980s. Afterwards, the Soviets abandoned their social-political efforts in Afghanistan, and their Communist Forms dissolved into the history books.

After the smoke of the Cold War settled, the free and wild wildly contested Central Asian Region gave birth to the Taliban, which became a protective harbor for Osama bin Laden, until 9/11.

Flag of the Soviet Union
1922-1991

A generation later, the United States was fated to follow in the wake of the Red Army's Last Stand.

CLOSE UP OF SOVIET & RED AFGHAN FLAGS

The Fireman Cross-Shiled

Not all fire departments use this design, but is popular. The fireman's cross-shield is a specific kind of design used all across America.

The firefighter cross is basically a convoluted equilateral cross. In the four wings are various symbols and/or words fill the void.

Even in Hollywood land, the television show Resecue Me that stars Dennis Leary uses the fireman logo.

It's kind of like the Bat Signal - but for real ordinary superheroes.

A Stylized NYC pin with a stylized flag design
that uses six stripes instead of thirteen











Even in Hollywood land, the television show Resecue Me that stars Dennis Leary uses the fireman logo.

50th Anniversary of US SPACE FLIGHT

Mission of Patch of the USA's
first launch of an Astronaut on Cinco de Mayo 1961

50 years ago today, America entered the elite club of human spaceflight. But a foreign holiday has ursuped the lime light of this historical and epic flight.

It must be easier to make money off Cinco de Mayo? Most of the media outlets in the United States gave mucho air time to this St. Patty's Day-like holiday, that celebrates a military victory of another nation? Just Amazing!

50 years ago Cinco De Mayo was not a holiday! Perhaps it's only fair that someday in the future the USA should celebrate a French Canadian battle victory over the British? That holiday would of course be sponsored by Molson, Canada Dry, and LeBatt? Perhaps it could be celebrated in late September. A drinking holiday sounds good about then. This might be trendy once an immigrant group gets enough power in the US, it can celebrate its own patriotic drinking holiday when it beat up some other nation?

Of course these holidays must fall on and occult important American moments in history. Like the day the Wright brothers built an airplane back in 1903. We could insert and make up an American-Chilean Holiday when they fought against Peru and made them land locked nation.

The important thing is to market it properly and sell it with a theme and specific kind of alcoholic beverage.

Final Example: Sake, Japan, Cherry Blossom and their Naval victory over Russia in 1905 = new holiday...any takers?


Alan B Shepard
the first American in Outer Space
Who Cares! It's Cinco De Mayo!

Let's Celebrate a Military Victory of another nation!

Please note that Cinco De Mayo is for Mexico only. Guatemalans, Puerto Ricans, Panamanians and other nations of Latin America are not included.

It is not a Pan-Latin American holiday that celebrates culture.

Makes you think what kind of new "American" holidays are just around the corner?

Intersex & Bi-Sexual Flag - Yin & Yang of Body and Mind

Bi-sexual Pride Flag

Much of the world is familiar with the Rainbow Flag as being associated with Gay Pride. One generational line is that Generation X - can remember a time when Rainbows were used for kids and Noah's Ark only. If you can remember a time when rainbows were not associated with gay people then you were born after Generation X. You may be a part of Generation Y or I (Generation I can not remember a time before the INTERNET).

However within this 'Rainbow Nation' there are other types of 'transgendered' flags. One being the Bi-sexual flag, and the other being the Intersex flag. The Intersex flag has six stripes arranged horizontally. There are tree pink stripes, two white stripes, and one blue stripe.

The Bi-sexual Pride flag is typically a horizontal tri-bar. It has blue on the bottom and red-pink up top. In the middle is a thinner purple stripe.

Usually gay people are attracted to their own gender. But there are some people in the who seem to have one foot in the gay community and another in straight community. Many people, gay and straight, can not wrap their heads around these so called 'switch hitters.' Apparently being gay or straight for bi-sexual people is a choice.

In a similar tone the intersex flag uses the colours pink and blue. It has six stripes - three pink, two white and one blue. The fourth and third stripe are merged, this symbolically indicates that this personal has both male and female tissues.

Intersex Flag

The intersex are sort of like unicorns, but are not imaginary!

The intersex vary in degrees of a mixed gender. At one end there are men who grow mammary tissue - Gynecomastia.

At the other end there are people who develop both male and female reproductive organs in varying degrees. In the previous millennium these real life XX-Men & XY Women were kept hidden from the public spotlight, due fear and shame. But recently, these people born in between a male and female gender are speaking up.

Society is less judgmental towards intersex people - since they were made that way. But with bi-sexual people, it is a tougher nut to crack since this issue is seemingly behavioral.

"The Intersex" may be the ace of spades for the Gay Pride Movement

Judgement Day - May 21 2011?

May 21, 2011
Red, Blue, Green Guidon Flags

Recently a group under the leadership of Harold Camping has made its name known in media and across billboards of America. This group firmly believes that the Biblical Prophecy of Judgement Day will manifest on May 21, 2011 - in less than three weeks.

They have made many fliers, broadsides, and posters foretelling of this event. Two of designs have caught my eye since they feature flags. One design features eight long trumpets with guidons hanging along the horn. These flags are essentially guidons of a solid colour - either red, blue, or green.

Internet Broadside with
"official" national Flags

In another Internet-broadside uses the flags of actual nations. Starting in the front is the red banner socialism, then Belgium, then Jamaica, then Canada, then a white flag (which could be Israel, Japan, Korea, Cyprus), followed by a Nigerian Flag, and finally a unknown blue flag. Does this mean that these nations will have a special role on Judgement Day, or was it all random?

Instead of simply announcing that the end times are approaching this message goes out of its way to cross out 2012. This makes no sense.

Groups like this has come and gone, and certainly will come again. These doomsday holy writ end is near phenomena demonstrate the power of holy scripture over the human mind. It is powerful force that commands my respect and evokes a heart felt response. They offer us an introspective account on our purpose here on Earth. They make me wonder about the meaning of life and the infinite dimensions all around us.

In my judgment this group has an imbalance of intuition over logic - via too much intuition and not enough logic. In any case on May 21, 2011- many people will ponder the meaning of life, which is good.

Essentially my feeling about this group and groups of this nature is or - Click Link YOUTUBE

May Day! May Day! Osama is Out!

Osama is out! How do I feel? After hearing Obama's speech....

(CLICK THE LINK)

Ride that Midnight Angel!

May is Taurus Month

The flag of Uri

'Swiss State'

Taurus the bull is the lead in sign for the month of May. In honor of this bullish season when things are growing and natural abundance is all around we have the bull.

For stock investors a bullish market is no bull. In corporate investor universe they use metaphors of the bull and bear. When the industrial averages go up they call it a bull market, likewise Taurus the Bull occurs in springtime when Mother Nature expands her production line.

The Yin and Yang of a Stock Market :BEAR vs BULL
Frankfort Stock Market - Germany

On the other hand, a Bear Market does not necessarily imply a bunch of husky, seasoned, and well groomed single men - who dress well.

A Bear Market is subconsciously related to the phenomena of hibernation, and the onset of autumn. Bears eat a lot of food in order to prepare for the long hard winter. Thus when the stock market averages seem to be shrinking and the economy slows (sort of like Fall) - they call it a bear market.

The association of the Bull and Taurus with a rising stock market coincidentally aligns with the awakening of spring. But this is a biased Northern Hemepherian perspective. May for South Hemesphrites is not associated with a revival of life but rather the peaceful downsizing of Autumn.

Royal Wedding - Prince William and Princess Kate

It happened yesterday! In honor of these regal event, a British Wedding portrait flag was printed.

Basically its the flag of the United Kingdom with a portrait of Prince William and now, Princess Kate.

Willow Grove Park Flag and John Sousa

Willow Grove Park Flag
the conductor is supposed to be Sousa

Willow Grove Park just outside of Philadelphia. Originally it was a classic Victorian Park. Later John Sousa made it his home stage, and favorite gig to play at. John Sousa is the musician responsible for the patriotic core of American Marching Band Music.

John Sousa was originally born in DC, and as a child was witness to the Civil War, no doubt this played a formative role on young "Johnny Patriot" Sousa.

Not only was Sousa a part of the conservative establishment, he also lived the American dream with a career that spanned Circus (before TV & Hollywood). On the other end, Sousa also became chair of the US Marine Corps band.

Today, Willow Grove Park has lost much her Marching Band-Victorian luster. Willow Grove is now an elegant three storied shopping mall. But the legacy of John Philip Sousa lives on.

One last piece of the heyday Victorian musical park atmosphere has been preserved - the Merry Go Round. At the entrance to Willow Grove Park's Carousel Entrance fly three flags - the US Flag, Pennsylvania State Flag, and Willow Grove Park Flag.


Video about Modern Willow Grove Park 2010
wile playing Stars and Stripes Forever