In-AUGUR-ation

[LiberalEsto]

This is a very special time in the history of our nation and the world.

Let's get out our Tarot cards, rune stones, I Ching coins and other oracular devices. You can also try to observe flights of birds on Tuesday around noon (although I don't know anything about bird omens). Put some paper and a pen next to your bed tonight and write down your dreams tomorrow morning.

It's time to seek for omens; in other words, to AUGUR what will come. Our wonderful astrologers have been doing a lot of hard work on the star charts for President-Elect Obama. Now let's see what kinds of things we can come up with.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper:

The word Inauguration dates to 1569, from French inauguration "installation, consecration," from Latin inaugurationem (nom. inauguratio) "consecration, installment under good omens," from inaugurare "take omens from the flight of birds, consecrate or install when such omens are favorable," from in- "on, in" + augurare "to act as an augur, predict".

According to Wikipedia:

"The augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of the birds (whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of birds they are), known as "taking the auspices." The ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman society--public or private--including matters of war, commerce, and religion."

[FirstLight]

1. I'll check in with my runes tonight!

GREAT idea...
can't wait to see what we come up with

[Silver Gaia]

2. Bird omens...

Good quote from Wikipedia… we discussed bird omens in a class I took (at the university) called “Paganism in the Roman World.” After consulting my notes, here are a few things I had jotted down about bird omens: 1) Flights of birds to your left—particularly if they are dark birds—denote ill fortune. Flights of birds to your right side are considered good luck. 2) Birds flying toward you will bring good fortune to you. Likewise, birds flying away from you, may carry the good away with them. 3) Birds singing or otherwise making sound while flying is good because it indicates that there is hope, despite any other ill portents. However, if what you hear are discordant croaks, this might be a sign of despair ahead. These are just a few things. Keep in mind that bird augery was a complex art requiring many years of study and practice, so take this with a grain of salt. ;)

Great idea! I will consult my cards tomorrow and see what I get. :)

[Silver Gaia]

3. I seem to recall that dawn

was the traditional time of day for bird observation, too.

[LiberalEsto]

4. This morning when the sun was barely up

I saw a reddish bird fly from my left to my right. It was either a purple finch or a house finch. I posted a link on another thread - the one titled Omen? - in which it says seeing a red bird of good luck.

Red bird, flying left to right. A very good omen for Inauguration Day!

[FirstLight]

5. Animal Cards

Horse & Turtle....
followed by Raven & Swan

Horse = power and strength, vitality and freedom... what the west was all about, frontier and exploration
Turtle = 13 moons on Turtle's back, 'Turtle Island', symbolizing the people of America and ancestor's wisdom

Raven = old ways dying off, wisdom from the void, magic and transformation
Swan = positive change and beauty emerging, illusions fading to reveal truth which is always beautiful


WOW
as if I am surprised

[LiberalEsto]

6. Great

Check the new post on my rune and I Ching readings, JG!