Rhobin Lee Courtright's Blog, page 13

All Things Three

On to my gleanings about the prophetic, divination, and quirky nature of three! From 'two's company, three's a crowd' to 'and baby makes three,' this number shows a wide spectrum of possibilities.

Three can be holy or it can be a curse. These are some of its forms:
Cardinal: three
Greek: Gamma
Hindu-Arabic: 3
Ordinate: Third
Pythagorean numbers: the triad
Roman: III

Tres or tertius is the Roman word for three and gives us the words tertiary and trey. From Sanskrit’s tri we have many words of '3' like triad, triangulate, triathlon, triceps, tricolored, tricorn, tricuspid, tricycle, trident, triform, trifurcate, trimester, trinity, trilogy, triplets, tripod, and triceratops.

From geometry we have triangles connecting three points and three lines, and while pyramids look triangular, they actual have four sides squared with a fifth as the base, but a composite of angles with three dimension of length, width, and depth. In astronomy, the Earth is the third planet from sun, and the only one we know for sure has life; three time is the charm! In biology, insects have head, thorax, and abdomen. The table of elements in chemistry lists Lithium (Li) as the element with the atomic number 3. Chemistry also gives us TNT (trinitrotoluene) and Nitroglycerin (trinitroglycerin), so three can be very explosive! One early form of transportation was the Triga, a chariot drawn by three horses. We pedal tricycles, and soon might see three wheel cars. In architecture, a triforium, or arched gallery, is often found running the length of the nave in cathedrals.

Color systems often break colors into triads for mixing purposes. In art,  the   rimary colors are red, blue, and yellow; secondary colors are green, purple, and orange. The CYMK color system uses cyan, magenta, and yellow. The RGB color system uses red, green, and blue.

March is the third month, named after the Roman god Mars, the god of war and chaos, but it is also tied to agriculture. History shows many soldiers were farmers for most of the year, but called to do battle in March (this duty monty later became May under Charlemagne). The third day of the week (when Sunday is the first day on the week's calendar) is Tuesday, named after the Norse god Tyr, who was god of single combat, and who is tied to the Roman God Mars. Traditionally, though, the week ends on Sunday, making Wednesday the third day of the week. Calendars have a tradition of causing confusion. During the Medieval era through the Renaissance society had the threes estates: the nobles, the clergy, and the commoners. Today we have the one percenters, politicians, and the greater masses. A few generations ago, we had the Third Reich, which showed three's evil.

Socially, families should include a father, a mother, and a child or children, which establishes three as another number of family and relationships, In numbers the combination of one and two, father and mother, to create the child, three, and make the family, which establishes three a number of completion.

Games and sports contain many instances of three such as three of a kind in poker. Triathlons include swimming, biking, and running. To start the race, the starter might say, “1, 2, 3, Go!” This makes three the 'go' number.

We have three-legged races and three-gaited show horses (the three basic gaits walk, trot, canter). In baseball, if your get three strikes you’re out, three outs and your side retires, a three-base hit is a good thing which get a runner to the third plate but not home.

Christians believe in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Third Commandment is ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in Vain.’ Three was an important number in the Bible as there were three wise men, three kings, the cock crowed trice, Peter denied Christ three times. So three can be a number of betrayal. Three crosses were at the crucifixion, and Christ rose on the third day. Three appears often in Revelation:

Revelation 8:13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Revelation 9:18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.
Revelation 16:13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 16:19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed.
Revelation 21:13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.

Druids believed three was number of the unknown God. Hindus have the Trimurti, the Gods Brahma, Vishnus, and Siva; and Buddhism has the Three signs of Being.

Astrological threes include the House of Gemini guided by the planet Mercury. It is considered the house of intellect and the mind. In numerology, the letters of three are c, l, u (again letters are counted 1 through 9 — usually to establish a person's number by adding the numbers of the letters of their name). Three is the number of time and fate as shown in past, present and future, making three a number of wisdom. Man learns from the past, lives in the present, and plans for the future. In learning, three represents the curriculum of music, geometry, and astrology, but during the Renaissance students were taught the Trivium or grammar, logic, and rhetoric. As the number of the Trinity, it is a holy number. It is a holy number that represents completeness in family as represented in man, woman, and child, and shows both spiritual and sexual power in procreation. Therefore it symbolizes continuity and life. It also resolves the conflict posed between one and two by creating another so that three indicates change or a solution is at hand. Pythagoreans didn't consider 1 and 2 numbers so for them, three became the first odd number.

Three has a negative side, too. When three is against you, it shows incompleteness, divorce, separation, child abduction, an individual lacking sexual desire, and barrenness.

The empress or Earth mother, another aspect of the goddess of love, or Venus, is the third card in Tarot Divination. She bears the fruit of the virgin's promise. She represents the seeds, or ideas sown in the unconscious. As a powerful woman, she also symbolizes material wealth, marriage, fertility for would-be parents, farmers, and people in creative arts. If reversed or not in good placement with other cards, the Earth mother may mean infertility, dissipation, loss of wealth, sometimes by destruction of famine or war. The reversed card can also predict family problems.

Three has several iconic symbols: the trident, the three-leafed clovers, and the triangle.

In literature, folk lore, performance, and art:
Triptych (3 part painting)
Trilogy – a three volume set of books
Three graces, Three fates, Three Questions of the Sphinx, mythology
Three Penny Opera
Three Musketeers
Three Pigs, Three Billy Goat Gruffs, and Three Bears, in folktales
Music: Rub-a-dub-dub, Three Men in a Tub; Three Blind Mice
Larry, Moe & Curly

Common Triads include:
Beginning, middle, end
Body, soul, spirit
Earth, sea, sky
Father, mother, son
Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Fish, flesh, fowl
Length, width, height
Liberty, equality, fraternity
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Man, woman, child
Milk, wine, honey
In Psychology: Ego, super-ego, id
Reading, writing, arithmetic
Reduce, recycle, reuse
Sun, moon, stars

Common phrases:
3-R’s
accidents (deaths) come in three
giving someone the third degree
good (or bad) things come in threes
leaves of three, let it be (poison ivy)
odd man out
third wheel
three chances
three sheets to the wind
three wishes
threesome
three-in-one
three-ring circus
three-day weekend
triage
two’s company, three’s a crowd

So there it is — all aspects of three, but certainly a list that is not all-inclusive.
~ * ~Wikipedia has a page on Three. Sources Some information was drawn from:
The Discoverers by Daniel J. Boorstin
A Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray
The Numerology Workbook by Julia Line
The Dartmouth Number Symbolism in the Middle Ages site offers much info on numbers in Christianity.

Ninth Friday Freebit from Change

Tyna arrives in the capital city of Cygna just as rebellion breaks out.

~ * ~

Tyna covered her head with a pillow to dispel both the physical and the mental noise. The densely packed down filling diminished neither the sound nor her sense of the city’s turmoil.

The streets of Sidih seethed with nocturnal activity. She cursed her luck at arriving during some sort of rebellion. Sussi and Tam slept at the wagon maker’s within the city and Jebe prowled the local taverns, worrying Tyna more than being left alone with the wagons. His defection added to her sleeplessness.

She had avoided her night soirees since entering Sidih, but tonight the compulsion jerked her from her bed. Her skin itched, and her nightclothes pulled and dragged at her every movement. Her blankets twisted and tied about her, making it impossible to relax. She couldn’t expose herself, not here. She couldn’t. She must. She wouldn’t. But she had to, even though it was dangerous.

Thoughts ran through her mind like a litany. “Discipline makes you strong in moments of weakness,” Naomi had always said, telling her to resist initial urges. A second memory came of Naomi using the same phrase just after she had slapped Kissre’s face when she was caught stealing a shirt. Naomi would not listen to any excuse. The memory chilled Tyna, but the advice remained.

The shock and pain of an unexpected attack brought her to upright. Rising, she hurriedly pulled on her clothes and prepared to protect her wagons if need be. Unbidden, her Talent freed, seeking the recognition it sensed nearby. Armed men ran through the tavern district, home to Cygna’s poor, home to many who preyed on the weak and the impaired. Squad platoons, soldiers guided by Talents roamed the area.

Energy threaded the atmosphere as her gift flew over the city. Before she clearly discerned him, she sensed Kedriq. He worked in bond with his squad, giving off a discolored aura that made her both cringe and crave closer contact.

::Stop! What are you doing! Who are you?::.

~ * ~
Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!

Eighth Friday Freebit from Change

Tyna's caravan travels through Cygna, the land of witches, which she now knows are called 'Talents.'

~ * ~
Everywhere she had traveled the business of daily life had blurred her sense of the many active minds surrounding her. In Cygna, there existed a unique quiet. Even the ungifted contained their mental spread except at close range, and then random thoughts were often pushed, unwanted, into her awareness. She knew the nulls emptied their minds, concentrated on a physical task whenever a Talent appeared. It kept their surface thoughts in check. She supposed the trick a thing compelled until habit formed.

The strange stillness allowed her tension-heightened awareness to sense the tendrils of ‘Talent’ hovering around her. It took little effort to identify the source or to notice the emblems sewn on their sleeve, or how vastly different those few were treated. She watched how they seemed to share hidden communication, moving in unison; sometimes their heads swiveled to find another of their kind in an otherwise unnoticeable approach. Occasionally, a Talent looked over her goods, dismissing her with a single aloof glance. While the Talent’s attitude spooked Jebe, Sussi and Tam, it only made Tyna feel discounted and unimportant.

She remarked on their behavior to a ‘null’ customer.

“They deserve our respect and veneration for their service and devotion to Cygna,” the woman said, while her skittish eyes surveyed the surrounding area. Seeing no Talents around, she glanced at Tyna before she lowered her voice to add, “Do not touch them or look them in the eye. It is their entry into your soul.”

“I thought they could enter a mind at will.”

“A few can, but it is forbidden without permission. If you touch and bond, though, they cannot help but take your thoughts.”

~ * ~ 
Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!

Seventh Friday Freebit from Change

Imyne, the hidden enemy, uses her position on the council and in the meeting with Kedriq for her own use. In this six paragraphs the hidden enemy enters.

~ * ~
“You are right,” Imyne spoke aloud to Alth. “The Kaereyans have little we can use.” Satisfaction calmed Imyne’s last worries. Governor Vitann’s ill-judged efforts had floundered.

“More likely, we have little they can use. Until at least, the new king is ready to confer with a delegation,” Vitann said.

Behind her calm face, despairing thoughts entered Vitann’s mind. The Governor’s mind reflected on the number of ships anchored in the harbor, and the prevalent dark blue of Kaereya’s Royal Guard on streets lining the docks. The country of Kaereya was rich, but troubled. Imyne gleaned these thoughts filtering through the governor’s mind. She doubted any other Adept could hear those sequestered, speculative thoughts, and Imyne wondered at Vitann’s purpose. It was clear Vitann found Kedriq’s views of the turmoil unexpected and unwelcome. No help would come from Kaereya.

Vitann’s persistence in the Kaereyan matter angered Imyne. There was no reason to ally with a land of nulls. It diminished further Imyne’s estimate of the woman’s governing ability. Cygna didn’t need Kaereya. It needed a zealous and intelligent leader.

Perhaps the Governor feared Kaereya would align with Pertelon to conquer Cygna? Imyne inhaled sharply, but dismissed Vitann’s preoccupation with Cygna’s neighbors. Cygnese Talent squads could out-maneuver ordinary fighting men. Cygna had more important dangers to face than the Pertelonese and Kaereyan nulls offered. Cygna’s null population needed quelling, even eliminating if necessary. Vitann failed to grasp the importance of protecting Talents. Fury at the Governor’s perverseness filled Imyne. If they followed Vitann’s present course, Cygna could fall back into the chaos rampant in the time before Talents secured the government.

Dismissing her peers’ questions on aspects of Kedriq’s journey, Imyne inspected Kedriq. He must have cleaned up since his arrival, but she knew he had not seen Brenna. So Vitann must have offered him hospitality. His soft gray quilted tunic fell to his knees. Blond hair, bleached lighter by the more intense sun of Kaereya, contrasted with a tan that made him appear like an outlander. He was either effectively masking his emotions, or so dispirited, he felt none.

~ * ~
Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!

Ugg. Book Promoting

First, let me say nothing is easy about being a small press author, or I imagine and independent. You promotions efforts are your own.

My first eBook was published in 2005, and as for as short a time ago as that is, things have dramatically changed. For most small presses the author was (and is still) responsible for almost all promotion. Readers for eBooks were available, but not backed by large corporations like Amazon (started 1994, made first profit — a penny a share — at the end of 2001, and spread from books to everything shortly after) and Barnes and Noble.  Most sales were from the online book publisher until sites like Amazon took over.

It seemed at the time that mainstream print publishers scoffed at the concept; but they were losing market and electronic books were the only growth section in the publishing industry.  Now you can read not only books, but magazines, newspapers, see TV and movies, receive phone calls, text, and often all on the same device. I have a Kindle and I like it, but all I do is read on it in the car and at night before sleeping, and I can get any publisher's books, small press or NY major publisher, in eBook formats. The market is flooded. The big difference is big publishers have more money to put into promotion and have taken over the market, and although the authors have to promote as much as small press authors, they have more backing.

Ten years ago finding your electronic market niche was difficult. As authors we helped open a market. Reviews on the Internet were about eBooks, and some major review sites emerged. That has changed. I think promotion is even more difficult today. Then there were groups you could post to and have conversations with readers. Most of these sites are almost all promotions and excerpts, and I find that disheartening. The big gun presses have moved into this territory and have taken over almost every review site. It seems almost impossible to get a review at sites where I once had no trouble receiving a review.

I was glad to give away books because I thought it helped introduce readers not only to my stories, but to the idea of eBooks. I'd give away copies on my birthday and send out thirty or more books. The year I got only two requests, I decided no more. However, I am rethinking the give-away idea, perhaps putting one of my books up as a free promotion work; don't know.

Some say as an author half your time is writing and half promotion. Sorry that is too much promotion for me as much of it feels like I'm spinning wheels. Amazon gives away eBooks and seems to do very well, but how does all of this translate into sales and income for authors? The middleman seems to make the most. Now I try to have a presence on most social media, and plug away at that. If asked to give away a book, I certainly do. So I'm not sure how successful promotions are.

I have done advertising and had some success (i.e. sales I relate to the ads showed in my quarterly report), but again, I'm often going up against big-name published authors. None I've participated in have given statistics on how many were given away or how much interest was generated, or especially on how much income was generated from sales afterward. Most media agencies do not work that way. So there is an overwhelming lack of reporting on the effectiveness of these promotions. A question about audience is also ignored. I'm beginning to believe stories appeal to fewer people, especially among those under fifty, as more interactive games and entertainments proliferate.

I've come to the conclusion that I will continue to write because I love to tell stories. I will participate as my publishers request. I will try to make the content of my blogs interesting and current to showcase not only my books, but also what interests me. Occasionally I receive a great review on a major site, or a flattering email from a reader. I take this as my good job pat-on-the-back.  I think the only thing I can do to promote my name as an author is to continue to write, and someday hope to get picked up by a large publisher. Interestingly, I have found my quarter reports keep increasing. That was one thing e-publishing promised — books available forever; and  that gives me the encouragement to keep trying.

~ But just in case, check out my books on my excerpt page. If you'd like one of my titles, email me the title you'd like. Offer good until August 2, 2014. ~

Others participating in this month's round-robin. Click on their name is see their take on this topic.
Ginger Simpson
Margaret Fieland
Connie Vines
Diane Bator

Sixth Friday Freebit from Change

In these six paragraphs the hidden enemy enters.

~ * ~
Kedriq had returned. Although the news of his return had not yet circulated, Imyne felt sure his return would soon buzz through the maze.

Her steps glided in unhurried grace through the austere dark and empty halls of the Assembly House. She kept her countenance unworried despite this late night’s summoning to the Cabinet Chamber. The ends of her cloak flapped behind her. She didn’t tug the lapels together even for the comfort of conserving warmth, aware, even in her deep thought, of outward appearances.

Things fell out much to her wishing. She knew Governor Vitann upset and angered at the careless and indiscreet revelation on the maze. The disclosure abused Talent protocol, but many knew of Kedriq’s departure, so whom could Vitann blame? The governor’s probes discovered no culprits. With the information being passed mind to mind throughout the Talent community nearly insured their continued failure. Vitann was just lucky the revelation was not of some more important state secret. Imyne smiled.

The unheard-of secret journey had engrossed the mental links months ago, but the resulting rumors continued, growing alarming in their portent. Some claimed the action would kill the remaining squad members, then all the Talents tied to the Brenna’s squad. Others, more pernicious, charged the governor’s collusion to open Cygna to a Kaereyan invasion. And didn’t both accusations reap Governor Vitann denunciation among Cygna’s Talents?

A Talent bonded to a squad never separated from them, and Governor Vitann ignored that custom at her own peril. The governor’s insistence on Kedriq for this journey surprised many and many believed it would cause his death and the death of Brenna’s squad. It was true Brenna and her squad had been ineffective of late, but Brenna, always obtuse to any fault, claimed her squad performed more than competently without Kedriq’s inept participation. To most it only proved an inherent blindness in Brenna’s attitude. To Imyne it confirmed Vitann’s disregard of Cygnese tradition.

Imyne’s status as leader of the Adepts’ Council insured the guards’ courtesy in opening the doors for her as she traveled the dark corridors of the Assembly House. She imagined anyone serving during the lulling night shifts found any diversion, any labor, welcome. No spoken word disturbed her wandering thoughts. Only the whisper of her gown brushing the granite floor and the faint pad of her slippers accompanied her introspection. Her soft sounds of movement were occasionally broken by the clank of guards’ weapons, the echoing staccato tap of boot heels on stone floors and the soft clink of well-oiled door latches opened in the dark silent surround. The clarity of sound predicted an impending storm moving toward Sidih.

~ * ~

Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!

A Fifth Friday Freebit from Change

Thieves attack Tyna's caravan in this fifth Friday Freebit.

~ * ~
Kedriq twisted around at her warning. His movement saved him. A pain seared his arm, the knife meant for his back cutting less fatal meat. It was a bad mistake for his attacker. With the knife from freeing the ox still grasped in his hand, he swung the blade with deadly results.

“Look out.”

The warning came too late. He jerked the knife free as the man he had slain sagged to the ground, but a second assailant grabbed his jacket, holding him while another knife arced toward him. He knew nothing could save him from this second attack.

With a loud clank, a metal cooking pot connected with the assailant’s head. The man sidestepped, stopped mid-assault, his gaze stunned, his weapon dropped. Another smash of the pot rotated his head back in a violent and unnatural twist. Kedriq heard the neck snap, even as the body fell.

He looked at Tyna, who stood, pot in hand, looking in stricken shock at the fallen man.

“I’ve never... he was one of the escorts!” Even as she spoke, hooves warned of the outriders’ return. Kedriq pushed Tyna behind him with his knife holding hand. His other arm hung useless. Blood flowed down its length and dripped from the tips of his fingers. As if the sight weakened him, he slowly sank to the ground. His last coherent thought was, that as usual, his best effort was useless.

~ * ~

Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!

All Things Two

TwoContinuing on with my words, intuition, divination, lore, and superstition involved with numbers, here is two.

The strongest aspect of two is that it contains many conflicting symbols, as represented in yin and yang, capable of complete opposites, or like wings permitting flight, or snake fangs, striking with poison twice.

Cardinal: two
Greek: Beta
Hindu-Arabic: 2
Roman: II
Pythagorean numbers: duad

Roman words of two come from duo (duae, duas, duorum, duabus), secundus as in second and secondary; and bini meaning two each as in biannual, bicameral, binary, biceps, bilateral, bias, bifocal, and bicuspid. Greek gives us two prefixes of two: di used in forming many scientific words like diatomic, diacid, and words like dialogue; and dual as in duet, duality, duplicity, dualists, duplex, duplicate. Notice the words involving conflict, betrayal, and two-sidedness. More English words relate to two as in yoked, doublet, reproduction, sex, again, both, wings, and semicircle.

As already mentioned, the prefix di is forms many scientific words; however, the second element is Helium (He). The astronomy we have twin stars like Gemini, and Castor and Pollux. Our bodies have two ears, two eyes, two lips, two nostrils, two arms, hands, two legs, feet, two lungs, two kidneys, and either two ovaries or two testicles. Birds have two wings. In mathematics and measurement, we have two-dimensional or flat, and any number divisible by 2 is called 'even.' The geometric symbol for the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and parallel means at least two lines run side by side. In geophysical features, U.S. Highway 2 runs on the northern border of the United States from Houlton, Maine to Rouses Point, New York. Of course, it is broken into two sections, with the second running from St. Ignace, Michigan, to Everett, Washington.

On the calendar, February is the second month. February comes from a Roman word for purification, a rite that took place in this month. Monday is moon day, because the moon follows the sun. The moon is also a feminine symbol tied to two.  and a pair of days, Saturday and Sunday, comprises the weekend. April Fool’s Day comes on April 2. 

In monetary associations, we have two bits equaling 25 cents, and two-dollar bills. Once, before the U.S. mint actually printed two-dollar bills, there was a saying “As fake as a $2 bill.” It seems people distrust two-dollar bills, one reason so few are minted and found in circulation. Some users think these bills bring bad luck.

Christians consider the duality of Christ, having both a divine and human nature. The second human created was Eve, a first woman. The Second Commandment says, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.”

In games, you can get the deuce or two-spot in cards, snake eyes in dice, a double-run in baseball, or two points for scoring in basketball.

Two is an important number in Cinese T'ai Chi.

Two is the symbol of women and represents the feminine in all things such as marriage (as coupled with a man), motherhood (mother and child), and the Yin or eternal female. Because female cycles are tied to the moon, a clear association lies between female gender identification, the moon, and two. The moon as related to women and their patterns gives associations such as the unconscious, emotions, bio-rhythms, instinctual responses, reflection, passivity, the soul, family matters, and heredity. This also makes two audacious because she separated herself from the Divine One, as the moon is now known to have separated itself from the Earth.

Two also identifies the person who is second in command, second place, second-rate, and the red ribbon winner.

The night as opposite to the day’s sun belongs in the symbols of two. As one speaks to ultimate power, two represents a differing outlook, one looking for peace, and working differences out harmoniously. In its difference from one, two means a changing perception of self, a consciousness of being someone in some place and time. Other symbols of two include anything including two such as horns, antlers, or two fingers held upward. It is yin-yang of nature, and so represents duality, changeability. After all, woman change their minds all the time, don’t they?

In Astrology, two encompasses the House of Taurus (the bull; what?) and symbolizes the planet Venus (another female symbol). In numerology, the alpha associations are the letters b, k, t, which are the second letters in each one through nine count the alphabet. This is important in divination because you add up your letters to find you guiding number.

Because two is a number of duality in pairs and opposites, it is an inclusive number. This dual nature makes for positive attractions, complements, and partners.

Because of the yin-yang association, two is the number of opposites: day & night, good & evil, heaven & hell, husband & wife, light & dark, hot & cold, joy & sorrow, male & female, me & you, sister & brother, positive & negative, and truth or lie. In color opposites, we have black & white, red & green, yellow & purple, orange & blue. 

As a number of opposites, two comes with negatives. Two is a symbol of ignorance and despised by the Pythagoreans as a symbol of polarity. Two was also known as evil because of its relatedness to all things feminine, a number related to Isis, Lydia, Ceres, Artemis, Diana, Maia, and Juno (Ahh, those misogynistic ancients — go figure). Because of above, two supposedly creates a desire for evil (darkness) and desiring matter (over 1’s spirituality). From there, two devolves into a number representing antithesis, divided polarities, uncompromising opposites, indecision, and thus passivity, and subordination. Slang usage reflects this inherent evil in such epithets as two-faced, double-cross, second-place, second-rate.

In Tarot Divination, the high priestess card represents two. She symbolizes the passive principle of life (female, right?). She represents potentiality, unconsciousness, an unrevealed future, or hidden influences at work in the supplicant's life. The card's placement in a reading is of special value for artists, poets, composers, or anyone connect to the arts. When the high priestess appears in man's reading, it might represent the perfect woman of all men's dreams. If upside-down, the high priestess indicates conceit, sensual pleasures over deeper commitment, and being content with the surface aspects of one's life over inner spirituality.

We also have words of pairing: couple, pair, twins, mates, two halves, Siamese twins, opposites, twosome, team-up, dual citizenship, dual personality, and two-dimensional.

We also have famous pairings like comedians Abbott & Costello, Adam & Eve from the Bible, Batman & Robin from comic books, TV, Movies, TV cartoon characters Beavis & Butt-head, Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street, Cisco Kid & Pancho from movies, dancers Cissy King and Bobby Burgess on Lawrence Welk Show, dancers Ginger Rogers & Fred Astair from movies, TV cartoon characters Heckle & Jeckle, comedians Laurel & Hardy, TV and movie icons the Lone Ranger & Tonto, Romeo & Juliet from the Shakespeare play, TV cowboy and girl Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, singers Seals & Croft, singers Simon & Garfunkel, comedians the Smothers Brothers, singers Sonny & Cher, and cartoon characters Tom & Jerry.

Other common phrases dealing with two:


couple-updual purposedouble dealdouble lifesplit tonguedeither… orgood things come in twosit takes twolike two peas in a podneither… nornumber two – gotta poopair of wingsput two and two togetherseeing doubletete-a-tetetwice as muchtwo armedtwo bittwo faced two by fourtwo cents worthtwo leggedtwo steptwo timingtwo way As you can see, two is a conflicted number, but a very useful one! So there it is — all aspects of two, but certainly a list that is not all-inclusive. Wikipedia has a page on Two. Sources Some information was drawn from:
The Discoverers by Daniel J. BoorstinA Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden GrayThe Numerology Workbook by Julia Line The Dartmouth Number Symbolism in the Middle Ages site offers much info on numbers in Christianity.

A Fourth Friday Freebit from Change

Acceptance and Change deal with a mother, never seen but often heard from, who treated each of her daughters very different.

~ * ~Now the threat she had been warned of all her life would walk next to her day after day. Naomi’s alarms and warnings sounded within her. “You must never show your gift! Beware of touching others unless you are sure they cannot feel you. You are special. Not even your older sister has your unique gifts. There are those who would harm you if they knew your secret.” The only punishments she received had been for ignoring this stricture. It left her in a lonely limbo.
Poor Kissre. Her punishments were more frequent and harsh, but Kissre seemed to enjoy indulging in misbehavior. The harshness of the punishments eventually insured Tyna’s caution, but drove Kissre to ever-greater defiance. She could suddenly hear her mama’s harsh “your older sister is an insolent child,” not even speaking to Kissre in her anger. Tyna smiled, just as she remembered Kissre used to.

Her face straightened. Now Kissre was the only person who knew of her talent, as Naomi called it. A daughter who couldn’t even exert herself to come to her mother’s funeral, a sister who was never around to discuss problems, and didn’t care that her only living relative was alone and struggling.

At the end of a long day of walking they halted on the shores of a much narrower and faster Hex. The water had a subtle rushing sound that made the steady wind blowing down the wide ravine seem colder. In the icy light of the setting sun, the northern upper cliff edges were picked out in gold, pink and rust striations quilted by navy shadows. Tyna took a minute to look at day’s ending spectacle.

“This is how it looks at home,” Kedriq said coming up next to her. “The Hex travels to Grotto Falls just so.”

“You mean Witch Falls?”

He smiled. “It is not called that in Cygna.”

~ * ~
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The Third Friday Freebit from Change

Of course, trouble brews and miscreants linger in obvious sight. Behind Tyna's back, her right-hand man is scheming with the traitor from Acceptance, Eldin.~ * ~ Eldin slowly sipped the flat ale in his mug. The Spotted Pig reeked of ale, dirty bodies, and rotting fish. The musty smell of repeated flooding underlined the other scents. The disrepair and filth offended him, but the small town didn’t offer better than this waterside shack. Tonight the tavern filled with the crews off numerous small riverboats. Their dinghies lined the dock surrounding the building. Inside, the crowd offered anonymity, but he kept his back to the wall anyway. Arm wrestlers with their attending audience produced a rough cacophony that drowned conversation.

He felt lonely, isolated by his surroundings. Traitor, a weak inner voice lashed, but he ignored his guilt. In quiet moments like this, his deeds nipped at his conscience. King Clement offers more than I could ever gain in Kaereya. My future lies in Pertelon now, and I’m trained for the service the king requires. He sighed. That service and the constant travel stretched his physical capabilities. His lethargy testified to his fatigue.

One of his contacts had made the offer and entered the bar accompanied with the guide from the caravan, pointing the man to Eldin’s table. The guide searched Eldin, his eyes filled with an unflattering appraisal. Eldin felt his cheek twitch at the implied insult. Many made the mistake of equating size with manliness. The guide swiped his mouth on his hairy forearm before he walked to the table.

Eldin inspected the sloppy man who pulled out the bench across the table from him. A thick arm rose to hail a maid for service. Busy with other patrons, the waitress didn’t notice the beckoning hand.

“You’re Jebe?” He gave an equally dismissive look, but the man missed the slight, his attention focused on gaining the maid’s notice. Jebe only nodded his head once. “Does anyone know you’re here?” Eldin smiled, but didn’t bother introducing himself.

“No. The girl’s grieving. She entered her wagon before I left.” Jebe waved again.

~ * ~
Now go to Ginger's blog and follow the links to other Friday Freebits!