Grin and Bear it

Ursa Major

Somedays there is no balance in my work-a-day life; today is beginning like that.  Just grin and bear it and get on with the day.

Attached

Whose the gal?

The Queen of Pentacles is who she is. Can't believe you missed her.  For the most part she is always present, usually in the same spot you may have last seen her.  Fixed Earth.  Always there to lend a hand of support. 












The Celestial Tarot - Kay Steventon and Brian Clark

Compartmentalize

Listen to the better part of me, myself, and I

I wonder after stating the above, if there are good and not so good aspects to me?  I guess so.  There are days that I am a good and thoughtful participant in my life and the life of others, and other days - not so much.  I was always a quiet girl, too many other voices shouting in my childhood home.  When the time came to go to work and make a living I found a voice, my voice? maybe, sometimes.  I learned to talk to people and read them fairly well, but at the heart of me, I can be left alone with my own company most days. I am really at a point in my life that I can accept all parts of the me, myself and I.  Work in progress, sure, still the adventure continues.
I noticed that mental is tucked right into compartmentalize.



The Rider Waite-Smith

Observation point

Go on with yourself.

No dilly-dallying around with this Queen; you cannot play mind games with her, she will beat you every time. If you say you are going do something, do it, otherwise keep your mouth shut.
Sometimes the really quite people intrigue me.  I wonder what is going on behind those eyes with a silent stare.  Not a blank look, or the old deer in the head-lights stare.  That gal over there...see her, watching intently.  Is she assessing the situation, gathering intel, or maybe just doesn't really care, but she won't let on. 
I am going to portray this queen today, that is the message I got.  Because if there is a queen in the room, it is me.  So I will be the silent observer and see what I see.



The Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Second look

The Pale Rider

"I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider named Death and Hades was following close behind." Revelation 6:8

Well no wonder so many fear this card.  I don't know if I have really ever paid attention to the fact that Death in this depiction is yellow faced and and the hands too.  Wonder what that is all about, since everything in the card has a meaning?  The Sun is Yellow as is the bishop's robe, the sunny lands that lay beyond, flowers in the girl's hair.  So maybe Death though definitely an end of something also has something good to offer with the transition. 
Maybe every cloud does have a silver lining, except, there are no clouds on the dawning sunny day.
Let's find out what happens today.


The Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Lucky Girl

'Fortune favors the bold.'

Sometimes I think this Ace portends some lucky happenstance.  Being in the right place at the right time.  For the better part of my life I have been fairly lucky.  Little bits of coin or better yet spending paper show up.  I win little gift cards here and there.  I am also aware that I have some not-so-lucky days and weeks. A few of those times have stretched into months, nay I say a year, whew; they pass, thank goodness.
So for today I think it will be a good day, maybe if I am really lucky, a really good day.  That's what gifts are for, to be enjoyed and grateful when received.





Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Here comes the Sun

So what is that squiggly line coming out of the top of The Sun?

Who wouldn't enjoy a Sun filled day. Sunflowers and pony rides. I am going to have to feel the Sun internally today, cause all we got is rain and clouds.  Still that is better than the lingering Winter we have been experiencing.  A week ago snow showers in our area of the Ohio Valley; almost unheard of. 
I wonder if someone today will offer me a ticket to a dog and pony show?





The Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Curiouser and Curiouser

I once heard someone say that in the Rider Waite-Smith Tarot that everything in the card has a meaning.  Most of the time I glance at a card and get a quick hint of something, some meaning pertinent to me or my day ahead, or maybe just something to ponder in the minutes in-between the other stuff going on.  In the Page of Swords I never have quite figured out those ten birds on the wing above the Page. 
For some reason I keep wanting to call this the Nine of Swords, so maybe it is those things that keep me awake some nights that clamour for my attention in those in-between moments with everything else.  Maybe I just added 'one more thing' to the nine swords of worry, sorrow, discontent.


Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Modus Operandi

To the victor goes the spoils. While the five others where out on the hillside stickin' around, someone rode in and took the prize.  I wonder whilst all the political biz and 'fake' news is keeping us entertained and diverting our attention elsewhere, what and who are about to reveal their real intention.









The Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Ouch, stop it Please

Using my Heart as a pincushion. Quit it.

For today the Three of Swords brings to mind a pincushion and all those and myself that have pinned painful memories to it. 
A month or so back I ordered the book, Energy Strands by Denise Linn.  There had been some promotional hype on HayHouse so I bought into it.  It is also the last self-help book I buy.  I started reading last night and so far nothing new; what did I really expect.  Still it reminds me all the memories that are attached to my life and the strongest ones are directly rooted to my heart.  Can we really disconnect and cut those things that woven into our tapestries? The Good and the Not So Good are part an parcel of who we/I am; change those and we change ourselves.  Do we cut some cords or discard some memories and only keep the good ones?  No I think not.  Without the dark there is no light. No bad? then how can you distinguish it what would be good? 
Something to ponder on I suppose as I troll through the book.


Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Diversion

Waylaid a long the way.

I wonder how many times I have strayed from my path?  Seduced, battered and berated, intimidated, coerced  to fit in, belong, or even to do the 'right' thing.
I was out at dinner with a couple of family members last night and there came a moment of, 'who are these people? I realized that I had or have nothing in common with them. Maybe once because we share a genetic link, but really in all my days the people I have the least commonality with is my bloodline family, and if not so, I would ceased the relationships many years ago.
Looking for a fundamental shift? Found it.






The Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Countenance

Just one look

This Queen looks off towards the future.  Her back aches from sitting on such an unyielding throne.  She is meant for action and this sitting around all day waiting for something to happen has got to stop.   We can drive by any graveyard and realize that life continues on even if we have moved on.  There is always someone to step in and grab the reins and fill our position.
Someone else wants to be in charge, fine by me.  There is always something more interesting out there, "see it - just ahead to the right."

Action speaks louder than words.





Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

From behind the looking glass

So okay, you have a situation.  Don't brood, do something about it.

I have returned from my short hiatus, taking a few days break under the proverbial tree to give some time to rest my weary mind.  Though not the bodhi tree, I did become aware of something; for me there is no joy in complacent dissatisfaction. 
I heard myself citing several times this last week, all that I have to be grateful for. Still I realize that something is lacking.  If I have all that I need and still feel the drag of boredom and dissatisfaction, I don't have all I need.  The offered cup is just out of my vision range or is it there and I don't see.  Maybe, just maybe, instead of looking for the answer I need to feel the answer?  Something to think on today, before I merge back into my work-a-day life. 
\


Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Potions class

Double Double, Toil and Trouble

I found this picture entrancing but cannot figure out why her feet are not blistering being so close to the fire that is within her circle.   Time for me brew ups some magic and potions and for myself

Picture - "The Magic Circle.  John Waterhouse. 

Plant an olive tree

Another day in paradise.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with a few friends and they mentioned again how lucky I was to still be alive and getting through everything.  Six years later and I can still be the hot topic.  Like the gal in the Nine of Pentacles I found myself quietly alone in my garden of paradise more and more often.  Sometimes it is to shut out the noise, and not the stuff in my head.  Sharyn my friend, you caution on depression and rightly so.  I am working on it.  Some recent medications for my nerve damage didn't help at all on my outlook prospective.  Quiet time in the garden is just what I may need. 

Balancing Act

Some days it is all we can do to stay in the game.

This or that?  Choices, choices, choices.  I have vacated my life for a few days but guess what? it followed me.  Where-ever you go, there you are.  I had intended to weigh my options, but I find I don't want to think about any of it, maybe I will just go back to bed and take a mid morning nap.  I will keep juggling I guess, until something falls to the wayside and goes splat.  I will have my answer then of what to proceed with. 

Carolyn has left the buidling

"...back to the place I was before" Hotel California

Another card of movement, yesterday's knight, today the Eight of Cups.  Maybe I got tired of the dog and pony show and took off on my own.   I am off for a few days of R&R so this card is appropriate for me as well as yesterday's knight.  With the lingering winter and my also lingering discontent with my career, time to take a break.  We all need to do that from time to time.  Mostly I escape into a good book; let the storyteller take me to another time and place and just so happens there is a book in my backpack. 

Forward Ho!

Charge of the Light Brigade!

Today is a good day to move ahead, with just a bit of caution.  Sometimes the energy and movement with this Knight and can be brash and hasty.  Best I think before I speak about something, it just might come out the wrong way.  Forward Ho - Yes, but I don't have to trample on anyone in the process.






The Linestrider's Journey - Siolo Thompson

If only

At what cost?

A question asked and usually the Queen of Swords has the answer.  Not just any answer, but the right answer, at least in her mind.
My real thought about this card is her hands seem a bit large and arthritic; the wear and tear of sword wielding I guess.  What do our jobs cost in body, mind, and soul?  Many have to have knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, and heart replacement at the cost of careers and jobs. The Soul bruised and battered.  Still we keep doing what we must or at think we must. Even though her hands ache, does the queen continue on because she wants to or must until she no longer can lift the sword?

Be that it may

The Cat that ate the canary.

I always smile when I see this card, we know exactly what is going on and don't have to make second guesses.  By nature, the cat will do what the cat will do.  It is all instinct; after obtaining her prize she goes merry along the her way until something else of interest flights in. I am a bit different.  The smugness or delight wears off and then it's like damn, now what?  The canary was the motivator.  "All victories have a flip side" - Siolo Thompson






The Linestrider's Journey Tarot

Away with you

The end of one thing a beginning of another.

This open skull on Death harkens to letting things go.  Things that don't much matter. Stuff. Debris. Junk. Old mental files.  I liken my mind some days as a old library card catalog system.  Mentally I file things away and then I just have to flip through the card files to bring to mind that which I went on a seek and find for. Time to filter through this and that and get rid of that or this which no longer is useful.   In a few days i am taking a gett-a-way so I can do some clutter clearing in the old noggin, and Death just reminds me that everyone and everything has an ending which  can lead to a new beginning.




The Linestrider's Tarot - Siolo Thompson

Blessed

Blessed, I know I am and try to remember daily to count my blessings.

I cannot decide if this gal is a mermaid or The Siren of the Sea.  Maybe my Fairy Godmother here to bestow blessing on me today.
Bright Blessing to all.









The Wisdom of the Oracle

Imagine

Imagination or Illusion?

What a perplexing image.  The card's banner gives the title of Imagine, and yet we have a gal with her heart tethered to the Moon, a place of Illusions.
Imagination is the image making power of the mind and the ability to create those thoughts.
Illusion is something that seems to be something that is not.
The one thing I think both have is MAGIC.  The power of my imagination can bring me wonderful and some not so wonderful things - magic.  Illusions can be  my misdirected focus that can seem magical at times - magic.
Magic almost appears in the word imagine, just need to add the C from Carolyn and - magic. I make the 'magic' real or perceived, which really is the same thing.
Just Imagine!

Message in a bottle

How very titilating.

How very exciting.  To expect a message in a bottle.  The booklet tells to expect some good news or a arrival of some omen or sign of good things to come.  Now tell me who would not like a day like that?  Message in a bottle? let me pop that cork and read all about it.  Actually I am totally enchanted with this card, my favorite color; the sea, with all its variants of blue and a pelican riding along on my message bottle.
Maybe it's time to go to the sea.  I just might find a bottle on the shore with a message for me.





Wisdom of the Oracle

A Change in the Wind

I'll Wind Blow Away

"It's a ill wind that blows nobody any good."

 Colette Baron-Reid suggests that this card heralds a forthcoming change that is or may not be such a good thing. Awh Hogwash or in this case...zebra wash.  If I expect a lousy day, than a lousy day it will be.  That gal sitting in in the steeple top is letting her wishes drift on the wind and going wherever the zebra wants to take her.  So too me if I just drift along.  Meaningful change begins with oneself.
So I am going to hop off and have a good day.
I will have a drift another day.



Wisdom of the Oracle

Clean It Up

Easier said than done

More than just doing a good Spring Cleaning the author's advice hints more at cleaning up your relationship with the World. Letting go of emotional gunk, quit taking others burdens on and trying to clean that up. Mostly we have enough to do with ourselves. 
'Charity begins at home.'





Wisdom of the Oracle - Colette Baron-Reid

Tick Tock

The Gift of Time

These hands looks like they are offering time and there are extra hours floating around the pocket watch.  It also makes me think of the song "Too Much Time On Our Hands" which makes me think that with all the technology taking on lots of our use to be daily tasks, is why there is so much more bs seemingly going on in the world.  We freed up our time just so we could waste it frivolously. Wasting the extra time we thought we needed.
Oh well, all I can really concern myself is how I use my daily allotment.





Wisdom of the Oracle - Colette Baron-Reid

Breathe

Probably good advice, no matter what you are doing.

Breath comes natural to us; as the often used adage gives us "it is a easy as breathing."  Maybe not always so, when there are respiratory issues. 
During all these difficult days it is best to remind myself to pay attention to mine and others and remember to breathe.


HAPPY EASTER!





Wisdom of the Oracle - Colette Baron-Reid