Bright and Beautiful Blessings

 

About five years ago I started this blog with the month of November and thirty days of Gratitude. I did not do thirty days of posts on gratitude this year. This last day of November seems a good moment to pause and pay tribute to the wonder of life. The good and the better far out-weigh the difficulties and challenges. The Empress reminds me of all the bounty and blessings in life. I could fill pages and pages instead I will just say "Thank You, I am truly grateful."

Celestial Tarot

Perspective

 The LWB gives us a salamander, element of fire and change. I could not see it. Turning the card around the salamander was clearly evident, clarifiying the upright card. The Ten of Wands is normally about the burdens we carry, ours and those of others. As a card of advice or caution, I think it is best to look from different angles at what comes to me today.  Nothing wrong with double checking something that involves me. No more flying by the seat of my pants, those days are behind me.  Do I miss those days of impulsiveness, you bet, but not the regrets that came from some of those adventures. 

Celestial Tarot ~ Kay Steventon & Brian Clark

Seasons

 Yesterday I took a lovely drive in the sunshine and I noticed the Autumnal Season is ready to give way to Winter. The trees have given the last of their leaves in their preparation for their Winter's hibernation.  I was treated to glimpses of hawks along the byways. Beautiful to behold as they survey their domains.  Today as well, I will spend a bit of time in the chilly sunshine as predictions of snow showers on Monday and Tuesday are hinted at.  I am already counting the days to The Winter's Solstice so that I can celebrate the turning of Seasons as Winter begins the march toward Spring.

EarthHeart Wisdom Cards ~ Sue Lion

On tippy toes

 

Balance - Counter-Balance. For every action a reaction. Good days, not so good days.  Take 'em as they come.  "Celebrate good times, come on!" Some days are wonderful, something to sing about and some days not. The counter-balance does not have to be doom and gloom; it can be as simple as putting our feet back on the ground. If we were up-up-up all the time then that would become our normal and would kind of take the whoopee out of it.

Today I will take the blessings and joy where I can find them, for tomorrow belongs to tomorrow. 

The Fountain Tarot

Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving Day.  A good time to remember the blessings we enjoy. Be on the offensive of who and what we have in our lives instead of the defensive, worrying and counting the 'what ifs' and lack. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sharp Objects

 

We have all heard it, "don't run with knives, scissors, or questionable people."

The Fountain Tarot

M.P.H.

 

How fast does The World spin? About a 1000 mph. Pretty fast, so fast that this World Dancer lost her clothes. Life can move along at a pretty fast clip some days, so fast that what we think and feel can get distorted by the spin. Thank goodness for gravity.  Our trip around the Sun only has about 37 days left to it this year. Don't know what 2021 will bring, but hold on to your clothes, the ride could get bumpy. Starting back at the Fool we all might just fall off the cliff.

The Fountain Tarot

Self Interest

 

Nothing wrong with self-interest. If we are not interested in ourselves, who would be? If we do not look out for what is best for us, who will?  Self Interest taken to self importance is a fine line.  Get them before they get you is and idiom we hear all the time. Look where it has gotten us.

The Fountain Tarot

Directional

 

When everything points you in one direction, best to travel that path.  Surrender and trust the process, I need to keep reminding myself of that truthism. The Eight of Wands can be about something incoming. If I get a message today, sure bet I am going to listen and follow through.

The Fountain Tarot ~ Jonathan Saiz, Jason Gruhl, Andi Todaro

VisionQuest

 

I know that I would not enjoy a vision quest. No food or water and sitting by myself on a mountain top for hours, preferably days. I would have visions too if I had no water for hours and hours much less days and days. Besides my broken down knees would hamper any attempt at crouching on the ground for days.  I am still working on silence within for twenty minutes in a chair. Kudos for those that can, for me disconnecting from the media and my cell phone for a couple of hours gives me the respite needed to quiet my mind.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards - Denise Linn

Flowing River

Today hopefully will be one of those easy peasy days, just go with the flow.  Recently most of my days have been pretty easy going.  I have eliminated a big issue and things are going along nicely.  I am working on the 'Surrender and Trust the Process.' 

I might pack a lunch and go down and sit by river. Always a good option, if the weather is right.  

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Peace Pipe

There are days I miss smoking. I enjoyed the habit. Shaking a cigarette out of the pack, flame to tobacco, the long warm inhale, watching the curl of smoke on the exhale. There was a shared camaraderie with other smokers as we huddled together in our designated smoking areas. Ahh, those were the days.  I enjoyed them while they lasted; would not do again. Sometimes, just once in awhile, I hesitate a moment in a cloud of smoke as I pass by smokers and a sigh with a bit of nostalgia. 

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

White Buffalo

 

I recently saw a picture of a man standing next to a buffalo that was loaded in a tagging shute. They were ear tagging buffalo for tracking and conservation purposes. I knew the animals were large but huge would be more apt. Humongous and beautiful.  With the world, society, and life in general on edge, spending time out in nature appreciating the natural wonder of our world would help heal.  So focused on the what ifs in front of us we have lost site of the sacred and spiritual all around us.

I am in a down time, away from work and find myself a bit itchy and this card reminds me there are other things to do with my precious time than to work and worry.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Spirit of Fire

 

Fire has many attributes. The booklet tells of the 'fire of transformation.' Well fire will certainly do that. This Spirit of Fire card reminds me more of an S.O.S., a beacon fire on the beach.  "Here I am!" makes me think of the myriad of ways that people with low-self esteem use tactics to gain attention. Seems we have a lot of those everywhere.  

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Tracker

 In 2005 I visited the Grand Canyon while vacationing with family. Awesome. I didn't appreciate how spectacular the canyon was as I was not in a good place in life. I was whiny and miserable most of trip, complaining most days. I prefer green and water and nothing out there has that. I think if we stopped at the Coconino National Forest I would have stood taller than the trees. Lack of rainfall made the forest look little more than scrub. If I visited today, I would appreciate the tenacity of life that the trees hold on to. The Colorado River looked like a little stream from above. Today I would look with wonder at the power of the river to carve the canyon.

Heart and mind set have so much to do with the way we perceive the world. Track your feelings and how you think to gain perspective on where you are or where you plan on going.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Grandfather Sky

 I have been watching Saturn chase Jupiter during most of the year. The chase is narrowing and will cumulate in a Grand Conjunction December 21, 2020. Saturn has the influence of restriction and Jupiter expansion, which is definitely a test of wills. That conflict we have experienced throughout 2020.  A conjunction in astrology notates a positive influence and so this Grand Conjunction gives us a glance of hopefulness towards positive change.  The chase began early this year and was visible during most of the night sky, but as the conjunction gets closer, just more so in the low western sky after sunset. 

I was always interested in astrology and lost track of it after I started collecting change from table tops. The task then and since has been to make an earning. Now as I settle into semi-retirement, a renewed interest to keep the mind active.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards ~ Dinese Linn

Reflect - Review

 

Pippin: "It's so quiet."

Gandalf: "It is the deep breath before the plunge"

Standing at the edge of forest, reflection on the passage through reminds me of the above quotes. I wonder what waits ahead.  There is shimmering magic there at the portal from the forest to what is next. Best grab some of that for my travel pack.

The Enchanted Forest Tarot

Seek and you saw find

 

Who goes to the forest with their harp and not take a picnic basket and blanket? A Knight of Cups. Searching for the place that the music plays true. Follow and trust your feelings to take you on, take you on to the next adventure. I think this Knight of Visions(Cups) is The Fool who wander into the forest on his/her journey and decided to stay. Once we find the place that fills our hearts, is there any need to go anywhere else?

The Enchanted Forest.

Razz m'tazz

 

This Keeper  of Spells is traditionally the King of Wands.  He is a bit young to take on the role of advisor and leader, but hey we all got to start somewhere.  This young, inexperienced king wants to impress with his showmanship, that which diverts our attention from the inexperience. Well, we all have to start somewhere, sometime, and sometimes a bit of thrill and awe and razz m'tazz is exactly what is needed.

For today I will take any advice with a pound of salt, the salt to put out the fire.

The Enchanted Forest Tarot

Better than porridge

 

I would enjoy the opportunity to join this group of happy go lucky bears. I wonder if I encounter them in the forest if they would let me join or have me for a celebration dinner? That's the thing about joining a new something something. Sometimes the risk is worth the outcome and that is something to celebrate. It worked out for Goldilocks.

The Enchanted Forest

Wishing Well

 

I found a quarter yesterday; what a lucky girl I am. Today I am going to find me a wishing well and give my quarter to the wishing well in exchange for my wish.  I am going to set my intention and focus on exactly what I hope and wish for. I will not try to shape how the wish will manifest, the Universe and Spirit Realm will take care of that. I have drawn the Wish Card and will not waste such a precious gift and opportunity.

The Enchanted Forest Tarot

Sun-Day

 

What a de-light-ful card to draw today, especially after the Tower draw yesterday.  Sunlight to chase away the shadows.  Today will be a lovely Sun-filled day as the forecast calls temps in the seventies with clear skies full of sunshine.  I keep thinking I would love to be able to bottle up some of today's light and open it up on the dark days of winter to come.  I wonder? I wonder if I can put some mason jars out and let them fill with today's light and seal them and open them during the cold days ahead. As well as open one on the  Winter Solstice to announce the Return of the Light. Nothing ventured nothing gained. 

Enchanted Forest Tarot

Lunaea Weatherstone

Disbelief

 

We have all been there, bearing witness to someone else's tragedy.  We cannot not turn away or unsee what has been seen.  We watch the tv, turn our heads at accidents on interstate, get caught up in the mayhem of others.  We hope and pray for them and are thankful that it was not us.  But, but, when it is us or those we know and those we love, the lighting strike is painful.  This Tower Card feels like watching a news broadcast of a calamity, that indirectly affects me.  

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Maggie Stiefvater - Melissa Cynova

Gather yourself

 

With all the dappled colors in the coat of the Unicorn it brings to mind The Lady of Lake, rising up with the Sword of Truth, Excalibur.  The Sword of Truth is needed these days to pierce through all the flotsam.       I need to remind myself of my truths. I may need to exam those truths and see if they still are valid for me in these days of change and adaptation. Some of my old parameters no longer work or fit. Wield the Ace and remove that which no longer serves me, making room for the new that will.

Scorpio Sea Tarot  

Grab those bootstraps

 

I am hoping for a visit from this Queen of Wands today. A dose of her quick wit and getting straight to the point is needed.  Lately I feel a bit adrift and maybe her insight will help me gather my focus.  Still it is early days in my rest and recoup stage, but a bit of her insight may help me make plans.

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Might as well be me

A slogan from lottery commercials, "Someone is going to win, might as well be you"  So here is the trophy cup. I win! Whatever it is that I win today, I am going to celebrate. When the moment comes I am going to enjoy it.  Someones gotta win, might as well be me. 

Now excuse me why I go polish my trophy.

Scorpio Sea Tarot

A discussion for later

 

Though he looks more approachable, more amiable, he is an Emperor. Supreme in his kingdom.  Maybe it is a butcher shop or in his home; regardless of appearance, he rules.  Still I think I could stop and listen to him a bit since he his not walled off in a throne room with no compromise left in his gaze. Even so, if I disagree, best keep that to myself, since he is an Emperor and believes his word is final, he might take a swing at me with his cleaver for my dared insubordination. For me, today, listen but keep my opinions to myself.  

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Shiny, shiny, shiny

 

I have encountered many of these types of squirrely people in my days. Collectors of your happiness, usupers of joy.  They take not to feed or clothe themselves, but simply because you have it. Anything to make themselves feel better, including making you feel worse. I have spent many a hour, day, years trying to save others, just about lost myself.  I can honestly say, done. Carolyn's time.  No more tolerating sneak attacks. I will scamper away with my shiny things.

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Happy place.

 

The author states, " if ever an animal were created in the image of joy, the highland cow would be it."  I can think of a few other animals that bring a smile of joy, but if you are from the other side of the pond maybe a highland cow is that animal.  Different things for different people. I can see the cow in my mind's eye out in the field, full of daisies under the lovely Summer Sun.  That would be a happy place for me. Lately I have tried to stop and 'smell the daisies' when a happy thought or moment occurs, no longer taking them for granted. Being in the moment in the moment. Those moments are starting to soften some of the sharp edges within me. 

As a child we had a field behind our home that was a pasture for cows. We often ran and played in the field and the stream that ran through it. There is a happy thought that takes me to a happy place. Magic in that.

Scorpio Sea Tarot