Be Well

 My thoughts today are with a friend that is undergoing a major surgery, one that impacts her life. Sending healing energy and loving thoughts on her recovery.

Setting Aside

 

Artwork/Cards ~ The Scorpio Sea Tarot - Melissa Cynova

I have always been drawn to images of The Sun and The Moon and celestial stars as well.  The Sun and The Moon light our ways, each having their time overhead, each marking a cycle within the day. Some begin their days with the rising of the Sun and others when darkness falls and The Moon lights the night. There are natural cycles that run through our lives. This morning in meditation my mind drifted to the thought of Setting Aside the Identity. What do I indentify with? Change is necessary and sometime we need to set aside what we identify with to change. I have enjoyed this blog and plan to continue, just not everyday. I am going to spend a few weeks rereading previous posts to explore my journey these last 6 or 7 years . I will still post from time to time because I love the cards, but a blog is more about individuality and not another task to complete. 

THE BOOK OF AWAKENING ~ Mark Nepo ( August 7) What We Bring Along

In our journey through time, we all struggle constantly with what to bring along and what to leave behind. If feels so hard to throw anything away, but if we don't we will drown underneath a weight of our own making...The purpose of sentiment, then, is to release the powerful feelings that sleep in us Sometimes books and cards and shells and dried flowers do this...

Shut the front door

 

Challenges come in many forms, today as most days lately, it is my legs.  It is hard to think of what to do and when to do it when the pain and discomfort are seemingly just too much. Too much whining, too much complaining doesn't resolve issues. I can see why we can get stuck in patterns when your focus is also stuck. Even I don't like to listen to myself and I normally do.

The Fairy Tarot

Me please

 

Everyday is a good day to take care and nurture oneself.  

The Fairy Tarot

Initiative

 

The Eight of Cups. Walk Away? Gather what you need, take the opportunity, and move on toward progress.

As a side thought to this deck, I cannot figure out how Doreen Virtue made the jump to doing artful work to demonizing it. This card is beautiful.

The Fairy Tarot

Mirror work

 

I define my life. Not happy I have to look to me for reasons and change.

The Fairy Tarot

Self-beliefs

 

Holding 'Your Space' can require some discipline. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do.

Fairy Tarot

Imagination

 

July has come to its end and I realize that thirty days came and went and I really was not a participant. My nerved damaged legs and busted up knees have me in a wait and then wait some more pattern. If I could, I would act like this fairy and pack up and head somewhere. For now my travels are in my Imagination.

Fairy Tarot ~ Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine

Better decisions

 

Yesterday's Four of Pentacles featured a squirrel gathering acorns. Today's Emperor shows wood cut and stacked in preparation of upcoming Winter months. It is a good thing to make ready. Better decisions come from a place of security. Choose to do what we can when we can, and take care of the rest as it comes.

The Gaian Tarot

The Great Divide

 

Already there are subtle signs of changes in the Earth's progression around the Sun. The sunlight begins to diminish. Schools are preparing and welcoming back students. Department stores are having end of Summer sales. I have two thoughts with this card this morning, one is what I kind of preparations do I need to consider and two, don't forget to enjoy the Summer days before the returning Fall and Winter seasons.  How much time is spent looking for the next and not spent on spending on the now? Gather Yee vs. Presence. 

The Gaian Tarot

Listen

 

Yesterday I was skipping around a social media site and watched a clip I had seen before, but this time it profoundly moved me. It made me cry for a bit for some of the inhumanness that has occurred and continues to do so, not the clip I watched, but it triggered something in me. Every since the cardiac event and even before, I had/have been slowly making dietary changes, I mean 65 is not 35, and changes are a way of life. I have been hearing for weeks a quote from Louise Hay, "I eat what grows and I don't eat what doesn't grow." I realize now that this continual looping quote is my Soul encouraging me to make more changes, and the media clip yesterday cemented something in place. Though I am not yet ready to give up cheese, meats will no longer appear on my dining plate, and what is in the freezer will go to family. Listen.

The Gaian Tarot

Resonate

 Into the Garden of Our Own Well-Being.

What really Resonates with ourselves? Like attracts Like is not always necessarily so. I am like others in many aspects, but in closer comparison we/I have nothing in common. What really Resonates with our Soul? Traditionally this card is the King of Pentacles, comfortable with who and what he is. Sitting in his throne chair, perfectly at ease with his life and surroundings. Who can say that for themselves? Are we always peeking around the next corner for something more?  Trying to put aside my distractions and feel with what really Resonates with me and live from those feelings.

The Gaian Tarot

Me

 

What a good way to start the week, A knight of fire.  What and where can I focus my energy on? Me is my best answer.

The Gaian Tarot 

Sacred Space

 

A mellow short of King of Swords. Not all answers to our questions can be found through our intellectual mind games. Turn off the rights and wrongs of choices and turn into our own Soul message.  Music, and Dance, and Chanting may be better venues to opening ourselves to deciding what is best for ourselves.

The Gaian Tarot

Now is a good time

 

Sometimes Life gives us a hard knock - down. Do we stay down and give into 'the woe is me' or get up and make the best of a bad situation? Either, both, or something entirely different, it is really up to us how to handle and that decision may also be based on how difficult the hurt was or is.

Today, this morning, I am thinking about choices. I would immediately rush to the aid of a loved one in dire need, but in regards to my own need(s) I am willing to put off the change, the rescue, so I can take care of other seemingly important things first. Why as I write this, journal on this blog, do I seemingly not put myself first?

I keep thinking of a passage in the Bible, and the gist of the story was a merchant was so moved by the words of Jesus that he wanted to join him and Jesus said  "yes, come with me now." The merchant needed time to get his business and affairs in order and exclaimed that he needed time to and asked can I meet you tomorrow? and Jesus said, "come with me now." The merchant chose to remain and take care of his life and not join Jesus.    We decide what is more important to us, to continue to live a life as is, or seek for something else when needed.

The Gaian Tarot

Light please

 

I have seemed to lost my way in the darkness. Waiting for some illumination to help me find the path clear of confusion.

The Gaian Tarot

 

I really have no inspiration with this card this morning. The Ace of Wands hopefully would fill me with inspiration, new ideas, some get up and go. Most of my thoughts this morning and yesterday afternoon are focused on a person who I thought at her core was a friend, but yesterday beneath her exterior I glimpsed a snake in sheep's clothing. I wonder if it has more to do with my down-cast mood or I have been excusing it for the last year and a half?  So I guess my Ace of Wands inspiration is leaving something behind in search of something better? Respect for myself.

The Gaian Tarot

Why not?

 

Sometimes we really do need a different perspective. Today I just may listen to someone's advice.

The Gaian Tarot

The Siren's call

 

I miss the ocean, being able to walk out into the salted waters and feel the swirls and eddies around my feet and legs; the pull of the water to venture forward, the Ocean's soft call to wade deeper.  Since my trauma incident ten years ago I have not really ventured in, my legs not able to withstand the to and fro and pull from the currents. Last year I made a trip to the beach and only went down to the surfside once because of my instability; it saddened me deeply, so much so, one week after returning I had my cardiac event. I watched a woman this morning, on the beach cam of my favorite beach area, imagining her to be about my age. She walked slowly into the water and stood for a bit looking out searching or communing or being and for a moment, I too, was standing in the water, filled with joy at returning. I hear the Siren's call and hope to return.

Gaian Tarot

The blank look

 

This card speaks to me on several levels today. 

Yesterday sitting amongst family, I made a statement to the others sitting around the table, that as in other times, was met with disdain and deprecation, as usual. I really don't know why I expected anything different. We all have are own ideas and thoughts on things and they think mine are weird and new agey and I think theirs are  limited and narrow. I also realized that at 65 I am still seeking validation from them, why I don't know, if we haven't met in the middle by now, it is highly doubtful that we will find common ground. I withdrew into myself and said why even continue with them, well one, they are family, secondly we are all on a journey, most of us are on different paths to the same destination. The Awakening is allowing not only them to continue along, but allow myself the same, without feeling that anyone else needs to share or understand the Me of Me.

Gaian Tarot ~ Joanna Powell Colbert

Entanglement

 

A picture of all of us from a long time ago. Awesome.

Smudge away!

 I don't know why I have gotten out of the habit of smudging, but with card it is a clear reminder to resume the practice. I have been stuck for quite awhile, and smudging be just what I need to release those icky-sticky bits that weigh me down. 

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Fleeting

 

In yesterday's draw of 'Talking Stick' there were lots of birds off in the distance. Today's card has brought that flock of birds in flight closer and closer. Reminds mr of those abstract thoughts we have that seemingly are just out of reach in our mind's eye. Something, possibly forgotten, but not quite. We can bring those swirling thoughts closer by quietly examining them, mostly one by one. Doing that, some of the what if's become hopefully clearer. Today I will pay close attention to those attention getting thoughts.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Listening

 

"I didn't deserve all the mean things I said to me." How true. How we talk to ourselves makes all the difference in the world. 

The old idiom of 'sticks n stones, may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' - how wrong. Words may not cause immediate physical harm but they can promote long term effects if we carry them with us and replay them often.

The author Denise Linn suggests we make our own talking stick and daily have a conversation with ourselves to discover our own 'inner truth'

Native Spirit Oracle Cards

Sweat-out

 

I am pretty sure I could never do a Sweat Lodge thing. The steam room at the YMCA is challenging enough. Maybe that is what I need to do, take time to go to the 'Y' and take a steam. I am seemingly running in circles and a go 'sweat-out' might help release the troublesome tension and toxins within me. The booklet advises with this card about clutter-clearing, maybe I can start with a good old fashion sweat.

Native Spirit Oracle Cards - Denise Linn

And there I go again

 

This is all I want to do today, stay home in my comfy chair and let the world go along its way. It's the rabbit in the corner that can be my undoing. Tempting me to get up and follow her. Just about time I think, okay I can sit for a bit and have me a moment, something comes along, catches my attention, and up I get going. 

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Star - light please

 

Hope Springs Eternal

I have made a hash of things in regards to exiting from my sales career. One more, one more my ego tells me. One more because they asked me or needed me. I know when I step aside there are hundreds more ready, willing, and able to take my place, maybe that is why I take 'one more' because I don't want to admit that I am that easily replaced. Restless all night thinking of my exit. The Star this morning gives me hope that today is a good day for figuring out my next move. I get to choose my outcome by my choices and participation what and where  I 'pour' my intentions. The reason I am lingering is because I don't know what I want to do next and I can't fathom what I want to do next because my heart and mind are focused on what I don't want to do. A vicious little cycle I have created. The Star - light has spotlighted this issue.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Best intentions

 

Wherever you go, there you are. Making the first move to get ahead of others or a difficult situation, might be the best move. First check in with your feelings to see what the motivation is, to better oneself or best another? Best intentions can be confusing.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Consider this

 

I have never really paid attention to the fact that the three personages in this card are similar to the scales the central character is holding. The card scanned askew, giving me the unbalanced view of the fact that the three of them are the scales. What parts of me are not in balance?  Can I really be objective in or about my life if the central part of me is not in balance? Sometimes I might need to look at things from just a slightly different angle to help me get the full picture.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

New guidelines please

 

Most of the old rules do no work any more. I cannot abide by guidelines set by an establishment or personage that did not have me in mind, when those rules were made. This is at the heart of the issue for me being told what to do; I don't like being told what to do. I am now in the 'age' group of old people, and I agree, what worked for me in my twenties, thirties, and forties, will not necessarily work for those age groups now. I don't tell others what do to, I suggest and tell them what I think, and then they decide, and that is if I am asked at all. I wonder then why I am still chafing under restrictions of those whose influence no longer, and in some instances, never did work for me.

The Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Mental

 

I am just not sure about the Ace of Swords lately. Aces are supposedly a good sign.  The Ace of Swords can be about truth, justice, new ideas and such, but all that is suspect when you think of the Ace as the lead card for the rest of the suit, and two-ten can be really negative 'like' cards. The positive-negative polarity keeps the Tarot balanced. I guess a pairing of the Ace of Swords would be more telling as to what possible new idea is tickling the brain. Today I am taking it as "What You Think About You Bring About." Good or not so good, is always a choice.

Mental that one.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Pick up sticks

 

I keep wondering how is this person going to get where they intended to go if they can't see where they are heading? I can ask myself the same thing. It is the first day of the second half of year. Have I made progress from where I started at first of year? I keep picking up one more thing that seemingly has to be done, adding one more promise to my daily log, that I still have a list of things needing done, so I can get on with my own life. But the thing is, 181 days of 2022 says I am getting on with life, just not the life I was intending. Can I lay the bundle down and move on? The question I am going to work on these next 184 days or so.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Make it so

 

Can I believe it? June 30th, half of the year gone. Seems like we just lifted our cups in cheer for the beginning of the New Year. Nine of Cups, the Wish Card! What do I wish for in the second half of year? I never declared a New Year's resolution, so nothing to beat myself up over for not accomplishing. I would love to boldly march through the next 184 days, and not limp through them as in the first six months literally.  I will still be limping as I go forward, until knee surgeries are completed later this year and the second one in 2023. Optimistically I can accomplish many a thing, even if I have to limp and inch along the way.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Think on it

 

Reminding ourselves of the distress we experienced in the Ten of Swords will help with the decision and the path ahead. Thoughtful choices allow us to make better informed decisions.

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Self prophecy

 

It can be difficult to admit that we choose to define ourselves by the pain we feel. We lament about the wrongs we have suffered. I watch others and think, 'well, you brought that on yourself,' then I get to thinking what about my own messes?  Same thing. I wonder if we are so bored sometimes we do not make things difficult just to shake things up?

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Was that just a dream?

 

Clutter clearing is more than just getting rid of that which is of no use to me anymore. Maybe items in our home. Moving beyond limiting beliefs. Possibly a new nutritional approach to issues that began the pattern to overeating. With all that and more, just about everything has an emotional attachment to it, a memory that lingers. Those remembrances can bring a smile, a tear, or both, Letting go of the things around my home, not such an issue. Letting go of the excess weight, is another thing all together. Much of my weight was gathered in defense of the world around me. Circumstances change and yet my heart still feels the dulled pain. If, if I let go of the foundational hurts, and that is a BIG 'IF' what then defines me? Can I discover the me of me?

Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Be your own Change

 

When our ship doesn't come in, we think why me? I must have done something wrong. In fact it may have nothing to do with what we have or have not done. When things go awry we secretly wonder, what did I do? Why didn't I do things better to begin with? The dark side of our ego can blame us for all kind of things, making us responsible for things beyond our control. Stuck, figure out how to get unstuck. Life is fluid and filled with Change. Be your own Change.

Majestic Earth Tarot - J.D. Hildegard Hinkle

Stratos

 

A mythical city in the sky, an unreachable dream or a folly of our imagination?  Do we give up on our dreams because the path is too difficult or that we or others convince us that it is an illusion? Is it better, safer, to stay with the known or search the horizon of our imagination?  I am full of questions and answers seem just out of reach.

The Plains of Heaven ~ painting by John Martin

Majestic Earth Tarot

Here and there

 

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" -John Lennon.

There you are happily enjoying the view and even then we can't help but make future plans. You are on the way to the merriment in the Four of Wands, and already working on what to do after that. So much time spent in the future and also reviewing the past, we lose the moment we are in.

Majestic Earth Tarot

A moment please

 

This depiction of The Page of Wands calls to my mind images of an Autumnal Equinox observation, odd when yesterday we celebrated the Summer Solstice. The energy of Page of Wands does encourage forward thinking. 'What's next' is a mantra of the Page of Fire, starting something and moving on to the next in the same moment. My mind has been this way for quite a while. Always looking to what is next. Exhausting is what it can be, when really all I would like is some quiet time of contemplation. Summer is here! the Season I longed for in the cold dark days of winter. Fall will arrive before I barely blink. Taking one of those "let's get started" ideas of the Page and working with that is a course of action. Just one, just one, just one.

Majestic Earth Tarot

Time

 

Take time to make time. The pace of everything seems to be speeding up. Why so much hurry? I admit to myself that many a year I always was in a hurry. Hurry to get there, hurry to start, hurry to finish, hurry, hurry, hurry to fill my time. With the Eight of Pentacles it reminds me to slow down and take my time. So many exclaim that there is not enough time...I think it is more that we rush so much that we don't appreciate our time. Awareness and Mindfulness will help me appreciate my minutes, hours, and days.

Majestic Earth Tarot

Temptest

 

Instead of complain and asking "Why Me?" Try to figure out why you are in the midst of a tempest and what actions you are responsible for.

The Majestic Earth Tarot

Knowing ourselves

 

Changes you make can make others uncomfortable, and pressure to return to the status quo begins. We know what is right for ourselves. There comes a time that we must stand our ground and weather the storm and not concede others arm-twisting.

Majestic Earth Tarot

Above

 

I love to watch birds dance with the wind as they drift on the Wind's currents. Every once in awhile I try to image all that they may see as they ride the currents. I wonder, do they rise above because they can or because they must? A joyful pastime or a needed observation point? The Ace of Swords suggests I obtain a new viewpoint. The suit of Swords deals with conflict, maybe unresolved problems or issues. Is the Ace of Swords a harbinger of conflict, a need to look at an issue from a different perspective? The day will tell the tale.

Majestic Earth Tarot

Mine, all mine

 

Pick up a history book and you will learn, if you already didn't know, things don't last. Conquers, Emperors, and Presidents all try to hold on to what they have; Change is the massive force that rolls right over them. Try as we might nothing stops Change. People will do more to hold on to what they have than seek other avenues for their time, intelligence, money. Mine is mine, a lesson we perfected in childhood. "Mine. Mine all Mine" 

Majestic Earth Tarot

Second guessing

 

When it comes to choices, to make a decision about This 'n That, why when once made, we have tendency to question our decision? Should I have or should of not? Did I do the right thing? Did I choose correctly? This constant battle that we wage with ourselves with fear over wonder, the negative over the positive, black over white, can drive us to the brink.  The raven or dove?  Most would go with the dove because it's  white connotation  is a symbol of peace and harmony whereas the raven harkens something sinister. For the most part the choice is not the problem, but the insistent questioning of our choice that makes us miserable.

When things just don't seem all that positive we might ask ourselves, is it me?

Majestic Earth Tarot

Flux

 

Ended last week with a draw of the Two of Cups and beginning this new week with another draw of the Two of Cups. Last week's draw evoked the feeling of disagreement and here I believe is acceptance. Once we finally settled on an agreement we can come to terms and hopefully feel good about that decision. Change is constant in our lives, best to get a good hold on it and get ahead of it if possible. At least we feel we have some say in our lives when we accept the inevitable and do the best we can, and it is good to have others to share our lives as me move forward with what may be even if there are disagreements. Hell I disagree with myself all the time, but hey that's Life.

Majestic Earth Tarot ~ Storm and Wonder - J>D> Hildegard Hinkle

Agree to Disagree

 

The differences between us can make life interesting or a difficult challenge. We choose, We can agree to disagree.  

"If you avoid conflict to keep the peace you start a war inside yourself" ~Cheryl Richardson

Marco Polo Tarot

Take time to make time

Here is to a life fairly well lived, at least what I know of it. A friend's husband has passed and even though at first I did not care much for him, he was afflicted with typical king arrogance, he grew on me and I came to like him very much. It reminds me yet again that time is limited and to live and do the best that we can. I raise my cup in yet another goodbye.

Today is the youngest I will be for the rest of my life.

Marco Polo Tarot

Did I miss something?

 

There is something niggling at edge of my awareness. I am unable to put my finger on it or clarify the thought. Hopefully The Star will illuminate what is just out of my reach and lead me to answer the question not yet fully formed.

Maybe instead of thinking my way through, feeling my way would be a better choice. 

Marco Polo Tarot