Lined imagery

 

Opinions, suggestions, advice, I have got lots of them, but no one really wants to listen. And really I can't blame them. For the most part I didn't listen to my own-self, my intuition, my inner-knowing. Sure that forge ahead mentality taught me a lot of things, mostly not to do a lot of those things again, but really, do others want to listen to that? Either they have to learn themselves or their paths differ from mine. These days I try to keep my mouth shut, better all the way around.

Several months ago at memorial for one of my sisters who left the planet, family members were sharing photos taken throughout our years. In one photo taken, I was Twenty-Five. Was I ever that young? And oh what smooth unlined skin I had. Wrinkles I have earned lots of them, some just needless worry.  Don't need to share that.

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Muted

 

Awe struck. I am speechless in the presence of this White Wizard Queen. So long has she lived in this section of the Enchanted Forest there is a permanent path worn between the the white birches.  The thorn bush and herself block the way into her white wonderland. Do I or you even want to enter? Do I really want to know the answers to my questions? If asked I must listen, this Queen of Swords warns. 

The Enchanted Forest Tarot

Mountain top view

 

December 1, another year getting ready to complete itself. And here I am still trying to figure things out; sorting through my wisdom and worries.  This Queen of Swords is giving me that look. What that look is will take sometime to figure out the question behind it. 

Sometimes I just want to say "okay, out with it, just give me the answers" but in truth I have always been the seeker of my own answers. Life is our classroom.

The Gaian Tarot

Truth be told

 

So she says to me, " unhappy, get up and do something about it. Begin with something and go from there. Sitting around in a pile of whine will not get you anywhere."  So I say, "but it's winter and cold. Been iced in for days and more on the way. I have every right to whine and complain." The Queen gives me a not so silent harrump, "your righteous right to whine and complain is yours to keep or give up, you must do what is best for you, but no complaining about the complaining." 

The Queen of Swords, truth be told.

The Good Tarot

The best policy

 

Is Honesty the best policy? There is no getting around this Queen. She knows the truth, even if you are not ready to face it.  She is here to remind me that every action is a choice. If I wonder how I got where I am at, I only have to look and see the choices I have made.  Knowing this, one can get stuck in the mire of indecision, which itself is a choice. Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way comes to mind. 

The Good Tarot

The best policy

She's back.  The Queen of Swords visited me first of the week and has returned.  I need to deal with some issues of myself and she is reminding me that "honesty is the best policy" most especially with oneself. 
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a definition of insanity."
If old Al says it, must be true.  It has a ring of truth. I am caught in a loop and need to step off or step away.  Now is the time, and Queen is here to remind me, there is never a better time, than right now.



The Fountain Tarot
Jonathan Saiz
Jason Gruhl
Andi Todaro

Sharp Intelligence

Who is this Queen of Swords and what has she come to explain to me?

Obligation

Even in her 'down' time she is rigid.  Bound by convention and expectations, this Queen of Swords sits stiffly in her garden.  Does she or can she give herself some time for reprieve?  Not today she doesn't. 









The Goddess Tarot

Winds of change

There might be a change in the air, even so this Queen is steadfast in who she is and what she believes to be right and wrong.  Well mostly.  That bird flying out there somewhere is that niggling thought she had about her absolute convictions. 
Sometimes we need to just sit with ourselves and re-evaluate a position.  More than likely we will find that we were correct in our firmly held beliefs, but a check in with oneself is always a good thing; then that niggling thought can drift off in the breeze.






Rider Waite-Smith Tarot

Alright already

All but one of the swords of yesterday have been quieted.  The one remaining, this one dominant thought must be listened to.  As they say what we think about we bring about.  The chaff has been cleared away.  It seems all my thoughts have been just getting through winter, which seemed to drag on.  I was and am winter weary.  Thankfully longer days of sunlight and warmth have returned.  My thoughts already are spinning towards next winter and 'how will I ever manage the cold short days.' Crazy. 
My sister here says "stop" and smell the 'roses' get out in the fields of Spring and live in the moment.  Quelch those winter blues and be here, really here in the days of Spring.



The Sacred Circle Tarot

Hand it to you

Hands, what a wonderful blessing.  They can do so much.
This Queen's hands have done more than been kept folded in her lap or giving us the gentle cupped wave of royals.  She has worked hard with her hands, doing what needs done.  Hands really can tell a story about the individual they are attached to. 
Handshake
Handheld
Hand delivered
Hand to mouth
Hand over fist
Clever things, hands.




The Linestrider's Tarot

What's Next

What's Next?  What a great question.  I just heard it on t.v. 
What's Next?  Aspire to be more than you are now. Learn more, do more, experience more, try more, be more. 
At the top of your game? Learn a new game. 












The Goddess Tarot- Kris Waldherr

Wise Woman - Wise Words

"Suck it up buttercup" that's what I get with this Queen of Swords.  If she can sit on the snow and ice and barefoot, who am I to complain.  Makes me think of my Father and him shouting at us "you want something to cry about, I will give you something to cry about." Years later I realized he was a childhood victim, doing the best he could.  So I have tried to dry the tears and get on with it.  Still, some of that self-compassion might go along way. 








The Gaian Tarot

Bitten

Recently I have heard myself describing another as"bat crap crazy" I knew she wasn't totally centered with herself, but working more closely with her this last year, I realized she is close to being unhinged. Help, I have tried.  Support, given.  Burned by her chaos, on more than one occasion.
Sometimes the only right thing that one can do, is move on.

The word bite is contained in bitten.Ouch.





SpiritSong Tarot - Pauline Cassidy

Multifaceted

Pressure not only forms diamonds it forms and shapes us.
I gave notice at my part time inside real estate job yesterday.  The pressure I was under was transforming me to someone I did not recognize.  I was suffering from bouts of depression and little fits of rage.  Who needs that?  I finally listened to my own Queen of Swords' wisdom. 









The Fountain Tarot

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

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?

Arsenal of Truth

"an iron fist in the velvet glove"

This queen knows what she is about and she has the ability to back up who and what she says if confronted.  Reminds me of those 'cutting' looks you can get from others - This far and no further.
I still have some of that in me; mostly though, trying to prove a point or win a contest of any sorts just doesn't interest me anymore.









The Green Witch Tarot - Ann Moura, artwork - Kiri Leonard