Going to visit my mother!

This will be my last post until next Monday or Tuesday because tomorrow I am going to visit my mother to celebrate her 80^th birthday. My youngest brother is going to pick me up and together we will go to her. It will take us about one hour and a half. My eldest brother is coming by train and it will be good to meet each other again. I have to be  mindful to focus on the positive because as you all will know family visits can bring out the worst in you J. My brothers are both more inclined to “behave” than I do.

To give me a head start, I pulled three lennies to answer the following question: How can I contribute to this get-together in the best possible way for the good of all of us?

Moon + woman + garden

1. Intuition will guide me through this visit
2. Emotional satisfaction for my mother during our stay is very important. ( it is not so often the three of us are there together and it is her birthday)
3. During our stay we will be sensitive for my mother needs
4. I will keep my emotional tides within while I am there ( keep my big mouth shut when necessary

When I count the inserts I get Stork: besides change, according to Caitlin Matthews this can also mean an annual celebration, (Moms Birthday), travel which is also obvious and nesting. I guess my mom will feel a bit like that when we all come home together.

Al together this is some good advice for me to make our stay a pleasant one for all of us; especially for my mom who I love so dearly
I see you in few days. Have a nice weekend!!

Apple blossoms and presents

For today no daily draw but instead I wanted to share some pictures of our apple tree, we’ve planted last Autumn and I also wanted to show the presents I’ve got yesterday.

Yesterday was a good day. Like the Page of  Swords, M. and I wanted to clear our heads and we went to a town nearby for some shopping J

We had discovered a beautiful New age shop where we could drool over the crystals, tarot decks, incenses, books etc. M had bought some nice things for herself and the sweetheart had found two perfect gifts for me too:

First she showed me a fragrant piece of wood. It was Palo Santo (Holy Wood). It was a lovely coincidence because yesterday I had seen this wood for the first time in a video from “Between traditions” where Avalon used it for cleansing her reading space. It smells so good. I haven't burned it yet but the wood itself smells lovely too. Then she showed me a bracelet of red garnet chips. I really love this deep red color a lot. I immediately fell in love with it. Its properties are: energy, willpower, passion en self confidence. That sounds a lot like a Queen of Wands bracelet to me. Isn't it strange; I‘ve seen so many beautiful things in that store and I couldn’t decide what to buy and she just picked out the two perfect presents for me

Following are the pictures of our apple tree. Slowly the blossoms have started to bloom. Now it is a coming and going of bees who will hopelfully pollinate them

This is promising for  a good harvest (apple pie! J)

Ostara Contemplation with the Wildwood Tarot

In two days we can already celebrate the Spring equinox also known as Ostara. She is the Goddess of Spring and is also called Eostre. The hare is her scared animal (yay!). It seems like time is passing more quickly these days or is it just because I’m getting older?

When we look around us we can see how the Spring goddess Ostara is covering the land with her unbridled energy: trees are blossoming and flowers and leaves are budding, birds are nesting and singing and it feels like the dark veil of winter has been lifted for good. This is also the time when the seed is starting to sprout. So most Easter festivities were held to stimulate growth and fertility. 

The Wildwood Tarot

On our journey in the a Wildwood, we encounter The Archer. In the unconscious mind of The Wanderer we've met at Imbolc, some sparks of intellect and focus are beginning to dawn. They will blossom into idea’s and goals. So now the time is right to pick up our arrows of desire and aim them into the right direction. We do have to be aware of the consequences of our actions. We can’t just do as we please. The  Stag is slowing us down and reminding us of our responsibilities He is not about man made laws but more about the primal principles like “as you sow so shall you reap” or the karmic balance of life. The Stag is reminding us not only to pick up the ax to build  and cultivate but also the shield to defend the land and its inhabitants; both plant and animal.  

Both the equinoxes are times to take stock of our actions and their consequences: Are you on the right path? What do you do to keep the balance, either in your own personal life as well as for the land; the ecosystem?

So back to the garden it is. I wish you all a  Happy Ostara!

Some snapshots from our spring garden

My personal review of The Gilded Reverie Lenormand

A long time ago I did try to purchase this Lenormand deck form  Ciro Marchetti’s website, but sadly I was informed he didn't sell it any more. You can imagine my happiness when I heared this deck was going to be published by US games. 

I've pre-ordered my copy with Book Depository and it has arrived safely yesterday. I had read some reviews  already so my expectations were high. Excited and with al little bit anxiety. (I've had some misprints before) I opened my package. OMG what a cute and sturdy box I found in there. It opens with a magnetic flip. I had never seen such a nice box to go with a US Games deck. The cards are just beautiful. They are gilded, which adds to the luxurious feel of this deck.

The colors are vibrant and lush and the cards are thick and glossy and also quite large compared to other Lenormand decks. Since I never work with grand tableau’s, I don’t mind this at all. I like the size of these cards which does justice to the beautiful artwork of Ciro. My favorite card as always is “mice”. Wouldn’t  you love to tickle this little guy’s tummy?

The deck doesn't contain the extra cards of the original self-published version. But I've heard US games will probable print an expansion pack for this deck with the additional cards in the beginning of 2014. I am certainly planning to buy this too. It does come with a well written LWB by Tali Goodwin and Rana George. Each card has tells a little bit about itself and after that follows the general meaning.

And even the backs are stunning. This picture says it all

I am glad I've picked up my Lennies again and did some practicing before my package had arrived. So with a totally refreshed memory I am going to play with this gorgeous deck

The first three cards I've pulled for this deck were: garden + birds + clover:

·         People are coming together to discuss the happiness this deck has brought them

·         There’re  a lot of positive comments about this deck in the community

Simple and clear just as any other Lenormand deck, except this one is absolutely stunning!!!

I am not a Lenormand deck collector but I am very happy with this addition to my more traditional decks. I highly recommend it to every Lenormand reader. And with all the gilded edges and decorations it could be a great Christmas gift too.

For now, I only have to wait for the Celtic Lenormand Oracle from Chloë McCracken and Will Worthington to be published…..  J