What does royalty have to say about workouts?

Now Autumn has finally begun this year, it is time to hit the gym again. To be honest, during this heat wave I wasn’t really up to it. When I haven’t exercised in a while,it is always a bit hard for me to pick it up again and to keep at it. Excuses seem to pop up from everywhere: too hot, too tired, too busy, or I just don’t feel like it, but eventually I went. While I was walking on the tread mill, I was thinking about what the Tarot might have to say about exercising. Immediately I saw four young Pages running around the gym, trying out the equipment. They didn't pay me any attention, let alone have the time to talk to me. So I directed my thoughts to the Queens and asked them why I should work out regularly, even if I don’t really feel like it:

Queen of Wands: "Girl, it is the perfect way to keep your energy levels up and set you ablaze. Feel how your heart is pumping the red blood through your veins! You will be fired up to seize the day!"

Queen of Cups: "Ah my dear, working out will most definitely reduce your stress levels and make you feel so much more calm and relaxed. Breath in and out and produce those endorphins!"

Queen of Swords: "My dear lady, nothing is more effective to clear your mind from worrying and depressing thoughts than to work up a sweat. The most ingenious ideas will come to you when you are physically active."

Queen of Pentacles: "Oh sweetie, what can I add  to  this sincere advice. Exercising is a gift to your body, which is just as precious as your spirit, your soul and your mind. Treat it well and it will serve you accordingly and don’t forget to eat healthy too."

Well that settles it: Working out will be an priority on my weekly to-do list!

Full Moon reading with the Crystal Visions Tarot

Yesterday the moon phase widget on my blog indicated there was a full moon. Yay for the widget, because the weather has been very cloudy for days, so the moon was nowhere be seen.

After my daily (yes, I am slowly getting into the habit again) meditation, I’ve pulled some cards from my Crystal Visions tarot by Jennifer Galasso, using the Full Moon Spread I’ve found on the Aeclectic Tarot forum.

The positions are the following:

0. Yourself in your current situation (from the base of the deck)- Queen of Pentacles

It seems this queen is very popular these days. She has been popping up on several blogs in various capacities and now she  has arrived here too. She is highlighting my effort to be more active, both physical and creatively and to get my nose out of the books and experiment with my new art supplies. I’ve also been working and playing with my Crystals a lot more. You can see in the depiction this queen is really loving them too. Also I would love to take my bike out for a ride but the heavy wind and the rain here are spoiling the fun. I feel I definitely take better care for myself lately

1. What can be seen with clarity, so bright that it can even blind you? - Ace of Pentacles

Since I feel a lot better than a month ago, it feels like I am much more capable  to bring my ideas into fruition. This ace is a symbol of abundance, wellbeing and manifesting your intent and for all these aspects I am truly grateful. E.g. I am more mindful of my diet, I make art, I want to revive my Dutch blog, I‘ve stopped biting my nails, I journal and meditate more regularly, so all and all I feel good about myself and the things I accomplish

2. What gets completed. What closes a cycle? - Four of wands

This feeling good is represented in the four of wands. Here we see a prince and his princess celebrating their union. They radiate joy and optimism for the future. I feel like they symbolize two parts of me who are now accepting and embracing each other: making me stronger and more resilient.

3. What begins to fade away, to darken, to abandon you... or what needs to be?- The unknown Card.  

This is the very first time I’ve pulled this card from the deck. This card is all about a hidden factor, an uncertainty. Since it is fading away I am not going to give it much thought. Perhaps it will reveal itself in my upcoming New moon spread. For now the crystal ball stay cloudy and unclear….

I like how this reading accentuates that I am feeling so much stronger than  a few weeks ago. For me the Full moon is all about celebrating your accomplishments of the last four weeks and expressing gratitude for what you have received . And I know I do have lot to celebrate and be grateful for.

Queen of Pentacles – Taking care of Everybody

Today’s card is the Queen of Pentacles from the Joie de Vivre Tarot by Paulina Cassidy. The perfect card for Easter Monday.  The queen is sitting quietly near a clear brook. She is holding a Pentacle in her arms which to me resembles a cushion with a heart and the moon phases embroidered on it. With one of her other hands she is petting the hare sitting beside her.

Yesterday , Easter Sunday, was  in general a good day but also as usual an exhausting day. My husband was happy and content and that is something to be thankful for. Also the rest of the family had a pleasant day, everybody enjoyed M’s Easter wreath , cookies and some buns. Dinner was good. When my husband went home again it was time for me to send my hare goodbye until next year’s Easter. I embraced my heart and cuddled it softly. Some special me-time was called for; not only for that evening but also for today. 
Because of my Hermity nature I always need some time to regroup myself after such a social event. And I wondered what would be the best way for me to do this:

Then I pulled the Seven of Wands and I had to laugh out loud. What  a lovely reminder of yesterday’s post. Look at me standing there, defending the worthwhile; my own space, my own needs. Not always easy but definitely necessary  J

So for today I am going to keep to myself and do the things  I love to do: blogging, meditation, reading,..... 

I hope you all have a lovely Easter Monday too.

Kenaz and the Queen of Pentacles - Enjoying the sunshine

The rune for today is Kenaz or Ken (torch), the rune of fire and illumination, of knowledge and cunning, of inspiration and creativity. Kenaz is about the physical fire like for instance the hearth, as well as  about the spiritual fire we see displayed in the suit of wands.

The Queen of Pentacles from the Original Rider Waite Tarot has come to share with us her wisdom about the wonders of her earthly realm. 

Kenaz and Queen together remind me of the cunning woman in the forest. She has no need for book knowledge because she reads nature as her ”book of life” and she distills not only potions and ointments from the herbs she finds but also deep embedded truths from the lessons learned by observing the turning of the wheel and all its wonders.

I could dream and fantasize about such a life for hours and hours but that won’t bring me much fiery energy in today’s life. So for now I am going  to finish my coffee and then I will take my bike out for a spin to enjoy the sun on a early Spring day. 

Queen of Disks – taking care of myself

For today I've drawn the Queen for Disks from the Mary El Tarot. The first thing I've noticed is that she is crying crystals. We only have her portrait to interpret so it is not entirely clear why she is crying.  From her face and out of her head, roots are growing abundantly, because she is the embodiment of Earth. I often see this queen as a representation of the Empress in the Minor Arcana. In the background we see a rose garden in full bloom. We are invited  to follow the path and take care of her garden because as her children we are co responsible for her creation.

If it wasn't for her kind tearful eye, I would consider this depiction a bit creepy. I've seen more motherly, nurturing depictions of the Queen of Pentacles. But while studying her she gets to me.  She is more a personified energy, a deity,  than a traditional queen and I like that.

For today she is telling me to divert my attention from thinking to doing, from researching to creating  and most of all from taking care of others to taking care of myself; taking the time to relax and to rest, eat properly, got to bed on time and brush my teeth J. All the things a real mum would tell me to do, which are often the last things on my lengthy to-do list 

The Queen of Pentacles - Don’t forget to listen to your body

Restored Order Tarot

Today I wanted to ask a question while pulling my daily tarot card. I wanted advice on how to proceed with listening to my inner voice. Of course I do have some ideas but I was curious what the cards could add to my thoughts about this subject.

I drew the Queen of Pentacles from the Restored Order Tarot. Now don’t get me wrong I love this queen but she wasn't at all what I had expected. After all the blue in my previous post this was a lot a green and yellow. (By the way I love this rendition of the Queen of Pentacles. It is so much more clear and peaceful than the R.W.version)

At second thought it isn't that strange at all I've got this card. This queen is all about the physical and material world. She encourages us to take care of our domestic life but also to nurture ourselves. To find pleasure in the sensual aspects of life. In food, perfume, creme and lotions, exercise, clean sheets, sunshine etc. Too often when we seek spiritual development we are inclined to forget to look after and cherish our body. Yet it is our body which can tell us perfectly how we feel and what we need if we are willing to listen; to be mindful : a stiff muscle, a smile, a sigh, a tingle etc. When you are extra perceptive to those tiny physical signs you can learn all lot about yourself. Today this card will encourage me to pamper myself and to embrace my sensuality.

Share with love

October 19: The leaves on the vine are coloring yellow. The grape harvest is inside. The wine is bottled. What did I bottle this fall; what is my whine?

These questions are very helpful to reflect daily on where I am now, where do I come from and where do I want to go from here. Today another question about  my personal harvest. To help me answer this question, the queen of Pentacles from the Anna K Tarot  has made her appearance. An appropriate card I think.  All the pentacles of this deck have that earthy feel. In this card the queen doesn't seem as regal as in other decks. To me she looks more like a warm cuddly mother.(I even suspect she is pregnant; look at her left hand J) She’s content and satisfied; the harvest (but one) is over. The fruits are picked. All different kind of fruits are gathered In the baskets. There is something for everyone’s taste . And most of all there’s enough. She is the nurturer of the kingdom. She sees to it, with love and care, that every material need is met.

But what do all those baskets carry? what are the fruits I enjoy the most? which do I share and which are mine to keep?  As always tarot cards tend to raise more questions than give answers.

In any way I feel that it’s important to share my talents and goods with love and affection. I am very much a Hermit person. This Queen, as all queens, is all about letting things flow and prevent them from becoming stagnant.

So it is essential that I keep in mind that sharing with others is  fulfilling, healing comforting and healthy

My eldest daughter is baking red velvet cupcakes. She will be our queen of pentacles today. Yummy! J