New Moon in December

Pulling my cards for this New Moon, at het end of the Holiday season, feels a lot like an intention setting for January. I suppose most of us are anxiously anticipating the first of January, when everything will get back to “normal”

For this New moon I pulled two cards from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot:

Release – X Wisdom

This card relates closely to the Hermit in a traditional Tarot deck. It represents o.a: inner wisdom, self knowledge and shadow work. Yes, I feel the time for inward reflection is coming to an end. It can be tempting to stay in our cave a bit longer but life is more than only seeking inner wisdom. It is also about having experiences and creating opportunities to gain wisdom from. Without those our wisdom might become shallow and meaningless

Embrace – XI of Fire – Masculine/feminine

A very motivating card for this coming lunation. This card is all about finding the balance between passive and active energy. January often appeals to our most active energy, so we can better ourselves, follow up on our new year resolutions and trying to work on our goals and intentions. This is not always the most effective way to go about it. Instead of hurrying and chasing and doing our uttermost best, listen to your energetic rhythms and try to be flexible. Embrace the energy which suits you best. It is okay to slow down, even in January! There are eleven more months to come.

The Wheel - Carving out Space and Time

Question to draw a card with: How can I take care of myself during the last days of this year? And I got The Wheel from the DruidCraft Tarot.

Some keywords for this card are Completion  and beginning of a cycle.

For me this is a perfect card for the last out breath of this year. A time to  recuperate from the stressful Christmas season. Only one festivity to go and then the new year will begin. The priestess is drawing a circle with her wand, while holding a symbol of the wheel of the year in her other hand. The circle is almost completed. It is a symbol for a completed cycle but it is also a sacred space, out of time out of place, where we can recharge and/or ground ourselves and where we can connect with Spirit. It is so essential to carve out space and time for ourselves this time of year to withdraw from everyday distractions. This way we can reflect on what has been and what may come. This is the perfect time to set new intentions and let go of outdated beliefs.

I hope you will all be able to give yourself the gift of Space and Time these last few days of the year.  

My best Christmas gifts!

I wasn’t planning on blogging today but when I read Chloe’s post: “What Were Your Best ChristmasGifts?”

I was inspired to pull two cards to answer the following questions for myself. I used the Druidcraft Tarot since it is my “Christmas deck” for this year. I have been enjoying it so much; just looking at the pictures, discovering new details, pulling a card now and then and being amazed by its wisdom and evocative nature all over again.

So let’s dive in:

What is the best gift I gave this Christmas? – Ace of Swords

From the depth of my sometime murky unconscious  emerged one thought crystal clear: this Christmas is a brand new experience: a once in a life time Christmas. No need to stain it with regrets and/or high expectations of Christmases  past. This relaxed mindset allowed me to step into this year’s Christmas with my family and really enjoy it. My eldest daughter and her boyfriend and my husband all came to visit us and we had a very good and peaceful day. I was able to divide my energy with ease and even keep some for  myself.

What is the best gift I received this Christmas? – Three of Swords

All  the merriment and cheerfulness were like a healing balm for the lingering sadness which is always, one way or another, asking for attention during this season. But this year I felt no need to harden my heart so I could protect myself from feeling too much. No this year I felt like I could be truly be myself and that was a wonderful Christmas gift.

What were your gifts this year?

Son of swords – Keep your sword sheathed

My card for today is the Son of Swords from the Wild Unknown Tarot.  It feels like this card is warning me to keep silent when emotions are running high. And let’s be honest, these coming days emotions will easily get over heated and perhaps even explosive.

  

Tomorrow M. and I are going to bake two loaves of our traditional Christmas bread, and one apple pie. If we are emotional balanced it  will almost look like we are dancing around the ingredients and the loaves will be the final accord of the melody. But if we want to be right and do this how we think is best we will collide and might even hurt each other with our swords.

So what  is the advice we need for tomorrow. Ten of Cups. It seems like all the ingredients are coming together for a lovely baking day with delicious loaves of bread en  beautiful pie as result. Look how the cups are pouring their colors into one and other. Each cup is beautiful in its own way but together they are creating a rainbow rhapsody. So let’s keep our swords sheathed and let’s dance!

Cycles – Trust the process

Today’s card is Cycles from the Magical Times Empowerment Cards. “We are all becoming. Surrender to your changes. Release your fear. Trust this powerful process.”

This last week  it feels like I am in a kind of a spiritual Winter or  a standstill. I don’t feel “it” and during this season the pressure is quite high to feel “it”, with everybody talking about the Christmas Spirit and so on.  In the depiction we see two dragons chasing each other, which tells me there is always movement in Cycles, even when we are not aware of it. This card resembles the Wheel of Fortune, which also teaches us that life has its ups and downs. Nothing ever stays the same; everything always changes. So I just have to trust this universal law and accept where I am right now, knowing this too will pass.

But I wouldn’t  be me if I didn’t  want to  help the universe to speed things up a little and preferable before Christmas. Yes I do have own my time schedule to consider too, so I pulled a rune for an assisting energy in this matter.

I pulled Jera, the rune of Cycles and Harvest.  Two divinatory systems telling me exactly the same thing.  How cool it that. Now I understand how speeding things up can ruin my harvest of this experience. We have to follow the rhythm of sowing, growing, weeding, harvesting and yes, also of resting. Each activity has its own season. This is the natural cycle of life. So it is actually not that strange to find myself in a spiritual lull these days. Maybe the cold winter does that to a person sometimes.

For now I will pour myself a hot cup of coffee and try to accept what is and sit with that, without giving in to my need to fix things quickly and trying to find a shortcut out.

I wish you all a wonderful Yule

Six of Cups – Adapting our Memories

Today’s card is the Six of Cups from The Wild Unknown Tarot with the keywords: Memories, Childhood and Joy. A very fitting card for me, since I’ve visited my mom last weekend.

In this version of the Six of Cups we see a Fir tree with a stunning, intricate and colorful root system. On the surface this Fir looks like any other Fir in the forest but when we look more closely, each Fir has developed in his own unique way. His roots and his trunk could tell us so much more about his growth throughout the years. 

And the same thing is true for us. Our memories, happy and sad ones alike, are partly cause of who we are today. But memories are not stagnant, they change when we change they way we feel about them. It is not the exact memory which determines how  we respond to  whatever life throws at us but the way we relate to those memories. Our perception might change over the years. Memories laden with guilt can  become filled with acceptance and compassion. And so we grow new roots each day and strengthen old ones, or cut them off from our energy flow so they wither and be forgotten.

With this notion I try to approach the Holidays. Traditions, childhood memories and expectations are not stagnant. They are truly alive and can become part of something new and fresh Our personal stories, even the sad ones, can be retold from a more empowering perspective. 

Let’s fill our memories with Compassion and Joy

Eight of Cups - Breaking through resistance

Today’s card is the Eight of Cups from the Wild Unknown Tarot. Our eight cups are shattered, broken beyond compare and a dark almost impossible to climb mountain is blocking our way. When we find ourselves on the dark side of this mountain, it is very hard to imagine there could be light on the other side and trees and flowers growing there.  So what to do now in such a precarious situation and I pulled a Soulcard. At first glance I would say: Stay put, don’t change and pretend to be happy where ever you are right now. But I have been playing this game too long to fall for this initial thought. The message today is to open your eyes, acknowledge your broken cups, feel you fear and start climbing. Fear is a devourer of energy. So face it, name it and disempower it and feel a jolt of energy being released from its shackles. And you're lucky, for there is no need to pack because inside, you already have everything you need for the journey. Bon voyage! 

Demeter - Need for sustenance

Yesterday I have bought the Foolsdog app of the Darkgoddess tarot. The deck is momentarily out of print but to be honest it was a bit too expensive for  me anyway, especially combined with the shipping costs to the Netherlands. I also was  a bit hesitative if I could read with the deck since it contains so many goddesses, I have never heard of. Working with the app is a perfect way to dive into the realm of the Dark Goddess since it also comes with a great guidebook which tells the myth of each goddess and how this myth is related to the interpretation of her card.

This deck couldn’t have come at a better time for me since I am working with the aspect of the dark goddess a lot lately. It feels like she is encouraging me to really look at myself  and to strip myself down to the bare bones of who I am and to figure out what I want to hold on too and what to let go.

For now I will use it mostly for daily draws and the first card I got is Five of Earth - Demeter - Give no part of yourself to what does not sustain you.

Demeter is the Olympian goddess of agriculture and grain, the sustainer of mankind. She is the goddess of the fertile earth. We all know how deeply she grieved when her daughter was in the underworld and how the earth withered away until Persephone was allowed to return to her mother during the light half of the year.

Her message is to take care of yourself during your personal dark season. Don’t despair because after each Winter, Spring will always return. My previous post was about the Five of Stones (Earth) too but this version highlights how to nurture yourself in times like this.

During this Holiday season it is so easy to say yes to everything you think you are supposed to do. Saying “No” is not impolite or self centered. It can be a wonderful act of kindness and compassion  for  yourself. These dark days for Christmas often bring about a need for reflection for many of us. If so, make room for quiet time, for walks, journaling etc. Just do the things which bring you joy and fulfillment, besides buying busy and taking care of things all day.

Wishing you a smooth and joyful run-up to Christmas!
Hugs  

Ingwaz – Sitting with your shadows

Today’s Rune is Inguz or Ingwaz, named after the god Ing who is both a fertility god as well as a heroic god who traveled to the underworld. It is a rune of gestation and internal growth. This reminds me of the seed which has to wait in the darkness of the earth until it comes to life and is able to move towards the light. This process of sprouting takes time and requires al lot of strength and patience. 

I pulled a card to elaborate on this rune from the Wildwood tarot and I got the Five of Stones. 

This is  the card of hardship and the struggle to survive the challenges of life. I think this child is part of our inner hero. The one who keeps the fire of our heart burning even in times of stress and spiritual  starvation. She is not afraid to spend time in the dark cave; to sit with whatever asks for not only her attention but more so for her acceptance. This is an act which calls for great courage and resilience, because all too often with the first stirrings of our shadow we immediately tend to freeze and deny  it.

I suppose we each have our own dark cave. Mine is scary and cold but I did have found some treasures there and I am sure there are many more to be found. It is not easy to go there willingly but if we do “practice” this journey we will be more prepared when  life challenges you and we find ourselves sitting there unwillingly.

Uruz and the King of Bows – Strength and flexibility

My rune for this beautiful Winter day is Uruz (Aurochs). This is the rune of strength; both psychical and emotional and often also spiritual. It is the rune of courage, endurance and determination. This rune often comes up when you need a reminder that you are worth fighting for and that it is time to make a stand.

So what energy will help me to embrace the qualities of Uruz: the King of Bows - Adder from the Wildwood tarot. Together these two are  masculine energy squared.  The King of Bows aka the King of Wands is the personification of confidence, wisdom and strength. This is the third King in a short while to make his appearance into my life. Maybe it is time sit on the throne of my own life again.

Being in pain and/or just discomfort for two months in a row is not so beneficial for your mental well being.  I miss doing the things which make my heart sing. So yesterday I picked up a watercolor brush and  some paints and splashed some colors on a page. Did it hurt? Yes, a bit. Was is beautiful? Not particularly. But oh my god(dess) it made me so happy. I even hummed a bit. Sometimes when you are sitting on the fence of life for a long time, it is hard to get back in the saddle again. This process calls for the qualities of Uruz and especially the creative flexibility of the King of Bows. It might require taking some detours to achieve what makes me happy but I am positive I will get there. 

King of Cups – The perfect ally for this season

For this new moon I drew the King of Cups from the Morgan Greer tarot in the Embrace position. 

I am not a huge fan of the King cards in general but for me this one is the most easy to relate to. He is kind and wise, he is compassionate and tolerant and he is intuitive and artistic. So what is not to like about this King. Since he has come up in the embrace position I want to emphasize his  positive traits over his more challenging ones. What I love most about him is his emotional stability and great involvement  in the lives of his people and the way he offers them advice and guidance in times of need. He also teaches me not only to give advice but also to be open to receive advice from others. Ask M, because she knows how difficult it can be to tell me to slow down and rest more.

He is also a peacemaker which can be quite a useful  energy to identify with during the holidays. Together with his other aspects he is the perfect one to have around this season. And maybe this stretches a bit too far for some of us but he does remind me a bit of  Jesus himself.

So what could be a good way to manifest his energy today! and I got the (don’t laugh) the King of Swords. This card will remind me to keep a balance between my heart and my head. Embodying the king of Cups could perhaps lead to improvident actions. I supposes the clear mindedness of the King of Swords will protect me from becoming overly involved or too compassionate and he will make sure that my personal boundaries are guarded at all times. I am sure these two kings will have a lot to talk about.

Miss Spiderweb - Slowly beginning to work on my web again

First and foremost I would like to thank all of you for your kind and warm comments and get well wishes on my previous post.  They really meant a lot to me.

Today’s card is Miss Spider Web,  from the Oracle of The Shapeshifters. This card is all about making new connections and rekindling old ones. Strengthening the parts of our web which are meaningful and  supportive and taking down those parts which are worn out and not adding anything of importance to the intricate structure of our web.

This morning my neurologist advised me to really take it slow and also to keep in mind that the recovery from my neck hernia will take a at least another six weeks or more. I was allowed to do the things I love the most but in only really small amounts of time. So this blogpost is done in several sessions of five minutes.

But at least I can start weaving and working on my online web again. Please understand that although I am doing the best I can,  I will not be able to leaves comments every day on the most beloved strings of my web but I do enjoy reading my favorites blogs each day.

I see this post as the beginning of my healing process for which I am ever so grateful.

Reason for my absence

As most of you already know, the last few weeks I have been plagued by pinched nerve in my neck. Last Friday I went to the physical therapist because the pain in my arm was getting worse every day. After doing some tests he was quite certain it was a neck hernia. So now I have wait for an appointment with a neurologist. This pain prevents me from typing (M is typing this for me) writing, photographing, painting, knitting etc. M is also doing our daily chores. Although this is a difficult situation, I also see this as an opportunity to try to become more flexible. I’m grateful M is helping out this much, but it also hard for me to let go of the control and my need to do everything myself. Please know I’m reading and enjoying everyone’s blogs, but for now I’m not able to comment.

I wish you all well and I hope to be back soon.

Hugs Ellen

Page of Swords - First card from my new Fountain Tarot Deck

Today I received my copy of the Fountain Tarot which I had won in a giveaway in September.  It is a stunning deck. It is even more beautiful  in reality than the pictures  I’ve seen online presumed. It feels like a whole year round, multipurpose deck.

After giving  it  thorough shuffle, the first card I drew was  the Page of Swords – bold curiosity.  A card about being open-minded to new ideas and situations. This page likes to try out new things and seek out new approaches to old concepts.  A perfect guide to dive into this modern looking mesmerizing deck.  But since the Page isn’t the studious type and has a rather short attention span, I asked what could help him to take the study of this deck more seriously and I pulled the Three of Wands – focused effort. Now this guy is holding on the his rope vigorously. He is not the kind to let go that easy when things get a bit more complicated. This is the  attitude I need for my tarot studies: dedication!   The guidebook talks about how he is alternating between energy puling inwards and energy pushing outwards. I love how this is depicted by act of rope twisting. In case of studying this deck this could be about reading and practicing versus contemplating and letting new information and experiences sink in

And last but not least like every Three of wands this cards also stands  for the promise of success !

The Veil and Seven of Fire – Divination or Exploration?

From the Halloween Oracle I got The Veil – Future, which represents the” thinning of the veil” around the Festival of Samhain or Halloween. 

It is said that during this season it is the perfect time for divination and all things magical. Although I hardly ever use my cards for giving me a peek into my future, for this one time I asked a little hesitant: “What do I need to know about my future?” Because I can’t get enough of The dreams of Gaia Tarot, I pulled the Seven of Fire, from this deck.

Seeing this card made me  laugh a littly bit. This card is all about divination and using your intuition and I think it might be the Minor Arcana counterpart of ‘Intuition” from the  Influence cards of the Major Arcana. Since this is a Minor Arcana card I think this card mostly about how to put our intuition into our daily practice and how to develop this highly influential part of ourselves.  According to the guidebook listening to our intuition can be a completely internal process; you just “know” something or it can be triggered by external stimuli (like our cards). But both ways do depend on a large amount of trust in ourselves.

Today this card is encouraging me to listen to and trust in my inner voice and also to be aware of those little things which happen during the day and which give me a that tingly feeling of a meaningful coincidence.

Or maybe I got it all wrong and this card is telling I  will to get into the card reading business any time soon now.

Ten of Water – Happiness is a verb

Today’s card is Ten of Water from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot and to me it feels like I am continuing with my theme of self realization.

In this card we see a woman who is totally content with and by herself. She has found an emotional balance and a way to keep her balance when waves of disruption and turmoil clash in on her. I suppose her turtle will carry her through the ebbs and flows of her life. This lady has freed herself from limiting emotions from her past like guilt, shame and regret and now she is enjoying this present moment like it was her last. And maybe it is because this moment will never return, so we’d better make the most of it. And that is the advice of this card too. Whatever your circumstances are, there is so much to be grateful for and to enjoy if you look closely: a smile, a ray of sunlight or my beloved cup of coffee in the morning.

So today, instead of feeling sorry for myself because my neck and my arm are hurting I am going to actively seek out joy and contentment and hopefully pass it along to others. A smile is so easy to give and so wonderful to receive…

Self - Who are you right now?

Today’s card is “Self” from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot and this card is all about self realization, discovering and accepting who you are and trying to live an authentic life.

Our idea of Self is (thank God/dess) ever changing and always evolving. For me this is beautifully represented by the roses in full bloom, the butterfly and the flying doves. We aren’t the  same as we were ten, five or one year ago and even not the same as we were last month, last week or yesterday. This might give us some insecurity about not knowing who we really are today but what we can be sure of  that we are the result of our past notions of Self.  Not only of our own previous perceptions of who we were but also who others told us we were (right or wrong) I “know” I am stubborn because my mother told me so frequently when I wanted to do things my own way.  Maybe if  she’d praised me for being determined, I would have had a slightly different idea of “Self”?

So this card encourages me to sit with “who am I right now?” and find out what is still true and what is outdated or hearsay . Only when we have established and accepted who we are today, we can choose intentionally who we want to become tomorrow.  

Visualizing our future self will give us some idea of who we want to become and when we are actively involved in becoming who we are meant to be, we will be able to unlock the door to our inner sanctuary called “Self” where we will find fulfillment and peace.

Four of Air – No time to waste

Today’s card is the Four of Air from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot. I didn’t have the  “sigh” reaction  I usually have when I pull the Four of Air/Swords from other decks.  This card is obviously not about taking a much needed time out.

The Four of Air in this deck is all about our need for structure and routine. Having a balanced daily routine will give us peace of mind. It is a kind of safety net which helps us to bring order into our daily life. Imagine how stressful our day would be if we had to think about everything we had to do: coffee or tea, bread or oatmeal. Where do I buy my groceries, by card or by bike  etc. Routine relieves us from numerous small decisions. But this  card is also about examining these routines: How many time wasting, slightly addictive activities have sneaked into them?

Today, it is for me a timely message to really look closely at the way I spend my days. Since about two weeks I have been plagued with a sore neck and a tingling in some fingers of my right hand. This is probable caused by a pinched nerve (again) and it prevents me from doing a lot of things I love: knitting, crochet, writing by hand, painting and drawing, and going to the gym.

Thanks to this card I am fully aware now that some of the gaps in my routine are filled with a lot less productive and creative activities which are mostly internet related. (Yesterday’s Devil?)

So now it is up to me to think of some new routines and ways to spend my time since this neck thing might last a bit longer than I would like.

Within -without -advice : Not all that glitters is gold

Today I pulled some cards from my Original Rider Waite tarot for a “Within - Without – Advice” reading and I got:

What immediately stands out is the bright yellow in the first and the last card. This tells me my reading will be about finding truth and becoming aware of something important.

Within - Nine of Cups

This guy is a very happy guy. He has all he ever wanted. Every cup is filled with something which fulfills  him and brings him joy. But I cannot help but wonder when it was the last time he has checked the content of his cups. Are they still fresh or are some of them stale or past their expiration date.  It is wise to discover what it is that really feeds your soul before you expose yourself  to….

Without - The Devil

Yes, The Devil wants you to believe everything he promises you. He deals in short time rushes and quick fixes. Often at first, they do feel good when we give in to them. And it is hard not to, when we are tempted with so much glitter and glamour. In a society which promotes consumerism, the temptations are many. The (Social)media bombards us with everything we seem to “need” and  “want”  and it is up to us to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Advice - Seven of Swords

And that is exactly what this guy is doing here. Besides being about  lies and deceit, for me this card is also about being the lone wolf who stands out from the crowd and who knows how to take care of his own needs. He chooses the swords which are right for him and leaves the rest behind. He is not easy influenced by smooth talk or advertising campaigns. He knows that short cuts are often dead ends and that not all that glitters is gold

In short, being aware of what truly fulfills us will armor us against the influences of consumerism and will help us to chose wisely from the broad range of choices we are presented with on a daily base.

Three card daily spread with the Dreams of Gaia Tarot

For today I’ve done a three card spread with my already highly appreciated  Dreams of Gaia Tarot. Even though this deck is perfect for digging deep and really exploring unknown territories of your psyche, today’s message was crisp a clear and very concise.

The cards I drew were:

1 The general energy of the day – Faith

This is the last card of the Major Arcana in this deck and it represents primarily Faith in yourself, although Faith in a higher Power can be very beneficial  for your sense of self worth too. This Faith cards is all about confidence, self worth and a sense of being good enough. When we develop this kind of believe in ourselves it will support us and carry us safely through the ups and down of life.

2 The challenge of the day – Two of Water

This card is about sharing you deepest feelings with some one else; having the courage to be open and vulnerable in communication. It is about giving and receiving; about deep and sincere intimacy.

3 The gift of today – Six of Fire

Healing, negotiation and compromise are some of the key words for this card. Being aware and accepting of of other people's opinions and preferences and still being able to find a middle ground on which both parties can meet.

What I love about this reading it that it all starts with having Faith  myself and being aware that I am enough and worthy to be heard. When I feel secure enough to share my beliefs and point a views then, yes only then, I will have the courage to meet others halfway.

Affirmation : I am enough

Intuition – All will be well

Today’s word to draw a card with is “Message” and I wondered if my Inner Wise Woman would have a message for me. I shuffled my Dreams of Gaia Tarot and before I pulled  a card, I noticed my hag stone sitting on the window sill. I picked it up and drew my card: Intuition.  

If I had it in me to pay more attention to that inner voice, My Inner Wise Lady would have had genuine conversations with me  instead of sending me a (post)card once in a while. But since I am A Queen of Swords at heart, my mind has always been my go-to tool to tackle any situation. Considering every possible option before I make a move, gives me a (false) sense of control. I have to admit, I do slightly envy the “Intuitives” among us; the ones that “feel”  and  “know”  always the right thing to do and never give it another thought.  Maybe I could seek out a balance between those two ways of dealing with big issues and day to day challenges.

The hag stone I picked up reminds me of the physical world with a magical doorway to another realm: the intricate web behind more corporeal layers of life. It is there where threads are pulled and where miracles are born.  When we are open to this other world, we realize that everything is connected and we become aware of the fact that by pulling one thread, thousands of other will begin to vibrate as well.  But when we decide to pull that one thread, we also trust that everything will work out for the best and that all will be well  in the end.

So how do I recognize this inner voice? I suppose she is friendly and soft spoken. Not afraid to tell me to truth but always in a gentle way. She is non judgmental and she never spreads fear. Instead, she is caring,  loving and compassionate towards me as well as towards others. When I write this down, I wish I had realized all of this sooner. We could have been best friends forever.

Eight of Earth – Gratitude will protect us from evil spirits

Today's word to draw a card with is Jack O’Lantern. I’ve picked the card with the same name from the Halloween Oracle and its keyword is protection, So I wondered what energy will protect me from evil spirits or maybe rather from self-defeating attitudes and thoughts  and I pulled the Eight of Earth from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot.

In this deck the Eight of Earth stands for enjoying what you have accomplished so far and contemplating where to go from here.  Since you were able to  reach this luscious garden, this card also wants you to remember you have the ability to unlock doors to maybe even more greater successes and abundance. This is highlighted by the keys dangling from the lady’s staff. She is also holding a crystal ball in her hand with which she can seek out new possibilities and manifest her future.

Don’t sell yourself short. We are often capable of much more than we give ourselves credit for. Feeling grateful for the abundance in our life as it is right now and feeling thankful for and proud of what we have achieved so far will fend off insecurity, fear of failure and other shortcomings (or evil spirits)

Today I am grateful for: S has helped me doing the groceries,  fresh apple pie and coffee, this blogpost, my Dreams of Gaia Tarot, Jofee is feeling better, the sun is shining,  my home, watching “Turn” with M, I won the Fountain tarot give away, my health, whole wheat bread with cheese and a glass of milk, clean sheets sprayed with lavender…… and so much more

Six of Swords – Running away doesn’t solve anything

Today's word to draw a card with is “Scarecrow” and it made me think about  how some birds keep coming back to feed on the crops even though there is a scarecrow defending the fields. So what is an obnoxious ever returning thought (bird) which undermines my physical and emotional well being (fields) and I drew the Six of Swords from the Original Rider Waite Tarot. 

This card often tempts me to mentally pick up my stuff and run: to ignore what has to be done, procrastinate and try to look the other way. Is this working for me? Of course not but flight is of my main reactions to stress. Yet, after I’ve sailed away from my problems, my worries or anxiety, I notice that I took my swords with me in the form of guilt, shame and regret. So there is no real escape from our own mind.

I wondered what stuffing my scarecrow would need to become a bigger threat  to this persistent bird and I drew the Two of Pentacles. Instead of running away this card advises me to accept the stormy waters; the emotional upheaval. In order not to drown in it the Two of Pentacles asks us to focus on our tasks at hand. Tasks that require a certain balance and attention, so our mind is free from worrying for a while. When you are busy in the here and now it is more than likely you will receive a fresh look on whatever is bothering you.

Bye bye birdy !

The Woodward and Queen of Vessels - There is no easy way out

Today’s word to draw a card with is "Crossroads" and I got The Woodward and Queen of vessels-Salmon from the Wildwood Tarot.

Some of my initial thoughts where: if anybody could make the right decisions to find his way out of the dark forest it is The Woodward. But even the strong and experienced Woodward needs some quiet time to collect his thoughts and weigh his options before his can make the right choice, not only for himself but also for his environment. I wonder if his cup is also filled with coffee just like mine is, when I am trying the make up my mind about what to do next and where to go from here.

Next I got the Queen of Vessels to add some  intuitive wisdom to this post. She is the living example that the best way is most often not the easiest way. It takes a whole lot of courage and determination to swim upstream but she knows without an doubt, this is the best choice for her and her future offspring.

She advises us to not only to make our decision based on our strength but also on our intuition because together these two aspects of ourselves can show us the way out of any forest.

“You can always take the easy way out and give up, but real strength comes, when you decide to keep pushing forward, no matter what the circumstances are”

Joy, an infinite power source

Today’s word  to draw is card with is Power: “The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way or to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.” So I was wondering  what would increase this ability for me and I drew: “Joy, Rejoice the Present” from the Halloween Oracle. The mere sight of this card gave me a jolt of energy. A  feeling of bliss and physical alertness. It is for everybody more than obvious how experiencing Joy can give a boost to our energy levels. Why then is it so hard to remember to be aware of those little things in the present moment that will bring us joy or even more difficult, to seek out joy as a conscious act of  self care?

When you look closely to the girl in this card you will notice that she doesn't smile, yet... She is opening herself up though to the warmth of the Autumn sun, the bright oranges and yellows nature has painted this day with and the rustling sound of the falling leaves. It is as if she is consciously invoking her power from the beauty all around her. I am sure when she puts down her hands there will be  a smile on her face.

Today I will carry my Sun stone with me as a reminder to actively seek Joy in the here and now

Trick or Treat - Take your child out to play

Today’s word to draw a card with is "Wind" and the card I got is “Trick or treat” from the Halloween Oracle. When is saw the two kids in this card, I had to laugh because when you combine them with storm and wind, lots of things could happen: the cloak of our little ghost could fly away, the candles could be blown out etc. but does it prevent the kids from having their Trick or Treat?  No, I suppose not but I am sure many moms would rather have them watch TV that night than let them go out on their own. Who knows what might happen, and whom they may encounter…Some moms will scurry a few meters behind them to be sure nothing bad will happen. It is so very hard to let our children go and let them do their own thing, leaving room for failure and mistakes and even accidents. Most of us were raised this way too and because of this, our inner child is still afraid to play and make a mess and wants to check under the bed and in the closet for the boogieman (not that we let her of course).Being kept too tightly under the parental wing can be suffocating and when we do get out, our need to play can be hard to discover and not to mention to embrace. Our child needs to be guided and persuaded to experiment and to do things just for the fun of it. It is a long process but believe me it is so worth it to take your child by the hand an lead it trough the world of wind and wonder. Let the wind mess up your hair, your dress and your perfectly crafted Jack-O-lantern and laugh about it and don’t  let it spoil your fun. Life isn’t perfect but joy is!

Wheel of Fortune - Never lose your sense of wonder

Back from a pleasant visit to my mother, I am more than ready to jump into the wonderful month of October. This month I am planning to participate in two Instagram challenges; Yes Two! I don’t know if I will finish them, but for now I am excited to take part in both of them.

The first one is #shadowworkoctober themed "Cycles of Self" by @mnomquah and the second is #embracethemagical by Kelly from @thetruthinstory. I will be sharing bits and pieces from these challenges on my blog especially when they are not overly private. I guess the shadow work challenge will be the most personal one. 

Today’s word from #embracethemagical to draw a card with is: Wonder and I drew the Wheel of Fortune from the Deviant Moon Tarot. According to the dictionary wonder means: something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration or a miraculous deed or event.

The Wheel of Fortune is all about the ups and downs in life. Call it fate or destiny but the core of the matter is that life is in a constant state of flux. Whenever we are caught in a downward spiral, we know things will change for the better and whenever things are going swell, we feel in our gut this cannot last. But besides looking at the wheel and hoping or fearing what the next spin will bring we can also try to focus ourselves on the wonders our life is showing us moment by moment.  By looking through the eyes of a child to whatever comes our way, we can add so much wonder to our day to day life. It can be such a relief to zoom in to the magical tiny details of life and let the grand scheme of things be for a while.

"Whatever happens, always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder" - E.B. White

Ace of Swords and Eight of Coins - Chop wood and carry water

My card for today is the Ace of Swords; a card of clarity and bright ideas and also in this version: reaching for the light within, which is in my opinion a way to enlightenment. Finding your most inner truth can feel like being reborn. Often it is a simple truth, one which you knew all along but never fully understood. Something like mindfulness or the power of breath or knowing we’re  always connected to everything.

This is the season I  always feel very drawn to go within and search for truth there but I also know Autumn, even though I adore it so much, is the season during which I am more susceptible to downhearted feelings and thoughts. So I asked my deck, how do I keep myself from over thinking and trying too hard to discover my truth, my spark, my guiding light and what will prevent me from feeling depressed when I don't find it (yet)

And I pulled: The Eight of Coins.

Seeing these two cards together, I was instantly reminded of the Zen proverb:

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

This card’s advice is to ground myself in my daily activities, cleaning my house, making dinner, watering my plants, knitting etc. All these activities occupy the mind just enough to keep it from wandering all over the place and they allow us to enter the present moment in a relaxed state of mind. It is doesn’t matter what you do but how you do it. Every activity can transcend from a boring and time consuming chore into an act of gratitude and grace. Not the activity itself has to change but the way we do things.

One more thing: often when I am busy with my daily “chores” I get the best idea’s. Something I think bright idea’s don’t want to be found because maybe they rather find us…

The Sun - How to get real

Since yesterday I have been thinking a lot about how to become more authentic and true to who I really am. This was brought about by several events during the day: reading Carolyn’s post about the Inner Child, reaching the chapter about Authenticity in  “The gifts of imperfection” by Brene Brown and becoming painfully aware of my “obligation” to be creative.

All this is strongly encouraging me to find out what it is I really want, as opposed to what I think I should want. Life can be so much more than ticking of boxes, even if they represent enjoyable activities.

 I have to admit I do find it a bit scary; maybe I don’t want to know what I really want or who I really am but then again I don’t like this feeling either.  

One thing which is in my opinion crucial to touch on this deeper layer is to live more mindfully and to make a full stop when a choice has to be made. This way we have the time to listen to our inner wisdom and to our inner child. I strongly belief that both of them are beyond pleasing and pretending.

Also I think tarot can be a great tool to trigger deeper buried desires and needs, especially when you read  the cards purely intuitively. So I have pulled two cards for today:

What do I think I want? Queen of Wands

I think I want to be a passionate, outgoing, confident and creative woman. I want to speak up and to be heard. I want to be unafraid of failure as well as of success. I want tot breath fire with my words. 

As lovely and juicy this all may  sound maybe this is not really who I am at this moment and also not who I aspire to be for now.

What do I really want? The Sun

I do like the become more self aware and to shed some light over the shadowy parts of my personality. My inner child seems to be in dire need of some sunshine lately. I want to learn more about who I am and to see this as the beginning of a journey within, which will bring me more wisdom, joy and happiness than pretending to be something I am not. Also I want to keep safe everything I learn along the way safe and protect it from old habitual thinking patterns. So I will keep the light of the Sun close to my heart and let it illuminate my way.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are” Brene Brown

Three card daily draw with the Raven’s Prophecy tarot

For today I’ve done a three card spread for my daily draw with The Raven’s Prophecy tarot. Although I have this deck for almost a year now, this is the first time I am working with more intensely and I enjoy this deck so much. The simple yet very skillful drawings are highly evocative. They are conveying their message very clearly and with little room for doubt.

For my spread the positions are as follows:

Well this seems like it is going to be a wandsy kind of day. What stands out for me in this reading is the fiery sword of the Knight of Wands between the Ace of Wands and the Two of Wands as if the Knight is somehow trying to prevent the sequence of the suit to continue….

1 The general energy of the day – Ace of Wands

This ace is all about creativity and enthusiasm. Yes after a good night’s sleep I feel like the Page of Wands from Yesterday is ready to roll. This card is about beginning and not worrying if you will complete your project in a perfect manner. Just start and enjoy the process

2 The challenge of the day – Knight of Wands

It feels like he is not letting me do my thing: play, make  mess and go for it. The knight of Wands in a challenging position can be about doing all your chores before you are permitted to do anything fun. He is also about doubting your ability to create and he is scared to fail. He will act busy so no one will notice he is actually procrastinating out of fear

3 The gift of today – Two of Wands

Being aware of the power of the Knight I will be able to bring my idea into the next phase. Building up my painting layer by layer after creating the initial playful background. This card is urging me to apply structure and direction to my work. Head and heart are coming together in The Two of Wands and are joining their forces

Page of Wands – be mindful of the little sparks

This morning we have been on family chestnut hunt in a beautiful nearby park.  The perfect place to welcome Fall into our land. Lots of huge old trees, a pond, and loads of chestnuts. Each autumn they give me that giddy childlike feeling of wanting them all!!.

When we returned home I was very tired, not only from this morning but last week was a busy week as well. So I wasn’t surprised when I drew this particularly Page of Wands from the Ravens prophecy tarot. This Page is depicted as a lit match in the dark and immediately I heard the song: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine" . This spark of fire, with so little fuel to keep on burning has to be protected and shielded from draft and wind at all cause. It might go out any moment.  But when I am able to protect this little match, it might also be the start of a crackling hearth fire.

For now any idea or new project which comes to mind I will jot down in my journal for another day. I will not lose it to fatigue or lack of enthusiasm. 

My cards for the Autumn Equinox

For this year’s Autumn spread I’ve used the Ravens Prophecy Tarot. This deck is quite the opposite of the Tarot of the Hidden Realm because while that deck is mostly about people and faces, this deck is all about symbolism. I was surprised by the amount of Court cards I got in this reading but fortunately it was easy to relate  to them.

By the way, getting reacquainted with my  Autumnal decks after so long, makes me very happy! It feels like coming home: warm, cozy,  familiar but also completely new. 

What have I sown? The World:

The potential to become and achieve whatever I want and cope with whatever comes my way

What have I reaped? The Queen of Wands:

I feel so much more confident to express myself in words and images and I’ve learned that art is not only something I like to do but maybe even more a way of taking care of myself. It feeds and fulfills my soul. I always feel so much better after I’ve created something.

What should I be thankful for? The Queen of Coins

I am grateful for taking better care of my body and I am also grateful to be able to be a caring mother not only for my family but most of the time for myself as well. 

Where do I still need to focus my efforts? The King of Cups

I would like to try to really listen what others have to say; at least give them a chance to let them finish their sentence. Also I think it is important to  become more aware of my own emotional currents.  

How can I achieve balance? The page of Swords

I need to find clarity in all aspects of my life especially about my emotional well being and for me the best way to do this is journal, journal, journal!

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!

Three of Wands - Bloom where you're rooted

Today’s card is the Three of Wands from the Tarot of the Hidden Realm.  

  

A lovely couple with their new born child is depicted in this card. They’ve made a commitment to each other and they chose to stick with it for better and for worse. Their love for eachother and their hope for the future have brought a new life into this world. Their lives will never be the same but they are okay with that because this little baby will give them Love and Joy and so much more than they ever dreamed of.

I tend to read cards mostly as a mirror of my soul, so for today I see all three of them as aspects of myself. At the beginning of my adult life, like many of us,  I started to make life changing choices and with each choice I made, other options were ruled out. Little by little my path seems to have less forks in the road and mostly I am okay with that. I mean, I don’t mind that I can’t climb the Mount Everest nor do I miss milking my cows at four o’clock in the morning. I think you get the idea. The older we get the more settled we are becoming and the more rooted we get in our way of life.

Then there is this child, which represents the fruits of our labor, our goals and our passions. How do  I love this child: my children, my paintings, the home I’ve build for my family and my love for them and last but not least the becoming of me.

When I asked the cards to tell me a bit more about this child, I had to laugh because I pulled the Page of Wands. This little child is growing up so fast and he is getting stronger too. He is becoming more and more self aware and comfortable with who he is. He is curious, active and optimistic and loves to learn new things. A lovely guide  for when I want to play some more in my art journal to try out some new techniques  or maybe for when I want to do something completely different than what I'm used to....

Ace of Pentacles, Eight of Swords - Two creatures are walking in the forest

  

Two creatures are walking quietly in a dark forest. Each following their own path:

A warrior woman with her crow is carefully putting one foot before the other, expecting to be ambushed any moment from now. Behind every tree there  could be lurking a potential and ruthless enemy. There is only one way forward and there is no room for mistakes, because she knows that the tiniest mistake could be paid for with her life.

A hedgehog is scurrying between the rustling leaves, acorns and other autumnal seeds and fruits. The hedgehog is grateful for these small gifts from Mother Nature and while enjoying his meal he is always keeping an eye out for signals of danger. But he is not afraid. He knows he is more than capable to protect himself and so he strolls further over the crunching leaves without worrying about the sniffing and chewing and all the little noises he makes.

Two creatures are walking in the forest; Who are you or maybe  you are a bit of both?

(Ace of Pentacles and Eight of Swords from the Tarot of The Hidden Realm)

Eight of Wands and Fortune Faery - The Difference between Wanting and Wishing

My cards for today are Eight of Wands and Fortune Faery from the Tarot of the Hidden Realm. 

  

In the Eight of Wands we see a highly skilled and focused young woman who is about to release her arrow towards her goal. She also has a lot of arrows in the quiver on her back; so many more goals to aim for. This card often urges me to list what I want to do in the time coming and today it got me thinking about what I want to do when Autumn will finally arrive here:

Learn how to knit toe-up socks, practice how to sketch quickly without an eraser, bake an Apple pie with the apples from our tree, go back to the gym, get acquainted with some of my decks on a deeper level and journal  more with them, clean my house, wearing long trousers, work with oil pastels…..

After I had written down a lot of wants and needs, I drew a card to find out if I hadn’t forgot something essential and I got the Fortune Faery. A little girl is about to blow on a dandelion puff and let her wish roam free on its little seeds.

She asked me: “You have so many wants, but what do you wish for?” And I was silent.

There is a great difference between wanting and wishing. Wanting is about things which are grounded in reality and which we are able to obtain if we direct our energy towards it. But wishing is more ethereal and fleeting. What we wish for is often not likely to happen but we can always hope and have faith it might happen one day.

Maybe I am afraid to wish because I don’t want feel disappointed. Or I am to pragmatic to believe in wishes coming true. Or maybe I am utterly content with where I am right now. This post will not provide me with an answer but it does stir up some serious food for thought.

"If you want to something, don't just wish for it. Life is too short to wait.” Stephen Hines