Three Card Spread with The Goddess Tarot

Theme: Eight of Cups

With a waning moon and ebb tide, this card urges us to leave behind feelings and relationships which are no longer beneficial for us or perhaps they just have passed their expiration dates. It asks us to be true to ourselves and live an authentic life which is often not the easiest way to live.

Mentor: Tara – Beginnings

This card features the goddess Tara who has the power to grant all wishes and heal all sorrows. She is the perfect goddess to free us from mental blocks and help us to move forward in life. Notice how both the figures in the first two cards are looking over their shoulder and how Tara has no more reason to stay where she is now. The Cups are gone; no more regrets

Healer: King of Pentacles

Because most of the time life isn’t that easy, The king of Pentacles encourages us to enjoy the good things life has to offer us: coffee, sunshine, trees, chocolate, crystals…. So many things to cherish and to savor. And never forget time…there is always enough time to relax and take delight in what life has to offer us.

New Moon in April

For this New Moon I've drawn two cards as usual. The first one for the energy I am going to release and the second one for the energy which is beneficial for me to embrace. From the Tarot of the Hidden Realm I got:

Release – The Seven of Pentacles

This card is all about patiently waiting. A woman is sitting on the ground facing the bleak April sunlight. She is clearly pregnant. She is holding her swollen belly with both hands, protective and nurturing. It won’t be long now. I can remember the times when my pregnancies were almost at their end. I was focused inward and content with just being; waiting, because there was nothing more for me do than to trust the process. Drawing this card, I wondered what it was I was waiting for now, because it is obvious this card in this position means my waiting time is over.

Embrace – The Fool

Wow, what an energetic card this is and so full of possibilities. I love how the colors of both cards seem to blend together and how it looks like both The Fool and the woman are looking at the same sun. This card marks a new beginning. A very suitable card for this Spring. Everything blossoms and comes to life. The waiting is over. It is time for a fresh start.

This afternoon I received an offer from our local fitness center  to have some free trial lessons. I am super exited.  This is totally new for me.  I also know I have to be honest to myself and feel  if it is truly something for me. I am definitely  going to give  this a serious chance because first and foremost  I want to become a lot fitter than I am now and I also want to lose some weight.

The fool - The Magic of a Fresh Outlook

The last couple of days I’ve been having a lot of fun with my Lenormand cards,  so for today, just like in my previous post, I have pulled one tarot card as a focus for my daily three card Lenormand spread. My tarot card  for today is The Fool from the Druidcraft Tarot.

This card is all about naivete and innocence; about seeing the world through the eyes of child with wonder and amazement, as if today is the first day of our life. So the question that came to mind was: What do I need to be open, carefree and content about? What do I need to experience today as if it was the first time?

And I pulled from the Celtic Lenormand: fox, ring and tree.

The ring stands for commitments and relationships. The Tree card tells me this is not about casual relationships but more about long standing family ties, deep rooted but often with gnarls, cracks and broken branches. And then like in all families often the fox comes around to emphasize the nasty little irritations we all have gathered over the years. 

Some even have turned into festering wounds of unmet desires and expectations. Often this says more about us than about them, so how do we shut up this deceiving inner voice who seeks out the tiny cracks and flaws in our commitments? I think if we were to look at our loved ones like we did the day we realized we loved them, everything else would be trifling and meaningless…

So this morning I have visited my husband and we had a very pleasant get together indeed. I will also try to  keep this message in mind when I address M and my mother today. I suspect it will make all the difference.

The Fool - Let’s go for it!

This morning I asked: “What do I need to do to feel joy today?” and I pulled The Fool from the Joie de Vivre Tarot, which, now I write this down almost sounds like a two and the same things.

Like with many other Fool cards we see the main character heading for the cliff while a little companion tries to warn him/her  for the danger ahead. But here we are actually seeing these dangers in the monster-infested water below. A little spider dangles from her staff as a  symbol of weaving your own destiny

“Trust your inner-voice to guide you to travel the road which is best for you. Operate from the essence of your true self, and use your energy wisely. Look beyond the horizon for opportunities. See the world with new eyes to appreciate the beauty within and around you. Be inspired, and follow the magic that life has to offer while on the path of self-development.”

I think you all know me well enough to understand I am not a Fool type of person. Being often guided by fear I want to plan everything in advance and rule out (although I know this to be impossible) every possible risk and/or danger. So how do I go about this day. I guess as always with baby steps. This way I increase my change of success. I might chose something different to eat or to wear, to be more open minded to new ways of thinking. Or perhaps drawing with a different medium. We do so many things always the same way, it might be fun to stir things up a bit. So I won’t be  jumping of  the cliff yet but maybe I could try to do something out of the ordinary today.

The Fool – Let's go for it!

Today’s card is The Fool from the Original Rider Waite Tarot. For me this is the card of trust, living in the present moment, making a leap of faith and following your hearts desire.
The Fool enhances courage, risk-taking and the creative expression needed to open up new areas in our life. If it wasn't for the fools energy nothing new would come into existence. We would never dare to try something new.
With the Fools energy we have bought a little puppy. Yes sometimes it feels if our whole life revolves around him (including my blog). He is even depicted in this card. J

I love feeling like the fool. It is exhausting and bewildering, exciting and rejuvenating. It feels so good! Nothing keeps you more in the present moment then keeping busy and active. Luckily my girls are feeling a bit better so I could find a moment to write this small blogpost.

Affirmation: "I tread the path of life with joy in my heart and a smile on my lips." Jan Shepherd

A Thousand Gifts…

For today a slightly different post than usual. Lately I've been thinking a lot about Gratitude and what it really means to me. Maybe because we are heading for the Autumn equinox this concept has been a lot on my mind. Gratitude is the one pillar of my spiritual practice which never wavers. When everything else is put to the test and doubted, gratitude remains fully alive and intact. I even don’t mind if I can figure out  to who or what I am grateful.

Yesterday when I was Googling about Gratitude, to explore how others practiced it and what they had to share about this subject, I came across  Ann Voskamp, a Christian writer, who has written a book called: “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are”. It was written in 2011 so perhaps many of you have heard about it already. Although her spiritual path isn't exactly mine, I think she has a very important message for all of us, since in my opinion Gratitude is a universal principle. She dares you to list one thousand things you are grateful for. One thousand gifts from who/whatever you think they are coming from. It is a well known practice to list five things each night before you go to sleep but to list one thousand is something entirely different. 

Ann Voskamp has been through a lot in her life and she claims her faith but even more her Gratitude practice has pulled her through. Gratitude is not all about being thankful for the big things in life but even more for  the everyday events, like a bird singing, a leaf falling or the snoring of your dog. Just try to notice the beauty around you where you are at that moment. You don’t have to live a grand life to be grateful. This morning while drinking my first coffee in the garden, I enjoyed the first signs of Autumn in crisp morning the air.

Being grateful when times are good isn't so challenging but being grateful when the wheel turns and life gets difficult is not that easy.
Seeing beauty when the lightening hits The Tower is a gift we can gracefully accept with our hands wide open. That’s when trust comes into play. Do you trust the flow of life; trust that everything will be okay again. That’s something to be grateful for and everything else will follow. We are all worthy of so much; even of one thousand gifts and more

So for today I am going to start with my list of a thousand gifts.

“Wherever you are, be all there." I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive.” Ann Voskamp 

The Fool – Jumping over the pitfall

For today I've drawn the Fool from the Crystal Visions Tarot. Two days ago I drew its counterpart, The Wanderer from the Wildwood Tarot as an indication of where I could find my Mojo. And as you all know, I did find it. So for today again The fool. I see this as an encouragement to continue on this playful and experimental creative journey. The woman is looking behind her at the flight of the butterflies. She doesn’t notice the she is nearly stepping off a cliff.

Does she take a leap of faith or will she be cautious for possible danger? Making art is all about taking the first step, which is a leap of faith. After that, every brushstroke or pencil line, every color tone is a choice. Making art is about making choices over and over again. Every drawing ,painting or whatever form of art you love is a fool’s adventure. And inherent there is always the danger of asking too much of yourself or taking too great a risk and “fail”. It is also an art to acknowledge failure as a lesson, how to proceed differently the next time.

Yes for me the greatest danger of this card is to be too overconfident. Often when this happens I get stuck in the process or so disappointed with the results, I will put my supplies back again in the closet for months. Though I embrace this spontaneous playful energy I will keep an eye out for potential and well known pitfalls

"An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail." Edwin Land

A three card spread to get my creative juices flowing

Yesterday I've come across another fabulous spread created by Beth from Little Red tarot. Her spreads are always down to earth and yet at the same time so in depth. Since I love small spreads I couldn't wait to try this one out: "How to find your Mojo back"! Maybe you haven’t noticed but the last painting I have posted here was in February and since then my inspiration and drive to visually express myself went from zero to nothing. I’ve  been writing a lot but I miss being able to just pick up a piece of paper and paint, draw or do some collage. And while writing this, I know it is my own mindset which is keeping me from creating. (eight of Swords mentality L) So finding this little spread is very timely for me. I’ve used the wildwood tarot and the cards couldn’t have been more outspoken and clear today: 

Firstly, divide your cards into majors and minors. Shuffle the two piles separately.

Draw the first card from your major pile. Then lay cards two and three from the minor pile:

1.Major: Here’s your mojo, hiding – The Wanderer

In order to find my mojo back, I will have to reconnect with my inner child, be open for adventures and new possibilities, play and have fun. Let go of fear and tread new paths with courage and an open mind; taking  a leap o faith. Oh yeah!

2.Minor: Here’s what’s getting in the way. – Four of Bows – Celebration

Although this is quite a positive card which is all about celebrating the bounty, good fortune and finished projects, this card can also warn us about the danger of feeling too secure. It is often tempting to stay in the Four of Bows energy afraid for what might come next and thus we stagnate our own creative flow.

3.Minor: Here’s your solution. Do this now! – Six of Vessels- Reunion

Remember the times when you felt you were empowered and able to create. When being in the flow was a like a second nature and revisit them and reconnect with your inner strength. l drink form the well of experience and wisdom to rediscover my inspiration and trust in my own ability to create.

So what does this mean in practical terms? I am going upstairs with a large mug of coffee to flip through some old sketchbooks and paintings and after that I am going to pick up a piece of paper and I am going to play without troubling myself with the outcome. J

May Queen Tarot Spread for Beltane

This lovely tarot spread is created by Christine Jette for Beltane and is found in her book “Tarot for all Seasons”, which I’m using this year for every turning of the wheel: “May is a time of fertility and high spirits. By Beltane, the dark time of the year is a distant memory and the possibilities of life seem sweet. Use the May Queen spread to regain or confirm a sense of abundance and safety”

For this spread I will be using The Joie the Vivre Tarot by Paulina Cassidy 

  

1: Safety. Emotional security.  Page of Swords

What do you need to feel safe. Where are you secure in yourself?

This is one of my favorite  court cards. He cuts to the chase. He is direct and refreshing. His hair is blowing in de the wind and clouds are clearing. His mind is full of new and exciting idea’s and he is eager to follow his desire to learn. It makes me feel safe, I can always rely on the insights and clarity of my mind.

2: Abundance. Feelings of plenty. Eight of Cups

Abundance may encompass monetary prosperity, but it also describes the emotional breath of your life that is full and sweet.  

Abundance can also come from the feeling of emotional fulfillment and the longing to broaden your  horizons. The possibilities are numerous. There is always room for emotional growth. The beauty of this card is that he's taking his cups with him instead of leaving them behind. Spiritual journeys are not always taken because of dissatisfaction with your current situation. Sometimes you just want to explore and feel free.

3: Regeneration. Exploring the possibilities. The Fool

The bold action needed to grow and flourish.

It couldn't be more bold than this. The Fool encourages us to take the leap and go for it. The little spider on her staff is reminding her she is the weaver of her own life. She wants to discover and experience. The fool is also about trusting your inner voice. Deep down you know you are on the right track. See the world with childlike eyes and look for new opportunities but don’t ignore your little bat

4: Emotions and relationships. All forms of love, The World

Apparently my relationships are doing well. The last couple of weeks I've been painfully  aware of the fact how much I love both my daughters. My other relationships are quite easy going. But when I look at the winged Merlion and how careful he is holding his world between his paws, I realize love is never to be taken for granted but to be cherished and respected. Love and relationships are dynamic forces which are asking for our constant attention

5: The Future. The present conceivable outcome. The Six of Cupsok how confident thes three are on ther way.

Look how happy and confident these three are on their way. They are strengthened by their happy memories and emotional contentment. From this stability they can move forward to seek out new possibilities. Al the cards in this spread are talking about moving forward and trying new things. It is obvious I am emotionally in a safe place. Perhaps it is good to acknowledge I am strong enough to expand my horizons and not to be afraid because I can always rely on my wits J

A Rebirth tarot Spread for Ostara

I’ve found an amazing small tarot spread for this Holiday on Chloe’s blog “InnerWhispers”.There you can read how she was inspired by the Rebirth card from the Druidcraft Tarot to create this spread.  I love three card spreads because I like my spreads to be small and concise. I love to be able to see in one glance what the cards are telling me.

The questions for the Rebirth spread are:

1 What darkness am I leaving behind?
2 What new hope is approaching?
3 What can help me find my bearings at this time?

For this spread I've used my brand new Original Rider Waite Tarot for the first time. I was so happy to finally find the time to work with it. Al the gardening and shopping for flowers and plants and fertilizer has taken up a lot of my time and energy. So here are the cards I’ve drawn for this spread:

The Original Rider Waite Tarot

1 What darkness am I leaving behind? – Ten of Swords

Well I don’t think it can’t get any clearer than this. I am leaving behind the darkness of my despair and anxiety, which has been trying to take root these last few weeks. But dawn is slowly breaking, so there is hope; there is always hope.

2 What new hope is approaching? – Four of Pentacles

This was quite a confusing card but I can read it as my growing awareness of letting go of material desires to ease and numb my pain. These kind of “treats and presents” don’t sustain or heal me but rather they encourage my cravings for more.

3 What can help me find my bearings at this time? – The Fool

The Fool couldn't be a better guide for my rebirth in this season.  I love the way the dawn in the Ten of Swords has changed in a bright new day. The energy of this card is fresh, careless, free and  a bit naive. I can hardly remember when I have felt like that: without worries or fear. Perhaps when I was a lot younger and the world was at my feet. Life could be so much more adventurous and fun if I would let The Fool take me by the hand and let him walk with me step by step; moment by moment