A tarot spread for the New Year

Yesterday I've stumbled upon a great spread for the new year. It was created by Kate from Daily TarotGirl and she has made a video about it too.  It’s not a twelve month spread but more an overall view for the coming year. I liked it so much, I've done this reading for my daughters as well as for myself. We were all amazed about the accuracy of the readings. Whether it was the spread, the deck or our own awesomeness, It was a great experience to do this together.J

I've used the Druidcraft Tarot (just as Kate did) because I am very fond of this deck and I tend to use it for larger spreads. Now that I've trimmed the borders the colors of all the cards together are so beautiful 

Druidcraft Tarot

1 The overall message of the reading:  - The Lovers

For me this is a card of feeling whole. A synergy of male and female; mind and heart. This card also urges me to really, fully connect to the things I want to accomplish and to go for it; to be passionate about it.

2 Your goals and dreams for 2014 and how do you make things happen? - Nine of Swords.
I want to let go of my anxiety and worries and to learn to trust in myself and in the future. No more long negative spiraling into the black hole!

3 What actions are needed to be successful?- Three of Swords.

I still have to process parts of my grief, pain and sadness to be able to move forward

4 What do you leave behind in 2013? -  Four of Swords.

I've been resting long enough! Now it’s time to pick myself up and make things happen

5 The theme of 2014 : -Two of Wands.

I was indecisive and insecure. I knew my current situation was solid and save. But I felt like there had to be more, only I was too afraid to make the next move.  Now is the time to step over the threshold and make a the first step

6 Where  will 2014 lead us? -  Three of Pentacles.

YAY! My creativity card. I am starting to feel more relaxed already when I am drawing and I want to improve that by drawing (or painting , writing, collage etc) more often and to really be thankful and happy with the things I will create in 2014

7 Obstacles for 2014: - Five of Cups.

I have to be careful not to be overwhelmed by feeling sorry for myself when I am feeling sad or anxious. It’s better to focus on what is still there than on what I've lost

8 Gifts and talents for 2014: -  Ace of Swords.

 I am developing a new, more positive way of thinking. My gifts are my mind, my words, my writing; Those are the gifts I can use to find clarity, new idea’s and insights.

9 Message from your guides before you step into the new year: -  The world.

Wow! What a beautiful message: “You are already whole: You are who you are supposed to be at this very moment. Everything is okay. Just take the next step and your path will unfold itself into the new year.”

I wish everybody to be able to take that next step into 2014

Happy New Year! 

Two of swords; my breathing space

Universal Waite Tarot

Today another swords card. Again a card I am pleased to see. The two of swords. For me this is a peaceful card. I tend to focus more on the stillness of this moment than on the decisions at hand. The woman is sitting on a solid concrete bench. She is blindfolded and she has her two swords crossed over her heart. Behind her the see seems calm, but she knows better than anybody else what is beneath the still waters…. She has to make a move, a decision, but not now, not yet. Breath, just breath…

I know I have to let down my guard at some point; to lower my swords and remove the blindfold to able to make decisions with more than only my mind. I have to be at peace with what I decide. My heart has to be in it. When decisions are made after just counting the cons and pros, you often feel regret afterwards but when your heart is involved, perhaps you dare to explore the see behind you al little bit more; drop by drop, wave by wave, tide by ti

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The Queen of Swords teaches a life lesson

Druidcraft Tarot

Here she is, my favorite lady, my best friend in need! The Queen of Swords from the Druidcraft Tarot. Whenever she comes up I smile and I anticipate a strong sense of self preservation. The queen from this deck is the most beautiful depiction I have. I love it that she has gray hair. Her head is slightly lifted as if she is smelling the air and at the same time weighing her options. She caresses her sword gently. She loves her wit and intelligence. I like her being up high with her head in the air and her feet bare and touching the ground. She stays rooted. Her ideas have to be grounded and practicable; not just thinking and rethinking but also acting on it.

In my opinion she is not as cold as some of us think she is.  For me she is also a nurturing queen who wants to guide us, teach us and be there for us when things get overcomplicated. She will cut the knot, or untangle our problems and presents us with new options. Today I will need her mentality to stay true to a mindful way of thinking. To cut through worries and anxiety and see today as it  really is:  A free day to do what I want and to enjoy what I do.  She teaches me to be in control of my own thoughts and to notice how they're causing the way I feel. A life lesson....

You don’t have to keep it al together

Osho Zen Tarot

This morning I drove my daughter to an appointment in a village nearby. I had to wait in the car a while until she would return. In the meantime I took this opportunity to meditate and write a bit and to draw a card from my free app of the Osho Zen tarot. I made a promise to myself that this card would be my daily draw. The fun thing is, with this app you can actually move the cards over the screen and pick the one you want. Please don’t laugh; I picked the Nine of Fire aka Exhaustion. When you think the nine of wands it a pity party, it is nothing compared to this card. I immediately felt sorry for the guy and of course at the same time for myself. Some parts of our Christmas have been very stressful. I won’t go into details but it was very difficult for me to accept some situations which were completely out of my control. It made me anxious and even more uptight than I already was. And I wasn’t the only one. Happily the day after Christmas things went more smoothly, which was mainly because the three of us were able to share our feelings about the first day. We managed to be more relaxed and to see things in a different perspective.

“He has been so busy "keeping it all together" and "making sure everything runs smoothly", that he has forgotten to really rest. No doubt he can't allow himself to be playful.”

“The message of this card is not just about being a workaholic, though. It is about all the ways in which we set up safe but unnatural routines for ourselves and, by doing so, keep the chaotic and spontaneous away from our doors. Life isn't a business to be managed, it's a mystery to be lived. It's time to tear up the time-card, break out of the factory, and take a little trip into the uncharted. Your work can flow more smoothly from a relaxed state of mind.”  (From the Guidebook)

I do want to be more relaxed but I am so tired (exhausted) now and I find it again difficult to let my guard down because there is also the last day of the year which might cause more stress. I so desperately don’t want to be anxious for that day but the desperation in itself is a part of this guy contraption; my own pitfall

So the only thing I can do is be kind and caring to myself, recover, rest and relax and trust everything will turn out right in the end. As I've said more than once: Let go and Let God(dess)

Baking our Traditional Christmas bread: “Kerststol”

Every year the day before Christmas my youngest daughter M. and me are baking a Christmas bread. I’ve baked it myself for about 25 years now and as soon as she  was able to assist me she has done so until she could bake it herself. We still do it together though as a tradition.

After the final shopping has been done we weigh the ingredients and mix them all together.  

  It is a very rich bread with raisins, walnuts and almonds. At the moment it is rising in the oven (about 35˚C) for about an hour and a halve.

Originally this bread is a pagan midwinter sacrifice for the Germanic Gods to ensure the people of the returning sun and the fertility of the land and the animals. It used to be only made of white flour since that was more difficult to get than whole wheat flour.  Nowadays it is just yummy but I like to  be aware of what it once really was meant for.

As always something went wrong. The bread baking machine didn’t do what is was expected to do and we had to switch to another mixer. So everything lasted longer

And now at a quarter past four our “Kerststol” is finally where it’s supposed to be: in the oven!

After an a lot of excitement we finally have our Christmas bread ready for tomorrow. It smells delicious!

Merry Christmas!

Hold on to what you love

Crystal Visions Tarot

After a day to recover; feeling somewhat down and tired (Christmas blues), I pulled myself a card from the Crystal Visions Tarot. My go to deck when I’m feeling slightly vulnerable. It's such a gentle lovely deck with a soothing color palette. I’ve got The Four of Pentacles. What a practical card for the last day before Christmas. It is to me a warning not to spend too much on food and drinks (we don’t do gifts with Christmas) I think I'm rather frugal most of the times, but now and then you have to slacken the reins. But when I look a little bit longer, I can sympathize on a deeper level with this creature in the tree. His is anxious to lose his pentacles. Pentacles represent not only money but also physical health and everything in the material world. Sometimes we just do need things to feel good. They comfort us. It can be food or a deck but also a touch, a hug, a walk, a shower, music; everything that is soft and caring for the senses (did you know I sometimes sniff at my decks or books) In my opinion we should hold on to those delights as long as we're able too. We live in this world so we’d better enjoy it. I think when you live your life with all your senses wide open you are living it to the fullest. This little guy in the trees did deserve it to not be  compared with Scrooge just before Christmas. So I think I will take his advice and enjoy my things and experiences with more regard and gratefulness

Happy Holidays

On this very special Midwinter day I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for making my initial idea to start this blog into such an inspiring adventure. I am so grateful to have met you all and to have become such good friends in a relative short period. I value your comments a lot and you inspire me to write more. With this beautiful artwork of Julia Jeffrey, I want to wish  you a very Happy Yule and a Merry Christmas 

Hugs