Nine of Cups - taking a moment

Today’s cards are the Nine of Cups and the Prince of Pentacles from the Druidcraft tarot. In the first card we see a man sitting at his table with eight cups .  He is holding the ninth cup in his hand ready to savor the drink which it contains. It is almost as if he is making a toast to himself. He is obviously very content. Often we call him a bit smug but since this is also the wish card of the deck, I think he is enjoying the quiet time before the other guests are arriving. In my point a view he doesn't mind being with himself. Sometimes that is all I wish for after a long day. I wonder what he is thinking about and I pull the Prince of Pentacles. Aha, peace at last, after a hard day’s work: guarding everybody’s needs and well being. Getting the job done day after day while shielding yourself for too much emotions can be very demanding. Although there is still grief, life goes on and a new routine has to be established. So no wonder he is sipping contently from his cup and enjoying the quiet before the next storm (I‘ll bet it is coffee J)

The World: Farewell - Hello

Today’s card is the World from the Druidcraft Tarot. This is one of the decks I love to use when Autumn is here without a doubt. It is raining and windy and windswept leaves piling up in my garden. I am enjoying my coffee with a big “speculaas”. (Dutch spiced biscuits )

Back to the tarot: the World is the last card of the Major Arcana and represents completion and fulfillment; the end of one cycle and the beginning of something new. Although the figure in this card has gained complete mastery over the elements and both male and female qualities, he/she is about to jump through the vulva like shape of the vesica pisces in a Celtic knotwork design, into a new challenge; the beginning of a new phase in his life

This card can be about larger periods in  your life but also and quite often it is more about the smaller ones, the ones you almost can’t notice or are happening so fast and abruptly you can hardly keep up with them. Sometimes new things are already approaching before the old has been laid down to rest. The old and the new, organically intertwining in the fabric of our lives. Maybe if we could learn to approach life as open an vulnerable as this Star like naked figure, we could more easily deal with the flowing and blending colors of life

We are heading into a new period; one without Tara but probable with a new puppy. It is hard and it seems so wrong sometimes but at the same time it feels like a soft balm for my heart. So no clean and razor-sharp endings and beginnings but more a daily, sometimes hourly moving back and forth between saying goodbye to Tara and making room for …….who knows

Chosing Joy, moment by moment...

How do you start to live fully again after having suffered a great loss? How do we pick up our daily chores and activities.  How do we start to feel joy without guilt and feeling like we do something wrong. As if laughter isn't allowed while grieving.

It has been a week since Tara died and we miss her every hour of the day but we are also trying to move forward. Yesterday we have buried her ashes but in the meantime we are also thinking about a new puppy. We've always had a dog and the emptiness is screaming to be filled by a furry little rascal to love, to cherish and to care for.

After a long time without playing with my cards, I've picked up the Mystical Lenormand and asked how to embrace joy:

And I pulled Whip + Sun + Roads

I see this line of three as a encouragement to consciously choose joy and happiness over repetitive regrets and guilt. Grieving is good but it is also okay to take you mind of the sadness and enjoy the little things which might make you happy. 

Saying goodbye to Tara

Thursday, September 18^th,  our beloved friend and companion Tara passed away. So unexpectedly, so sudden,  so abruptly.  How many words do you need to tell is was too soon. We only found out that morning how terribly ill she was. No warning signs, no nothing, but a bad cough.

We have adopted Tara when she was two and a half. So we can be grateful for eight beautiful years with her. She was gentle, very intelligent and such a loyal friend in good and bad times. She was literally our star in some dark nights. We will miss her so much.

Although she lost her eyesight a couple of years ago, she could still manage herself our around the house and she was a great example how to be grateful in the moment and with the little things which were still there for her to enjoy. 

It is so hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful friend, who we love so dearly. 

Thank you so much for all your kind and supporting comments, loving thoughts and prayers.
I don’t know when I will start blogging again. Hopefully soon, because I miss you all. 

The Emperor - Compassionate Control

For today I have drawn the Emperor from the Joie de Vivre tarot. This card is all about authority, leadership, structure and masculine, active energy.

Pauline’s story is as charming as ever:

“The confident and structured emperor, Eminence, has earned his wisdom through experience. His ram's antlers and warrior headgear are a reminder of his great leadership and authority. His dragon companions, Order and Conviction, stand by him in the coordination of systematic plans. In a position of strength, Eminence is clothed in sunlight gold, symbolic of growth and comfort. He's an ideal source of advice due to his scrutinizing ability to see through the most clever of disguises. He is defender of the vulnerable, and rejector of the lazy.”

This is a very apt card  for me because yesterday we had to go to the vet with our dog Tara for an X ray of her longs. The results were not conclusive. The vet wasn't sure if it was a pneumonia or metastases from an unknown tumor. She took some blood to investigate it further and today we will know more. I have the strong feeling I have to be the one in charge and be strong for all of us because in worst case scenario decisions  to be made. Although I have to say M behaved very imperial too while she was calming down our dog in the X ray room. Only after we came home she showed how she really felt. Also I see the vet in this card who was professional, thorough and wise enough to seek council with one of her colleagues.

I will keep you updated  in the comments.

The Ace of Cups - Love has to flow freely

Today’s card it the Ace of Cups from the Joie the Vivre Tarot. One of my “sigh” cards; my “all is well” cards. After picking up the pieces yesterday and trying to look at the more positive side of live, this card is an affirmation I am going to be just fine. Because there is always Love which never runs out. Whatever happens, however we feel, there is plenty of Love flowing form Source. We just have to tap into it and be receptive.

The story: Living and breathing the spirit of love, Euphoria knows no end to the flow of beauty she draws forth and exudes. Her cup overflows with the waters of emotional fulfillment. A sprite hovering above the cup holds the key to the heart, and three pink doves offer her loveberries.

When we open our heart this can become our cup. First fill it with Love then share it and Love will flow effortlessly. We are not supposed to hoard Love and be greedy. When we give freely we’ll notice a soft rippling flow and we are able to develop and ongoing river of Loving kindness.

This is of course an ideal situation. So for today I am just going to do some maintenance on my stream bed; clearing some emotional blockages, deepen and broaden my trust in, and awareness of the Love which surrounds me and to really dig deep and try to let go of, or at least acknowledge some very old sediment. This with yesterdays card in mind:  It is not about the end result but so much more about finding honor and gratitude  in the process how to get there

Seven of Pentacles – Honor and Gratitude

For today I've drawn the Seven of Pentacles from the Joie de Vivre Tarot by Paulina Cassidy When you  could use a lighthearted and cheerful message, this a deck which will always be one you can count on without being too cheesy.

For each card the artist has written a little story about the characters in the picture. For the Seven of Coins it goes like this:

“A pair of fairydeer, Gratitude and Honor, planted a tiny seed. Through thick and thin, they were dedicated to nurturing this tree through its stages of growth. Ultimately, their seed had grown into a monument of beauty and grace. They pause for a moment of contemplation, reaping the rewards of their hard work.”

The two fairydeer are aspects of ourselves which are vital when working on a long term project.  Honor and Gratitude are what keeps us going when we commit to an idea or an intent: a tiny seed of love we sow and care for.  It will grow and develop and during this process we can be proud of ourselves for our commitment and achievements. Sometimes it is good to pause to see how far you’ve come. Although you are not there yet the change is evident. So pause, reflect and think back where you came from to see how your seedling has developed and grown stronger. You don’t have to wait for your goal to have been reached. Just tend to you seedling with honor and take pride in its development. Enjoy the process moment by moment and count your blessings every step along the way.

Affirmation: Today I am going to take a step back and look at my  “garden” with honor and gratitude