Work, harvest, Nest

Daily Draw: Victorian Fairy Tarot, Ace of Autumn/Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles was the February card in the 2017 spread I did at the beginning of the year. Interesting it has popped up again the day before the month begins. 

According to the guide 'the aces represent the distilled essence of a suit in its purest form'. Autumn is work, harvest, and nesting. This card reminds me to complete what needs to be completed to make way for the new work of this year and any abundance that follows. 


Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. 

Rumi, 1207-1273

Coming home

Daily Draw: Victorian Fairy Tarot, Queen of Winter

This morning's meeting called for Queen of Winter intellectual rigour. Ended up doing 'too eager to please' Queen of Summer with a dash of babbling fool for good measure. No excuses I drew this card before I left and didn't heed the message. 

What was wintry today was the temperature in Liverpool. Officially 6 degrees celsius but felt more like zero with the Mersey chill factor. After the meeting I popped into Reid's books which is the only surviving Georgian purpose built retail premises in the city dating back to 1785. It's stuffed floor to ceiling with ageing books in no particular order with prices hand written in fading pencil.

At the heart is an old working coal fireplace (very welcome today) and rickety table where the owner and friends discuss matters of some importance. Todays topics were the present location of the ruby slippers made for the Wizard of Oz (prompted by my red shoes), the chances of visitors mistaking Hull on the east coast with the port of Liverpool in the west, William Wilberforce, what business managers can learn from Aristotle and the sad demise of scholarships in the liberal arts. You don't get that with Amazon...I came away with Huizinger's classic The Waning of the Middle Ages. Some history posts coming up...

I wanted to take a picture of the shop but I thought my down to earth Scouse hosts might think that was a bit weird...here is a link to the city's independent bookstores. Reid's is the second on the list 
http://independent-liverpool.co.uk/blog/6-bookshops-in-liverpool-you-need-to-visit/

A bell jingled overhead. The mild, spicy smell of old books hit him, and the smell was somehow like coming home.

Stephen King, 1947-

Memories

Daily Draw: Victorian Fairy Tarot, The Seeress

I had a crystal ball reading a couple of years ago on holiday. I thought I was going to get a tarot reading but for some reason that wasn't on the menu that day. The reader asked me to pick up one of the crystals and not realising how heavy they are I picked up a football sized one and almost dropped it. Cue alarmed glances all round. The reading lasted five minutes cost ten pounds and the main outcome was confirmation that I have a good partner, am a hard worker and can get along with 'vagabonds' and millionaires. I sort of knew that...although I haven't met many millionaires...

Although not what I expected it was pleasant to spend time with nice elderly lady (she must have been 90 odd). I suspect that's what most people get out of these consultations - a bit of reassurance from a grandmotherly person. Quite therapeutic really. 

It's futile to regret the past

which is gone, irretrievable

its company as fleeting as dust

Rumi, 1207-1273

Blessings

Friday's card: Victorian fairy Tarot, Six of Autumn/Pentacles

So I may have taken my advice to do 'one thing at a time' and almost achieved a grand total of one post for the whole of January...

Rather than charity (which implies an unequal relation) this card speaks of the Latin word caritas meaning love. Different from the classic RWS the loving healer is not positioned above the fairy with the torn wing but beside her. As the guidebook states the healing relation is a blessing that flows both ways. The healer gets to practice her art and by accepting her care the fairy is made whole again both physically and spiritually. This blessing would not have happened if the fairy had treated herself. 

Friday turned to be a blessings day. A dear friend and colleague surprised me with a gift of a book of Rumi poems. I was really touched by the thought and will cherish the book far more than if I had bought it myself. 

There is a poem for each day of the year. Here is number 243

It is love 

that spins our souls aloft

It is love

that exhorts even the mountains to dance

One thing at a time

Daily Draw: Victorian Fairy Tarot: Ten of Spring

The fairies are in a frantic state of Spring fever rushing to complete all there is to be accomplished. Flowers to sell, music to play, pictures to paint, studies to write up...The guidebook warns that 'multitasking to the point where all pleasure is lost from even the most enjoyable pursuits leads to soul exhaustion' The message being don't let your blessings become burdens. 

My first reaction is that this is an odd card for the beginning of the year. Yet if we see the ten as the culmination of Spring it makes more sense. While life seems like a clean slate now it will be very easy to allow projects to accumulate over the coming months so that they spill over into Summer. This reminds me of the need to set and maintain clear intentions for the Spring months. 

To help maintain this I am going to use a list of 'Zen things' on Pinterest this morning. Here is an extract:

1. Do one thing at a time
2. Do it slowly and deliberately
3. Do it completely
4. Put space between things

Simple

Sunday's Card: Angel Tarot Deck, Nine of Earth/Pentacles

Luxury goods are by definition unnecessary. The accoutrements of 'success' just another way of avoiding confronting myself. The message I welcome from this card is quiet reflection. 
Quiet reflection reminds me that what is luxury to one person is mundane for another. I am grateful for all I have and somewhat ashamed at all I waste... 

According to the guide the astrological association of this card is Venus in Virgo 'the pursuit of grounded beautiful perfection. It enjoys a simple life as long as everything is in its place...a down to earth energy'. Simple. Beautiful. Orderly. That speaks to my inner Virgo...

In other news my Sharon Salzberg books have arrived and reflecting on what I have written I must be sure not to 'waste' them. 

Trouble

Daily Draw: Angel Tarot Cards, Six of Fire/Wands

I drew this card this morning and found it troubling so let it work in the back of my mind while focusing on other things. Now I know why I'm not keen on this rendition. To me it says 'crusader'. Reminds me of images in my childhood reading - ladybird books or sixties encyclopaedias? When history was the feats of great men on horses. In everyday life is there ever a need for a victory parade? Or just quiet words of thanks when things go well? 

My reaction to this card tells me I need to explore it more by doing a comparison with other decks. Perhaps it is good practice to look for the challenges in 'positive cards' and the opportunities in 'negative cards'. I'm still learning...

Oh no what's this
A spider web and I'm caught in the middle
So I turned to run
The thought of all the stupid things I've done

And oh I never meant to cause you trouble

Coldplay 

Overdrive

Daily Draw: Angel Tarot Cards, Queen of Earth/Pentacles

Golden coins flying around to signify a time of manifestation according to the guidebook. In contrast to the glowing coins (and are they flying out of the pot not into it?) the surrounding scenery is murky and gloomy. This is the darkest earth card in the deck. 

What is is being eclipsed? Having a comfortable and harmonious home, cooking and eating healthy food and enjoying nature are important to this queen too. The coins are a means to these ends not the end in itself. 

This reminds me of how my inner queen of pents has been in reversal (overdrive?) over the past few months. Working all hours, putting everyone else first, spending coins as soon as they're spun - I could write pages and pages but taking action is better than self-pity. 

So today I'm going to slow right down - take an hour to get dressed not ten minutes. Choose how I want to look instead of grabbing the first thing that doesn't need ironing. Dressing to include body lotion, perfume and properly styled hair. It's a start...

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation

Audre Lorde, 1934 -1992

At one ment

Daily Draw: Angel Tarot Cards, Unity/The Hierophant

I refused a card for the first time in ages today. The reason being I have had enough tower energy in the closing months of 2016 and I don't wish for any more of it. To be fair I didn't have a specific question in mind and drew in rather absent minded way. Perhaps this sleepwalking is what leads to Tower moments...

This reminds me of the importance of asking good questions (I should know this as a trained creative coach) for setting intentions. So I drew again asking 'what can I focus on other than my job?' 

According to the guidebook the unity card asks us to consider the broader implications of our actions. It asks us to spend time with others who can help us to develop our spiritual gifts. 

In this deck the Christian-based hierophant has been redesigned to reflect a broader set of religious philosophies. That strikes me as significant  - philosophies not institutions. 

I wrote and cut out a whole academic blah blah blah section on philosophy (which contradicted my question of what can I focus on other than work). 

Instead I accept the invitation to enrich my inner world and to find others who are also searching. 

From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of each other - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. 

Albert Einstein, 1879 -1955

Slowing down to pay attention

Daily Draw: Angel Tarot Cards, The Empress

So I had to get my eyeglass out for this one. I've located the squirrel (symbolising the need to be prepared but also to be playful). What looked like a fox I can now see is a cougar (confidence and self assurance) The stag (tenderness) and coyote (group work) were visible from the outset. I think I've found the baby bear but the 'face' isn't right. I also have what appears to be a miniature version of the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz (bottom right foreground). Hmm...

I'm taking a break from historical posts as I want to deepen my knowledge of the cards for which the first step is paying attention and describing. 

The waterfall (stream of consciousness) that pools into a stream leading toward the Empress is the water from the gown of the High Priestess. This reminds me I still don't know the order of the majors off by heart and understanding the structure of the deck and the rationale for it will improve my interpretations. 

I thought the Empress's gown was gold but it's actually copper which symbolises the nurturing aspect of women, feminine beauty, artistic creativity, affection, caring and balance. This reminds of the need for accuracy and specificity. 

On balance it has been a good day to myself - perusing the cards, reading Mary K Greer and browsing the web. Paying attention to my bookshelf revealed I have two of Rachel Pollack's books that I had completely forgotten about. 

Restore your attention or bring it to a new level by dramatically slowing down whatever you're doing. 

Sharon Salzberg, 1952-

PS I had to artificially lighten the card image (should have paid attention to the time :) )

Old friend

Daily Draw: Angel Tarot Cards, Ace of Water/Cups

The angel tarot was my first deck. They saw a lot of use Jan to March 2016 but as my interest in the cards developed I turned away from them as being 'too mainstream'. Just been sorting out my tarot shelf looking for a deck with an emphasis on positivity/healing and we old friends have reintroduced ourselves. 

I DO like them. The intricate illustrated details (I will need to get my eyeglass out). The beautiful jewel like colours, the offer of a brief escape into a world of flora and fauna with unicorns, magnificent butterflies and dragon friends...  the silver foil edges. 

These cards have my imprint - the right side more battered than the other where my nails turned them over (and over and over) early last year. The 'personalisation' feels comforting...

According to the guide this card is also a 1 (37= 3+7=10=1). So a 1 card as my first card in a 1 year (2017: 2+0+1+7=10 = 1). 

The ace can signify the beginning of spiritual growth. Makes sense. I've been researching (only on Pinterest but better than nothing) spiritual and healing activities. Now I just need to start putting it into practice. Where to start? The literature is vast and eclectic. I need a reading list. Suggestions on an (e)postcard?