Mommy Time Monday; Two of Swords, and a recipe!

Mommy Time Monday! Each week I'll draw and post a tarot card from The Housewives Tarot and share it with you. So go ahead, sit down and take some time for yourself, you never know what inspiration and advice The Housewives may have for you!  This week's card is also part of our Air Element Study, where we will be exploring the Tarot Suit of Swords!

The Ace of Swords

from The Housewives' Tarot by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum, Quirk Books 2004.  (I claim no ownership of this deck or the artwork and share it here as an informational post among friends, no copyright infringement is intended.)

"Conflicts, Opposing views, Impartiality"

"Like Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws, life can be full of conflicts.  As the blindfolded woman illustrates, it is important to remain impartial when stalemates occur.  The two of swords reminds us that it is seemingly opposing tastes - like cranberry sauce and green bean casserole - that make life more delicious.  After all, if no one wanted the dark meat, there wouldn't be enough light meat to go around."

~ From the Guidebook to the Housewives Tarot by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum. 

The Suit of Swords is related to the Air element; thoughts, communications, decision making, learning, and all things dealing with our Mental Processes.  With the Ace of Swords we faced the seed of an idea, the beginning of a new way of thinking or a new mental journey.  With the Two of swords we reach our first mental crossroads, a choice to be made.  But the lesson here is not really in the choice itself, it's in how you go about making the choice.  There are times when it's good to be impartial, go inside, and really trust your instincts.  The blindfold doesn't necessarily mean that the woman in the card is "blinded" or somehow weakened by her blindfold.  She is learning to trust her other senses more, she is having to carefully weigh out her next move without relying on the sense of vision we so strongly rely on.  This card goes quite perfectly with our week of meditation study; practicing finding that impartial and slightly detached place within can be an important tool for when you face difficult decisions in the future.

Recipe of The Week;

Two of Swords

Quick Dill Pickles

from The Epicurean Tarot Recipe Cards by Corrine Kenner, U.S. Games Systems (I claim no ownership of this deck or the artwork and share it here as an informational post among friends, no copyright infringement is intended.)

"The woman on the Two of Swords seems to be in a pickle; blindfolded, perched on a stormy seashore and forced to balance two deadly weapons.  Honor her spirit with some quick and crunchy dill pickles."

1 dozen large pickling cucumbers

3 quartz white vinegar

3 cups sugar

6 teaspoons kosher salt

3 cloves garlic

9 pearl onions

3 teaspoons pickling spice

3 small bunches dill

6 drops green food coloring (optional)

Wash the cucumbers and quarter them lengthwise.

Pack 12 cucumber spears upright in each pre-sterilized jar.

Bring the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil.

Carefully pour the boiling liquid over the cucumbers, filling the jars to within 1/2 an inch to the top.

Add a clove of garlic, 3 pearl onions, a teaspoon of pickling spice, a bunch of dill, and two drops of food coloring to each jar.  

Seal the jars immediately and let cool.

Refrigerate the pickles for at least a week, and serve them withing three weeks.