Wind of Change Tarot Spread

I found this wonderful tarot spread at Tarot By Arwen and thought it would go perfectly for our Air Element studies focusing on the Winds right now.  First I would suggest spending some time doing the Wind Observation / Meditation from my previous post.  Observe how the wind reacts to walls and fences.  Observe how it flows differently through windmills, pinwheels, windsocks, wind chimes, and trees.  As you observe the wind, think about or ask the tarot what kind of changes the wind is bringing to you, and how these changes would react if they hit a wall vs. a windmill.  Lay out the cards as indicated above, the first card, in the middle is the Wind (the change), card 2 on the left is the Wall (The Obstacle or resistance), and card 3 on the right is the Windmill (the way to transform with the change).  After you do the reading you can go back outside into the wind, observe it with your senses again, and think about card 2, the wall.... your obstacles.  Hold these obstacles in your hand, then lift them up to the sky and release them to the wind, and ask your guides and Higher Self to help you be the Windmill instead of the wall.  (Basically, just focusing the results of this reading on the Wind Meditation as described by Starhawk.)

Here is the result of my Wind of Change reading:

Card 1 - Winds of Change - Queen of Pentacles
Key Words; Down-To Earth, Practical, Resourceful, Trustworthy, Nurturing
My husband is preparing to leave on an out of state job for a couple of months.  When I saw the Queen of Pentacles in this position, I noticed her solitude... but also her strength and resolve.  I am going to be the one here in charge of the house, the bills, and caring for the children.  It's something I have done before, I know what is coming... but I know it involves a lot of strength on my part.  The coming months will require me to really buckle down as the "head of the household"; while the husband will be making the money... I will be the one managing it and everything else.

Card 2 - The Wall - 8 of Wands
Key Words; Taking Quick Action, Letting things go, watching to see how things pan out, rushing things
When I was sitting outside doing my wind meditation, I noticed how the wind reacts when it meets the wall or fence.  The wind isn't actually stopped... it's just diverted.  It goes somewhere else.  So if the wind of change is my opportunity to become the strong, dependable Queen of Pentacles, then if I react as a wall I do nothing but deflect the opportunities away from me.  Making quick, rash choices instead of thinking things through and carefully planning things out could hinder me.  It's not a time to be a wall and just watch the winds scatter things and see where they end up.

Card 3 - The Windmill - 6 of Pentacles
Key Words; Having / not having resources, having / not having power, giving and or receiving. 
Sometimes with this card you have to figure out who you are... the one in need or the one in a position to give.  I think with the Queen of Pentacles as my first card I am going to be in the position of giving, distributing, sharing, and nurturing.  If I take the changes that are coming and embrace them, like the windmill, and let those winds transform me and strengthen me, I will end up doing exactly what needs to be done to run the household efficiently, nurture my children in the ways they need, and "take care of business". I just have to be careful to not let things just slip past me like in the 8 of Wands... but to take charge, be present, and use what I have wisely.

12 Days of Yule; Day 1

12 Days of Yule; Day 1

Follow along with my 12 Days of Yule Blog Prompts here;  http://journalyourselfawake.blogspot.com/2012/12/12-days-of-yule-day-1.html

Today's Prayer;

"Cold and dark, this time of year,
the earth lies dormant, awaiting the return
of the sun, and with it, life.
Far beneath the frozen surface,
a heartbeat waits,
until the moment is right,
to spring."

By Patti Wigington

Here in the desert, the winter is not the classic "winter" that they sing about in the Christmas songs.  It doesn't snow here, many of our trees are still green, so it can be difficult to connect with that "Winter" feeling.  But there is a chill in the air, the nights get pretty cold, and there are subtle differences.  It sounds different outside, there are no cicadas chirping loudly in the Palo Verde trees, no buzzing of bees, and many birds have gone further south for the winter (spoiled, aren't they?)  I don't hear the mockingbirds anymore.  There are no lizards or geckos crawling the walls of my house, and the un-ending stream of ants that was trying to invade my home all summer has mysteriously disappeared.  So even while I can't really connect with the songs about snow, and my picture of winter is quite different than my ancestors must have experienced in Germany, Ireland, and England many many years ago....I can still find ways to contemplate the winter and what it means for me here in the desert.  Today's blog prompt asks us to consider what has gone dormant around us, and what might also need to go dormant in our lives.  The Earth simplifies herself in the winter, shedding all that she doesn't need, reserving energy for the spring.  She becomes a minimalist.  So I ask myself, what can I minimize in my life?  What parts of my life need to "Hibernate" for a while?

I know that in my home, I have a lot of clutter and "things" that I need to let go of.  I had begun a room-by-room decluttering process in the fall, and I need to continue with that and really purge the closets and shelves of things I no longer need, use, or love. 

I need to let go of an attitude that creates procrastination.  This may seem counter-intuitive to winter dormancy, since a lack of procrastination would actually result in me doing MORE.  But my procrastination creates more stress, and I need to let that go. 

I drew a tarot card, asking what I need to release and how I can do it, and I got The Ace of Pentacles.  The Ace is about beginnings and planting seeds of prosperity, reaching out and grasping the abundance that is available.  I feel that this card is confirming my thought that I need to release my procrastinations and stress.  Although the earth lies dormant, some seeds of the spring are already in the ground, preparing for spring so they can grow.  I can take this time to plant my own "seeds" and prepare for the future.  I need to keep planning, and "planting" and even though I might not see the fruits of my labor right away, the process needs to begin now.  I need to let my financial fears and worries go dormant, and focus on the hope for better times that are on their way.  Today I will work on putting my fears to rest, and to know when the time is right to act.  I plant the seeds and expect the best!

The following is from "Around The Tarot in 78 Days" by Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin;

The Ace of Pentacles says;
"There is a material opportunity in the making that is not yet fully formed.  You must be open and receptive  to material reward; good times could be awaiting you.  Now is the time to set the ball rolling on any venture or transaction, or to court prosperity by merely investing in a solitary lottery ticket."

Connect to your card;
Plant a seed -- whether literally or one of an idea.  Have a fresh start at something new.

You are blocking this card today by;
1. Not investing in your future security.
2. Turning down that lucrative deal you have been offered.
3. Not buying a lottery ticket.
4. Refusing the support you have been offered.

Meditation;
"Great oaks from little acorns grow." Allow yourself to be like the little acorn; know that you will grow forever upwards and fulfill your destiny.

Affirmation;
"I am the seed of all that can be created"

Mommy Time Monday - The Fool

Yep... I got this card again.  Last week I didn't draw a card, but the week before I did, and it was this one.... (see my last post).  So, I'm feeling I really need to dig in deeper to the meaning of this card.

As I shuffled I was asking the Housewives to give me a message to help me with my attitude towards housework.  Today, and thru most of last week, I have been slipping.  My motivation is lacking, and my house is suffering.  I'm having these moments of feeling sorry for myself, complaining that I get no help, that it isn't fair, etc.  It's the same story every week.  Thru the week I work hard to get my house in order... the laundry caught up, the bathrooms cleaned, the kitchen cleaned, and whatever extra organizing I can manage, on top of dealing with the kids, cooking dinners, and trying to get the best possible deals with coupons at the grocery store and attempting to balance the budget and make sure the bills are paid.  Sometimes I get along just fine, happy to do my part, enjoying the blessings of being able to do all these things for my family.  But sometimes I just feel bogged down, unappreciated, overworked, and stretched too thin.

The weekends come and go, and for 20 hours of the weekend I am at work, only home on Saturday night to sleep and then back home Sunday evening in time for dinner.  During my absence, the house seems to fall apart.  No one does the dishes unless they need a clean dish to eat off of, no one clears those flat surfaces of junk, no one does any laundry.  Now I can't say I blame my husband... he works all week and deserves to relax on his 2 days off.  But I must admit I have been growing bitter at coming home to such a mess after I spend the weekdays keeping it clean.

So as I shuffled my cards, I asked; what can I do to change my attitude about my situation?  I am not looking to change my husband, I love him the way he is, and I love the other ways in which he provides for me and our family.  But I don't want this bitterness to grow.

The Fool card indicates a new beginning, an new journey of sorts.  It's obvious that the housewife on this card needs to pull herself together a little bit... she's so scattered and a bit un-organized.  Maybe she needs to prioritize.  Maybe she needs a little help.  So, maybe it's not a bad thing for me to ask for help, and maybe I'm being a fool thinking I can handle all of this myself!  The Fool card often indicates a new attitude, new adventure, new journey.  Maybe I'm just going about things the wrong way and I need to re-evaluate and think of things a little differently.  Not that I want to shirk any of my responsibilities.... but maybe an attitude adjustment is in order here.  I can swallow my pride and ask my husband for help... I just have to make sure I choose my words carefully and let him know I do appreciate what he does... while at the same time re-evaluating my priorities and figuring out just exactly where I want to put my energy and what I need to direct my focus on.... so as not to be the fool running around with mis-matched shoes and a trail of chaos!

Quitting Smoking; my Tarot Reading / Therapy Session

Giving myself this tarot card reading was like having a very intense Therapy session with my Spirit Guides and Healer Guides! It was very insightful and awakening, and I share it with you so you can join me on my journey of quitting smoking (whether by supporting me, or deciding to quit smoking yourself!) and to give you an example of how this tarot spread can be used to overcome any addiction!!!

As I write this blog post, I have been quit for 3 Days, 22 hours, 22 minutes and 6 seconds (3 days). I have saved $12.97 by not smoking 47 cigarettes. I have saved 3 hours and 55 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 11/14/2010 11:06 PM

Part 1; Cards 1 -7 - The Roots of the Addiction

Card 1 - The Root - 8 of Pentacles - The belief that life is hard and full of hard work. The desire to break away from the daily grind. The comfort of repetition and habit. Relief from daily stresses. Putting off productivity and progress. Affirmation - “I work patiently and persistently to achieve good results.”

Card 2 - Mind Root - Knight of Swords - Smoking is a time to think things through, gather my thoughts, make a plan. When I smoke I am being arrogant. Recklessly endangering myself and others. Retreating from reality. Being defensive, trying to fight a battle - be it the wrong way. Cutting off my emotions instead of facing them. Affirmation - “I defend the right of all to truth and justice”

Card 3 - Body Root- Queen of Wands - Spontaneous behavior. Seeking personal power. In response to an over bearing mother. Justified as a compensation for putting my own needs aside. I often associate this card with my mother (A Leo -manipulative Fire Sign). I think I originally started smoking as a way to secretly assert my power over my body in a way that my mother could not control. I am not a child anymore and I HAVE control over my body… without needing to rebel or assert myself over my mother’s control. Affirmation - “I recognize my self-potential and my ability to manifest my desires.”

Card 4 - Spirit Root - Justice - Smoking used as a way to suspend action until a decision is made. Taking time to deliberate on which action to make, or procrastinating on action. Punishing myself for past actions. Not believing I am worthy of health and happiness - giving myself a punishment. Trying to find balance… self medicating to compensate for lack of balance (ironically creating more imbalance) Indecision and Inaction. Rebelling against social standards. Affirmation; “I am willing to be true to myself in all my decisions.”

Card 5 - How Mind and Body feed into each other - The Queen of Cups (How the Knight of Swords and Queen of wands feed into each other) - Using my time smoking to try and channel my feelings and emotions, spending time outdoors. In truth the smoking has clouded my intuition and has been a block to my emotion. It has been a retreat into fantasy and addiction - self medicating the withdrawal from emotions. False feelings of satisfaction, delusions. Avoiding my own moods and emotions rather than dealing with them. Affirmation; “I recognize the depth of my emotions and my ability to attract and enchant those around me.” Knight of Swords vs. Queen of Wands - running away from dealing with my “mother issues” and refusing to face my own personal power. Afraid of embracing my personal power. Also, the Knight-Queen pair identifies the imbalance between being an adult and a teenager - I have been clinging to my youth and rebelling against “growing up”. Challenging establishment…. Seeking risk… imbalance between Caution and Adventure; stability vs. instability.

Card 6 - How Body and Spirit play into each other - 6 of Wands ( How the Queen of Wands and Justice feed into each other) The combination of rebelling against my mother and punishing myself for my past has created a false sense of victory. Short-lived gains and underlying feelings of treachery and betrayal. Bracing myself for a fall - smoking as a “smoke screen” and surrounding myself with other smokers who “understand” me. Attempting to “take charge” of my life by doing something that is out of the control of others. Flaunting my “independence”. Affirmation - “My confidence in my ability to achieve goals inspires others with whom I work.” Queen of Swords vs. Justice - desire to atone for my lack of confidence. Judging myself in the same way that my mother judges me. Seeing myself through her eyes rather than thinking about how *I* actually feel about myself and my choices… “What would my mother think?” syndrome.

Card 7 - How Spirit and Mind feed into each other - Ace of Pentacles (How the Knight of Swords and Justice feed into each other) I have used smoking as a way to Center and Ground my energy. Taking a time out. A “reward” for the fruits of my labor… I often smoke after a project or before starting a new project. Attempting to conserve or regenerate my energy. Giving myself a “transition” between actions, events, and decisions. Affirmation - “ I recognize this opportunity to materialize my ideas.” Knight of Swords vs. Justice - Choice vs. action. Balance vs. going to the extreme. Judging my own actions harshly. Cutting away emotions from my actions and decisions. Balancing the energy of the Knight of Swords (defensiveness) with Justice (balanced action)

Part 2; Healing the Addiction

Card 8 - How to Heal your Mind - The Moon (The Moon covers and Heals the Knight of Swords) - Facing my fears instead of running away from them. Listening to and trusting my intuition and instincts rather than arrogantly turning away from these emotions. Introspection and self-understanding. Working with psychic abilities and intuition; he realm of the subconscious, visions. Trusting my inner self Embracing the ebb and flow of events and the cycles of emotions in their natural form. Form new habits and cycles. Affirmation - “I am impelled to evolve beyond my fears and insecurities. I am willing to walk the path to self knowledge through the unknown inner realms of myself.”

Card 9 - How the Heal your Body - King of Cups ( The King of Cups covers and Heals the Queen of Wands) - Being in touch with my emotions but being in control of those emotions. Be Wise, Calm, Diplomatic, Caring, and Tolerant, especially when dealing with my mother or other oppressive ad judgmental people. Be in control of my emotions and treat myself and others with Love and Care at all times. Understand that “The only one who can make you feel inferior is yourself.” Control my emotions but don’t smother them… feel them, process them, and let them go. Affirmation; I acknowledge my inner values, feelings, and intuitions.”

Card 10 - How to Heal Your Spirit - The Fool (The Fool covers and heals Justice)- Experience life in the Here and Now. Don’t dwell on the past… but live in the present. Trust in my choices and trust in the Universe. Be carefree, spontaneous. Embrace my inner child and innocence. Be optimistic, don’t be a fatalist. Mistakes do not need punishment, only correction. Trust that balance will be found. Don’t procrastinate on making choices but take steps in faith and trust. Affirmation - “ All possibilities are open to me as I boundlessly experience the Here and Now.”

Card 11 - How to Heal your Root - Seven of Cups (7 of Cups covers and heals 8 of Pentacles) Embrace my dreams, intuition, and visions. See life as an abundance of choices on many levels rather than a series of hard tasks. Set priorities and avoid distraction, but be free spirited and open minded. Be open to new experiences. Be careful of temptations and indulgence. Be aware that I have an addictive personality and find ways to indulge myself that do not involve indulgence in drugs or destructive substances. Find creative expressions… write, draw, crafts, art, etc. Be more intuitive and work on trusting my intuition and developing my psychic powers.

Underlying Energy Card - What is the underlying message about Quitting Smoking - The card on the bottom of the deck - The High Priestess - I think that this card is telling me that not only do I have the power within me to overcome this addiction, but that once I have my system cleansed and this addiction cleared out of my system, I will open up my access to a higher power. I can already feel my vibration getting higher and my chakras becoming more balanced as I cleanse myself from smoking.

Sum of the Digits Card - Overall Advice / Supporting Card - The Emperor (Also my Soul Purpose Card) - I have the power to quit smoking for good. Nothing has power over me if I don't choose to let it have power over me. And from the other lessons within this reading I can see that this step of quitting smoking is just another step towards embracing my own empowerment and strength; something that I have put off doing for a long time. The presence of The Emperor is significant because this is my Soul Purpose card through numerology... so quitting smoking and overcoming addiction is probably one of my Soul's core lessons... shaking this off will do more for me that just physically free me from an unhealthy addiction... but help my Soul take steps forward in it's growth and path. I have a lot of thinking and healing to do....


For more on this spread, see my previous post; Healing An Addiction Tarot Spread. See also the Archangel Oracle Card reading I gave myself prior to quitting smoking; Angelic Guidance -Time To Quit!

Libra Spread ~ I Balance ~

Libra Spread ~ I Balance ~

1) My power of decision making
2) My ability to bond in a relationship
3) My ability to connect in a professional collaboration
4 ) My aggression and my desire for peace (How do I fight?)
5) My will to forgive (How do I make peace? How vindictive am I?)
6) What do I give to my lover?
7) What kinds of feelings do I suppress?
8) How is my artistic feeling?
9) How superficial am I? (How moody am I?)

___________________________________________________

So, I decided to give myself a reading and use this spread. It seemed like a nice follow-up to my last reading, The Balance spread that I did for the Autumnal equinox. I have been working hard at finding the balance between my personal life, my professional life, and my priorities as a wife and mom, but this past week it seems like I've hit a wall. I lost all my motivation and drive, and could feel myself just wanting to give up on trying to find balance in my life. I've just been feeling like there is no way to balance it all; wife, mother, housekeeper, volunteer, waitress, tarot reader, ME! Often when I'm feeling "in a funk", a tarot reading will help give me the perspective I need, and give me the "jump start" that I'm looking for. I decided to use my newest deck, The Goddess Tarot by Kris Waldherr.

Here is my Tarot reading.

The first thing I noticed was that there is a lack of cups. Since this spread is about balance, I notice this and realize my Water energy is out of balance. My emotions have been out of whack. I have not done much of anything this week, because I "don't feel like it" and then I beat myself up and judge myself for not getting anything done, which just perpetuates the cycle of inactivity. *Makes a mental note-to-self to find a way to balance my water energy.
The suits that are present are Earth and Fire (Pentacles and Staves/Wands) In the Goddess tarot, the suit of Staves is related to The Path of Freyja - The Norse Goddess of creativity, fertility, and beauty. Procreative, wands channel energy to areas where growth can occur. The suit of Pentacles relates to The Path of Lakshmi - Hindu Goddess of fortune and prosperity. The riches contained within the Earth. The grand Harvest of life, and the bounty of the cycles, Lakshmi is the personification of fertile, prosperous, and feminine force. This Fire/Earth combo is a strong call to be creative and procreative in my life… rather than waiting for the balance to occur I should take creative steps and actions to create the balance I desire.

There is one Swords/Air card in the reading, and it's right smack in the middle of the spread - you can't ignore the big fat bleeding heart of the Three of Swords right there, can you? And that is where the reading begins, with card one;

1) My power of decision making - Three of Swords - relying too much on others to help me make choices, though sometimes this may create conflict. Self-destructive. Fear of pain and loss or sorrow effects my decision making. I keep waiting for my husband to kinda take the lead on certain things, but it just hasn't been happening. My non-action is the same as driving a sword into my own heart; it's self destructive and doesn't propell me further down my path but just leaves me tied to my old scars and fears.
2) My ability to bond in a relationship - Four of Pentacles - must feel stability in financial realm. Need to have control over finances in order to feel comfort that promotes bonding. If I am worried about money and stability, I close myself off. If I am feeling secure and in control, I am much more likely to open up and bond with others.
3) My ability to connect in a professional collaboration - Nine of Wands - I keep myself somewhat protected or separate from others, need to be able to pause and think things over before moving forward. Desire to prioritize and plan things out. Perhaps this wall that I have built has ceased being a protective boundary and has become a wall of limitation.
4 ) My aggression and my desire for peace (How do I fight?) Nine of Pentacles - I have a strong desire to enjoy the fruits of my labor. My desire for peace is strong, just want to enjoy beauty. Will fight for what I have worked for, or to protect the peace and beauty that I have built.
5) My will to forgive (How do I make peace? How vindictive am I?) 20 Judgment (Gwenhwyfar) - Forgives but does not forget. Will learn from the past, I won’t allow someone to get too close once they have wronged me or hurt me. I can be a harsh judge of others, and a harsh judge of myself.
6) What do I give to my lover? King of Pentacles - respect, the ability to rule the home and finances, stability. I can give him a stable home environment. There is somewhat of a conflict here though, since with card 2 (and what I already know of myself), I need to be somewhat in charge of the finances in order to bond in a relationship. I know my husband also desires this control, and I have given him that responsibility over finances, but this has caused me to have feelings of insecurity. This has given me reason to pause and think; I guess we will have to work on a compromise and middle ground in which I can let him feel like the King of Pentacles, yet I can still maintain a sense of control over finances and our security.
7) What kinds of feelings do I suppress? Four of Wands - putting down roots, commiting to a goal, my frustrations about home life and romance. I hold in my frustrations about home life and romance, it's true. I need to find my voice and not just internalize my frustrations...

8) How is my artistic feeling? Page of Wands - my artistic feelings and creativity come with waves of passion, a new thing or person will trigger a new spark of interest, but it will not always be lasting. Yes, that is an understatement. It's also called "I'm a Capricorn with ADD."
9) How superficial am I? (How moody am I?) 15 Temptation (The Devil) (Nyai Loro Kidul) My moods and goals are strongly effected by my innermost desires, but also by my addictions and temptations. I easily become a slave to my moods, and obsessed by my desires - or obsessed with things that are out of my control. I focus my energies in the wrong direction, avoiding the things that really need to be done, and that just gets me in more trouble. My drug of choice; Procrastination. I need to control my temptation to follow my moods and better listen to my Higher Self.

I added together the numbers of the cards to find my "Sum of The Digits" card, which is like an Overall Advice card to summarize the whole reading. Interestingly, the card I got is the card associated with Lakshmi, who was already "flagged" in this reading with the presence of her related suit; Pentacles.
Sum of the Digits - 10 - Fortune [The Wheel of Fortune] (Lakshmi)
Overall advice of the reading - Be open to the generosity of the Universe. Be open to abundance, have positive expectations. Be aware of Beauty and Love all around me.

The Three Modes of Tarot (Reading)

This basic reading can help you identify some problem areas in your life and gives advice about what energy may be best expressed.
First, sort through your deck and divide it into three piles;
Court Cards
Numbered Cards
Major Arcana

Shuffle each deck with your question or problem in mind. Draw one card from each deck, respectively.

Card 1 - Court Card - You, the current role you are playing in this situation
Card 2 - Numbered Card - Your situation
Card 3 - Major Arcana - The archetypical energies that are being expressed... the root of your actions and situation, the advice card

If you wanted to, rather than randomly drawing the first card (the Court Card) you could choose one as a significator. Conciously choosing a card to represent yourself or the role you play may help you focus the reading in that direction. Not sure what card represents you in this current situation? Try Court Card Excersize 1 (previous post) and choose a card from the list you create.

Here is a format for anlyzing and interpreting the cards in your reading, from the book "Tarot For Yourself" by Mary K. Greer. Write the following sentence and fill in the blanks with the card meanings.

"I am acting like a ________________[Court Card], a ___________________________ __________________[describe the type of person you see in that card] in a _________________[Minor Arcana] situation in which ________________ ___________________________ __________________ [describe your situation using action verbs] because of ___________________ [Major Arcana], which describes my need to _____________________ __________________________[describe the archetypical energies in you that need to be expressed]."

EXAMPLE;
"I am acting like a Queen of Pentacles, a nurturing woman who obssesses over houswork in a Two of Wands situation in which I am searching for control and independence because of Justice, which describes my need to find harmony, balance and justice in my life."

Taking it further; How can I best deal with this situation?

"I can use the attributes of _________________ [Major Arcana] to _________________ ________________________ [describe the best qualities you see in this card] in order to deal with ________________ [Minor Arcana] , which expresses my desire for (to) _____ ________________ _________________ [ describe the situation you have drawn to yourself] experienced by my Inner ________________ [Court Card], the one who ___________ _____________________ ____________________ [describe that aspect of yourself that chose to experience the situation].

EXAMPLE;
"I can use the attributes of Justice to create balance and harmony in order to deal with Two of Wands, which expresses my desire to choose where and how I exert my personal power experienced by my Inner Queen of Pentacles, the one who is a nurturing, rescourceful Housewife but does not want to be tied down and restricted by housework and chores."

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As you can see, I used one of my own cards from the Court Card Roles excersize to give the examples posted above. I chose the Queen of Pentacles to describe my role as a houswife because I see myself as creative, loving, and nurturing. The Queen of Pentacles has a dark side though - she can become obsessed withh housework and caring for others, and forget to take care of herself. OR, she can become discouraged when she finds herself unnapreciated, taken for granted, or overworked. This card seemed to quite perfectly describe how I am in the role of Housewife. So I drew the two other cards and found this to be very insightful. The Two of Wands shows how even though I love taking care of my home and family, I am dreaming of bigger things, adventures and accomplishments. I grow resentful of the never-ending housework when I don't have time to commit to my dreaming, my intellect, and my spirituality. I long for Personal Power, control, independence, and freedom, and my Queen of Pentacles expresses these desires by trying to control the household. I make lists, schedules, routines, chore charts, etc.... in short, I obsess... trying to find that sense of control and freedom. The root of the situation comes from the Major Arcana card, Justice. Above all things, I seek Balance and Harmony. When I lose my sense of Balance and Inner Harmony, I begin to feel like "It's not fair!" I lose my sense of Nurturing and Creativity when I feel unnapreciated... or when I feel that all the hard work I am doing is not being justly rewarded. So I have to ask myself.... is this really where I want to focus my energy? Is the gain or reward equal to the energy that I put out in the process? If not, then how can I shift that balance? If I don't ask myself these questions first, I will more than likely find myself revisiting the Queen of Pentacles "less attractive" qualities; Obsessing and Controlling. But if I remind myself to seek balance and Justice, to reward myself, to only put forth energy into the things that I know will leave me with a sense of balance and justification; then my Queen of Pentacles energy will flow as it should - creatively!

Tarot Reading - Unblocking My Intuition

1.) What is blocking me intuitively? 8 of Wands
Too much on my mind, too much going on. Too many goals, things happening too quickly. Caught up in the chain of events, waiting for the outcome of certain events, being busy. I think this card means I just have too much going on. Things are moving quickly and I am just too caught up in everything to really listen to my intuition.

2.) What outside influences are effecting my intuition? 6 of Wands
The expectations of others. The need or desire to be the Hero, the teacher, the leader. The desire for success, victory, and recognition. Pride. I need to stop worrying about what other people think of me and let go of pride.

3.) What is inside me that is hindering my intuition? 4 of Wands
Freedom, Celebration, Excitement. Perhaps I am not allowing myself to feel these things, and this is holding me back. I need to let go of my self-set limitations and more truly celebrate my intuition. Allow myself to feel excited about my intuitive gifts and celebrate them!

4.) What can help me with my intuition? The World
Balance with the elements, integrating all aspects of my life, taking responsibility for things in my life which cause stress, getting the important things accomplished. I have been putting off some important things, and now am beginning to deal with some repercussions. I need to take action where it counts in order to find more satisfaction and release some worries and karmas. Using my gifts more freely and being more generous with others may also help. Considering giving more free readings or practice readings.

5.) What do I need to change to help me with my intuition? 6 of Swords
Take time for recovery and healing. A change of scenery or surroundings. Change my frame of mind, take inventory of my mental state and change the way I think to clear the way for the new. A change of direction or a change of focus.

6.) What can I do to 'unblock' myself intuitively? 4 of Pentacles
Maintain control of finances, create order and get serious about my budget. This worry about money and other issues won’t just go away on it’s own. Take charge, be in control. Once I have taken the right steps to gain control of finances, I will be less stressed and be able to release my blockages. Accept that I can’t control everything but take charge of the things that are within my grasp. Don’t let fears and the need to control stop me from doing what is best.

Sum of the Digits; (Overall Advice Card) Death
Time for a sweeping change. Get back to the basics, cleanse out the unnecessary. Take care of business in order to fully move on. Concentrate on the essentials, the things that MUST be done. Prioritize, and release the rest. Make the transition. This makes so much sense to me and just really confirms everything else that I have been getting from this reading.

Additional Card. Oracle card from the Trust Your Vibes Oracle deck by Sonia Choquette;
DECIDE - Make the choice and decide on a particular goal and then set your intention on it by saying “I Decide to…” Once you clarify your intentions in a positive manner you invite the help and aid of the universe and your guides. What have I decided and what are my intentions? “I have decided to call the IRS about the letter I received and do whatever needs to be done to resolve the problem. I have decided to put in an application for foodstamps. I have decided to work on my budget. My intentions are to take care of these important things in order to clear the path for higher vibrations, and to be proactive in my life to make the changes that are necessary to my growth and success.”


You can find the layout for this Tarot spread HERE

Daily Draw - The Empress (Fey)

I had a pretty simple day today, but one that has left me feeling quite empowered! It could be that this is the card I drew for myself this morning; it's message reminded me that my duties as a mother may seem mundane and repetetive; but if they are done properly and with the right attitude, it can make all the difference.

Card of The Day; 3 The Empress. From The Fey Tarot by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem. "The Empress is the earthly mother, governess of the world. Contained within her are the links with the femininity of the Universe. She knows how to use intuition to decide; she knows how to fight with the heart. She grows things and cultivates the world like a garden."

I spent some time thinking about this as I started my day. I mean, it's Monday, so I knew I was going to spend the day cleaning. But after seeing this card and thinking about it's meaning, my duties didn't seem like "chores" any more.

"The dominion of the earthly world is governed by the alternation of powers. Just as the moon rises and falls and as the day becomes night to return dazzling tomorrow, the Empress governs half of the dominion of things. She governs between earth and sky. In her arms, strength; in her face courage, in her bosom she cares for and loves all things that are born and grow. She is mother and mistress; the infinite generative force. The Empress is power born from life."
~ Riccardo Minetti, The Fey Tarot, illustrated by Mara Aghem.

Amazingly, after putting in 25 hours at work between Friday night and Sunday night, and with a sore back, I managed to prioritize my housework and really bless my home for the week ahead. It feels "ready" to nurture my family. Then another amazing Empress moment;

I realized I had enough money to make my car payment... a whole week in advance! Usually I am 15 days late! So, the temptation was there, spend the money on something else.. something for the house, the garden, the kids.... but, this Empress made the wise choice. Rather than indulgence (though it would have been well-deserved), I paid that bill in advance. Now next week, next MONTH, that is one less thing I have to worry about. In retrospect, I look at the image of this specific Empress, and I see how she is looking off to the distance. Looking forward, ahead, to the future. I'm not always one for prioritizing, making wise choices, or following through with what I know needs to be done. But today, I had help. Thanks to the beautiful Empress of the Fey and her cuddly unicorn cub.

Weekly Housewive's Report 5/2 - 5/9

Last Sunday I did a Weekly Tarot Reading, pulling one card for each day of the week. It gives me a heads-up on incoming energies, though I still find myself pleasantly surprised at how accurate it all turns out to be. Plus, it gives me a focal point for daily meditation, if I so choose to use it that way. I didn't blog each day on each card, but I figured I would include last week's reading in my Weekly Housewives' Report!

Sunday - 10 of Wands - Control * Burden * Weariness
Finally I have some control in my life. More income, more hours at work, taking care of business. But all this control means that I have taken the world upon my shoulders once again (typical Capricorn move), and it is tiresome. At this point I realized that I needed to take time each day for spirituality, prayer, and meditation, and I made a tenative schedule of Daily Devotions to fit in with my FlyLady routines. (Another typical Capricorn move - making schedules for EVERYTHING) But at this point I also must have reached some sort of breaking point, because as far as my cleaning and FlyLady routines, I majorly fell off the bandwagon.

Monday - Six of Swords - Revelation * Transition * Better Times Ahead *
As usual, I did a lot of housework on Monday. But I was very distracted and didn't really seem to get anything done. But as the card suggested, it seemed like a transitional state. I could physically feel myself finally settling in to the Taurus Sun energy after the wildly active Aries cycle was finally a couple weeks behind us. Also, the moon in Capricorn seemed to help me get grounded. I found myself feeling positive, just not about housework.

Tuesday - Six of Cups - Nostalgia *Innocence * Old Flames
This card surpised me. When I first saw it, I thought, oh, maybe I will just be having a relaxing day or something. Then I ended up finding (thru facebook) an ex-boyfriend from Highschool whom I hadn't spoken to in YEARS, and we chatted and caught up. It was very cathardic, rather healing, and this card's meanings were rather precise and exact for this day's card. I pretty much neglected my housework, but once again focused on grounding and spirituality, as can be seem in last week's "Tuesday's Oracle" blog post. The day was refreshing on many levels.

Wednesday - 4 of Wands - Reward *Tranquilty * Relaxation

Wednesday was supposed to be Anti-Procrastination Day. As this card reflects, it was quite the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I think I got some more cleaning and housework done on this day than I did tuesday, but no special projects. No detailing, decluttering, zone work, etc. Actualy, I don't even know for sure what FlyLady Zone we were supposed to be in last week. The bathroom? Who cares, I would rather blog. And blog I did. This was the day I posted the "Taurus and The Hierophant" post of last week. Very rewarding!

Thursday - 5 of Wands -Competition * Struggle * Inner Strength

Hmm... I found my motivation. It was hiding under my bed, begging to be left alone. My Capricornian competitiveness came in handy as I posted my 30's at my Fluttering Flybabies group. Even though we don't get a prize or crown a winner, I love showing off how much I can get done in 30 minutes, and how many 30's I can do. Just when I was feeling confident and really whipping the house back into shape, I got a phone call asking me to work. Hell-to-the-yeah. Need the money, shifts, whatever. Unfortunatley, by the time I got home from work that night, the kids had the house wrecked again. Oh well. Challenges build character, right? Is that what the "Inner Strength" portion of this card was refering to?

Friday - 3 of Pentacles - Praise * Recognition * Completion
Friday was a good day. I kept busy. I still didn't do as much as I would have liked when it comes to housework (I STILL have a huge mound of wrinkled laundry on my couch waiting to be folded and put away.) But I came away from the day with a sense of pride. Perhaps the Praise and Recognition mentioned in the description of this card came from within - I think I realized that even though I had fallen off my FlyLady routines, I was still doing the best I could, and that is enough. Plus, at work that night I had several very happy customers praise me for my wonderful service. It's always nice to hear those good compliments.

Saturday - Knight of Pentacles - Ambition * Entrepreneurship * Reward

Not much to say about Saturday. I worked my butt off. Ambition must have been propelling me thru that 12 hour shift. And reward?? Well, $220 is a good reward for a full day's hard work, wouldn't you agree?

SUM OF THE DIGITS - (Add together the digits of each card drawn in the reading and reduce them, and you get one Major Arcana card that will shed some additional light on the reading as a whole) The Chariot - Travel * Decisions * Risk

Physical travel? No. But I feel like I came a long way this week. It was almost like returning home. I had to let go of some old routines and let myself loosen up a bit; for a Capricorn, this is considered risky behavior - trust me! I made a choice in the beginning of the week to start some new habits (Daily Devotions, more blogging) and I stuck with those goals. (YAY for kicking my ADD in the gonads!) And overall, I came away from the week with some more wisdom and fulfillment than I had started out with. A different kind of Weekly Housewives' Report, but a good one.

Namaste!

* I am irritated with the format of this blog, but too tired to change it. Sorry!

** If you want to read more of my past Weekly Housewives' Reports, click on the tag below to see past blogs like this one!

Goodbye Pisces... hello Spring and Renewal!

"So how
how will I go
Back on
Back on the shelf
with a smile
with a smile
to the customer and say
on sale by the owner

Here I
Here I go again
Breaking
Breaking porcelain
Is that all I am
just a Doll you got used to
We've done
We've done this before
as Mars sauntered through his door
Don't say it's time to say
Goodbye to Pisces
Goodbye to Pisces
Goodbye my Pisces"

~ Tori Amos, "Goodbye Pisces", from The Beekeeper, Sword and Stone

The Pisces sun has taught me a lot, and although the sun has now transited to Aries, I feel that it is time to take one final look at what I have learned through this Pisces cycle. Drawing some cards from my trusty Housewives' Tarot deck, and following some questions as posted here - Journaling With Pisces and The Moon, time for a little journey within....


What does this card represent to you? The Moon from The Housewives' Tarot doesn't have the usual symbolism of dogs, towers, or overall dismal terrain, but simply the image of a woman sleeping. What are her dreams telling her? Does she listen to them, or pass them off as simply dreams and nothing more? Is she afraid of her dreams, or inspired by them? These are the questions that I see represented in this card, as well as a call to pay attention to your inner voice. Drawing another card, asking myself, what does this card's imagery represent to me? I got...
The Knight of Wands
*exuberance * mischief * loyalty
My dreams have both the power to propel me forward, and to leave me frozen in fear. Am I being loyal to my dreams and instincts? Am I feeling exuberant about the messages of my inner voice? Am I willing to get into some mischief or will I take the safer path? Why am I answering a question with more questions? Simply put, this card shows me one thing in particular - my dreams are a vehicle, my instincts and desires are my vehicle and my armor, but I must pump the pedals and choose to move the vehicle forward myself, or leave it parked and let my dreams simply remain dreams.

What have you forgotten? I drew the Six of Wands. * Victory * Triumph * Praise *. Have I forgotten the feelings of victory and triumph? Certainly. I have become beaten down by certain events and circumstances in my life. At this point, I don't even have a home to be proud of, and I'm living on borrowed time, in borrowed property. I don't feel worthy of praise, but perhaps I have forgotten how to take pride in other aspects of my life, and I have forgotten how to feel victorious. Funny how this card focuses around the Shiny Sink, which is the focal point of my Housekeeping Mentor - The FlyLady. Have I forgotten to take pride and feel triumph over the state of my current home, just because of the fact that we are being forced to move? I need to take it back to basics, Shine My Sink, and allow myself to feel Victorious and Triumphant, because feeling anything less than that is just blocking the real victories from manifesting.

What do you instinctively want to do? I have been having trouble determining the difference between my instincts and my worries lately. On one hand, I am not worried at all. I should be running around frantically, trying to find a place to live, a job, etc. But most of the time I am just going about life as usual. Am I in denial, or are my instincts simply telling me not to worry?? I drew the Ace of Cups. Hmm... renewal, celebration, *new relationships * Beginnings * Foundation * Instinctively I know that change is good, that all things happen for the best, and that this is just another part of my soul's cycle. Raise the glass, make a toast. "To Beginnings!"

What kind of cycle or pattern are you repeating? "We've done, we've done this before, As Mars saunters through his door...." Have I been through this before? The Seven of Wands says Yes, Repeatedly. When in my life have I not faced challenges and crisis? When have I not been fighting for something? Life is a series of challenges, and I must keep that in mind. I've survived much in the past, but that was the past. This is my current challenge, here, now. Yes, I have cleaned the damned toilet every week for the past eleven years. But if I stop now, what will I have? A dirty toilet. At least over the years I have learned tips and tricks, refined my methods, and have gathered a whole slew of cleaning supplies to attack those stubborn new stains.

Are your actions appropriate to this particular situation or are you responding to some past situation? Actions? Half the time I am wondering what actions I can take. The other half of the time I am beating myself up for not taking the obvious actions. But I think in the long run, there is only so much I have been able to do. An occasional day spent doing job search or online applications, followed by days of simply doing the housewife thing. One day might be all work or business, followed by 3 days of reading fiction and writing poetry. Temperance says I have managed to blend a little bit of my past and present situations into the mix. Not reacting wholly on my past, but not leaving my past out of my actions either. I think, at least when it comes to the actions I take, I have learned not to let my past define me - but have also learned when to take a page or two from my past in the name of experience or wisdom.

What is bewildering or confusing you? How could things have gone so wrong? Why is it so unfair? This was supposed to be the happy time of buying our first home, and it turned into a nightmare (no fault of ours) because of other people's greed and stupidity. Death. I guess I have been a bit bewildered and confused about this whole thing with buying this house. Then finding out we can't buy this house, because the previous owners were dishonest and the bank made a mistake, so now we have to leave. Somewhere in my happy little housewife's life, I was under the impression that people were honest and good, and that somehow or another I would have my dream home. The dream went bad, I have to let it go. I'm still in shock, bewildered. But when you find that rotten food in the fridge, you don't keep it and hope that it gets good again. You throw it away and buy new food.

What is real and what is illusory? Control. It's real, but it's an illusion. I don't have control over these circumstances, but I DO have control over my life... it's all in how I react. Material Things. These are also both real and illusion. I may feel like I need more to get by, but in reality, I have much more than I need, and need much less than what I have. I am the Queen of Pentacles... this card is actually my astrological court card, and often my significator. So why did it come up here, for this question? Because this is me, but this is also the Illusion of me. I have the potential of being a control freak, I have the ability to be materialistic, I can have high expectations. But these are not rules that bind me. They are nothing more than words to describe the sometimes-real and sometimes-not aspects of me. I can deal with that.

Josephine’s Tarot Journal, Nov. 21 - Three of Cups

The three of cups is a positive card. It often represents exuberance, community, friendship, high spirits, family, celebration of teamwork and a common goal. I feel like today, this card is reminding me to celebrate the small victories. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the stress of everything in my life right now. We still don’t know 100% about the house, we are beyond broke, and the stress just makes every little thing seem so hard. But today was a good day. Despite the stress and drama at work, it was a good day at home with the kids. I need to be reminded sometimes to celebrate and rejoice in the fact that I have a wonderful and amazing family. And life will get better. I know it will. In the meantime we just need to focus on working together as a family, not only in working towards our goals, but also in helping each other feel uplifted and celebrated.

I have had many victories in my life, but they are so often overlooked. With Thanksgiving coming up next week I think it is important to make myself find time to have gratitude for everything in my life. I should be grateful all the time, not just at Thanksgiving! I think we tend to find it much easier to be grateful when things are going well, and much harder to be grateful when life is full of conflict. But the conflict and stress should just make us that much more thankful!!

There was a game I saw on a website, called “The Gratitude Game”, in which people worked together to find gratitude in things that you normally wouldn’t be grateful for. The game went like this;
1st person - I am grateful for my old vacuum cleaner, which doesn’t work very well.”
2nd person - You are grateful for that old vacuum cleaner, because it means you have a floor to clean, which means you have a home!!! I am thankful for my job, even though I only work 2 days a week.
3rd person - You are grateful for your part time job because it brings you income and you still have time to spend with your family and doing the things you love! I am thankful for the leaky pipe under my bathroom sink!
…. And it goes on like that. You would say you’re grateful for something you wouldn’t normally think to be thankful for, and then the next person helps point out why it’s a blessing and then they post their own. It helps to put things in perspective and be thankful for those little things that we think are nuisances or bothers.. When we begin to see everything in a light of gratitude, we find we have so much more to celebrate.
What am I grateful for?
I am grateful for my aching back. My back hurts because I was at work all day and I made money to bless my family with groceries! I am thankful for the drama at work, because it makes me realize how blissful and happy my home life really is. I am thankful for my kids’ bickering and arguing, because they are full of life and healthy and learning how to cope with social situations by interacting with their siblings! I am thankful for the dirty dishes, because it means that we had food in the house for eating! I am thankful for the dirty laundry, because it means that my family has clothes to wear and places to go to get that laundry dirty - like work or school! I am thankful that it is late and I am tired, because it means another day full of blessings has passed and I will soon be sleeping and getting my rest! I am thankful for tomorrow!

Tarot Spread - Leo ~ I Want ~

This spread is from "Illustrated Tarot Spreads, 78 New Layouts for Personal Discovery" by Heidemarie Pielmeier & Marcus Schiner. This book includes a tarot spread for each of the 12 astrological signs. I find that these spreads can be helpful for not only the people whose sign they reresent, but to be used for anyone for self discovery. Escpecially while the sun passes thru that sign!

Leo

~ I Want~

-7-

-5-_______ -6-

-1--2-___ -4-

____-3-

1. My Ego (How Domineering am I?)
2. On what stage am I acting?
3. My Inner Child
4. Where do I stand in regard to love and romance?
5. My love for Children
6. Do I love risk and speculation?
7. My Crown (How Generous am I?)

My Reading; 8/7/09 Using The Spiral Tarot by Kay Steventon. I bought this deck awhile back, but this is my first time using it in a reading. The part in quotes will be from the deck's guidebook.
1) My Ego - How Domineering am I? - 10 of Cups - "The forest fairy is sharing love, joy, and happiness. Meaning; Fulfillment on every level. Dreams come true - especially on an emotional level." I think this reflects that I am vey sharing and genrous, especially on an emotional level. t the same time, when it comes to my Ego, I know that if I am not being fulfilled emotionally or spiritually, I tend to move on.
2) On what stage am I acting? - 4 of Wands - "A bridal couple leaves the old life behind to start their new life together. Meaning; Optimism for the future, a change of residence, or changes in the domestic environment for the better." Wow, I would say that my lif is centered around my domsetic life. I have been really focused on changing my patterns at home and developing new habits (Cleaning, Decluttering, Quitting smoking) PLUS, we have been looking for a house. Although hubby and I have been married for 6 years, it will be like starting a new phase of our life together when we move into our new house!!
3) My Inner Child - 3 of Pentacles - "A ballerina is receiving accolades for her skills. Meaning - Success in return for persistent and dedicated labor. Prize or award." I have had such a sense ofaccomplishment latley; with the progress I have made in decluttering my home and my life, and how good I've been doing at quitting smoking.... I have been "as giddy as a school girl" - my inner child is feeling happy and acknwledged!
4) Where do I stand in regard to love and romance? 8 of Pentacles - "A smith is working at his craft; he is highly skilled and successful. Meaning - Profittable times are ahead, connected to material or personal matters. There is need for you to focus your talents or take your skills to the wider world." When it comes to my relationship, there isn't much time for "Romance" so to speak, but we both believe and know that a marriage takes work. We both try to balance the load of work and fun between us, and always try to make our needs known to the other. I feel like this card is telling me that soon our hard work and dedication will pay off and we will have more time for "Romance" (A House?!?!)
5) My love for children - King of Cups - "The king of cups is highly intuitie and passionate, at times secretive and withdrawn. In business he follows hunches and can be quite ruthless. Meaning; This king may indicate a time when you need to explore your passionate nature - or to hide you feelings in certain situations." My relationship with my children is often intense, and I can be very harsh with them when they constantly push my buttons! I love them so deeply, that their every action -good or bad - seems to be aimed directly at my heart! I think this is reminding me that I need to sometimes control my emotions and intensity around them; to master my passion and creativity.
6) Do I love risk and speculation? - The Hermit - "The Hermit, the Goddess Vesta, holds her lantern aloft to show us the way. Meaning - Self-Knowledge and Self-Sufficiency; being alone to experience what is meaningful and significant to you. Your inner guide." As a general rule - I don't like risk or speculation. When I don't know how things will turn out, or if I don't think a risk is worthwhile and has good chances of paying off, my worrisome Capricorn nature rears it's ugly head. Anxiety and fear have a strong say in the choices I make. But I have been learning - one babystep at a time - that it is only thru these risks and causes for speculation that I can inwardly grow. When I trust my guides and follow my intuition, risk isn't such a scary thing.
7) My Crown (How generous am I?) 2 of Wands - "A successful business man is looking to a future vision. Meaning - Success in partnership and business affairs. There is a sense of restlessness; moving on to new deals and plans is possible." I have leraned through a seriesof misakes, that being generous can sometimes backfire on you. I know, it sounds coldhearted, but I have (after MANY times of being screwed over) started to look at things from a business-like perspective. I will still help people and I am still generous, but I am careful that this will not hurt my personal life in any way. I can't give away my energy to psychic vampires anymore, I can't give money to someone who I know will never pay me back. Yet I still will give my change to a homeless person on the street corner, help a friend who is truly in need, etc. I've just leared to balance and think of myself, my goals, and my family at the same time. Maybe I've just finally - after years of fighting it- finally embraced this part of my Capricorn nature. And finally, now that I have cut a few psychic vampires out of my life and learned that it's O.K. to say No, "moving on to new deals and plans is possible."!!

The Week Ahead ~ Tarot Reading

I decided to give myself a Tarot card reading. After some debate, since there are so many different spreads to use, I decided on a spread called "The Week Ahead" in which you draw 7 cards; one for each day of the week. Here's what I got and my thoughts on each card. It will be interesting to reflect on these cards and find how they apply to my life in the coming week.


*note - I started writing this blog Saturday night, didn't finish it, and am just now posting it, added a couple notes to the Sunday & Monday cards...

Card 1; Sunday - Two of Wands
Card 2; Monday - The High Priestess
Card 3; Tuesday - The Moon
Card 4; Wednesday - Six of Swords
Card 5; Thursday - The Magician
Card 6; Friday - The Sun
Card 7; Saturday - Four of Pentacles
Sum of The Digits - The Chariot

Initial Thoughts/Overview - Wow, four Major Arcana cards right off the bat! I tend to think of the Major Arcana as the cards representing your soul / spirit, while the Minor Arcana represent your physical life. Higher workings vs. lower workings, so to speak, though no cards are more important than the others in a reading, some can hold prominence or importance. The High Priestess, The Moon, The Magician, and The Sun seem to be saying that I may be working on some deep internal spiritual issues this week; facing and embracing parts of myself and my life that I haven't yet faced or embraced. The Sun card appearing towards the end of the week, along with The Chariot as my "Sum of The Digits" card seem to indicate that I will be happy and empowered by whatever outcome I reach through my inner wanderings. I also find it really interesting that there are very obvious pairs within this reading; The Magician & The High Priestess and The Sun & The Moon.... although they aren't next to eachother, their presence in the same reading indicates a powerful Yin-Yang/Masculine-Feminine/ Polarities working together in some way. And in the way these cards are paired together there also seems to be some connection; The High Priestess & The Moon = secrets, intuition, something hidden being revealed; The Magician & The Sun - Mastery of Energy, Power, Confidence. Hmmmmm..... although right now I can't see exactly what my life as a housewife might bring me that stirs the energy of such powerful archetypes and pairings, it nonetheless seems somehow important. Among the Minor Arcana cards in the reading, I have Wands, Swords, and Pentacles (one of each) but no Cups are present in the reading. Therefore I have Earth, Fire, and Air energies present, but no Water element, perhaps indicating that whatever I face this week will not deal with emotions, feelings, or my love life, but instead be focused in the realms of Mind, Action, and Body. Or, perhaps indicating that I will need to incorporate the missing water energy into my life?? Just a thought....

Indvidually- Card meanings from Joan Bunning's "Learning The Tarot (link below)(*affirmations are from the book "Tarot For Yourself" by Mary K. Greer)

Sunday / Two of Wands - Having the world in my hands, seeing the bigger picture, feeling empowered and in-control of my own energy and power. I will be working (waitressing) most of the day Sunday, and I think that this card indicates that I will definatley be feeling "In my element", in control, and original. This card also indicates being able to speak my mind and deal with any issues head-on. I find it interesting that among the "Related Cards" listed by Joan Bunning in her book and website, I have a few of these cards also appearing in my reading. Opposing card - The High Priestess - "being passive, staying in the background"
Reinforcing Cards - The Magician - "Personal power", The Sun - "Brilliance, vitality, greatness" and The Chariot - "personal power, command" All in all, a positive card for my day at work and also at home.
* Affirmation for the day; "I have the power of Choice."
** note (monday) Yesterday I actually had an IM converstation with someone I have been avoiding. Long story short - we used to be friends, but not any more. I did actually stand my ground and basically told her that I can forgive her, but I can't trust her. Don't know if she understood, but at least I stood my ground and spoke my mind. Oh yeah, and I definatley had a good day at work, too!! I just kept reminding myself that it was my choice to have a good day or not!

Monday / High Priestess - Listening to my intuition or inner voice, Seeking a deeper truth or an answer, feeling feminine, looking beyond the mundane, seeking spiritual truths, being innactive, passive, calm, or receptive.
* Affirmation for the day; "The answer I seek is within myself, awiting my question."
** note (Monday) I haven't done any housework today, and I am more feeling like crawling back into bed and finishing reading "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows" - yep - seeking answers to a mystery. On a side note (TMI) - I got my monthly gift from Mother Nature today. Talk about dealing with some deep issues. During my monthly AF I have to deal with a part of myself that I don't like very much, I get so irritable and depressed. I think I have PMDD or whatever it's called. I just have to remember to take it easy. And yes, I am feeling rather reclusive. For example I still haven't finished writing this blog post yet!

Tuesday / The Moon - Dealing with cycles, facing fears, looking within, hidden secrets or enemies revealed, giving in to the "Shadow self", anxiety, being distracted, temporarily led astray, going on instincts, feeling lost, wandering aimlessly.
Opposing cards (that appear in this reading) The Sun - Hopefully this indicates that this shadow will not last long. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel!
*Affirmation for the day; "I am impelled to move beyond my fears and insecurities, I am willing to walk the path to self knowledge through the unknown inner realms of myself."
** Side note - (Monday) - On Saturday when I drew this card, I had no idea how it would be presenting itself. Now that I have gotten my little gift from mother nature, I am pretty sure I know what it relates to. The first couple days are always the worst.

Wednesday / 6 of Swords - Having "The Blues", feeling down or apathetic, moving into a new state of consciousness, taking the lessons learned and moving forward, starting to cope, dealing with a trauma, feeling hope again, functioning, but not much more.
*Affirmation for the day; "I gain perspective on problems and issues by changing my direction and focus."
** I think that I would do best to continue to take it easy through wednesday, but I should begin to feel like myself again. Moving forward, regaining my motivation and momentum step by step. But I will have to be careful not to overdo it, or I could end up taking steps backward rather than forward. A change of focus or change of scenery might do me some good.

Thursday / The Magician - Taking action, acting consciously, Concentrating, experiencing power, being commited, applying willpower, using talents, understanding intentions, becoming energized, having vitality.
* Affirmation for the day; "I am a willing channel for the manifestation of Spirit in the world."
** This seems to fit. Usually by the 4th day of my "MoonFlow" I am beginning to feel better. As long as I don't push myself too hard in the days before Thursday, I should be ready by Thursday to pick up the pieces and really feel refreshed, motivated, and empowered again!

Friday / The Sun - Becoming enlightened, Experiencing greatness, feeling vitality, having assurane, being playful or joyful, being child-like, being confident, invigorated, realizing the truth, attaining new insights, understanding.
*Affirmation for the day; "I create warmth and light with my clarity and enthusiasm."
** Hopefully a definate change of tides. No wonder my husband thinks I'm crazy once a month, If I can go from the HP and the Moon, to The Magician and The Sun in one week's time!! No wonder I FEEL crazy during this time. It's black and white, from the depths to the peaks. And I'll probably go through it all again next month.

Saturday / Four of Pentacles - Penny-pinching, saving, getting my share, wanting to be in charge, imposing structure, declaring ownership, resisting change.
* Affirmation for the day; "I hold my power in my own hands; my security lies within."
** It's back to work for me on this day. Another day waitressing and trying to get tips to make ends meet. There are some bills due that I will need money to pay, and I will definatley be working on making ends meet, perhaps stressing over money and control issues. Looks like it's back to the norm for me....LOL

Sum of the Digits / The Chariot- when you add together all the numbers of the cards in a reading and reduce it down to a smaller number, this represents your Sum-of-the-Digits card. This is often seen as the "Outcome Card" or the "Advice" card. Victory, Will, Self-Assertion, Hard Control, Determination, reaching a goal, asserting your will, having faith in yourself, mastering emotions, maintaining discipline, holding in or controling anger.
*Affirmation for the week; "By harnessing all my forces toward my purpose and controlling my fears, I victoriously meet my challenges."
** Even though I am obviously having a rough week (because of AF), I need to remember to maintain a level of control over my emotions, apply my power and self-discipline when and where I can, and have confidence in myself and my abilities to deal with this.


rescources;
Joan Bunning's Learning the Tarot Website
"Tarot For Yourself" by Mary K. Greer