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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

4/3/2018

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Balancing Act - Can You Have It All?

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*Bonus card R + 3 of Pentacles
​ The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

The Smith - Waite Centennial Tarot comes with a couple of cards that show Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration artwork. Just for funsies, and because you can use ANYTHING for divination, I decided to mix the two bonus cards of Coleman Smith's illustration work into the deck and one came up today in a reversed position.  For elaboration, I decided to draw a second card and Three of Pentacles came up.

This illustration is, Little Charles, from a children's book called, Lessons For Children. Lessons For Children was a popular reading primer in the late 1800’s by poet, Mrs. Anna Laetitia Barbauld. I have no idea what this particular part of the story was about, but the scene shows what appears to be a reasonably well-off family with children who are doting on their grandmother as they sit by the fire. She seems to be listening intently to the little one. Perhaps he is telling her a story. An older girl has her back to the scene as she  selects a book from the shelves in front of her.
To my eye, this card represents warmth, family and togetherness. It's also rather idyllic. Since the card is reversed, I might ask what is coming between the desire for this type of closeness and familial support? Or is the reversed position telling you that this kind of idyllic setting is not realistic, that it takes work and balance to create and maintain familial closeness?

Family VS Work, Art, Accolades?

Added to this, Three of Pentacles. The Three of Pentacles in this deck represents skilled labor or artistry and there is also an element of prestige. So these two cards in combination may be asking you if a desire for recognition and success in your career may be keeping you from having the type of family relationships that you would like. This could also represent distress or resentment that you are feeling when someone else in the family has ambitions or responsibilities that pull them away from the family unit, a spouse or children drifting away, perhaps. The challenge is to find ways to work through or reconcile these two conflicts. Finding a compromise may be key. Another possibility is that you have simply subscribed to the belief that there is no way you can have both career and family.
  • But is this really true?
  • Could “having it all” be possible, but look a little different than what you imagined?
  • What are the things you really want?
  • Is there a way to find balance or make them all work in concert?
  • What needs to bend a little bit or give way? Sometimes letting something go a little is enough to ease the pressure without letting go all the way.
The original book definition, given by Waite in 1911 for The Three of Pentacles is as follows:

​-A sculptor at his work in a monastery.
Divination Meanings: Meiter, trade, skilled labor. Usually, however, regarded as a card of nobility, aristocracy, renown, glory.
Reversed: Mediocrity in work and otherwise, puerility, pettiness, weakness.

Here are some inspirational quotes to think about:

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Better learn balance. Balance is key.
-Mr. Miyagi The Karate Kid

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.    
- Lily Tomlin

Striving for excellence motivates you;
​striving for perfection is demoralizing. 

-Harriet Braike
When I think about work-life balance, I don't imagine it as a perfect day where I got to spend the exact right amount of time having an impact at work and snuggling with my kids at home. I never achieve that. But over the course of a month, or a quarter, or a year, I try to make time for the people and experiences I value.    
- Jane Park


Sometimes the prize is not worth the costs.
The means by which we achieve victory
​are as important as the victory itself.

― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
​

You can’t have it all at once. Over my lifespan, I think I have had it all.
​But in different periods of time, things were rough.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
​

“Shonda, how do you do it all?” The answer is this: I don’t.

Whenever you see me somewhere succeeding in one area of my life, that almost certainly means I am failing in another area of my life. If I am killing it on a Scandal script for work, I am probably missing bath and story time at home. If I am at home sewing my kids’ Halloween costumes, I’m probably blowing off a rewrite I was supposed to turn in. If I am accepting a prestigious award, I am missing my baby’s first swim lesson. If I am at my daughter’s debut in her school musical, I am missing Sandra Oh’s last scene ever being filmed at Grey’s Anatomy.

If I am succeeding at one, I am inevitably failing at the other. That is the tradeoff. That is the Faustian bargain one makes with the devil that comes with being a powerful working woman who is also a powerful mother. You never feel a hundred percent OK; you never get your sea legs; you are always a little nauseous. Something is always lost. Something is always missing.”
​

--Shonda Rhimes, Writer, Director, and Producer

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Monday, February 12, 2018

2/12/2018

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Introducing: The Incidental Tarot

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I'm going to start something a little different this month. Instead of drawing from a different deck every day, I'm going to stick with one deck throughout the week or maybe a little longer. That way you can really get a feel for the art and the symbolism. This week I am drawing from a deck called the Incidental Tarot which was created by artist, Holly DeFount.

I first met Holly selling her art at a farmers market. under the name, Raven and Rose Arts. She made these amazing little paintings of ravens and she also did beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs. I started following her work. Her Etsy store is called, ForgeandFountain.

This first deck bloomed out of a project where she decided to start doing a painting every day and blogging about it. It is really one of the most beautiful decks I have seen. Since this week is Valentine's Day  I considered pulling from one of my erotic decks, but after consideration I decided something pretty but deep is perfect for a week which contains a day that people associate with romance.

Four of Oaks - Incidental Tarot

Lay a Strong Foundation
​Invest in the Future

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As you can see, these acorn laden branches overlap, making them stronger. Inside the diamond shaped corral is a protected seed. The four of Oaks is a sign that things are going well and it may be a good time to make an investment that will grow and provide future prosperity and stability. You’ve done the work, laid down a strong foundation and you have seen some growth. Make some wise decisions and put what you have done so far to good use. Today’s seed is tomorrow’s mighty oak.

The Oak Suit in the Incidental tarot is comparable to  the suit of Pentacles or Coins. It doesn’t always need to represent financial prosperity. It can represent good physical health, a state of being well balanced or security and comfort in family and home. In any of these areas with nurturing and protection any energy you put in will pay off.
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Monday January 29th , 2018

1/29/2018

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Universal  Waite Tarot -  Queen of Pentacles

"Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing." Tom Peters

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It's really funny, Everytime I look at the Queen of Pentacles from this deck she has a different expression on her face. Sometimes she looks tired from doing all the things and taking care of all the people. Sometimes it feels like she is looking down at that big coin on her lap with loving compassion. Sometimes I think she's side-eyeing the bunny rabbit and thinking, “Oh no you don't! I have enough children.”
When you have a Queen of Pentacles person in your life you are indeed blessed. She makes everyone feel  as if they have a mother they can go . She's a natural at nurture. She's also one of those down-to-earth practical people who knows how to stretch a dime and make the most of whatever she has. She knows how to make any place into a home. She's a good money manager even when she doesn't have a lot to work with. And the crazy thing is she seems to juggle work home and being amazing without breaking a sweat.

When the Queen of Pentacles has gone awry she is completely out of balance. She doesn’t nurture so much as she smothers. She focuses on her work so much that she neglects her family. Her priorities get completely out of whack and she will find herself sitting in the dark because she bought a pair of shoes on impulse instead of paying the utility bill.

Which Queen do you embody? Do you have a person like this in your life that you can rely on? If so, you would do well to make them an ally and let them know how grateful you are! The Queen of Pentacles can also be a reminder that miraculous multitasking can be accomplished, but only if you have the right balance in your life. She invites you to stop a moment, sitting on your own throne to enjoy the beauty around you and the fruits of your labor. Find your equilibrium. You’ve got this!


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Tuesday January 9th, 2017

1/9/2018

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Five of Wheels (Pentacles) -
​Buckland Romani Tarot

This card came up from a different deck on Saturday, January 6th so I'll refer you to that post for basic meanings, but I have a couple of interesting things to note today:
  • First, this is the second time the card has come up in a couple of days
  • Someone else has been drawing this card constantly
  • I actually got up early this morning and drew the card but didn't have time to do a write up before my appointment started.
  • The kicker is this evening when things finally calmed down and I decided to do another draw, I shuffled my deck really, really, really well and guess which card came up? The same one, five of Pentacles. 
  • This tells me that this message is one that's really trying to get through and probably to more than just one person!

So, let's talk about this particular five of Pentacles because it's a little different than some decks and I think it's really interesting. Instead of people out in the snow we instead have a woman and her two children begging in front of the church. The woman in particular is wearing tattered, faded and clothes that have been mended many times over. She and the girl to her left are looking directly at you, in a plea for sympathy. A bowl is in front of her and she hopes he will put some money in it. However, the girl to her left (your right) is smiling and looks as if she is about to laugh. Despite the hole in her shoe, which she is almost pointing to, she seems to look as if this might be a game. It is entirely possible, that this Romani family begging in front of the church doesn't really need to be begging or are not in the state of despair that they seem. This could be how they're making their money, or supplementing their income. 

They are leaning against a very substantial building, a church. When you think of churches you think of charity, spiritual and sometimes physical support. The window has shutters and they are open to let in the light and to show that people are welcome to come in. The wheels in the window are like warm, golden suns. The sky is blue. It's a sunny beautiful day out. The grass is green. These are all elements of hope.

You have several levels to look at here. You can look at it from the position of being affected by poverty (financial, spiritual, health, isolation) and help that you may not see is at hand. Or you can look at it as telling a story of that poverty and refusing to see other options. Or finding a benefit from allowing others to see you as being impoverished in some way.

One of the things I always say, is who do you identify with in the card? What do you feel drawn to? And I think what is really important about this card is it's asking you to examine, what are the stories you are telling yourself and others your financial situation, health, spiritual lack or whatever type of poverty or bad luck you may feel you possess? Are they useful? Are they true? Are you ignoring solutions or are you turning down help? Have you become so invested in wrestling with obstacles that you can't see the solution at hand for getting around through or over them? What is your relationship to money? What is your relationship to success? What are you afraid of when it comes to your spiritual growth? Again, what stories are you telling yourself and others? And what stories are you allowing other people to tell you about these things? Which do you choose despair or hope?
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Saturday January 6th, 2017

1/6/2018

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Five of Pentacles -
The New Palladini Tarot

This card often looks so bleak. however it is really a card of hope, when you know where to look for it or are willing to ask for it. 

Here we have two elderly, weary Travelers bent over from age shivering in the cold. They are looking down at the ground so they can't see that right next to them is the warm light of a church window it's windows decorated with beautiful stars / coins. If they would just look up they would see sanctuary, shelter, and assistance right beside them. The building is physical comfort and the church offers spiritual comfort. All they have to do is go inside.

The traditional meanings for this card are: "isolation, insecurity, worry, financial loss, poverty"

reversed: "recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty"

The Five of Pentacles is a reminder that resources are always available. You just have to be open and watchful for an unexpected opportunity. You may be going through a period where all you feel is poverty and lack, loneliness, no spiritual connection, job instability, broke, illness, etc. Often these problems are caused by your unwillingness to reach out, your pride, stubborness or your fear. However, recovery is possible, and you will not have to get out of this situation all by yourself. In fact, trying to do everything by yourself or your way may be one of the things that got you into trouble. 

It's a good time to stop and look both without and perhaps within ( to listen for spiritual guidance) for answers and assistance. Ask yourself. What am I afraid of? What am I uncomfortable with that is holding me back? What is my relationship with money, success, accepting help? Is it unhealthy? 

Five of Pentacles - Comparative Tarot

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Comparative tarot is really fascinating to me. It really helps you understand tree cards. It's one of the things that I love about having so many different decks. I thought I would show you the Five of Pentacles in five of the decks I have on hand.

Starting at top left, left to right:

1. New Palladini card I just drew. 
2. The Buckland Romani Tarot has a bit of an interesting twist because the Romani are beggars in front of the church, but they may be merely pretending to gain sympathy and make money. So it kind of takes some of the issues of this card relating to the state of poverty and fears, relationship with money, etc to another level. 

Both of these cards are very much influenced by the traditional Rider Waite imagery. Some of these other decks change things up a little more. 

3. Animals Divine Tarot. It's odd to see the red fox in winter. Being a trickster he also adds a little bit of that element of poverty or your ideas about being a sham. Normally a fox can be pretty much invisible in any landscape but this guy is completely exposed and his red coat is highly visible against the winter storm. 

4. The five of Oaks from the Incidental Tarot. You notice the broken branch is the focal point here. There's a feeling of disconnect. 

5. The Secret Tarot. This is probably the weirdest five of Pentacles I have. It has completely divorced itself from any connection to the Rider Waite. I still have not a hundred percent figured this one out and it makes me so sad that there is no book accompanying this tarot because I'm dying to know what the artist intended. What I usually read this as, and honestly I kind of get a different thing from every single person who draws it, but it feels a lot like it's about vanity and the trappings of success. There are so many interesting little things in this card. I often ask people whether they are more drawn to the woman or if they feel like the photographer in this image. Here you have this extremely glamorous women posing opposite this obese photographer, who actually looks like he might be Jewish. There's a feeling of aloofness on her part and voyeurism on his. This card just fascinates the heck out of me.
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018

1/4/2018

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Ace of Pentacles - The Secret Tarot

Today was another absolutely nutty day and I have finally gotten a break at nearly 7 p.m. PST, but I do have my tiny purse size tarot card deck, the Secret Tarot, so I drew a card and it's a good one for all of us!

Today's message from the cards is the Ace of Pentacles. Again I'm going to look and see if I can get a picture off the web because it's really dark in my car.

Aces of course, represent new energy and new beginings. and the hand coming out of a cloud holding this huge golden coin, represents possibly a surprise or unexpected of money or just a influx of energy that will help you with your endeavors. The hand reaches out to give you what you need whether that's an influx of cash, a new idea, a learning opportunity, a new surge of energy or inspiration. Here it is being gifted to you!

Keep an eye out for new investment opportunities, or someone willing to invest in you and your ideas. If you've been thinking about starting a new business or furthering your education this is a good signal that you are on the right track. It is also possible that you are going to get an inheritance, a gift of money, unexpected work, or a surprise increase in income. You may just find yourself feeling more optimistic about putting energy into things that may pay off financially! Run with that! 

If you have ideas that are just starting to form about things that you're excited about, start making plans. Lay out the direction you want to go and what it will take to get you there. If you've been trying to achieve a goal or get a project off the ground but it just hasn't been working, now is the timer to mix things up. Look at the way you been doing things and try something completely different and you'll find things start rolling again.

Keep it positive. Remember that what you put out in the universe comes back to you. The world is full of wonderful gifts. 

*A little note. This ace is similar yet, a little different from the classic Rider Waite image in that it has a castle in the landscape. Your home is your castle. I'm thinking this is a nice nudge. If you are wanting to buy, did home improvements, major repairs, etc this is a good time to start. If you are trying to get an equity loan or financing for a home or improvements, you're probably going to get it. You may be getting money from a rental or home sale, inheritance etc.
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    The (Almost) Daily Divine

    An almost daily, hopefully helpful, exploration of the tarot

    Lorelei Moon

    Lorelei Moon has been reading tarot cards both professionally and for herself for nearly 40 years. She has an extensive collection, but the deck she uses most often is The Buckland Romani Tarot



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