Two of Swords

Todays card, the two of Swords, brings me up short. Even though things have been going pretty well, I have to face the fact that mine isn't the only opinion in my household or other relationships. This is a day to look at conflict and sharpen my communication skills to handle it. Two's always mean balance to me, and swords mean action and interaction. Often the two of Swords will indicate that I'll be expected to mediate between two people to keep the peace or keep things moving forward. These days that doesn't happen as often as it used to when I worked in an office.

The High Priestess

Today's card tells me it is time to look for answers within my own psyche. It is a day to look underneith the facade of those around me, and react to the inner motives not to the outer shell. What is the anger about? Why is she sad? Look more closely at my own motivation as well. This is a day to understand what I'm doing and why. I also need to live a more spiritual life.

The Devil

It has been a while since I've been able to hang out here for a moment or two a day. The month of November means many things, family gatherings, Thanksgiving, leaves turning, leaves falling, and the perenial favorite, leaves being raked. Last but certainly not the least for the past few years it has been NANO month. National Write Novels Month, for those who haven't been around my household since 2004 or so. The participants have 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel. Now, don't let me kid you here that isn't a 'whole' book it is a rough draft, sort of an outline if you will. There are many gaps and holes in most of the stories, especially mine. So, mine won't be one of the thousands that will be pitched to editors and agents this month. But I did finish, and my Fae friends are resting for the next 30 days or so for me to come back and read it. By that time I promise I won't recognize much of the work, I know of a couple of major gaps where I got bored and skipped ahead. This weekend I have to figure out how to get my little badge downloaded so I can show it off to everyone.

Todays card is the Devil. Most of you know I don't believe in the Devil, at least not in the popular form. The Devil in the Tarot for me means this is a day when I must watch for the temptations that can overcome any good work I've done. The Devil is allowing someone or something to take your power from you, making your decisions. The positive side of this card is learning what works to protect you. It is learning that you have the power to control your own life and actions.

Two of Pentacles

Twos are all about balance. The Two of Pentacles suggests we need to balance all aspects of our life. By bringing about balance we can simplify our lives and do away with a lot of stress. Pentacles are about the practical aspects of our lives, things such as work, budgeting, and making sure dinner is on the table on time. I'm using some of my spare time to set up my schedule for the rest of the month, making sure my budget balances for this month, and getting things ready for November, Nano month.

Five of Cups

Fives are like balancing on a teeter-totter, for a moment you can keep everything on a perfect level, but any movement will make one end or the other slam down on the ground with enough force to knock you off your perch. Since Cups represent our relationships, the five is about surviving changes that become necessary as one or the other people in a relationship grown. There are very few people who grow at the same rate, so as one hits a patch where spiritual or mental growth takes place, there are often problems in personal relationships. If a relationship is good and healthy, the changes will be accomodated in one way or another. That is why this card often shows someone looking at three goblets of spilled wine with two goblets still holding their contents behind the figure. It is sometimes necessary to step into the new role your life is taking without the relationships you have now. The caution here is to look at things long and hard before you take those steps that will cause pain to your family and friends.

Nine of Pentacles

This card urges me to live life on my terms. To look at what brings me joy and follow that path. It tells me I'm nearly to a point that money is not a big concern. My children are grown and out of the house and I no longer have to structure my time and my life around them.

I've always viewed this card as a bit of encouragement for the last bit of a project or journey. You know the last five pounds of a diet that are so hard to lose? This is the pat on the back and the news that you've almost reached the goal. A little cheerleader standing on the sideline shouting "Go team go."

The Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords in this deck depicts ten swords as simply ten swords, no body as is traditional. When this card shows up I cringe, in a reading it has a dark edge that portends disaster. However, there is another way to look at this card when we are talking of a daily card. It tells me that a period of difficulties can come to an end. The energy is available to end the cycle. It also tells me that I have to work on getting through this time, a time that can be very painful. I would like to look forward to the next phase.

The Sun

The Sun, in this deck, shows an orange dragon surrounded by a corona of yellow fire it has breathed out. The sky is blue behind it. On the grass below there are two children playing beneath the six sunflowers, the heads of the flowers are following the sun. The children with a small dragon. They are innocent in their play.

The sun is the basic energy of the solar system. It is the fuel for plants, animals, and all life on this planet. The Sun is love. This card represents the exuberance of the child. You don't have to be a child to love life, or to enjoy the creative vision children posess.

Allow yourself the freedom to be who you are. Look upon the community you live within and see where you can expend your energy to make a difference. Present yourself with a smile, even on the days when you feel as far from smiling as you can. Remember there is a school of thought that says your mood will follow your action. In other words act as if you are cheerful and the mood will follow. If you want to bring good things into your life you have to bring yourself to believe you deserve it. As an experiment walk down the street with a smile on your face, and see how many smiles you gather from others. The more you do this the more you will feel it is right.

Three of Rods

This deck depicts the three of rods as two men putting a rod as a crossbeam supported by two more rods. The older man has climbed a pear tree in order to get the right height to put the third rod on the project.

Solving problems with the help of others, taking your ideas out to the community, and communication are all a part of the three of rods. This is a day to look around and see what I can find that will interest me in taking care of future needs.

The Star

This card shows a woman with long blond hair standing with one foot in the water and one foot on land. She is pouring water from two sea shells, into the water and on to the shore. The sky is clear dark blue with one large star and seven smaller stars around it in a circle. The the background is a sail boat on the water and a building with a telescope on the distant shore. In the foreground is a blooming iris and an ancient tool for a sailor to guide himself by the stars.

The Star represents the hope we all have that things will be all right. It is a good card to draw when you are fearful of what is going on in your life. It allows us to see that no matter what is going on right at that minute, there is much to allow us to rejoice and look toward the future. Fear is a difficult thing to combat, it is rather like fighting smoke. There is nothing substantial and the more you wave your hands the faster it comes back to you. What is it you fear? Is it something that you can alter or is it something outside of your control? Sometimes all you want to do is stand high on a hill and let go of the edges of your fear, allowing it to fly away from you. This is the point that makes the Star card so important.

Queen of Cauldrons/Cups

This card shows a matronly looking woman with a crown, her hair is caught up in a snood her dress is blue with a purple cloak lined with white fur. She is holding a goblet and a peach. Her eyes are dark blue and intense, her mouth is in a half smile.

The Queen of Cups is about relationships and feelings for others. It is a card that asks for involvement in those around me. It is easier to be pleasant with others and allow yourself the satisfaction of helping others in their endevors.

Ten of Wands

This card shows a man in a plain red tunic with yellow stockings and a yellow hood, he is trying to hold and bundle ten rods with leaves still on them.



The Ten of Rods speaks of being overwhelmed with burdens. As Tens represent the ends of cycle, this is a time when the cycle is to be examined, at the very least, and changed if necessary. What tasks are real and not just brought about by other peoples ideas or desires? This is a day for me to ponder this question. I need to decide my own priorties, and not allow others to override my agenda. It seems that I have a good capacity for accomplishing things, but the feeling of being overburdened comes when I'm trying to complete my 'stuff' and someone else adds their 'stuff' on top of it. The past couple of weeks have been a little crazy, with visiting family and other things. Time to get back on my track.

Six of Swords

This card shows a man walking across the rocks in a stream of water. Surrounding him are hands with swords extended from the river. He is moving toward a small island that is covered by shrubs and looks peaceful.

When surrounded by conflict, or in the middle of a situation that seems to have no solution. It is sometimes important to step away for a while. Often moving away allows you to find a creative solution to your problems.

The Tower

This card gives me a start when ever it shows up, even though in a daily card it is more of a poke to get you to get you moving than a card telling of disaster. The art on the card is disturbing. It is shaded with a yellow green which gives everything a strange look. The tower which is the central figure of the card is built of blocks of stone and resembles a sphinx with a very human face. There is rain and lightening in the back ground and the lightening is striking the tower. It is on fire, fire is coming out of all of the windows and people are falling off the tower to the ground. In the forground is a large green frog, frogs represent change.

Time for me to look at my world and see what needs to change. I have been doing that to some degree on the front of employment, but haven't made any changes as yet. The Tower gives me the knowledge that I do need to look at things with an eye to what I need to change now.

Mastery

The Chariot/Mastery speaks of control issues. Either having too much or not having enough. Today I have three of my grandsons here, 2 six year olds and a one year old. It is a reminder that control is all a matter of perception, especially when it comes to kids. It seems you have things in order, they are following your lead and going right where you want them to go, and the next thing you know they are off in their own world playing in the recycling bin or chasing the cat.

What is enough control? Trying to control others is trying to hold back the stream when you are standing in the center of a river. It is a good way to drown. But when you stop holding out your arms and allow the water to flow naturally around you, survival is possible. It is time to recognize the control that I should exhibit is control over myself not over others, even if they are only 3 feet tall. To control the elements within my self important not only for me but for everyone around me. I'll keep telling myself that while the baby chases the cat under the bed for the third time in a few minutes.

Seven of Cups

Today I drew the Seven of Cups, in this deck Cups are Cauldrons. This card shows four maidens in a stream, one has one small cauldron held in her hand, the others have two. One maid is offering a young man on the bank one of her cauldrons. He lounges on the bank obiviously unconcerned about anything.

This card is often referred to as the daydream card, like daydreaming is a bad thing. Writing wouldn't be the same without it. The card reminds us that anything done to excess is a bad thing.

The Chariot

Todays card is the seventh of the major arcana. In most decks it is called the Chariot, in this deck it is Mastery. It shows a fair haired man in a breast plate and red cloak in a chariot he holds the rains to his team of four horses. Each of these horses seem to be of a different element, fire, water, earth and air. His hand is raised but instead of a whip it holds a stem with leaves and flowers on it.

Control, mastering the elements of the energy around us, is the point of the card. Triumph is also a strong part of it. It is a day to look at my control over the things within my sphere of influence. Do I use the control I have over the things I should? It also recomends control with a soft touch, not forcing things to bend to my will, but instead allowing my influence to be more subtle.

Eight of Pentacles

This week must be a time for concentrating on work and all of those efforts. Today I drew the Eight of Pentacles. This card shows a man in a green tunic with a lighter green hood, he has red hair and a beard. He is working on pentacles woven from wheat, like Brigits Crosses. There are six pentacles behind him, he is holding one that he is working on, the inference is he isn't finished.

Today is a good day to work on organization, getting all of the details right, and setting out to finish a project that needs completion. There is such satisfaction in completing a project you would think we never put of that part of a project. But for reasons not currently known to me, I often do just that. Today is a day for me to work on getting at least one done.

Three of Pentacles

Every reader knows that sometimes a card jumps out of the deck while shuffling, it is totally unbidden it simply happens. The rule for me is when it happens, whether I'm reading my daily card or reading for someone else, is to pay attention to the card. This is what happened today so today's card literally jumped into my lap.

The Three of Pentacles shows a young red headed man in a green on green striped shirt. He is using a quill to draw pentacles on paper. The expression on his face is thoughtful and a little bit tense.

This is a day to look to things that I can form and bring to fruition. Whether it is bringing together a group of people to bring about a wanted action, or making something with my hands, this is the day to look for things to happen. Before I pulled my card I sent a story I've worked on for sometime to a friend to read the whole thing. This brings both things into play, I'm working with someone else on something I made. Wish me luck.

Knight of Rods

I changed decks today. I have gone to the Tarot of the Old Path. The deck I was using, the Robin Wood Tarot is ready to retire. I found one of the cards is suddenly missing and, although my family may question my sanity, I don't set out to play without a full deck.

Today I drew the Knight of Rods which shows a young man in a gold helm. He carries a staff at the ready and he looks like he is angry. This card shouts of confidence, temper, and risk.

This is a day to step out in confidence, taking my ideas out to the world to test them out. It is also a time to watch my temper, it doesn't help to get angry and loose track of what I want to accomplish.

Hanging Man, Again

Even when you shuffle several times, there are days when the same card works it's way out of the deck two days in a row. I take this as a chance to look at the card again. Today, with the Hanging Man, I see it as a reminder that I can't force the world to be what I want it to be. That patience is really a virtue. But, I also have this little voice in the back of my mind telling me that I can change my circumstances by letting go of the current situation and taking the risk of something new. Yes, a 58 year old can do new things.

Hanging Man today

The Hanging Man is a card with the figure of a blond man hanging from a tree branch. He is dressed in red pants and shoes wit a white shirt. His legs are hooked over the branch of what looks like a pine tree branch.

Traditionally the message of the Hanging Man is one of patience, things will not change they will remain the same for a period of time. If you fight to win in any given situation you're probably in for disappointment. Allow the world to continue without trying to control every situation. But on close inspection the man is held only by his own will, he can let go at any time. He has the energy to change things he simply must have enough desire to live through the pain that will be created when he does.

Six of Wands, Todays Card

This card features a young blond man on a white horse he is dressed in red trousers and a white tunic decorated with the sun. He carries a banner with a matching sun flying in the wind. The sky is blue as he parades in triumph greeted by the people of the town.

Triumph is the word of the day. This is a day to acknowledge completion of goals met, or at least understand the accomplishments are close to completion. The war may not be over but the skirmish is won for the present. It doesn't mean that everything will be smooth sailing from this day forward, it just means that keeping a good mood and a solid grip on the pencil will get me through.

Nine of Wands

Today I drew the nine of wands which shows a bare chested man surrounded by wands with what looks like the beginnings of vines curling up them in patterns. Each wand is topped with a crystal. He is looking ahead of him, slightly to the side of the reader so you don't see his face as well, he looks resigned and he is using one of the wands for support.

This man appears to be overwhelmed by the task before him. I've no doubt he will continue to do what he needs to but he looks tired. There are some days that feel like that. When you wonder if you will ever get done what you need to do. On those days it's best to take one task at a time and work until it is complete. Multi-tasking isn't all that it's cracked up to be on a day like this.

Today the Three of Cups

The Three of Cups shows three pretty women dancing in a meadow at their feet are baskets of fruit and flowers, and overhead are vines filled with ripe grapes. The women have blond hair, black hair, and red hair. They are dressed in pink, blue, and green and have wine goblets in their hands. They dance with such abandonment, I can almost hear the music.

Everyone must have a day when they can celebrate being alive. Today is a day for me to enjoy my life and all of its pleasures. There is a saying, Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt, and dance as if there is nobody watching. Most days I get caught up in 'should's' . We need to delete the word should from the English language. Today I'll enjoy my day, each tiny second if it.

Strength

Today's card, Strength, seems to show up for me a lot, three times in the past two weeks. This card lets me know that I have to stand tough and work through what ever come my way.

Over the years I've noticed that cards often show up over and over in readings for one particular person for a period of time, then they disappear from that person's layouts. It is as if there is a need or a situation that must be looked at before the client can move forward. In my own readings for a period of time the Devil card showed up over and over. I finally eliminated a particularly nasty element from my life and the Devil card went away. For this reason I'll be looking at my current situation with regard to the Strength card. What in my life requires me to have inner strength? It often pops up when there is something that I can't change and the only thing I can think of is my grandson is joining the Army in a month. It is always hard to see someone do something you fear, but you can't stop them from living their own life. The Strength card may be telling me to allow him to grow on his own.

Knight of Swords

Today's card is the Knight of Swords, the card shows an intent young man flying on the back of a winged horse. His arm is raised, his hand holding a sword that is surrounded by lightening. The card is nearly all done in shades of gray, black, and white. The only true color on it is the blue cloak lined with scarlet on his back.

This knight is ready and willing to fight in any way he is needed. He believes in truth and justice. Unfortunately the diplomacy fairy wasn't on duty the day th e knight was born. He is super intellegent but has no tact, he will call a spade a spade without hesitation, even if the card wants to be a heart. Today I need to think about the attributes of this card, am I being too diplomatic, there by not giving the truth its due? Am I avoiding some action I know is necessary? There is a lot to think about.

Card Today Seven of Swords

Today I drew the man in the gray cloak, striving for invisibility while he steals the weapons of his enemies.

I'm being told again to look for alternative solutions to problems. If meeting things head on isn't working what is another way to seek a solution? I prefer to solve things through talking, negotiation is my solution of choice. When that doesn't get the right results, where can I go? Physical confrontation isn't a possibility. It is time for me to look to the hidden talents I possess for solutions to every day dilemmas. This card tells me to remove the weapons from the opposition, I need to meditate on that thought.

Daily Card

The Hermit shows a man standing a lone on top of a mountain. He wears a tattered dark gray cloak with a hood pulled over his long white hair. His beard is to his waist. He is smiling benevolently down on the world at his feet. He carries a lantern in his right hand, from it beams of light illuminate the world. In his right hand he holds a walking stick or staff. It is trimmed with a red feather a the top, it matches the red shoes on his feet.

The Hermit represents the man or woman who steps away from society to focus on the voice within themselves. Their wisdom is sought to guide themselves and others to a better use of time and resources. As I have traveled through my life I've found it to be in a state of constant change and movement. Even when I thought it was going to remain calm and stay stable it moved forward with the relentless current of a river. I found out that when you fight the river you get swept away. By allowing the world to move at its own pace and move with it I find my greatest peace. This is a day to let the world move, and let myself relax with that movement.

Daily Card

The Star is a card of hope and endless creativity. It suggests that it is a day for me to look to the source of my creativity and it is a day to look to giving back to the world as well. The woman on the starr pours water from two different vessels one clear for the land and one blue for the body of water before. She is nude with an eight pointed star in the heavens above her. Her nudity suggests innocence as does the calm peaceful expression on her face.

Even though the Star allows us to have faith in our own abilities. It is a card that reminds me without my own participation in my life and the creative process, nothing will happen. The figure on the card isn't watching and waiting she is doing the action. I have to take action for the hope to be valid.

Daily Card

The Nine of Cups, I'm always happy to see this card. It depicts a smiling man with chubby cheeks and a double chin, dressed in purple trimmed in red and yellow. It looks like yellow coins are scattered across his clothing. Nine gold cups are arranged behind him.

It tells me to allow myself to enjoy the pleasures of the world. It isn't necessary to deprive myself of things I enjoy to be a good person. I deserve to enjoy my life. I've always thought of this card as the wish card, the thing about wishes is you must take time to make them carefully. "Be careful what you wish for, because you will surely get it." There is also a caution with this card, indulgence is one thing but over indulgence is another. There is a line that needs to be respected. Things that sound good on the surface often need more investigation before you reach for them.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Queen of Swords. In this deck the suit of Swords represents the element of air, the cutting edge of ideas and the mind. The queen is dressed in a beautiful blue cloak that is trimmed in the white of the clouds. The sleeves billow with a white lining decorated with butterflies and birds, creatures that fly on the breeze. She wears a golden crown on her head and holds a sword in her upright position in her right hand. Her left hand is stretched out in supplication to an unseen being. She wears her hair under a snood, with a pointed crown on her head. She stands in green grass with a bank of roses in bloom at her side. The sky is nearly white with billowing clouds.

I have always called this the card of the icy bitch. The Queen of Swords is honest, forthright and not terribly sympathetic. It is a time to see what must be done and take the steps necessary for the goal to be reached. When I see this card I know I need to stand firm about the situation at hand. It is often a time for tough love. When I was a child my father would tell me that it hurt him more than it did me to punish me, at the time I didn't believe him. Now, I know sometimes in the guise of authority its necessary to be tough. Today I need to look at the world around me with her eyes, and be tough with myself. Procrastination is not an option.

Daily Card

The Queen of Wands for today. She is a powerful woman dressed in yellows and reds befitting royalty of the fire element. This deck associates wands with fire and action. She is, therefore, a woman of action using her personal power to achieve her goals. If you equate her with someone you would recognize in your own past look at the head cheerleader in high school. Words I would use to describe her are active, cheerful, and charismatic.

Today I need to look at what I want out of life and use my personal power to set out for those goals. It is a day of high energy and time to use that for my personal gain.

Daily Card

I swear I shuffled, a lot. Today's card again is the Strength card. This has always been one of my favorite cards. I am fascinated with cats, especially the big ones like lions, cougars, and tigers. I was born in the year of the Tiger, according to Chinese Astrology. So this card, which depicts a large African male lion, strikes a chord for me. Besides it is a very positive card.

Strength is what allows you to hold on, even when you think it is well passed time to let things go. I thought about this card for a long time yesterday. There are times in our lives when you have to allow things to unfold, either because you can't do anything to stop them or because you know this is a situation that you must allow to happen. I think I'm facing one of those times now. No matter how much I want to step in and fix things I don't think I have the ability to do it, and if I did it wouldn't be the right thing to do. This is one of the wisdom to know the difference times. So Strength can mean inner strength to allow things to happen as they should.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Strength card. This card shows a young blond woman with a circlet of flowers in her hair with her hand on the head of a large, male, African lion. She is smiling and the lion looks content. The sky over head is blue and they are standing in a green field.

The Strength card often means you need to use all of your control to conquer your inner demons. Strength doesn't always mean the sort that is found in muscles and biceps, it often means things like self control, patience, and understanding. These attributes are a little harder to acquire. It's a lot harder to wait for events to work themselves through than to jump in and mess them up. I know I've tried it both ways, the waiting is killer but necessary.

Daily Card

Today I drew the ten of wands. It shows a man in a red tunic carrying a bundle of ten wands down a road off in the distance you can see a cluster of buildings. The skies are blue and the hills are green and unremarkable. The only thing that requires your attention is the figure of the man.

Over burdened is the usual interpretation of this card and for this particular day it is probably apt. We are leaving for Boise after work and I have a lot to do getting ready. The past few days I haven't stuck to my schedule very well. I'm also taking this particular card as a nudge in the direction of being more focused. The man on the card is moving toward his goal with a single minded purpose, even though the weight of his load bows his back. In this day and age of multi-tasking, we tend to forget that sometimes it's better to choose one task and complete it before starting another, at least I do.

Daily card

The Five of Swords. A young man with the strawberry blond hair of this suit is making off with three swords. He is wearing a black tunic trimmed in red as he looks back over his shoulder. Laughing at the two men behind him, they are looking the other direction. Two more swords are stuck in the ground beside him.

This is a card that warns of self interest. However, my interpretation of it as a daily card tells me it's time to disarm the opposition, to protect those around me as well as myself. It is a time to look for solutions that will make everyone feel as if they are leaving the field a winner, if only in the sense that a problem has been avoided.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Queen of Wands. The card is very bright, a blond woman in a yellow dress trimmed in red with white suns at the hem. The background is yellow and the earth is reddish brown. She is standing in a patch of sunflowers. This deck, the Robin Wood Tarot, equates wands with fire, which is action.

The Queen of Wands is the perfect housewife/cheerleader, exuding enthusiasm for those around her. She is comfortable in her own skin, as the popular phrase goes. When I see this queen, I look to see what I do well and spend time working in those areas. With the energy of the Queen of Wands, I know I can accomplish what I need to get done.

Daily Card

Today I have the Seven of Swords. The art on this card isn't one of the pretty pictures, it shows a man in a gray cloak climbing over a wall of rock. He carries with him five swords and two swords are stuck in the ground behind him. There is a tent in the background with a red flag flying over it, it is one of several such tents.

I have always got the impression of a man who has gone alone into the enemy camp and disarmed most of them before leaving. He has used a different solution to end the conflict. Fighting the battle of life head on isn't always the best solution for every problem. It is a day to look at things from different perspectives, what will address the current situation without figurative bloodshed. Am I looking at honorable motives or am I dealing with cowardice? I have to say I'm reluctantly going to my 40 year class reunion this weekend. Ouch, I can't believe it's been that long since high school. I nearly didn't go, even though there are a number of people I would love to see. But it works out that I'm going back to Idaho for the weekend anyway, so I might as well do it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Daily Card

The King of Swords, this card depicts a stern looking man with a dark beard. He looks concerned. He is dressed in a tunic that is dark blue at the shoulder and fades to a lighter blue before ending in clouts at the bottom. Over this he wears a white cloak lined with the darkest blue of the night sky with stars scattered on it. He wears a winged helmet on his head. His sword is at the ready.

Kings represent leadership each in the specific area of his suit. In this deck, Swords represent Air, the element of the mind. It is time to use the analytical part of the mind to solve problems. Time to take charge of a situation and work to a solution even if it means having to be more firm than I like. The King of Swords is the good guy who sees the rules as the rules.

Daily Card

The Star depicts a nude, young, blond woman who is pouring from two vessels. One vessel pours into the stream the second pours on to land. There is no end to the water in the vessels. The sky is dark blue with a huge eight pointed star in the center surrounded by seven smaller stars. The foreground is a green meadow the back ground below the starry sky are snow covered mountains.

The first deck I used was the Mythic Tarot and this card was represented by Pandora, showing her with the infamous box. Hope was the message of the card. This card is one that gives you a feeling of peace and serenity, more so than any other in the deck. Allow yourself the time to spend in quiet meditation about your spiritual path. Then look at your life and relate the two. Hope, and spirit by themselves won't bring about change or keep your life on track. Pull the spiritual into your physical life, but do the work necessary.

Daily Card

The Three of Cups shows three young women dancing in a green meadow under blue skies. At their feet are scattered baskets of flowers, fruit, a paint palette and a tambourine,overhead grapes hang from green vines, all giving the impression of abundance and creativity. They wear pink, blue and green dresses of light flowing fabric. They dance with golden goblets, smiles upon their faces.

Joy and community are the words of the day. It is a time to be with friends and loved ones. Dancing and communing with nature are also a good part of the day. This is a good day to see if I can be of help to any of my friends.

Today's card is the Magician. This card embodies all the power of the elements, everything is possible in this moment. The card shows a bearded man in a red cloak. He is wearing the head of a stag as a headdress, the mark of a high priest. The lapels of his cloak are decorated with flowers, leaves, and roses. Floating above his hand is an infinity sign, on his right is a white candle, and a black candle burns on his left. A table sits in front of him, are all of symbols of the Tarot, the Pentacle, the wand, the sword, and the cup. There is also a red rose and a whit rose, nearly hidden by the banner of the Magician. His face is pleasant and kind, he smiles at you.

This card is one of action, energy for new endeavors, for finishing old projects, energy for teaching others. No matter what this card requires me to move forward, stasis isn't possible.

Daily Card

Wow, today I drew the Judgment card. This is a beautiful card from the Robin Wood deck, well I like all of the art in this deck, but this one especially. The center feature of this card is a woman rising from the flames in a cauldron. Arms raised, hands are shown with the thumb, pointer finger, and little finger extended. She is smiling in triumph as her blond hair curls around her nude body. Behind her in shades of yellow, red and orange rises a phoenix, it's wings matching the position of the woman's arms.

Judgment comes at the end of a passage. It is a time to reevaluate your actions and see where you go next. This card calls for proceeding with enlightenment. This isn't a time to follow a path in the dark, but to study and meditate on changes that are inevitable in the near future. A time for rebirth and joy.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Six of Swords. This card shows a blond man dressed in a tunic and cloak riding across a slough in a swan boat. There are six swords available in holders in the wings of the swan. The boatman is an invisible hooded figure that is using a pole to push the boat across the remaining water to the shore. The shore that awaits them is peaceful and green, the sky over head is blue with small puffy clouds. A larger bank of clouds is in the back behind the hills in the distance, letting me know the storms may only be waiting. The water is calm and reflects the land on the shore. There is one dark part of the shore it looks like a place where the bank is raised and undercut by the waves. In the blackness of this small cave is the light of a star. Even though the man has six swords at his hand, available to him at any sight of threat, he is sitting peacefully in the boat.

I see this card as a move toward a more positive time. It often means it is time to move, literally. Although we have been thinking about that, we haven't made any decision to do so as yet. This card tells me the more difficult times are slowly receding from us and we are now able to move forward.

Daily Card

Today my card is the King of Wands. In this deck (Robin Wood) the suit of Wands is associated with fire. The king of each suit represents leadership and the King of Wands acts in a bold manner. He is creative and forceful in the projects he tackles. This king is willing to negotiate to accomplish what he wants and has the charm and charisma to do it.

This card Shows a man dressed in red and yellow with touches of blue in his under tunic and the lining of his sleeves. The staff he carries is yellow with a glowing tip. His left hand is extended palm up. He looks pleasant, but isn't smiling broadly.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Seven of Cups, the card of the dreamer. It depicts a woman lost in the clouds with seven cups filled with riches, drama, nightmares, castles, and monsters. Some dreams can be positive some frightening. Some view this as a negative card, as if day dreaming were a waste of time. For an aspiring writer, this card is very important. Ideas and imagination are the bread and butter for anyone who looks at putting words to paper or to this blank screen staring at me.

This card serves to jog my mental capacity. I once read that the most important thing for a writer to be successful is to keep your butt in the chair. It's been too easy for me to find things that distract me from doing just that. Dreams can only take you so far, in any endeavor in order for a dream to come true, you gotta do the work. This is one card I should frame and put on the wall by my desk.

Daily Card

Today I drew the Five of Cups, one of my least favorite cards. It shows a person wrapped in a cloak with the hood covering the face. She is looking at three goblets of blood red wine that are spilled on the ground. Two that are still full are beside the person, but these are being ignored. The background is pretty unremarkable, a sky with clouds, a rolling meadow, and a cliff on one side.

There are things we lose in this lifetime that seem to haunt us, maybe a love, a job, a child, a pet, or something material, like a house or a car. Letting go is one of the lessons that I'm trying to learn. Over the years of reading cards I've come to interpret this card a little differently. It's a cue to look at what I have, not what is lost. Mourn for a time, then look around at what is still possible in life. Don't allow yourself to wallow in regret and wishing for things to be the way they were, it is a waste of precious time. Look at today as a gift, don't waste it.

New Actions

Trying to find enough time to start something new is always difficult. I, for one, get myself into habits that become seriously deep ruts then it becomes harder and harder to climb out of them. Today I drew the King of Swords for my daily card. He looks like a very strong man with a furrow of concentration on his forehead. For this particular, deck swords are related to air which is thought, intelligence, and creativity. The background shows clouds in the sky, the sort of clouds that can easily become a storm. He is dressed in a tunic that depicts clouds against the serene blue sky. Over all he is wearing a cloak of navy blue with stars scattered upon it. His sword is at the ready.

This card tells me that I must move forward with thoughtful and decisive action. Solutions are available for me if I concentrate and grasp them when they occur to me. The King of Swords seems to have more expectations than any other card, with the possible exception of the Emperor. Looking at it I always see myself anytime I had to visit the Principal's office at school. Before you ask, yes I was sent there more than once. He always seemed to be disappointed that I was visiting him, again. Leaving his office I was imbued with the need to behave a little better and accomplish a lot more if not for me then for him. The King of Swords expects me to be fair, honest, and thoughtful in my actions. He expects decisions to be made and plans to be followed with speed.

We just celebrated the Solstice over the last weekend. Two of my friends and coven mates spent the weekend at the coast. We spent hours talking, knitting and laughing a lot of the time. The weather ran the whole gambit for us from a few brief rain storms to brilliant blue skies with high puffy clouds.

Friday night we explored the Farmers Market in the center of Manzanita, Or. It was small compared to the one we see in Beaverton, but it felt like the whole town was involved. It's early in the year but they had a full compliment of beautiful spring lettuce, glowing red radishes, and any of the other early veggies that you can name. There were a number of food booths where you could buy sandwiches and other fully prepared edibles. There were jewelery booths, handmade candles, even a booth that featured local yarns and wool. More than one booth included handmade soaps with wonderful scents, as well as creams and salves for many purposes. I bought Heel Balm made with shea butter, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. It is sandal season after all and my feet are thrilled with the new balm.

Our star purchase was a Peach/Cherry pie that we bought at the pie booth, after much debate on what kind of pie we wanted. They had several different fruit varieties and it was a difficult choice for us. I have to say it was the best pie I have eaten since my mother's. (I have to give my mother her kudo's, she made the best pie crust ever.)

The attitude of the people in the town was amazing. Manzanita is a small town on the Oregon Coast. Since there doesn't seem to be a lot of industry in the area, my assumption is most of the jobs deal with the tourist trade. In many tourist towns the 'locals' have an attitude towards the people who visit their area. We are given the impression that we are an intrusion into their lives, an unwelcome intrusion at best. Manzanita seems to welcome people with open arms. It's a comfortable town to visit and well worth the time.

The other day a friend of mine told me of an idea proposed by a man in Florida. Unfortunately, I don't know his name so I can't give him credit for this solution to the economic situation. This is his idea as I understand it.

There are approximately 40 million Americans over the age of 50 that are working. His proposal is each of these people be given $1,000,000. There would be 3 stipulations.

1. They retire from work at once.
2. They purchase a new American made vehicle.
3. They buy a new house, or pay off their current mortgage.

Step 1: Would open up 40,000,000 new jobs across the United States. This would go a long way to curing the unemployment problem. The situation could very well be reversed, we would now be trying to fill important positions. This would give rise to new positions for teachers and trainers.

Step 2: Just think about how sales of 40 million vehicles would effect the American auto industry. This could provide more jobs to help with unemployment as well. Plants would not be closing, layoffs would be stopped.

Step 3: The mortgages being paid off would put more money back into credit, freeing up more money that could be lent with the current changes for better regulations in place. New homes being built and sold would give a nice shot in the arm to the sluggish housing market to say the least.

So, for $40,000,000, not 787 billion dollars we could go a long way to fix the current problems.

I do have to put a wee little disclaimer here. I am over 50 and so is my husband. This whole idea was put forth by a man in his fifties. This may be deemed a conflict of interest, but we're all looking forward to a real stimulus check.

Every thing has a beginning, this is the beginning of my new blog. I had another blog before, but I can't remember where I put it, thus I'm beginning again. The other blog came about during a NANOWRIMO bout a couple of years ago. So, I do have a little bit of an excuse. NANO is a writing challenge occurring each November. It's a time when several thousand slightly mad writers try and write a 50,000 word story in 30 days. It can be done, I have finished it a couple of times. I won't say they were great stories, well the general idea of the story was pretty good, I'm just not too sure of my execution. I'll be doing it again this year, I'm currently searching the dark recesses of my mind for a new tale to amuse and frighten my readers. I'm a Scorpio, we love all things dark and scary.

I'm currently living in a town west of Portland, Or. Most of us say we live in Portland when we are talking to anyone because it's easier than trying to explain everything. People have heard of Portland, and after all this is the 'Portland Metro Area'. I've been in this area for nearly 12 years, I ran away from home (Boise, Id) at the age of 47. Yes do the math, quickly, I'm 58 years old, or young depending on your point of view.

I noticed something on the news today that particularly caught my attention. A group is starting their effort to recall Sam Adams who was elected Mayor of Portland last November. Mr. Adams was deemed by the voters to be the best man for the job. Mr. Adams is gay. There is a movement at work to recall him because he had a relationship with a young man of 18 a few years ago. The controversy is supposed to be over the fact that Adams lied about the relationship. The whole story broke a few days after Adams took office.

First of all let me be very clear on a few points.
1. I don't care about what Adams or anyone for that matter does in his bedroom.
2. I won't be voting in any recall election.
3. I find the timing of the news story suspect.

Why is it the people in America thrive on scandals involving our political figures? Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on President Clinton's little romp with Monica. It side tracked much of the business of the government for months. Here we are over 8 years later and this situation tells me we have learned nothing. Let the man do his job, if you are unhappy in 4 years, elect someone else. This country, including Portland, is in a turmoil, our state unemployment is at or over 12%. Isn't there something better for people to do than worry about a man's sexuality? Spend the money on something more constructive than a recall campaign.

The rant is over. We can now return to our previous activity.