Hermit: Reaching In, Reaching Out

This morning, before rushing off to work, I pulled the Hermit from my Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA as my card of the day. I was very pleased for two reasons: 1) I've been wanting to write about this card for a while, and 2) it's very apt for my day, and for my week, really. Maybe even my month!

I love this version of the Hermit and find it fascinating! There is an abundance of symbols and details to focus on and pull from, in addition to a variety of colors and even movement. In the background there appears to be a pink, snow-covered mountain range which calls forth the idea of isolation - not necessarily loneliness, but simply the idea of being alone - solitude.

I think it's very interesting how the Hermit's staff reaches up and intersects with the sky with the staff tip almost seeming to penetrate the sun - this becomes his lantern. His feet are planted in the earth and green, fertile grass, and his arm is outstretched as a hawk either flies in to land, or takes to the air. The hawk symbolizes insights, far-reaching vision, access to higher consciousness.

A particularly intriguing detail in this card is that there is a small keyhole on the Hermit's loincloth/underwear!!! This highlights the root chakra, and suggests that finding ways to ground your thoughts and introspection in tangible ways, and rising above (or tapping into) instinctual reactions, is crucial. This makes sense as the Hermit is ruled by Earth.

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA
J. Turk/US Games Systems

Down below there is a crevasse through which a pyramid can be seen on a stretch of sand reaching out to the ocean. Pyramids call to mind esoteric knowledge, the deep mysteries of life. Meanwhile behind our blue Hermit (blue itself being a symbol of knowledge!) there is a dark cave where we see the outline of a person in the lotus position perched before a burning flame. I like this juxtaposition of  reaching out (arm outstretched toward the sun) and reaching in (cave dweller), which is so fitting for the Hermit. Finally, there is a veiled woman approaching the Hermit from one side of the jagged divide and she means two things to me: 1) the student seeking a mentor, and 2) the fact that in our modern age, the Hermit can take any form, and walk beside us without our ever realizing it. This woman could well be another face of the Hermit.

I've been doing a lot of "reaching within" lately, and the one of the things that has been on my mind a lot is where I want to take my card reading as a business. I love helping people, and find that reading cards for people can be deeply satisfying and rewarding. However I feel like so much is changing in my life at present, and my thoughts and feelings about being available to the world in the form of a card-reading business have not been immune from the great wave rushing through and around me. I've temporarily disabled my "reading request" page as I work through what changes I want to see, and how I want to implement them. One thing that I'm considering is the creation of a questionnaire for potential clients that would be completed prior to a consultation in order to get at the core of their situation, needs, expectations, perceptions about divination, goals, mindset, etc. I'll be taking some Hermit-time to sort through the specifics and logistics of doing that, among other things, which in the end will bring me to a place of deeper satisfaction and clarity of purpose and intent!

The Queen of Coins in the Kitchen!

This morning I drew the Queen of Coins from my new Chinese Tarot. I must admit that the image on this card is quite decadent and rich, very befitting of this particular queen of earthly and material things. She is dressed from head to toe in luxurious textiles in deep reds, oranges, and golds, with touches of green and blue. She looks rather plump which suggests that she eats well, and with all those robes she likely won't be doing much other than sitting and enjoying the wealth of her surroundings!

Chinese Tarot - US Games Systems

When I saw this card I immediately thought of my sister, who is here visiting me for a short time. She is a couple of years older than I am, and has always been very nurturing and affectionate - even now, well into our adult years. Today when I said, "We can just have leftover soup for dinner..." she cut me off and said, "Oh no! I'm cooking. Let's think about what we want, and go to the grocery store!" She proceeded to plan out the menu (I let her have at it as her style is very different than mine) and I pushed the cart around while she filled it up. I'm lucky to have her, and I'm really looking forward to enjoying the fruits of her kitchen labor!

Embracing Light: Summer Solstice

Happy Summer Solstice to everyone, everywhere! Today is the longest day of the year, and marks both the sun's longest ride through the sky, and the point at which our light begins to lessen each day until we reach Yule. Today is an excellent day to simply be aware of the sunlight. If it's cloudy where you are, how does the brightness of the sky lighten or darken depending on the thickness of the clouds? If it is a sunny day, how do the rays of sunlight enhance or illuminate the greenness of plant leaves, or the color of flowers in bloom?

This morning I pulled a card from my Viking Cards deck asking:

"How can I bring more light into my life?"

I pulled: The Hearth - Care.

Viking Cards/G. Bergmann

This card represents both caring for other people in your life, and self-care. Interestingly, I've pulled the Empress several times over the past couple of weeks, and I always hear her saying to me, "Take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. Eat well. Nurture yourself." And I have been trying to follow her advice (and more or less succeeding!).

I've been alone for a couple of weeks. My kids are on a long visit with their grandparents, and my husband is working in Sweden for a while. I had a similar experience last summer, and it was the first time I'd ever been completely alone in so many years that I honestly didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't know how to organize my time, I didn't eat very much, and when I did eat it was quite often frozen veggie burgers and carrot sticks (I didn't see the point in cooking when I didn't have a family to cook for!). It took a while to gain some semblance of balance in my life, and then everyone was back, and things fell back into the normal family rhythms.

Chinese Tarot/US Games Systems

This time has been a bit different. I cook for myself - complete, hot meals, with lots of flavor and lots of earthy goodness (Swiss chard has been a mainstay of late). After the first few aimless days of watching Netflix non-stop I finally turned off the television in disgust and started reading, gardening, writing, thinking, and even baking (though it's hard to finish an entire pan of brownies on one's own!). So in many ways I have worked out the kinks of being alone, and taking care of myself just as much as I would care for one of my children. This is good!

But there is something deeper to the Hearth that has come slowly unfurling from the deep dark and into the light: it's not just about how much I miss loving and caring for my family, or how successful I've been at being good to myself - it's about taking the time to honor what I want and need.

What I want and need. These are things that in the daily grind tend to get lost or muddled. I spend so much time in busy-ness, yes, cooking and planning meals, worrying about the grass being too long, wondering about what the electric bill will look like after this massive heat wave, taking my children to the park, figuring out the next grocery list, teaching, doing readings, fitting in time for walks with my husband, and on and on and on. Most of these things are positive (worrying about bills and lawn, maybe not so much!) but what happens is that the constant movement shifts my focus away from "me" and on to the vast variety of other things in my life. The result is that I don't have a chance to honor my own needs. And I need to, because it is essential for not only my own well-being, but the well-being of my crew.

I've come to some important realizations during this time that I've been alone. I have begun to recognize with tremendous force the things that I want to change, and what I want, what I really want for myself and ultimately for my family. For a long time I've known what I don't like (about my job, or my house, or my physical environment) but I haven't really been able to identify what it is that I do want. When I start to feel frustrated with my workplace, I immediately counter it with: "But... I have a lot of flexibility, and a good income, and a lot of creative license, and access to amazing technology.....I wouldn't get this anywhere else, I need to just focus on that." Well, that's not bad, to focus on the upside of things. But after a while, it starts to shift from being optimistic to simply not honoring the messages that my heart and soul are trying to get me to pay attention to.

Swedish forest/J. Destrades

What do I really want?

This morning my husband sent me a dozen photos of a farmhouse where he's spent the last few days. Deep green forests, the sun rising over a lake, children playing freely outside, a dirt path forking off in different directions. As I reviewed the photos a deep, visceral desire surged forth from my belly, and all I wanted in that moment was to shed this skin and live in that place. To stop living according to what limitations I perceive, and to reach out and pull myself into a new, fresh landscape of life. To release every aspect of my current environment that is not nourishing me, that I'm not satisfied with, and to free myself to be who and what I am; to give that gift to my children. To experience that with my husband. For months I have been pulling the 8 of Cups, Judgment and Death, and I see these cards as a reflection of what was already developing under the surface of my psyche before I could even place a finger on it; that helped me to slowly become more aware of the changes brewing within, and the rebirth that is taking place.

Field of flowers in Sweden/J. Destrades

I asked the cards to highlight the way in which I can bring more light into my life, and they responded loudly, and very clearly. Take care of yourself. Take care of those you love by being true to your desires and your needs.

My Solstice task for today is to sit down with a notepad and a pen and make a list of everything I know that I don't want any longer, and to make a list of everything that I know that I do want.

After all, the first step to manifestation is to have a clear, concrete, focused intention!

May the light of the sun illuminate your soul on this longest day of the year!

Tarot Blog Hop: The Magician

Previous / Master / Next

Welcome to the Summer Solstice Blog Hop! Please use the links at the top or bottom of this post to navigate to the other blogs in this circle!

For this Solstice Hop our wrangler, Alison Cross, asked us to choose a card from the Major Arcana and discuss any aspect about it that calls to us, and then, if we like, to put any sort of creative twist on it (a drawing, a poem, a spread, a story, a recipe). I chose to discuss the special gift that the Magician offers, and at the end of this post I've laid out a simple spread that highlights its energy.

This Major Arcana card, as all do, covers a wide range of possible elements. There is the Magician as a manipulator, or trickster, or in a more positive light as a person who has the ability to make desires reality ("you have all the tools you need!"). There is the Magician as the doctor or shaman, the teacher and student, and the diplomat. The Magician is known to have the ability to unite all elements of his/her environment through Will.

New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
Destiny Books

If we distill the essence of the Magician into a concentrated offering, it is: manifestation through absolute self-confidence and focused intention. This is not about crossing your fingers and hoping for the best; rather it's knowing that you will accomplish what you set out to do, and it is the ultimate realization of that desire.

In magical traditions, doubts can be damaging to the efficacy of the work being performed, and it is often not even enough to simply hope that a working will be effective. You carefully select your resources and materials, you create a space conducive to concentration and communion, and you know that your work has reached gentle, energetic fingers out into the universe to help to influence your goal.

World Spirit Tarot
Llewellyn Publications

In the book A Practical Guide to the Runes (1989), Lisa Peschel writes:

Why does magick work? It works because you believe it works. It doesn't just happen, however. You must make it happen. The way you make it happen is through belief and understanding. You must have belief in yourself and in the operation, and you must understand the operation thoroughly. 

Aleister Crowley wrote in Magick in Theory & Practice: "Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will," and anyone who has ever performed magick of any kind can attest to the truth of that statement. Magick is not "supernatural." It is a well-thought-out and self-willed scientific exercise in which the results are known before they actually happen. 

You will find your magick becoming more effective as your understanding and confidence grows...

(pg. 130-131)

Even if you do not practice a magical art or tradition, the energy of the Magician can be channeled into any area of your life, into any situation that would benefit from unwavering self-confidence, focused intention, and personal empowerment. To this end I've created the:

Magical Roadmap Spread

1) Point A: Major circumstance or issue in my life
2) Point B: My goal for this circumstance
3) Magician: How I can best focus my resources and Will to manifest my goal

May your inner Mage always be with you!

Happy Summer Solstice, and Happy Hopping!

Previous / Master / Next

Kung Fu, the 2 of Coins, and the Chinese Tarot

My husband and I recently watched the first (and I believe it's the only) season of Marco Polo from Netflix, about the famous explorer's experience living with the Great Kublai Khan in Mongolia in the 13th Century. It was really interesting to see this ancient culture and society depicted in a modern show, and one of my favorite characters was the blind monk and Kung Fu master, Hundred Eyes. In one episode he is in a training session with Marco, and tells him:

Kung Fu means "supreme skill from hard work." A great poet has reached Kung Fu. The painter, calligrapher, they can be said to have Kung Fu. Even the cook, the one who sweeps the steps, or the masterful servant can have Kung Fu. Practice, preparation, endless repetition, and your mind is weary, and your bones ache, until you're too tired to sweat, too wasted to breathe. That is the way, the only way, one acquires Kung Fu.

Photo Credit: Shanghai 2007

This touched me deeply enough that I paused the show to get a notebook and pen to record it. I had never thought about Kung Fu as a philosophy, rather simply in terms of martial arts, and as I listened to this scene, I thought about divination and what it takes to become skilled at it. It's a life-long dedication, really, of daily practice, of living life and reading cards, of finding your experiences mirrored in them, and of becoming intimately familiar with the energies of each one individually, in combination, and in their many permutations. It takes time to become comfortable with the essence of each card, and many more years on top of that to develop a profound relationship with Tarot as a mystical body of infinite knowledge and wisdom. And, of course, even for a skilled reader, the learning never, ever stops. For me, that's part of what makes Tarot so exciting and satisfying.

Two days later I was teaching an English class, and one of my students from China was giving a short presentation on the differences and similarities she'd noticed between her country and the U.S.A. She explained a tea tradition from her region of China, called "kungfu" (gongfu). I had to ask her to repeat herself to be sure I'd understood correctly - kung fu?! She said, "Yes, it means 'to take a long time.'" In her region's culture, tea is served to guests and among friends and relatives, but it is never taken quickly. It is a special practice that is more akin to a ceremony than a social event, where it is expected that participants will sit and converse and drink tea for hours in a parlor together. The preparation of the tea is quite a process, and one that takes time and skill to do correctly.

Photo Credit: Cosmin Dordea

Chinese culture (Asian cultures, in general, I suppose) was never something I was deeply drawn to, though I've always had a lot of respect for the history and traditions of the many countries in that area of the world. But now I found myself wanting to know more, to understand more, about the wealth of wisdom and philosophies available in the Eastern perspectives.

Earlier this month my husband and I stopped by a local Korean Import shop for the very first time to look at their vases, and found an abundance of statues, teas, utensils, vases, prayer flags, sushi platters, Hindu figurines - a wide variety from many countries and cultures from the other side of the world. It was wonderful. I picked up some turmeric and Kuan-Yin tea, and Jorge purchased a small Ganesha to place by his sopera for Orula.

And then a few days ago I was puttering around online and came across the Chinese Tarot, published by U.S. Games, and it clicked: I'm getting it! I have many decks, but none influenced by Asian culture. So I ordered it on the spot, and was quite pleased when it arrived on my front porch early this afternoon! (On a side note, I will have to do a review of this after I explore it a bit more, as it's a bit unusual in some regards!)

In light the developments over the past month or so, I already had a question in mind for the first reading: "How would you describe Kung Fu?"

I pulled: 2 of Coins:

Chinese Tarot/US Games Systems

I admit to being initially pretty annoyed with the image on this card. It looks more appropriate for the 2 of Cups! I checked the LWB and sure enough it was described as "a couple in a happy marriage." WTH! What is this nonsense! (See how even open-minded diviners can be total brutes at times?) While I could see how the idea of "harmonious change" could connect with Kung Fu, I couldn't get past my irritation at the card image, so I left it on my bed for a few hours while I simmered.

A while later, it smacked me upside the head. Okay, the image on this card is not particularly "traditional," it's true. But as I was griping about "happy marriage, $*&#$*^#$...." I realized what I was saying: marriage! Of course! The 2 of Coins is often represented by the yin-yang sign because it's about the harmonious balance of disparate elements that complement each other. That is a great description of a successful marriage. The fumes emanating from my skull began to dissipate.

Still, I was thinking of Kung Fu as "skill achieved through time and hard work." While I understood that flexibility, balance, and fluctuation would be aspects of that, I simply didn't know enough about it to feel like I had a firm grasp on the relationship between the two (card and philosophy). So I decided to do a web search using the terms: Kung Fu Balance Harmony. And this is what I found:

The life goals or three jewels for a Taoist are compassion, humility and moderation. Taoism is about living within nature’s laws and in harmony with the cycle of nature. It is about recognising that everything is interconnected, that everything you do affects everything else around you. Taoists seek to live in harmony with the Tao. Kung fu aims to keep us in harmony and balance. (from The Tao of Kung Fu).

So that's that. I clearly have a lot to learn ;-)

Get Off the Couch, Potato!

Today is the New Moon, and last night I pulled cards around what I should release and embrace for the next two weeks, as the moon moves back toward its luminous fullness:

What to release: Ace of Wands "Stimulation"

What to embrace: 8 of Cups (reversed) "Seclusion"

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA
J. Turk

This pair spoke so clearly to me about my current state of affairs that I burst out laughing. My children are off spending time with their grandparents in the north country, and my husband has just left for a few weeks abroad, so I am alone. For the past two days I have not left the house; I've laid around the house watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. Honestly I haven't known quite what to do with myself. This card pair contains a couple of relevant layers of meaning. 

First of all, I see the single person on the Ace, and the reversed 8 of Cups with the boat which would be moving back toward the crowd of people rather than away from it. This tells me that I should try to not be a complete recluse while I have my alone time. It's good to putter around the house sometimes, but I need to get out and breathe the air as well. To take a walk through the neighborhood, to go the bookstore and browse books with a cup of coffee. 

On the other hand, both cards point to the need to slow down. The 8 of Cups tells me I have a valuable opportunity for some inner exploration and journeying now that I have this rare time alone. Rather than spending my days looking for things to engage (or distract!) my attention (TV, ahem) I perhaps would make better use of my time taking advantage of the quiet and peace to sort through my own interior world (which could certainly benefit from some attention and nurturing). There is a lot of change unfolding in my life, and reflecting on where I've come from, and where I'm headed, is a great way to spend a few days.

The good thing is that I can weave both layers of advice together. A stroll through the neighborhood gets me out of the house, but it's also a great way to practice walking meditation which is good for the soul. Going to the bookstore puts me in a public setting, but it gives me leisurely time to look at books, think, ponder, and sip coffee. There is nothing I "have to do", which is a special gift, because it allows me to focus on what "is."

May your New Moon be rich and full of joy!

Tarot Isn't A Quick-Fix

A fellow reader broached a topic today that highlighted something that's been on my mind for a while of late: that identifying an issue doesn't automatically fix it.

There are a million uses for Tarot (and divination, in general) from fortune telling, to spiritual guidance, to personal development, to gaining insights for practical decision-making, and on and on. All of these have a valuable place in the divination spectrum. As a reader I've found that by far the most powerful function of Tarot is for exploring the Self, and using insights and knowledge to make positive changes, spark thoughtful introspection, and generally making us all better, happier, stronger, and more peaceful human beings.

"Descent" by Jorge Garza

I've also found that many people (most definitely not all, nor the majority) that seek out readings on significant matters in their lives are not looking for or interested in personal growth or development; rather they're looking for fast and simple solutions to complex issues, or even simply interested in hearing that their deepest desires will come to pass, with little-to-no effort on their part (and as a side note, there are definitely "readers" out there in the business of telling clients only what they want to hear - it's not just an issue related to the impulses of a subsection of seekers, by any means). I am not entirely certain why this is, but I do notice it, and I'm curious about the phenomenon.

Tarot can be a powerfully meaningful catalyst for real, positive change. But real change is hard work. The most enriching use for Tarot is for self improvement, yet even for those people who are open-minded, honest, and dedicated to improving their lives, making lasting changes can be challenge. Tarot isn't meant to be a quick-fix. Durable change takes time and persistent effort, a willingness to delve into personal weaknesses, fears, and shadows, to shed light on what needs to be healed or strengthened or honored. It creates space for forgiveness and empowerment. This is the heart and soul of Tarot, and what makes it such a precious tool.

Some seekers are not interested in identifying areas for growth. And even knowing what needs attention is not always enough. If you're willing to do the work, however, Tarot can help create wholeness and nurture wisdom. That, for me, is ultimately what it's all about.

7 of Wands: I Got This

I had a pretty good day yesterday, but by late evening was feeling a bit oppressed, and fell quite happily asleep once the time came to get some shut-eye. One of the first things I did this morning was to pull out my new Light and Shadow Tarot, swish the cards around, and pick one for my day. Well, I didn't actually have the opportunity to select a card, as one flipped over in my face during the swishing process! It was just the right focus card - the Universe doesn't mess around:

Light and Shadow Tarot

The 7 of Wands is a card of fortitude and the ability to rise above challenges. This is the ultimate "I got this" card. In this image we can see a man fending off six wands reaching up to him from below. I love the expression on his face - a slight smile, the confident stance, the protective positioning of his own wand. It reminds me of one of those exciting scenes from a martial arts movie when our hero delicately and self-assuredly fends off dozens of foes, making it look much more like elegant choreography than a battle. When you know who you are, what you stand for, and what you're capable of, you can move mountains. 

This card reminds me that I, too, can dance through the obstacles in my way, as long as I believe in myself (and find the right music!).

Calling On Ancestral Wisdom

A couple of weeks ago I was working with my runes, and I asked them to describe the principal influence that my santo/Ángel Guardián, Obatalá, has in my life. I pulled Ansuz which was just so beautiful and fitting. Ansuz is the breath of life, clarity of mind, the whisper of the ancestors, guidance from above, communication. It governs the more mundane aspects of receiving advice from older, more experienced people. In short, it's perfect.

Several days later I decided to pull a rune on the question: "When facing times of trouble, what is the best way to work through it?" I pulled none other than Ansuz! Again, this involves opening ourselves to the wisdom of mentors, those who have "been there, done that." But more than that it spoke to me of the guiding light of our ancestors, the constant presence of the spirits and saints that support us and are always there to help us - we need only ask, and open our hearts and minds.

Halloween Oracle
Stacey Demarco/Jimmy Manton

This morning I decided to pull a card from the Halloween Oracle, and drew: The Veil - The Future.

This card, like Ansuz, represents the closeness of our ancestors - that though we may not be able to see them through the veil, they are often near, and they want to help us realize our plans and find peace and satisfaction. Once we focus our intentions on our goals and are able to visualize the future we want to have, we are better able to work toward manifesting it, and our ancestors will be there to guide us along the way.

I love this; it's a concept dear to my heart. I often feel these wise, loving presences around me, and it gives me great comfort and a sense of steadfast friendship, no matter what challenges or joys I'm facing, like knowing and feeling that your hand is being firmly held, even though you can't see it!

5 of Wands: Contention

The 5 of Wands is commonly known as a card of disputes and competition. In this card we certainly do see conflict, as two men fight with flame-tipped wands. In the background jagged mountains loom (what obstacles need to be dealt with?) and lightening bolts rain down (what insights are gleaned from hashing things out?). A small detail I only noticed when settling down to write this post is the little horse and cart in the far background. You can just make out a whip encouraging the horses onward. So, what opportunities might you be missing while you're distracted by arguments?

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA
J. Turk

This card is apt for me at the moment. I do, in fact, have a contract that needs to be revised with another party which is on my mind. There is a degree of "5 of Wands" to that. However this card speaks most loudly to me of the experience of competing responsibilities and projects. Yesterday I actually had the first migraine I've ever had in my life! I have had so many readings to do in the past few days (among other things) that I found myself having to make a very clear priority list and work hard to follow it. The inner landscape of my brain probably looked quite a lot like the image on this card! However these kinds of conflicts always teach us more about ourselves. I rose to the challenge of my suddenly-packed schedule, and ticked items off my list as I went. I take my work very seriously, so it was necessary for me to slow down and work out my objectives and the flow that would work best in order to achieve my ultimate goal of upholding quality and meeting the needs of a variety of different people. In the end, I'm left feeling invigorated and satisfied. Today I teach in the morning, then head home to work on more client readings, so that priority list isn't going anywhere - it's just being updated. ;-)

How do you deal with conflict?
Are you overwhelmed when faced with multiple tasks, or do you feel "in your element"?
What does competition teach you about yourself?
Do you avoid arguments, or face them head on?

Considering Home

This morning as I was shuffling for my daily draw, the 10 of Pentacles flipped over. This is a card that has popped up for me several times of late, and for good reason!

10 of Pentacles is a card that brings to mind the family legacy, our material connection to our ancestors, the traditions we are raised with and that we sometimes pass down to our own children. This is a card known, depending on the circumstance, to represent marriage (the material manifestation of loving union), trust funds, home purchase, and financial comfort.

In this card image we see a happy-looking couple in a partial embrace, watching abundance flow down toward them in an azure waterfall. They look content, satisfied - their emotional satisfaction courses over the rich, earthy support structure of the rolling hills. They have everything that they need for economic stability and can truly enjoy the little things in life (like casually standing outside naked, for instance ;-).

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA
Julia Turk

I have been considering what "home" means lately. To some degree I truly believe that home is where the heart is; it doesn't matter how ample your digs are, as long as they are enough. I feel at home in my current house with my husband and children. My heart is certainly there. I also feel, in a different way, that home is where my mother lives, several states away to the north. It's the house that I grew up in for many years, and it's the house I return to for visits and vacations. It becomes the anchor of the extended family, like the nest we never entirely abandon because the roots of our hearts are still connected to the foundation that is there. Now our children are spending time there with their grandparents, an entirely 10 of Pentacles affair. My mother sends me pictures of our daughter helping to make shortbread in the kitchen, of our oldest child taking the dog for a walk, of our little son making his bed in the room that belonged to his aunt so many years ago. There is cohesion and abundance in all of these things.

What is home to you?
Where is home?
Who is home to you?
How do you know that you've come home?

The Vibrancy of the Sun

The little ones are off on their adventure and my husband and I are noting the uncommon silence in the household. My mother likes to pull daily cards from her Wildwood Tarot app, and this morning she told me that her card of the day was the Wanderer, otherwise known as the Fool. Well isn't that appropriate!

After I arrived home from the airport I pulled my own daily from the Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA - well actually I didn't pull it, it popped out in my face announcing quite clearly that it was The One. Well, it was a very nice one: the Sun!

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic SEA
J. Turk

A couple of things immediately come to mind: today is June 1st (the non-technical beginning of sunny summer), and my children departed this morning with such joy, their faces glowing. Beautiful. But there are some deeper layers here as well.

I was just musing about this card the other day as I was flipping through the deck, thinking to myself: "That lady is so me: stretched out, reading at her leisure. That is definitely a happy moment!" And hey, with my little beans gone for a while, I will have so much time to bask in the activities that I really enjoy, but sometimes am simply too busy to do as often as I'd like. Reading is one of those things. I love to read: fiction, biographies, how-to manuals, classic novels, teenage supernatural drama, esoteric literature, cookbooks - the whole gamut, pretty much. I see this woman laying in the warm sand, her nervous system lit up (she must be reading something good). The net before her seems to dip into her emotional depths, capture the ideas that form in her mind as she absorbs and processes the writing. The fire creature before her feels to me like smoldering flames of creative force ready to be put into action. Ten cups flow and overflow with water, symbolic of joy and emotional satisfaction.  The keyword here is "organization" which makes me think of the focus, form, and impulse that precede the attainment of our goals. This down time I have now is precious to me - it is time in which I can gather my thoughts, identify and clarify my objectives, and focus my creative fire in order to bring things into manifestation.

There's one place I know that's particularly good for thinking while under the sun, and I'm headed there later today: the beach!

And here is how I spent my day (after composing this post!):