It's In The Cards

DAILY DRAW

February 24, 2011

THEME: Four of Cups


This is very interesting. I have felt I am resisting my 'routine,' one which I set in place. I am unsure why I would do this. Though, I suspect it is my nature. The question arises: If something is my nature, do I follow it? I feel, having begun studying the Way as Pema Chodron discusses in her books [The Path of the Spiritual Warrior - A Shambhala Teaching] of approaching life, that the first step is to study myself. To learn [about] myself. This theme reflects who I am and could begin or be part of the information which brings me face to face with myself. No judgment; just seeing.




GUIDE: Eight of Wands


Great energy awaits my use, even as I am uncertain of where or how to spend it. Being aware is enough. Remember, part of the journey is to observe the energy of the feelings.




MEDITATION: Five of Wands

Struggle; part and parcel of life. This is specific to the struggle to idenfify myself - to define who I am.




SHADOW CARD: The Hermit


The foundation speaks to the realm of inner work. The emotions, energy and struggle to define the path. The need to decide on what my path should look like. Like life, the way shifts constantly. Again, who I am is the key to successfully navigating the 'rocky road' of living.

DAILY DRAW

Were I to think back a year ago today, usually I wouldn't remember many specifics. While it is a day of the celebration of my love life; of my marriage, it also is the day I joined AT! So it is also my anniversary. My reading has the singular focus on the former, but I can also see where tradition plays quite a role in what the past year has brought into my life; a tradition which, now, I can claim as my own.

THEME:   The Hierophant

Today is a day of traditions. It is a day when all celebrate love and each couple celebrates with their personal traditions which they have developed over time. Celebrate our love with our traditions.



GUIDE:    Page of Wands

The energy is good today; the day is a vacation from the daily world. Let love guide how our energy is used.

MEDITATION:    Three of Wands

Today, in each moment, is where our love florishes. Look toward the rewards which loving affords. Rejoice in the love and how that makes the day feel.


SHADOW CARD:   Transformation

Love is one of the great transformers. This is the foundation of the meaning of today: How our love transforms us constantly.

Advice on Helping Others

DAILY DRAW

THEME:   The Hanged Man

To help others, I must seek to thinking as they do. Thus, be flexible in how I see the situations. New perspectives will expand my understanding of things as they currently are and what must be done to help change those things which will only harm us in the long run.



GUIDE:   Seven of Wands


Allow my approach to be open and ready for all eventualities. Maintain a strong energy front.



MEDITATION:  Page of Wands

Seek to work with energy conservation. Learn to control the way I do things so I can be the greatest help when needed.




SHADOW CARD:   The Star

Strive for balance between the practical and the Spiritual in my work. Intuition will be a great ally.

I'm Back!

DAILY DRAW

I did a reading last night about my feelings with not doing a daily draw. I was going thru a withdrawal, and I wanted to return. During the time when I was trying to work with one card a week, I began working with sitting meditation. The result of the reading last night showed me how the two traditions can work together, and are, in fact, very useful to each other. Today's draw speaks directly to this decision.




THEME:   Six of Wands

This is about coming back to a 'way' of doing; returning in triumph and it is also about moving forward with my work.



GUIDE:   Two of Swords

There may be residual confusion about the process, but remaining balanced will help me to 'see' my way through, with my inner sense - intuition.



MEDITATION:    Eight of Wands

The energy from the excitement of this return is enhanced as doors open and opportunities present themselves. THIS is like the 'opening - out breath' stage of Tonglen. It is vast, like the universe. Use this as my guide in meditation.



SHADOW CARD   Four of Swords
The foundation is about resting the mind - letting go of the heaviness of thought during meditation. This affords my work in sitting meditation to go forth.

Money Makes The World Go Around

WEEKLY REFLECTION

Four of Pentacles

My first meeting with this card was my first indication that all was not right in the Peaceful Kingdom. But it has many sides, and I have seen quite a lot more since. 
Looking at the image I see an old man sitting, coveting one thing, seeking to gather as much of it as he can. This represents clinging to something to the exclusion of all else.


The Pentacles are about work, and Spiritual endeavor; about the Earth, and things in the external world; the idea of abundance.


FOURS represent structure, stability, foundation, work, reality, organization, manifestation. Practical attainment, tangible results, crystalization, coagulation. Stagnation, logic, reason. Power and control. Discipline. The material world and the physical universe.

Corresponding Major Arcana

The Emperor

The Four of Pentacles is about maintaining Status Quo. The ideas of possession of things, balanced budget, financial security, are key words for this card. Beware of being too conservative. Fear of taking risks that a person may lose what they have comes into play here. Learn to delegate rather than doing everything yourself.
Fours can also represent a person who is an 'emotional black hole,' seeking affection, attention, all things from those around them, but rarely giving in return.
 
It seems I have a lot to work with this week.
As CF would say, 'Remind you of anyone?'

One Week At A Time

ALL THINGS IN MODERATION

I had not put together the whole of the 'new adventures in reading,' when I decided to change. I suppose a day at a time will be the real guide. Should I need to draw another card before a week is up, then I will. But I think, to really learn about the cards, Temperance for a week [especially these days] will serve the better good.


I think sitting and working with a card for a week will allow me to get a better sense of the true meaning of the word, and the way it can impact my daily routine. I am combining [or hope to] my draw with beginning 'sitting meditation.' So Temperance begins the new approach.

In truth, it is a perfect card for this time. Between the weather's constant assault, and the pending move to the Apple Orchard District, to help care for my father, I'd say, keeping the idea of Temperance in my mind will benefit my sanity as well as allowing me to replenish my energy.


It also makes it easier for me to really see when and where I am not Temperate. I seek not to judge myself, but simply to observe what pushes my buttons. Unfortunately (is it?) it seems almost everything pushes them 'in these austere and uncertain days.'


The plan will be to draw on Sunday morning, and work with each card for a week. The question is whether I should work just with the Majors for now, or with the whole deck. Perhaps, this is another question for the cards?

The New Reading Way

Today I decided that the 'theme' Daily Reading was not helping me right now. So I asked the cards what type of daily reading would be best for me right now. I was thinking in terms of spreads, numbers of cards to work with. This was done with the same kind of 4 card (3 plus shadow) spread I used with the Theme/Guide/Meditation/Shadow cards.


This is what the cards told me today:


CARD ONE The Hermit


This speaks of using the cards from a meditative perspective. Consider a single card draw to contemplate throughout the day.


[of course, this leaves me with certain cards that may have me running around like a chicken without a head].




CARD TWO Nine of Swords


This guides me to not feed into my fears and cause greater difficulty. Consider the cards from more than just the 'image.' This is a card from the NINE perspective. What does Nine mean to me?


Spirituality comes to mind first. In 'Plain and Simple' nines can indicate: near the end of a phase; summing up before completion of a cycle. Preparation for the transition. Dreams. Bringing matters to a close. Creative Energy. Compassion, wisdom, understanding, service, mysticism, courage, and mastery. Corresponding Major: THE HERMIT.




CARD THREE Queen of Cups


The good, and loving mother. Queens are mother figures; mature women: myself - The Crone Joan. Personal Power. Represent a new level of understanding and awareness.


Situations and Advice of Queens:


This Queen offers the opportunity to turn inward and examine feelings about a matter. My hunches and intuition are reliable guides. Pay special attention to dreams and psychic perceptions.


Key words: Emotions, sensitivity, otherworldliness, intuition, perception, choice based on sincere feelings. Imagination. Remembrances. Visions. Dreams, kindness, psychic ability, empathy, Sixth Sense, sympathy, affection. Introspection, artistic creativity. Gentleness. Mystery. Occult interests. Prophecy, divination, mysticism, psychology, counseling. Atmosphere. Love of music and art. Generous. Stirrings of the heart.




CARD FOUR - SHADOW CARD Five of Swords


Cunning, slyness, and Trickster. Competitive, cocky. Plays outside the rules. Wins at all costs. Beware the aspects of self that have a different agenda than the 'Driver.' Once aware of their presence, my point of view can turn to use their energy.




WHAT'S THAT MEAN?


With the exception of The Hermit and the Five of Swords [interesting slip, calling it the Five of Words... hmmmm], I've taken the information from the PLAIN and SIMPLE book, and written down the keys and situational advice. Looking at the information of the Nine of Swords [the realm of thought] and the Queen of Cups [the realm of emotions], using the first card as the motif, with the others as clarifiers, in this case, the single card as a meditation is a good way to work with and learn more about the cards. The Hermit is about taking time to consider, contemplate, and examine at a greater depth, a single idea, matter, or problem, or question.


The nines, in this case, speak of bringing the Three Card Theme/Guide/Meditation plus Shadow card readings to a completion for the time being. The new cycle begins.


The Queen confirms the opportunity of turning inward to examine feelings, in particular, about the card of the day.


The Five of Swords brings in the 'be aware' aspect of how any work will still have those trickster parts that may be distracting, confounding, but also will shed light on a specific pot hole.


Perhaps the next step is to consider choosing the card from a fanned layout, rather than off the top of the deck. The answer may be 'in the cards.'