Three of Wands - You're Not Finished Yet

The Three of Wands is a card of completion. Today for me it is a card of forgiveness in the form of patience and compassion, toward others and ourselves.

 Sometimes it can be hard to know what to do when people do you wrong. I know I need to be willing to make amends, and to have forgiveness toward others, but perhaps the hardest thing, is to have forgiveness toward myself.

Here we see Jason who has returned from Iolkos. King Pelias is kneeling at his feet, who has usurped Jason's position as King and stole his crown while he was away. He humbly offers back the crown to Jason.

We forgive another for ourselves, not for those who have hurt us in one way or another. Once we do that what then? We are not finished with this process. There will always be someone who personally affronts us, and we will always hurt others whether it's intentional or not, including hurting ourselves.

Forgiveness is a healing process that helps us to keep moving forward in a quest for spiritual and creative growth. We need to put action into our intentions whatever they are, otherwise we will stagnate.

There is no room in my mind for guilt, hatred or resentment. I need to try and right the harm or damage I have done for emotional balance, and peace of mind. I need to sweep off my side of the street, and there will be new doors opened. All this takes courage, honesty and humility.

Wheel of Fortune - Change - I Want No Refund On My Misery

Life is hard, and a person has to be resilient. The one certain thing that never changes in life, is change. We are either moving forward or backward in our personal growth, we never are standing still. Our situation, behaviour, and lives are always changing, sometimes for the good, or not. Life is easier if I can find a way to accept, adapt and even welcome change.

The events that take place in life can feel very unfair, lucky, charmed, or just plain ruined, due to choices made, or circumstances that are beyond our control, and often, we are left with many questions, as to why this or that has happened, and wondering what the heck is going on, and what it all means.

In the Mythic Wheel of Fortune, this Major Arcana card speaks directly to this. The three women, the Moirai, are standing at the womb, and the tomb. These women represent the lunar phases, crescent, full, and dark, also symbolize the three stages of life, youth, middle and old age. They are performing different tasks relating to our lives, past, present and future.

Whatever happens in life, we can choose to believe that there is an orderly plan behind it all. If we choose to believe that these random events are not related to the idea of the 'Other' within our own psyche, it is difficult to make any sense of life, and can leave one feeling hopeless, and possibly bitter, looking for someone to blame. Regardless, the Wheel of Fortune heralds our inner journey, that brings growth, and creative change. There is a new phase in life, when we can create our own destiny, and a living a life we love.

My philosophy of life is to strive to be honest with myself, and with others, to keep an open mind, and to have a willingness to be willing. This approach enables me to feel confident in what the Moirai on the Wheel of Fortune have in store for me. If I change my mind, I am certain my misery will be refunded.

Four of Swords - Making Time To 'Chillax'

The Four of Swords was a welcome card this morning, signifying a time for rest, relaxation and some serious chillaxin'. I am more than ready for that, to take a mental break of sorts from myself and my thoughts. It is a great feeling to be back painting again, because I never feel right when I can't seem to get to it, and at it. I don't feel myself and I am off kilter. Now that I've got my groove back, I really can relax and channel my creative energy.

 As adults, we often get bogged down with trying to navigate life, we can get too busy being a grown-up and forget to play and just have fun. Making art should be fun. Or for that matter any work that we do should be at least enjoyable, if not always fun.

Taking time to relax allows for reflection and recuperation to build up strength in reserve in preparation for future efforts and to put order into our lives. But Instead of taking time, I really need to make the time, and make it a priority in order to gain some serenity after the storm.

The Four of Swords coincides with the New Super Moon in Aquarius, which started yesterday. It is a time of having new energy, beginnings and fresh starts, a time of rebirth and growth. Clear intentions, being honest with myself, releasing my ego, and letting go of self-sabotage is a good foundation for the life I want.

I Do A Great Lizard Impression...Really - Two of Swords

When I see this card, the Two of Swords with the dude in the middle, the two individuals pinning him in, and threatening with swords, I think of that saying, ' reality sucks '.  Life is hard, no two ways about it. We can feel we're between a rock, and a hard place, damned if we do, damned if we don't. So just what do we do?

In the past, I would run from reality. Sometimes I think it's just in my DNA. Regardless of being a recovering sober alcoholic, for almost 21 years, come January 2nd 2015, I can still feel my propensity to want to run away in my mind, when reality sucks. Old habits do die very hard. Perhaps this is simply a human characteristic, wanting to escape troubles or painful situations, and we are born with a the fight or flight instinct. After feeling this initial instinctual reaction, we do have a choice, to either react, or respond accordingly.

Swords represent the intellectual aspect of ourselves, and the Two of Swords urges to us to take action with our rational mind, instead of ancient lizard brain. We really need to exercise discernment, diplomacy, and commonsense as an adult, responding, instead of reacting to a difficult situation. Otherwise, we can really get into a pile of mess, and I can certainly attest to that. We can even do an injury to ourselves, or to someone else, in particular those you love. So my biggest New Year's resolution is to do myself a big favour each day, and continue to grow by getting real with reality.

In the 12 step program we have a slogan. H.O.W. stands for Honesty, Open mind and Willing. This is how it reality works for me, whether I like it or not.

Lounge Lizard

All Is Not Lost - Five of Cups

The Five of Cups speaks about regret, and remorse over severed relationships or an unfulfilled dream. We all at one time or another live with regret, saying to ourselves "If only..."

We don't need to focus only on what is spilled. There is still one cup that remains, and it is upright, so all is not lost! There is always hope!

We can't hold onto regrets, because it is living in the past, and this robs us of today's happiness.

There is nothing we can do about what has happened in the past, other than makes amends, if we need to, and ask for forgiveness. We also can make the effort to not repeat the same behaviour, or make the same mistakes.

Usually people will forgive if we are honest, and have a sincere heart. We forgive others that have hurt us, for ourselves, not for them, so we are not carrying around resentment, and bitterness, that eats you up inside, where a bitter root grows, with bitter tendrils like vines that invade, and enter every aspect of our lives.

 The hardest thing is to forgive ourselves, this has always been my experience. Accepting and acknowledging that we have done wrong to the person we have hurt, including ourselves, enables us to move forward, to make a new start, and strengthen our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the God of our understanding.

How To Take Control of Your Inner Fool - The Fool

The Fool is a lovely card to draw today, considering the pending oncoming Winter, which is not at all my favourite time of year.

 I'm not so sure I want to take control of my inner Fool unless it is controlling impulsiveness and naivety. But then again the Fool would not be, if these characteristics were absent. I am not so impulsive as the Fool, which is directly related to my age I'm sure, but I still love to be spontaneous, optimistic with an open heart, which I think helps to keep your inner Fool alive helps to keep you young at heart and to grow old gracefully.

 The Fool's message to me is one of hope, excitement, having a forward looking attitude with optimism and an open heart, as the Fool is the carefree traveler embarking on the beginning of life's journey. The Fool doesn't know what lies ahead, but has the right attitude, is prepared as much as he can be, with his tools of life, carried in the satchel over his shoulder, and his canine companion following close by his side, or the eagle watching out for him as he begins his journey


Spending a lot of my life by myself, animals have always been my great comfort, and are wonderful companions. So it is fitting that the Fool would have his little dog, as seen in the Rider Waite Smith deck or the eagle, who is closest to the gods, watching over his journey. They are his close and loyal friends.


So the puss cats and I, are ready as we can be for the coming Winter with our life tools. We are beginning to hunker down, sticking closer to home near the fire, grateful for the load of wood in the garage, that will keep Jack Frost at bay. Problem is, like the Fool who is full of potential, but it is not applied as of yet, I am reminded I have to get four cord of wood into my garage before the snow comes!


The tools of life that we carry are so important on our daily walk through life. I have tools of life, but I have to be sure to use them, if they are to work for me. My tools have to be honesty, open mindedness, and a willingness to be at least willing to do the work it takes to live my life to the fullest. Trust, prayer, and  perseverance are also tools I must use in order to guard against and to take control of the negative aspects of my inner Fool.

Nine of Cups - The Wish Card

The Wish Card. Who could wish for more? My wish is for world peace, for an end of poverty, the elimination of disease and to live in a world free from pollution. That's a lot of wishes I know, perhaps too many. This card causes me I think about the previous card I drew yesterday, The Star, the card of hope.

I'm not one to believe in luck, nor am I superstitious. I do believe in hope, and in the power of faith, hope and prayer because this is what tangibly works for me, not wishing for luck.

The Wish Card is about joy, restoration, fulfillment and blessings that come after heartache, struggle and great disappointment.

The Nine of Cups signifies an inner journey of honesty, that we decide to embark upon, a validation of our commitment and loyalty to our feelings, emotional dreams, and our values, regardless of what has gone before, what is happening presently, and what may come to pass. This is hope. Perhaps The Wish Card should be called the Hope Card, and maybe wishes could be prayers.

The Devil - Bondage

When the Devil card comes up in Tarot readings people generally get into an state of anxiety. I could be the same if I didn't know better, and besides I've been experiencing enough anxiety the past few days, without heaping more upon myself.

 There are positive and negative aspects of this card. I understand the negative very well, as a person in recovery and a member of a 12 step program for over 20 years. The positive is that I became honest, open minded, and willing enough to accept my shadow self and I have been recovering ever since.

Pan is the great god represented here, once worshiped by the Greeks, as the Great All. He roams and haunts the woods and pastures of Arcadia. His nature is characterized as being wild, fertile and untamed.
In Greek myth, Pan was not considered evil, but simply being in his natural state, untamed, and amoral.

Not surprisingly his name is derived from the word 'panic' and he likes to give folks sudden frights. Whenever this card comes up in readings I do, though it seldom does, the thought that comes immediately to mind, is one who is in some kind of inner bondage.


As human beings, we are all aware of our shadow self. The saying. " we are only as sick as our secrets" is very true. It takes humility and honesty to face the truth, to confront our shadow side, and the most shameful parts of ourselves, and to look into the face of Pan, in acceptance. The acceptance that Pan is merely natural not evil, enables us to release our creative power when we face our own darkness.

 If Pan does not face his shameful secrets, he will only exhibit a sense of superiority, projecting the worst of his character on to others,  manifested in the form of prejudice, bigotry, discrimination and persecution toward others, whom he considers 'evil.'

King of Wands - Ah Ha! Oh Oh!

I know who this is. I wasn't expecting this card, but then the cards don't lie. But there it is looking me in the face this morning.
 The leader, he can shape the world's events. He's Mr. Creative, the adventurer and the charmer, with the infectious personality. When I think about this as being the ideal man, I think about my late big brother Ralph and my loving late husband Bill. I also think about a gentleman of leisure, the late great Jessie Winchester.

I heard this beautiful anonymously written Arabic poem yesterday that I so love, and here it is. Only bit I don't care for is the "slave" word. Maybe servant-leader would be a better word? Because to me if you are a slave to love you are not free.

“ You are free
You are free before the noon day sun.
You are free before the moon,
and you are free before the stars.
And you are free when there is no sun
And when there is no moon,
and when there isn’t a single star in the sky.
But you are a slave,
You are a slave to the one you love,
Because you love him
And you are a slave to the one you love because he loves you back. "― unknown Arabic poet

The King of Wands  full of passion, seizes the day and is ready to take on the world. The King is a self-starter, who has the strength to back up his own ideas and is full of creative energy. He's honest, a dependable man of action, generous and kindhearted. He's just pretty irresistible.
Ok, I admit it, I give in, I love this man! I'm done!

Seven of Swords - Be Brave

The Seven of Swords tells us to be brave, and to be careful to overcome difficulties and to apply our mental energy.

When we are in a position of trying to reach a desired goal, and challenges arise, we need to be patient, have our wits about us, and need to be cautious as we proceed. Often this means there are compromises to be made, but we can use humour,  diplomacy, and tact in order to a reach a successful outcome. We need a new plan.

I remember this radio show called, The Dead Dog Cafe on CBC. It was produced by the writer and actor Tom King. The show was pretty funny and the actors were all First Nations. At the end of the show they would always give this message.  " Stay Calm, Be Brave, Wait For The Signs. "   It always stuck with me because I think there is wisdom found in this statement.

When we are faced with some kind of immediate crisis, the reaction is usually one of panic. If we panic, we can't think clearly, we can't hear that inner voice,. Breathing deeply from you diaphragm  helps a lot to calm ourselves, because we need most of our oxygen for our brain function.

Being brave of course means we need to have courage, but this does not mean the absence of fear, but we are in control of ourselves, the fear is not controlling our behaviour. Panic is never a positive reaction, and can even kill people, in some circumstances. So it is essential that we learn how to remain calm.

What are the signs we wait for? We will act with wisdom and honesty, unimpaired by fear, because we trust our gut, and our intuition. Nature too gives us signs, as do our our dreams, and it always helps to talk to someone we trust implicitly.

Seven of Swords - Honey Moon & Friday The 13th

The Seven of Swords is an very affirming and timely card for me this Friday the 13th and the rising of the of the Honey Moon. It is also the final card in my study of the Minor Arcana of the Mythic Tarot. It is the strongest card out of the suit of Swords. Representing brains over brawn.

 Honesty may not always seem to be the best policy in life, we do need to be diplomatic and tactful in our dealings with others. We may think we must resort to guile, subterfuge and unethical behaviour, and sometimes we feel the need to do what is expedient for self-preservation.
However crystallizing our goals and making a concrete plan to achieve what it is that we want, will point us in the right direction, if we use diplomacy, and are tactful in our approach when interacting with others. I don't believe we must be or need to be deceitful.

We have successfully solidified our ideas, and have clarified long and short term goals and objectives in order to actualize our vision.
Be forewarned however, do not over-analyze, over-plan, least you get lost in the details and loose your focus.

Trust in your own ability, and capacity to solve your problems logically, this is paramount. It's time to execute your plan and move on to the new stage, which leads to success and accomplishment. The time for theory is over. Make a plan, turning your ideas into reality, this is what is needed now.

The Tower - Radical Transformation

The sixteenth card in the Major Arcana, the Tower, ruled by Mars, the Roman god of war. Lightening hits the Tower and there is a bolt that knocks the golden crown to the ground. It augers outmoded structures, inner and outer, being smashed cleanly away, leaving the way for complete change. Radical transformation is at hand. The Tower is symbolic of false or outgrown values, which must fall away. Out of this destruction comes the creation of a new structure. Possibly a dissolved partnership, or the structure of your home is problematic, or in jeopardy.

The bolt of lightening represents inspiration and realization. Change as a result of trauma, brings growth and clarity of perception, depending on the attitude of the individual and how painful the situation.

We can often become complacent in the familiar and can have some sort of shocking event that happens place and it shakes the very foundation of our values  our beliefs, and what we thought was normal. This can be a positive opportunity, the heralds change, and positive growth, depending on our attitude. Introspection  with humility, honesty and definitely having a sense of humour is essential. Getting real with ourselves, and with others, is the only way we can move forward with integrity. But regardless of what we do, the Tower is sure to fall away.