Judgement - Gratitude-Joy-Generousity

Judgment

I rarely draw the Major Arcana card of Judgement. In the six months and seven days I have had this blog, today is the third time the Judgement card has come up. In is consistent with the theme of my recent posts and what I have been thinking about lately, transformation, forgiveness, and thriving.

Transformation is change yes, and it is also about growth, and becoming a new creature, much like the chrysalis. Transformation can be painful, and often is. It can be slow or fast. Sometimes we don't realize we have been transformed until it has happened, or we can know immediately, deep within our being when some event has happened, that we will never be the same person again.

There have been a number of trans-formative points and periods in my life. Some left me feeling so devastated and full of sorrow, I thought I'd never recovery from, and I wanted to give up. I did recover, I didn't give up, and eventually I became a stronger person.

 Other transforming situations were so challenging and scarey, they tested my limitations, that mostly existed in my mind. I found out how badly I really wanted something, and how hard I was willing to work at getting it. I also learned what I was really capable of when I applied myself, and this gave me the courage, determination, and persistence to continue.

Transformation is a powerful event. How it plays out is directly proportional to my attitude. These three things are what helped me to transform my life, and will continue to do so..

• Gratitude, and focusing my attention on what I have, as opposed to what I do not have.
• Altruistic joy, fixing my attention on the happiness and success of others, because inflicting unhappiness on others will never bring me happiness
• Abundance or generousity, and sharing with others no matter how much or how little I have.

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Four of Wands - Thriving Versus Surviving

Before I drew the Four of Wands today, I felt I was being drawn in the direction of love, loving others, and loving the self. I was also reflecting on the difference between surviving and thriving. This was confirmed when I saw this card.

The Four of Wands reflects the joining of forces in order to support one another. Jason could never have achieved his quest for the Golden Fleece had his companions not supported, believed, and joined him in this bold and dangerous journey. Jason also did the same for his companions, he had their backs, and they all not only survived this journey, but they thrived.

Often we are so ready to help, forgive or recognize the beauty in another, and have difficulty accepting help, forgiving or recognizing the beauty within ourselves. Loving others, but not loving ourselves, is to survive. But when we can love ourselves, is to thrive. Thriving extends beyond to include to every aspect and every area of our lives whether is be personal and professional development.

Page of Cups - Tenderheart

When I was little, and a teenaged girl, I was very much this kind of Page of Cups, and exhibited all the page's qualities, emotional, intuitive, inquisitive, naive and innocent. I was pretty regularly getting myself into some kind of pickle from an early age, prone to getting my fingers, arms or feet stuck in some kind of contraption. When I was four I stuck a candy in my ear, and at ten shaved my eyebrow off, and at 14 climbed the Guelph water tower because I thought I was in love with the boy who climbed the tower with me. All of which was mostly out of curiosity that I did these things, and because I thought with my heart, which left me blind sighted. I had no foresight. This carried on into my own relationships, and in the matters of the heart, resulting in a lot of heart ache, because of having a too trusting and a naive nature. I continued to make bad choices and life decisions, but I did manage at least to keep both my eyebrows on my face at this point, although I did give myself some really bizarre haircuts!

As a typical Gemini with my moon in Pisces, and being a water person in every way, I certainly relate to the Page of Cups. The page's negative experiences in life can make them jaded and cynical. If we can find away to hold onto the positive personality traits of the Page of Cups, within ourselves, and learn to temper our emotion with the more prudent,  logical, and intellectual aspects of our nature, we can come into more of a balanced state of being between or head and heart. I have spent many years doing just that.

 I am thankful through the Grace of God that the hurts, difficulties, and even tragedies have enabled me to keep my heart open. This has happened only through discernment, and wisdom that has come with experience, knowledge, understanding and healing the split between love and spirit.

When you are a tender heart, like this Page of Cups, it can be a blessing and a liability, in that this can leave your open heart vulnerable to being hurt and broken. This is the major pitfall of this Page. There is an honesty here, that is not always appreciated by everyone. The Page of Cups is as ready to cry, as to laugh, and there can be those that love these very transparent qualities present in the Page's nature, but some will simply take advantage, see them as a fool, and believe they deserve what they get for being so stupid and naive.

The balance between giving others the benefit of the doubt along with magical thinking, or not seeing reality as it is, can be a precarious tight rope walk for the Page of Cups in today's world, that seems full of unscrupulous individuals, who have hidden agendas, and are only looking out selfishly for number one.

The Page of Cups is a card of love and the world is in need of the loving hopeful idealist that sees the good in people, perhaps when we can't see it in ourselves.

Ace of Pentacles - Getting Down On The Pig Farm

When I was a teenager, between the age of 17 and18 I had a memory making, life changing experience, working as a volunteer on a pig farm. How the heck could that be life changing? Well I'll tell you. I learned about myself, what I loved and what I didn't. I found out how much I loved almost everything about the farming lifestyle.

The opportunity to connect with the earth and my environment, helped me to realize how much I loved to get down and dirty in the dirt. I also came to know and understand the importance of discipline that comes from hard physical work outside and how we all need to be good stewards of the earth.

Pigs are smart, sweet and funny. They should be outside with their snouts rootin' out weeds not stuck on cement floors, imprisoned in steeled cells, inside day upon day, never seeing or feeling the warmth of the sun or the earth upon their skin. Never pet a pig on the head when he's in a cell, because when he lovingly looks up at you, your hand will be wedged in between his head, and that steel bar. You might not be able to retrieve your hand again, at least not in one piece, I know this happened to me, but thankfully I was able to get my hand out.

Horses are also very smart, and somewhat unpredictable if you are not an experienced rider, just as are geese ornery, and will chase you if they sense you're intimidated, fearful, or they simply want to chase you. I learned too, if you work on a pig farm don't go to Bible Study. Trust me, you'll smell like a pig no matter how much you scrub up before hand.

Speaking of smelly, I also learned that a shit spreader is the best way to get manure onto a garden. As the operator of this machine, once sung out to me, one very fine dancin' Welshman, "That'll make'er grow!" And it did too!

The Ace of Pentacles reminds me of my strong connection with all the living and growing things of the earth,  in all of creation. It's a good feeling that makes me feel whole and I know now, the raw force of nature does nothing in vain.

King of Wands - The Blueprint of Life

With the New Moon in Cancer, indicating emotional fulfillment. It is the astrological sign of the Great Mother, signifying intuition and emotion, brings with it on this day of the new moon, the King of Wands. It also brings to mind creative vocation and purpose, with lots of energy and growth.  It's rather like, finding  blue print of life in our life's journey.

The King of Wands is the Hero, a counterpart to the Heroine, embodied in the Queen of Cups. There is one very significant difference between Hero and Heroine. The Hero is looking back. The Heroine is looking forward.

According to Jungian, Maureen Murdoch, author of The Heroine's Journey, didn't feel that Joseph Campbell's book, The Hero's Journey addressed "the specific psycho-spiritual journey of contemporary women ."

Page of Pentacles - Ahhh Summer...

A very affirming and validating card for mind, body and spirit. The Page of Pentacles gives such a feeling of connection with the earth and a passion for life long learning.

It is a beautiful day for working in the garden. I got myself a lovely little pop up screen tent to protect me from the bugs and the sun. I'll be sitting out there with a good book.

Today I feel the fullness in the meaning of this card with the onset of Summer arriving in all it's glory.

I'm off to the garden to enjoy the glorious Summer day.

Ask Your Dentist, Mechanic Or Plumber If They Give Free Service

There is often discussion around giving free Tarot readings, and it once again has come to my attention.


It sounds generous to offer a free reading, and it is. As an artist it is like giving a painting away. I have done both in the past, given free readings, and free paintings. Don't misunderstand, no one forced me to do this, but it can become a trap and a slippery slope, if you allow yourself to be used by those who take advantage.

One that artists, tarot readers, or women can easily and quickly slide down. Perhaps we are wanting to people please, we want them to like us, we want to be kind, or perhaps we just don’t value our own worth either.

Tarot readers are creative compassionate individuals, they love people, many are artists, and many design their own decks. The woman who designed the most popular Tarot deck, the Rider-Waite-Coleman Smith,  was artist Pamela-Colman-Smith, who sadly died penniless, in spite of her talent and education. She was paid next to nothing for the deck she created. I think more than anything, she wanted to be recognized for the creative work she produced. We all have the basic human need for recognition for the work we do, and we also need it in the form of monetary remuneration, and need to understand the business of business, like any other profession.

There is a common attitude prevailing within our culture that undervalues women, their work, or anything that others perceive, to be your “hobby." Oh people want what you have to offer, they just don’t want to pay for it, because of this attitude.

There is nothing wrong with having a hobby, I have several, but it is very different than having and wanting a life and a business that you love, as the vocation you want to thrive through professional development.

I now rarely ‘give’ away my work. If this becomes the norm, giving your services away, you are not only devaluing your worth and value, you are also contributing to this very attitude, and do a disservice to other artists, tarot readers and women. I do believe you teach people how to treat you.


Now go ask your local dentist, mechanic or plumber if he gives 'free service'. If you do, let me know how you make out with that. And perhaps you will then come to the decision whether or not you  " Should You Give Free Tarot Readings? "

Here is one of my very favourite artists Gwen Rosewater, who created this fantastic Nine of Wands.

Nine of Wands - Gwen Rosewater - Artist