Six of Wands - Power & Recognition

Everyone needs a strong sense of personal power that comes from recognition, being a basic human need. Some constantly crave attention, never being able to get enough to fill what seems like a bottomless pit. Other folks are not comfortable at all with any recognition, are self-deprecating to the point of having very little self-worth or confidence. I have seen this many times working with troubled youth for many years. Adults need to impart basic needs to children in order for them to grow into people who have a real sense of personal power.

We all want our fifteen minutes of fame, it is often stated. Regardless, the fact is, it makes little difference to our self-confidence if we are not our own biggest fan, believe in our own abilities, and our capacity to be creative, talented or accomplished, in what ever way.

In the Six of Wands we see Jason who has finally retrieved the Golden Fleece and he is being praised for having fought, and triumphed over the Dragon, which he met head on, including all of the other challenges, and obstacles he faced before finally capturing the Golden Fleece.

His journey is not over however, and there are still new challenges to face.
Jason received great public acclaim for his accomplishment, however he needs to continue to maintain his conviction to be all he can be, to have courage and faith in himself, intuition and an inner spiritual vision.

We can get carried away with public recognition, or our desire for it. Ego can get the best of us with the heady moments and intoxication of praise, acclaim, and much collective validation for efforts made. Public affirmation presents it's own dilemma.
As well, we may experience having to deal with the competitiveness, and envy of others, including our family and friends.


Success is measured in many different ways, depending on how it is defined. Though recognition feels like success, and in some ways it is. It can be a wonderful feeling, because one feels validated, and can give us a sense of belonging.
Ultimately true success, and validation comes from within, and we all have to find the courage to find our own personal power.

Circle of Courage - George Blue Bird - Lakota Artist

Ace of Wands - Creative Vision & Imagination

Well this it the card for me today. Here he is, Zeus, the King of the Gods, with the Golden Fleece over his shoulder, and his great big wand! Wands are the suit of action and energy, signifying growth. He embodies the symbol of creative vision, and the power of the imagination within us, which sometimes, we just can't quite seem to grasp. I have learned that I must trust that creative power, and take risks with new ideas, and embark upon the great journey into the world of creative vision and imagination.

Only one problem, motivation is a factor when it comes to " gettin' at it and to it ". That's me today. Letting other issues get in the way, and just plain procrastination. All creatives struggle with this periodically.
The more you talk about it the less you do, this is what can happen. Zeus he may be the King of Wands, embodying creative vision and imagination but sometimes I feel like the Queen of procrastination embodying coffee, sloth and loathing!

I have a whole new project start. So I'd better shut up and get to it, and at it, " so the day does not go down in debt. " as Leonard Cohen said.

The Wheel of Fortune - Hubris & Humility

Oh I had a feeling, and was hoping for a "good" card today. This is it I thought, The Wheel of Fortune! I haven't drawn this before for myself. I was excited or maybe I just had too much coffee!
A Major Arcana card, cause and effect, along with Karma are the operative words. Reaping what we sow, bla, bla, bla. Sorry, I know I sound jaded, and cynical but please hear me out.

Unknowingly until now, I've been thinking about all this meaning, present in the Wheel of Fortune, really, since yesterday, and today. Perhaps because I've been doing some readings for folks lately, that have caused me to contemplate my own life, but I do this a lot, in one way or another, because I am involved with reading the cards everyday, but I've always been introspective. I got that contemplating my navel thing, down pretty good!

The Wheel of Fortune's meanings makes me think, yes I agree, we do reap what we sow. But what about those of us who seem to frequently get more of our share of suffering, and difficulty? It is hard to make sense of it all. We can feel even like, there has got to be some kind of person responsible for this, and when it all goes bad, we want to lash out in anger, and find someone or something to blame, because it is unjust, unfair and even cruel. When it goes well, sometimes we forget to be grateful, to really appreciate what we do have.

I think it's important to acknowledge the unfairness, and the unjustness of life, and allow ourselves to be angry. Anger is a feeling and I think it is more productive to simply feel and accept our anger in order to let it go, so we don't live in the problem and allow resentment to enslave us, our attitude toward life, and the universe. But it is just as important to see and exemplify fairness, justice, kindness and mercy in the world.

Life certainly is not all flowers and roses. We don't want or need to hear a bunch a platitudes and psychobabble we find condescending, and that minimizes what we are going through. Usually, when we are  experience hard times, we just need someone to hear us, and listen, we don't want advice or and philosophical gobbleygoop. My spell check won't even accept that word! 

 I heard a program today on the radio about aging. This older gentleman called up, and said he uses a slogan often to help himself wade through the messes of life. " Now Here This ". This isn't a spelling mistake,  here refers to the here and now. He compared the past and future as being swamps, that we get stuck in, and can create more unhappiness than what we are already experiencing. What this wise man in his eighties said, gave me serious reflection.

There are definitely laws of nature we can't deny, mostly we don't understand them, and it requires a faith and trust in something mysterious, unseen and seemingly unknowable. There is nothing we can do to control these laws. I wonder, if we could in fact control these laws, and the cycle of life, what would happen?
 It probably wouldn't work out so well in the long run, I strongly suspect. Human beings don't seem to be able to make good choice when left to their own devices and without the help and guidance of a power greater than ourselves.

The Wheel of Fortune depicts the Moirai, the three fates, daughters of Mother Night, conceived without a father. They wove the thread of life in the darkness, and in the secrecy of a cave, symbolizing the womb. They represent the source of life itself, older than the oldest gods, with so much power, the king of gods Zeus, dares not to challenge them. The profound inner journey is heralded. and coming to terms with one's life, past, present and future.
 The Fool is now shaken from complacency and begins the inner journey of humility, that will lead him to his own source.

The Wheel of Fortune is a card of sudden change in fortune, be it bad or good. Rest assured, whatever way the Wheel turns, there will always be growth. I think this is the positive bit. Granted we must dig in to our inner resources personally. 

If we refuse to accept or challenge our circumstance by shaking our fists at God, we may be afflicted with what was called hubris, compounded with even more problems, due to our false pride, and even arrogance. What ever we are in denial of, becomes a harmful nemesis. You don't want to mess with a nemesis, believe me , I know. She is the spirit of divine retribution for hubris. She is a real drag, and will bring you down.

                                                            Nenesis - 1837 - Alfred Rethel

Nine of Swords - Worry & Action

Well, this card is in keeping with the card I drew yesterday dark about clouds and silver linings.
The Nine of Swords, it is what I would call the worry card, and is very much the card full of deep psychological meaning.

We are losing sleep for worry, anxiety, fear, corrosive guilt, foreboding about the future, and what ever negative adjectives you want to throw in the pot.

This frame of mind robs of us energy and strength in every aspect, mind, body and soul. We can't enjoy the present, because we are projecting into the future, and worrying about the past. It reflects a lack of trust and faith and our inability to let go of what we can't control.

We can't control what has happened in the past, and it may be hanging over our heads. We can  make amends, if we have hurt someone else, including ourselves.

Action is the antidote to worry. Whether it be through prayer, meditation, a vacation, ending a relationship or changing geographical location to make a fresh start. However, can you run away for things in your head? Ultimately we can't take a geographical cure, because where ever we go we bring ourselves along, and still have to face our problems.

What is important is that we remain steadfast.

Five of Cups - The Cloud Of Unknowing

I believe the old adage about there being a silver lining behind every dark cloud. This is often very difficult to comprehend when you are in the middle of the dark cloud. When I think of this dark cloud, I reflect on a book I once read, The Cloud of Unknowing.

 In the Five of Cups we see Psyche ( Soul ) pursuing Eros ( Love ), whom she has betrayed and she is full of regret. All the cups have been spilled, and upset, but the fifth cup. Cups symbolizing the emotion, this card can represent a past relationship, and the regret we have about it, but we must accept that it was necessary, and we have much to learn from this experience, although painful.

 Reality levels the playing field, and in order to deepen our relationships, we must let go of our preconceived notions, and unrealistic expectations, and can not remain in a fantasy, or continue to believe and perpetuate an image, as this is an illusion that does not exist.

What remains is the last cup, and we have something left to work with, now based on realistic expectation,  trusting our heart and intuition. It does not mean that this is the end, or the final outcome. If we decide to commit to the work required to improve our situation, and circumstance, there is still a lot that can be salvaged, and something that can be greatly improved upon, and this will deepen the relationship. It is in letting go that we come to know the truth.

Cloud of Unknowing - johnbowmanart.com

The Empress - Bountiful & Beautiful

Seems lately I have a number of female friends, myself included, who are thinking about their mothers. Perhaps being mid Summer when things are in bloom and growing our thoughts are drawn to the Empress the Mother of All who represents abundance and luxury.
The Empress is ruled by Venus the Roman goddess of love.

We learn how to become women from our mothers, who nurture, protect and love us always, unconditionally, even from beyond the grave.  She connects us with the feeling of safety and trust in life. Our mothers live deep within the small of our heart of hearts.

The Empress provides creativity, imagination, and fertile growth.
 I do not see the Empress as perfection, but as a real woman, who is of the earth. She knows the suffering, and the joy, and she is perfect in her imperfection . She encourages us to celebrate who we are, as we are, as real women.

We may not be mothers biologically, but we can still provide those mothering qualities toward others, and toward ourselves. Without the inner experience of the Great Mother within , we can not bring any thing into fruition. We need to understand how to be patient, and gentle with ourselves and others.

Walker Evans - Photograph

Five of Wands - Intuition

When I was a child, I always sensed the presence of the Creator, the God of my understanding, even though it wasn't developed in the way it is now, the presence was there. An innocent trust was what defined my faith, and the way it was manifested, was through my intuition. My intuition was greatly affected by outside factors, and forces beyond my control, and diminished greatly for a time, and I lost my way in my adolescence and early adult life.

Like Jason, it seemed I constantly was fighting that dragon.  Fortunately I never completely lost my faith, and perhaps I was too stubborn to let people, places, and things to overpower me, and I held on, regardless of what was happening. Fortunately I have had many rallying helpers like Medea, akin to the High Priestess, who embodies the feminine power of intuition and instinct, to assist me in my dragon fights.

 We can have a creative vision, but the realities of life, in the form of the dragon represent the powers of the earth  resisting change. These can be found in the many material limitations, be it money, physical restrictions due to illness, or fatigue, and can coincide with fear of failure, inertia or apathy, that often are the cause of trouble, and struggle within the inner or outer self. These obstacles that arise, cannot be avoided in life, and accommodations or compromise must be made, while still maintaining the integrity of our creative visions, and lost treasure, like the Golden Fleece.