Two of Wands - Choose Empathy

Today I heard a wise women, Mary Gordon speak about empathy and a program. The Roots of Empathy that's been developed for children in schools. It's been proven to reduce bullying and aggression in schools.

This program involves parents bringing their own infants into the schools and a trainer enables children the opportunity to interact and observe the baby in order for the children to begin to what Mary Gordon calls "catching" empathy. She describes childhood as being the springtime of life.

When human beings are given the opportunity to discovery empathy this is where real personal growth and progress begins.

The Two of Wands depicts Jason  as he stands before the Centaur Chiron's cave, who is healer, priest and the great wise spiritual teacher, advising Jason to be bold and to know he's strong enough to change his dreams into reality. And like Jason we too must be the same and emulate the spiritual values that enable us to manifest real empathy toward others through an individual vision of the spirit. This vision will guide us as we leave childhood behind however we can still choose to live in the springtime of life watching the flowering of our life continue, and we will then be graced with unforeseen strength.

Seven of Wands - Faith - Trust - Perseverance

Seven of Wands depicts a chaotic struggle. And it is, however order often comes out of chaos. It's been my experience that when surrender my ego to regularly working hard at applying my faith, perseverance, and prayer to my life, doesn't necessarily mean my chaos disappears, but I know I'm much more apt to be able to not simply cope. I begin to move past whatever my struggles are. I grow beyond a survival mode and excel into a thriving mode.

Mostly what I've struggled with in the past and even in my present day to day circumstances is not the struggle I'm having with "The Man" as the 60s adage goes, but it's the fight I'm having more often than not, with myself and my ego.

Two of Wands - Out of the Sanctuary of the Cave

The Two of Wands signifies the formulation of a new vision and creative idea that is coalescing. This card indicates a pervasive sense of duality or polarity, and the opportunity and having the willingness to pick up with both hands, all the progress and discovery that is freely offered, enabling a harmonious and positive future.

Tomorrow Canadians, or many of of us, will celebrate Canada Day. I don't share this enthusiasm. Oh yes I will emphatically state, I'm so grateful to live in Canada, as there's so much to be thankful for living in this country, and I will always feel this way. But as far as the celebrations over the past 150 years, I can't feel much more than the sting of hypocrisy because this history is heavily overshadowed by the dark legacy and travesty against Indigenous people in countless ways, that was an attempt to commit nothing short of genocide through Colonialism, and this is nothing to celebrate.

I may not share the enthusiasm of Canada Day but I certainly do share the hope of a new creative vision for Canada's future, that depends upon individual courage and faith in that invisible creative power and capacity to generate positive change. This vision of the new path ahead, where human beings are united together as one people, will make a better country, and a better world.

 Does my attitude make me any less Canadian?  I don't think so, but I do hope it just might make me a better Canadian because I share a different vision in hopes that we can't make the same mistake twice.

Seven of Wands - We Can't Stand Alone

This has been called a card of the underdog and can be seen as a situation we can all find ourselves in sometime or another, without having to play the role of the victim, in spite of the struggle. It is a card of faith. We always have the opportunity to see our difficulty, whatever it might be, as a test of our faith, urging us to rise to the occasion and to persevere.
 Of course this is easier said than done when we are going through 'challenging' experiences that I often call shit sandwiches and we can feel completely overwhelmed without a way out, but we don't have to stand alone.

Personally I have to take these kinds of experiences one day at a time, otherwise it would be easy for me to become despondent, overwhelmed and resort to coping mechanisms that would only exacerbate things, making them far worse.

My wise and faithful mother always said, " Things can only go down so far, and then they have to start coming up." I have always found this to be true.

This card reminds me to know and understand that things always change and we can have hope and assurance in knowing that out of the negative can often comes positive no matter how bad they are and we are not alone.

Six of Wands - Creative Growth and Self-Confidence

Six of Wands symbolizes creative growth, self-confidence, progress and some kind of public acclaim. It is seen as the most satisfying of the Minor Arcana cards, because focused action yields results and results yield self-confidence . When we are recognized for our accomplishments it can often come with it's own dilemmas and further challenges, like envy and jealousy from others.

Achieving a creative vision can be a heady moment, and it can be a celebratory occasion, justifiably so, however it's important to remember, this too shall pass and we can look forward to taking on the next challenge.

I can't allow myself to be caught up in what others are thinking, whether it be positive of negative. Growth is progress and process, not a destination of perfection. I know will never graduate from life, but I strive to keep on learning and growing, I learned how to survive my painful and joyful experiences and now am learning how to thrive, through the mystery of creative growth.This is the real journey of life for me.

Five of Wands - I'm Not Wonder Woman?

Here we see Jason taking on the dragon who protects the Golden Fleece. Medea his lover and helper is close by his side to help him, with her three flaming wands. In life we all have our own personal dragons to slay. I call them shit sandwiches. Not one likes them, we hate them, unless you're addicted to a constant state of hyper-vigilance, which many people are, having grown up in chaotic and dysfunctional families, never knowing what's going to happen next.

Often the concealed lesson that lies within these dragons and sandwiches, is a revelation of exactly what we are made of when we find out our depth of character. But there's nothing easy about it.

The outcome isn't always positive, if we realize that we might be emotionally and/or morally bankrupt, collapsing under all the pressure, and we are paralyzed with a regressive inertia or fear of failure. We might even want or act on feelings of revenge or blame ourselves for having a meltdown that leaves us feeling like a very weak person.

This state I describe as being sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have to let go and turn it over to the universe of the God of my understanding, and ask for help. Sometimes we simply need to get a backbone and be our own heroine or hero and fight. It's a remarkable thing what having a little faith can do, one step at a time. I don't have to solve everything immediately, and I don't have to do it alone. I do have to decide to make some kind of compromise.

When I think I can solve these kinds of battles and struggles on my own, this is when it gets me into real trouble. I'll cut my nose off to spite my face, deluding myself into thinking I'm Wonder Woman! I accepted a while ago that I'm not Wonder Women, but I still have to remind myself of this fact now and again.

This doesn't do anything to change the fact that we'll still have dragons to slay, and shit sandwiches to eat, but if so, find someone to help you slaughter that savage beast, and get yourself an olive. It just might help the sandwich go down a little easier.

Three of Wands - The Humus Pile

Humility is the main theme of the Three of Wands. I'll call it the humus pile, because the three aspects of this pile comprise of three things, like the three wands, humility, humour and being human. The root word of all these words is humus.

We see here King Pelias who usurped Jason's position as King while he was gone, and now Pelias humbly returns to Jason his rightful crown that he stole and now willingly abdicates.

Jason appears to be almost handing Pelias the wands he is holding. 
 Pelias might not find this all so funny right now, but hopefully after learning this lesson he will be able to see the humour of this situation in the future, learning to laugh and forgive himself for being human.

The Three of Pentacles card is such a good reminder.
There is still much room for the development of creative ideas. Hard work lies ahead. Although there is initial completion with strides made, one can't get complacent, self-satisfied, arrogant, deciding this is as good as it gets, having attained a level of accomplishment.

True humility and open mindedness are essential in life. They act as motivators and antecedents to growth to ensure the continuation of creativity. We are always learning lessons, if we are passionate about what we are doing. At the same time, acknowledgement and respect for others accomplishments allows for humility and responsibility.

Ten of Wands - What's The Next Big Thing?

Geez, it almost pains me to look at this card. It's not as negative or overwhelming as it appears, and isn't what it seems, but it is a situation for concern.

Jason has his Golden Fleece, and his great vessel, the Argo, is worse for wear after the long and intrepid voyage. Now his fellow Argonauts seem nowhere to be found. Perhaps they're burnt out, and gone back to their ordinary lives, having grown wearisome of Jason, and his next big adventure. Jason appears to be almost imprisoned, and overwhelmed by his own creative thought, surrounded by the ten blazing wands. The Golden Fleece appears to be discarded on the ground and all but forgotten.

At the beginning of the quest, Jason's expectations were extremely high. He was full of excitement, expectation. with a thrilling and contagious sense of great adventure. He'd been buoyed up by his mates, who believed in him, and that he'd be victorious. He was THE MAN!

The triumphant victory of obtaining the Golden Fleece and overcoming everything else along the way has left Jason feeling that it is all rather anti-climatic  He is no doubt thinking to himself, ok what now? What's the next big thing? It that all there is?
This kind of thinking is a self-inflicted pressure we can impose upon ourselves when we achieve our goals,  have found ourselves the center of attention, with people singing our praises. Being in this state of hyper-vigilance, and an adrenaline rush, is addictive. We find we are always looking for the next bigger and better thing.This state of hyper-vigilance can be very exhausting, for yourself, and for others.

There might be feeling of boredom, when in actual fact, you might find that boredom is the opportunity to simply live life on life's terms. Finding a deep contentment and serenity that extends it's hand to us, if we can accept it, is what I believe to be, one of the best secrets to happiness.

Four of Wands - Blind Trust Project

Jason could never have met the challenges, dangers, and struggles that were overcome during the perilous sea voyage on the Argo, in pursuit of the Golden Fleece, without his fellow friends the Argonauts. They trusted, supported and believed in him, in spite of having no idea what they were going to have to face, or what lie ahead and in many ways they were going on blind trust. Jason also had to trust them.

The Four of Wands indicates a deeper significant lesson to learn. No one is an island and we have a responsibility to love our fellow humans, be they friends, family, those we don't like, and even our enemies. We can tolerate, without having compassion or love in our heart toward others. To me there is nothing virtuous about tolerating another.

It is much easier to offer help and support to those we love. Where the real virtue lies, is often in helping those we don't understand or reject in some way.  It is very easy to sit in judgement of those we fear, based on status, race, colour, gender, or religion, because we don't understand.

Today I heard about an amazing project, a youtube video that went viral with over a million views, which I have posted below.

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.

Friendship and Human Kindness - Four of Wands

 Jason would never have been able to achieve his goal without the kindness, and generousity of his friends who helped him to achieve his goal of obtaining the Golden Fleece.

The same holds true for our own friendships, which is truly a blessing. I know I could never survive without my friends in my life, past, present or future. It is a remarkable, and I think miraculous event, when we meet up with new friends, seeing those we have known all our lives, but are now separated from, for great lengths of time, and when we meet up with them again, it is as if we've never been apart.

I remember meeting certain folks, if only briefly, that I felt an immediate connection with, that I will never forget. My mother would always say that real, true friendships are few, and far between. If you can call those individuals in your life, true friends, you are blessed. I agree with her.

Acquaintances can be many, but these are not deep friendships. However when I reflect on the meaning of friendship, I think of kindnesses shown to me. I think of all the people who picked me up hitch hiking to, and from University when I had no vehicle. I think of days I had to reach out to others who never hesitated to  respond, even when I didn't ask, with no expectation. Many of these people I do not see, or may never see again, but I consider them friends, because of their kindness toward me, when I most needed help, and I will never, ever forget them.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate with our friends and family. But for many it is not so much a time of celebration, but a time of sadness and struggle. It is easy to love your immediate friends and family, not so easy to do for those who are out of sight and out of mind, such as those who are in prison or are experiencing homelessness.

There is not much virtue in loving your friends, but with those who are our enemies or those we do not know, it is when we show human kindness that makes all the difference to another, and to ourselves. Small kindnesses should never be underestimated, they are just as important as the large kindnesses..

I hope this Christmas  and throughout the coming years, I will reach out to others, and impart that human kindness that was so freely given to me, regardless if they are my friends or not.

 I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
 
Ettiene De Grellet

Four of Wands - Harvest & Reward

 Here we see Jason is celebrating with his sailing buddies, after the building of their great ship, the Argo. The group will set sail, and the ship will carry them on their voyage, in search of the Golden Fleece.

This is a very positive card, in that on a divinatory level, it augers a time for reward, and success. A creative idea has come to fruition, and it implies there is something worth celebrating. That said, this is the beginning of a hopeful journey, and there is still hard work ahead, before the goal is reached.

We never get to harvest and reward without the help of others. We can be very humbled, and often in amazement of how others can be so kind, and generous toward us. I believe these people are doing so, because someone was kind and generous to them, and they are simply paying it forward, as they say.

Having gratitude for the things received, and seemed not to deserve, hopefully will foster a humble attitude, in order to make us want to pass on to others, that, which was so freely given to us.

Two of Wands - Courage

In drawing the Two of Wands this morning, courage is the subject.

In this Minor Arcana card, we find Chiron the healer, astrologer, teacher, and tutor with a youth nurturing nature, and as Jason's life long protector. Chiron played very important roll in Jason's life from birth, and into his adulthood. Without Chiron to help and protect Jason, there would be no Golden Fleece. Not unlike those in our own lives, who act as our own courageous mentors, champions, and personal heroes, they inspire, enable our visions to come into fruition, help us to achieve our goals, and without them, we would not be able to realize or forge our dreams.

To live a life of courage is not necessarily manifested in heroic events, like saving the lives of the drowning, rescuing others from burning buildings etc. These events, and heroes should be held in very high esteem, and revered.

There are also those heroes who persevere, living everyday lives, performing acts of courage, and simply living their daily lives. So many mothers, fathers and families and mentors, strive to impart loving values to children, protecting and lifting up others who are discouraged, frightened or without hope in a world filled with so much strife, poverty, disease, and violence. These heroes are more often unsung, but are the protectors of the vulnerable and of truth.

Brazilian lyricist and writer Paulo Coelho describes, "An act of courage is always an act of love."

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

Three of Wands - New Possibilities

Wands signify growth, action, and energy and are associated with the element of  fire and the fire signs of the Zodiac: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

The Three of Wands heralds new possibilities, and it gives one hope. This card signifies accomplishment, new challenges, optimism and satisfaction, involving an original idea that is arising. This is a high point, a good foundation, and the initial completion has been made, but it's not over yet, there is still work ahead, but we can meet the challenges ahead with courage and strength.

Fear can be viewed as a very positive emotion, if it causes us to do the right thing. Often our fears and concerns are manifested in our dreams, whether we know it or not. I  believe our dreams are a powerful means to work through issues, and difficulties we can't always rationally solve, in our every day lives. Tarot can assist us in understanding the meanings of our dreams, as they can share similar unconscious archetypal images, that the Tarot cards depict.

I had such a dream early this morning. There is a direct parallel connection and meaning between my dream, and the card I have drawn today. The Three of Wands has enabled me to process the meaning of my dream, which was a little disconcerting, but comforting at the same time. It was about forgiveness and moving on spiritually.

 We see in the Mythic Tarot, Pelias kneeling before Jason, offering him his rightful crown that he has stolen, butPelias is not asking for forgiveness, he offers the crown to Jason because he is afraid. Jason could have easily lashed out and killed him, but he did not. I don't know if Jason ever forgave Pelias, as he had been deeply betrayed him, his own flesh and blood. He also lied to Jason, put his life in peril, and usurped the crown. Pelias' life was full of treachery and betrayal eventually coming to a gruesome end.

  Asking for forgiveness, to forgive another and to be forgiven is healing for all individuals involved, if you allow it to be. Usually the problems occur when we can't forgive ourselves, in spite of the fact we have been forgiven. Or when we hold onto resentment, which can poison every aspect of our lives, growing it's bitter root.

Ace of Wands - Creative Vision

The Ace of Wands is a wonderful card, great affirming news. It challenges us to get out of our comfort zone, in order to pursue what is at present, an undirected goal or what I like to call a kind of creativive vision quest. This can be daunting, because we don't know what the outcome will be, but it is exciting at the same time. We have to decide that we want to commit, to be ready, and up for the challenge. We need to believe we can achieve our creative goals.

Inspiration and new beginnings. It could be the beginning of a new enterprise.
In the Mythic Tarot we meet the King of the Gods Zeus, who Jason must obtain the sacred Golden Fleece, the symbol of creative vision. This creative vision inspires, and motivates us to move away from the confines of convention and explore new paths that open our imaginations.

Zeus is the embodiment of what all our creative vision can be, the sky is the limit, and this creative energy is a force of nature within us. Trust this creative power and energy. There is adventure ahead in the pursuit of a vision. Be brave!

Five of Wands - Struggle

Here in the Five of Wands we see Jason having to face and fight the formidable dragon, who guards the Golden Fleece. The card represents struggle.

 As an artist who wants to make good art , I am no different than any body else in that, I always need to be prepared for the unexpected  struggles in life, especially when aspiring and striving to accomplish goals. Often times, the closer we are to actualizing our dreams, the unexpected happens from out of no where, and we have to be prepared to fight that Jabberwocky dragon. We then find out just what we are made of, and how bad we want to achieve that goal. Nothing we want comes without hard work, commitment, persistence, and fighting for our creative visions. These visions can be limited by our own regressive inertia, fear of failure, or apathy, all of which represent our own inner dragon, that we need to do battle with, and cannot be avoided.. We need to rely on our gut instincts, be willing to make compromises, without sacrificing personal integrity.