Eight of Cups - The Darkest Hour

When I drew this card this morning, I thought, not the Eight of Cups again? I just drew this card of change, disappointment and escapism, three days ago.Why? Then I thought, there's a message here, so I'll dig in to finding out what it is.

Like so many others right now, especially those committed to human rights, I'm preoccupied with the reality of the situation in the US and what it all means to the future of our world. It can be daunting to think about it, but hope will always bring unity overcoming fear and divisiveness.

I'm by nature an optimist and hopeful, but I'm a realist. There is nothing that can drive you mad more that worrying about the past and projecting in the future. So I try hard to refrain from doing either and live in the present, with the decision to change whatever I can.

I heard a song today by Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples which emboldened me with hope in spite of not knowing what the future holds, like Psyche who had fearful feelings of dread and hopelessness. We can not turn back, but we have to walk forward in the power of faith, because we are not alone, and we cannot walk alone.

This may feel like the darkest hour to many, but I do believe in my heart, and soul that the darkest hour is always before dawn.

The Chariot - Do I Have a Discerning Balance?

I can't remember the last time I drew The Chariot. This is a card of balance, power, energy and discernment.

 Lately I have been doing a lot of praying for others, and for myself. I think many times the best prayers are for others, and prayers of thanksgiving. I know too I need to say prayers for myself. Mostly that my will be aligned with the God of my understanding. But sometimes I have to ask for help when I am up against it, and I have done all that I can do, and so I pray.

 The Chariot reminds me that when we are being pulled and pushed in different directions, we have to decide what we can and cannot do. Maintaining our focus on keeping our balance is perhaps all we can do even though we may feel and know that anything can happen. This is the way life is, and many of us try to simply keep our heads above water, or the struggles and hardships we have endured can give us strength to rise above, becoming better people, and we can help others in return, for what has been so freely given to us.

 I know that more often than not I can't often control what happens, but I can control how I respond to it. These days gratitude and having a sense of humour, is I think my default in life, and it really does help to keep things in perspective whatever else happens or is going on around me, and that doesn't have to dictate my behaviour and I can use discernment.

The Empress - "That's What Makes You Strong"

That's What Makes You Strong

If you love somebody then that means you need somebody

If you need somebody that's what make you weak

If you know your weak then you know need you someone

Oh it's a funny thing but

That's what make you strong

That's what make you strong

That's what gives you power

That's what lets the meek come sit beside the king

That's what let's us smile in our final hour

That's what moves our souls and

That's what makes us sing


And to trust somebody is to be disappointed

It's never what you wanted

And it happens every time

But if your the trusting kind

This don't even cross your mind


Oh it's a funny thing but

That's what make you strong

That's what make you strong

That's what gives you power

That's what lets the meek come sit beside the king

That's what let's us smile in our final hour

That's what moves our souls and

That's what makes us sing

  - Jesse Winchester

   I've posted this song by the late gentleman of leisure Jesse Winchester because I think it relates to the Major Arcana card I drew today, The Empress. Someone posted Jesse singing this beautiful, touching and truthful song today that I've listened to so many times, and today I made connection between the Empress and Jesse's song. He performed this song, not long before he died, which makes the words even more meaningful and poignant.

The Empress, my favourite card, speaks of having an open, trusting heart, of vulnerability and weakness because she loves deeply, opening herself to being disappointed. It truly is what makes her weak but like Jesse says, it is a funny thing but it is what makes her strong, and what gives her power.

She is very connected to feelings of safety and trust. The Empress (Demeter) is both the Good Mother, and the Mourning Mother, who knows she is weak, and grieves for her missing child, that she loves and needs, her beloved daughter Persephone.

Spring does comes again, and Persephone returns once more, so to do the flowers, as there is new life, in the cycle of nature and life. Souls smile, are moved, and she sings and so do we all.

Wheel of Fortune - Four Directions Prayer

As 2014 comes to a close, I think the Wheel of Fortune is in sync with the nearing arrival of the New Year, 2015. The Wheel of Fortune reminds me of the First Nations Medicine Wheel, and the Four Directions Prayer that I love, and wanted to share it.

FOUR DIRECTIONS PRAYER

Creator, It is I,

Thank you for today's sunrise,

for the breath and life within me,

and for all of your creations.

Creator, Hear my prayer, and

honour my prayer.                                              


As the day begins with the rising sun,

I ask, Spirit Keeper of The East,

Brother Eagle, Be with me.

Fly high as you carry my prayers

to the Creator.

May I have eyes as sharp as yours,

so I am able to see truth and hope

on the path that I have chosen.

Guide my step and give me

courage to walk the circle of

my life with honesty and dignity.


Spirit Keeper of the South, Wolf,

Be with me...

Help me to remember to love;

and feel compassion for all mankind.

Help me to walk my path with joy

and love for myself, for others

for the four legged, the winged ones,

the planets and all creations upon

Mother Earth.

Show me it is right for me

to make decisions with my head

even if at times, my heart becomes hurt.

Help me to grow and nurture myself worth in all ways.


Spirit Keeper, of the West, Brown Bear, be with me.

Bring healing to the people I love and to myself

Bring healing into balance the physical,

mental, and spiritual, so I am

able to know my place on this

earth, in life and in death

Heal my body, heal my mind

and bring light, joy and awareness to my spirit.


Spirit Keeper of the North, White

Buffalo, Be with me.

As each day passes, help me to

surrender, with grace, the things

of my youth.

Help me to listen to the quiet,

and find serenity and comfort in silences as they become longer.

Give me wisdom so I am able to

make wise choices in all things

which are put in front of me,

And when time for my change of worlds has come,

Let me go peacefully, without

regrets, for the things I neglected

to do as I walked along my path.


Mother Earth

Thank you for your beauty,

And for all you have given me.

Remind me never to take from you more than I need, and

remind me to always give back

more than I take.  

Nine of Pentacles - Self-Value

I attended what is affectionately called, by a group of old childhood women friends, WW or Women's Weekend, on the July 4th, 5th, and 6th. These weekends are always memorable, for many reasons. It's a wonderful thing to come together, as a group of women, to celebrate enduring  friendships and bonds.


 These weekends we have continued for many years now, and always reinforce our friendship, and our lives.  It is a time to affirm our appreciation of ourselves and for each other as friends, and as women. These gatherings fulfill the basic need for belonging, power, freedom and fun, with much emphasis on fun!.
We value our similarities and our differences. We accept, respect, and value one another's identity. It's a great feeling and realization to be with women who have reached the point in life, where we all have come through many trials and tribulations, come out the other side, achieved many of our dreams in spite of difficulties, and been able to overcome and strengthen our individual identities.

One of my friends asked if I would do a reading for her, which a happily agreed to, and it was a very affirming reading. The cards and how they reveal themselves, always amaze and fascinate me, with every reading I do.

What I love and appreciate most about the Nine of Pentacles, like no other card, it embodies a satisfaction that comes from finding a great sense of self-value and worth, regardless if material possessions and wealth are gone, as this is not what really defines a person. This satisfaction has a permanence and indestructibility, because it comes from deep within ourselves, and it is independent of anything, or any one outside of the self. Having a strong sense of identity, self-sufficiency, confidence and belief in one's abilities, all contribute to our happiness and success.

It really is essential to be good friends, if not best friends with yourself, and although we all have people that have contributed to our sense of self-value and worth, we can feel good about what we have achieved, and overcome. Be grateful, celebrate and share your talent, wisdom, knowledge and the understanding that you have gained.