Twos-Duality

Two of Cups - Duality

Twos are always a representation of duality and opposing forces. I ask myself why did I draw this card? It's not really difficult for me to figure out that this duality is present in my life right now.

 I'm feeling somewhat torn bewteen wanting to hang on to my old life and trying to adapt to the extreme changes that have transpired since my cancer diagnosis in September 13th, 2018.

Cups are connected to the emotion, surrounding relationship with others or with ourselves. This is the beginging of the relationship between Eros (Love) and Psyche (Soul). And for me this is the beginning of a whole new way of living.

Eros is seen here in the Two of Cups approaching Psyche, and about to deliver her fate, her imminent death, ordered by Aphrodite, for Eros to follow through on. However he inadvertently pricks himself with the intended arrow, meant for Psyche, and unexpectedly falls head over heels in love with Psyche, which changes everything for both of them, and things will never be the same, as they can not go back to the way things were.

Many situations in life we often expect to unfold one way, when suddenly in a complete twist of fate, and circumstance, everything seems to conspire against us and throws us in a completely different direction.

We have a choice in deciding how to cope with this new situation in the way of either a reaction or response. Initially we react with some kind of emotion as it's only normal. It's a shock to the system and we need time to adjust. Hopefully once we manage to get a grip on ourselves we can use decernment in how we decide what to do in response. Personally I think it's better just to pause, try to find our center and take in just what has happened if we can.

Always something is lost, but their is also something to be gained in every situation in our lives. But not all is lost and no doubt much is to be gained, in ways that are totally unexpected and are completly unknown, as we are unaware of never have been in a situation such as this.

Psyche is totally in the dark and has absolutely no idea what Eros has been ordered to do, and what is going to take place in the immediate future. Psyche right now unknowingly loves Eros, but has given up in thinking that love or life for her, will ever come to fruition. as what she believes awaits her is a monster about to take her life, with no way out. It appears to be a hopeless scenario.  But nothing or no one is ever hopeless. There is always hope, even for those who appear hopeless.

And so when suddenly the circumstance for Eros and Psyche has changed as a result of that one arrow, resulting in Eros fallng in love with Psyche, now all bets are off, and everything has changed in an instant and not everything is as it appears on the surface. We need to look below the surface and with this comes acceptance and appreciation for how things have changed and we must accept our new  reality so we can find serenity.

Eight of Pentacles - The Apprentice

No I'm not talking about you know who, Donald Trump on the Apprentice! Definitely not, but Donald Trump's got a few things in common with Daedalus, who was extremely prideful, jealous, cold heart-ed, impulsive, quick tempered and I suspect very sleep deprived.

The Eight of Pentacles is a card of change, education and engagement and here we see Daedalus in the role of the apprentice. He's dedicated to working at his craft and he conscientiously applies himself to achieve the skills he needs to be successful and happy. But I ask, is he really happy?

Being conscientious does relate to every aspect of our lives, but we aren't human doings, we are human beings. Though it's essential I believe, to love what you do and do what you love, but more importantly if we love the essence of who we are, embracing the positive and the negative characteristics within our being, it's not only reflected in all that we do and how we live life, but is very evident and reflected especially in our relationships with others.


We aren't simply going to be fulfilled and happy by doing what we love to do if our relationships are not fulfilled and happy, especially the relationship we have with ourselves.

So on this Saint Valentine's Day remember to love yourself, love others and love the God of your own understanding.

Ace of Cups - What's Love Got To Do With It?

When I see the Ace of Cups that I drew this morning I always get excited, because it means there is a raw
emotional energy abounding some where within the context of my life, depending on what I choose to do with it, and how it is directed and channeled.

We see here Aphrodite, the goddess of Love that is embodies the potential for compassion and intimacy.

This card is a representation that urges me to be compassionate toward myself and have an intimate knowledge of who I am, both the positive and negative aspects of my personality. It's really about accepting and loving myself as I am. This isn't an easy undertaking and often takes years of work and maybe therapy for many of us.

 I remember over 20 years ago before my own personal recovery, I was rightly told that, I had to learn how to re-parent and love myself. I was as mad a hell. I'd been care-taking most of my life, making sure others were happy, putting my own needs and wants on the back burner, letting people use and abuse me.

I felt like once again I was expected to, and was going to have to be the one to do this 'taking care' of myself, when what I really wanted and needed I thought, was for someone else to take care of me for a change. I figured this was only fair. This in fact was due to having grown up with unmet needs when I was a kid, and it carried over into my adult life, and I acted this out through my co-dependent relationships, until I finally understood how to really re-parent and love myself. It meant changing myself and changing my relationships.
Many of us, if not all human beings are a work in progress.

When it comes to love and intimate relationships, what's love got to do with it? If I don't have a healthy relationship with myself, being really happy and content with my life as it is, I can't expect someone else to either fix me or to make me happy. That's my responsibility.

 It's really a simple kind of equation and formula, but many of us get wrong, time and time again. We just have to look at the statistics and observe the high incidence of divorce.

Taking an inventory of how we define our relationships with ourselves and with others, is a very important factor to consider as we more forward in our lives, regardless of our status and whether we are single. married or other. Tina Turner figured this out. She is someone I greatly admire.

The Lovers - Yes No Maybe

The past week I've been having dreams about relationships, and simultaneously I've been immersing my thoughts and time spent in self-growth. Self-growth and 'love' relationships is nothing new for me really, been involved with both, most of my life. The love stuff I've not been not successful with by the way, except once, and it is why I have been single most all of my life, but I've been making ongoing progress in the self-growth department over the years.

First thing this morning I heard a magnificent version of Adele's " Rollin' In The Deep " by the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, that knocked my socks off. It got me thinking, ya, I kind of feel this way about love. I'm not a cynic or jaded and I do believe people fall in love, and stay together. Unfortunately chances are slim and  statistics support that. Then this morning for my daily draw, I picked The Lovers from my Mythic Tarot.

The cup of love symbolizes relationships. and the Lovers card can be a very heady for us, in that when we see it, it can immediately invoke a fluttering of the heart kind with excitement. Like when you first see 'the one'. I've done that more than a couple of times. Those hormones kick in and away we go. We think perhaps there is love on the horizon. And there is, but perhaps not in the way we expect. It's tempting to be in love with love, but that doesn't last realistically. There is so much hype in our culture about falling in love, but not many of us stay together for the long haul, till death do us part.

The Lovers is a card of choice. If we don't have any positive options to choose from, then we choose not to choose, because this is the best decision for us, especially when it comes to relationships. As Bill Shakespeare said in his play, The Taming of The Shrew, 'there is small choice in rotten apples'. To some this may sound rather jaded, but it is really about making the right choice for ourselves, taking responsibility for our own happiness. If we are not happy within ourselves no amount of lovin' can truly bring happiness.

We need maturity, discernment, determination, courage, and spiritual growth to make a relationship work, long before we choose. I need to reflect and consider all these things, and ask myself am I ready? Is this person good and match for me? Can I make compromise and adjust?
I'll keep my answer close to my chest.

Five of Swords - Walking Away From Nonsense

As 2015 approaches, I have been moving closer toward making my life nonsense free. I am not going to take it from others, nor from myself. What I am talking about, is the negative kind of nonsense, not the ' lets run around, have an afternoon of make funny faces, and do impersonations, fun ' kind of nonsense.

The people in my life that dish out negative nonsense are rare, because I can't have people like this in my life. When they do appear, often as strangers, or acquaintances, it takes me by surprise. I am usually not prepared. It can really throw me off base, because in the past, I accepted this behaviour. I was a passive bystander, not an assertive participator in my relationships, unable to assert my own rights.

The Five of Swords indicates the shadow side of love, and walking away from conflict. I had to address this shadow side on two occasions this week, and I walked away, not without standing up for myself. This is what I have to do when others exhibit this kind of behaviour, otherwise I feel like I condone it, give the message that it's acceptable,  and these folks will no doubt continue fobbing this nonsense onto another. Passive aggression, bullying or abuse is a continuum, if it is not addressed.

 In my 12 step program, we are told to make amends with those we have wronged, as soon as you have wronged them. I have made this an essential part of the way I live my life. Some folks will never apologize for wrongs done, and so I have to accept that, and let it go. It is however easier to forgive another when they apologize, and then change their behaviour. Apologies, and changed behaviour can salvage relationships, and even strengthen the bonds between individuals. It is however, next to impossible to sustain a relationship with another who continues with negative behaviour, when an apology is non-existent. It can break hearts.

Letting go has meant saying goodbye to friendships, or deciding I can no longer continue on with some relationships be they recent, or long term, because I have accepted my own limitations, and boundaries.

That's all I have to say about this. I leave you with this quote...

Two of Cups - Relationship

I spent a good part of the afternoon doing an online Tarot reading for a client. She has actually become a friend, as we have corresponded through email and phone calls. I didn't have a chance to draw my daily Tarot card, and get my post online, as I was preoccupied, allowing myself to become rather anxious, over nothing, as per usual, prior to really getting involved with my reading for my friend. After this was completed, I was happy to call, and tell her reading was completed and I'd sent it off to her in an email.

After supper, I did my other blog post on my other blog http://catherinemeyersartist.blogspot.com and then decided I would do a my usual daily card draw. My immediate question was something entirely different, but decided against that, and asked a question unrelated to my first question which I think was an intuitive because it was what was really in my my heart of hearts. I asked the second question anyway. What came up was the Two of Cups a card representing relationships, personal and business, which was directly related to my the first question.

Once I realized the card was addressing my first question, this caused me to reflect on what it is I love most about reading Tarot cards for people. There are many things, but mostly I greatly appreciate that it gets my focus off of myself, and on to relationship with others. I think this is one of, if not the most important aspect of being a Tarot Card Reader. It builds relationship with others, in an intimate confidential way, that allows the questioner and the reader to open their heart, mind, and soul to another human being, and to themselves.
Tarot allows me to learn something every day, about others, about myself and about life. It's a beautiful thing really.

In the mean time, only I know what my initial question was, and I have got my answer, but that's only for me to know.

Crescent Moon Bear - Catherine Meyers

King of Cups - Emotional Intellect

The King of Cups is all about emotional balance, creativity, control, and the unconscious. It is a very clarifying and affirming card for me today, as I can occasionally feel overwhelmed, and confused by emotion.

I have learned through the Mythic Tarot that emotion and feelings are different.  " Emotion is a visceral reaction while and feeling is an active, intelligent faculty of choice. " Feelings need to be in sync with the intellect, and the intellect should be in conjunction with the heart, if we are to be in a balanced state. If we do not control our emotions, they will control us or often come out sideways. This does not mean we repress feelings and sentiment but our emotion and intellect together allow us to have relationships based on temperance, and understanding.

The King of Cups represents having a deep understanding of what it means to actualize our compassion toward  others and toward ourselves. This card encourages us to consider our dealings with others, and how we interact with them.

 Needing to exercise our emotional maturity when others are exhibiting negative energy is an essential strength and skill.

We must be clear about our boundaries, and know what is acceptable, and what is not, on an emotional level. Developing our unconscious and compassion are the skills that will help us to define these boundaries, they create balance and enable us, like the King of Cups, to be the master of our own feelings and to have an emotional intellect.

Ace of Cups - Overwhelm

What am drawn to about the Ace of Cups is all that foaming water, which signifies emotion and turbulent upheaval. As well, that over sized Cup contains all that emotion. It is easy to get carried away in a frenzy of passionate emotion whether they be positive or negative.

 It's a good card for me today, as a clarifying reminder, and confirmation of the state I can get myself into if I don't use the tools I have, to remain in a state of balance. The calm in the midst of the stormy sea of worry, regret, panic and all the rest that we are be confronted within life.

 This card is about relationships and the realms of the heart, but certainly not at the exclusion of the relationship with myself. This relationship I know, needs to be one of real self-care, and self-awareness, in order to have the best relationship I can have with others.

We can have all those tools at our disposal. Thing is, we need to remember to use and apply them. If we can just stay still long enough to listen to that still quiet voice, that is our intuition, if we can just give ourselves a chance, and even permission to take a break, and find that quiet inner core of our being. This is where the source of the calm springs from, and can give solace to the soul, quell that storm of the day, and help us to be ready for that force of nature.

If I don't use these tools to deal with my emotion, my emotion will deal with me. I have learned this lesson the hard way over my life. I still have much to learn.

King of Cups - The Wounded Healer

Synchronicity has caused me to draw the King of Cups today, after having drawn the Queen of Cups yesterday. The Wounded Healer is the best way to describe this King, as he cares and helps so many, but some how is unable to care for, or heal himself.

Like many of us that work in the human service professions, or simply in our everyday lives we can make great allowances for others, and do as much as we can to counsel and or assist them in whatever way we can. This is a wonderful gift to have empathy and compassion toward others.
However there is a problem that arises, when we are not the same way toward ourselves. It leads to burn out, and you can easily be taken advantage of, perhaps because there is a problem with being able to say no. Self-care and taking responsibility for our own happiness is essential, if we are going to be in a position to really help another.

The message is an important one in the King of Cups. It is not healthy to project our problems and unconsciously try to work them out, through others.

We need to be able to trust in our own personal life, so we can have fulfilling relationships.  To do our own healing by seeking help, and doing what is necessary in order to get healthy and happy, is the only way to ensure that one does not cheat the self, otherwise we will do more harm than good, and perhaps lose the very thing we desire.

Six of Cups - Nostaligia

The Six of Cups may look like a card of unhappiness but it is not, it is a card of nostalgia. Psyche, sitting on the rock mid the calm sea, has learned much about herself, and not simply in spite of loss, but perhaps because of it and there is harmony.

Feeling nostalgia is very different than feeling regret, and living in the past, which is pointless, regardless of how wonderful or painful it once was, or how we perceive it to have been. We cannot change the past, unless we have done some thing to hurt another, including ourselves, we can make amends and try to make things right. Forgiving ourselves for the part we have played in our loss and hurt, is often the most difficult part, especially if we do not kindly care about ourselves, the way we might be toward others.

I have learned the hard lesson, that there is nothing that will drive us more crazy, than trying to get something from someone who cannot, or will not give us what we want, or need, including ourselves. Acceptance is the key. This does not mean accepting unacceptable behaviour, or being a doormat, allowing ourselves to be stepped on, or used.

 Once when we grasp and come to the point of acceptance, will we find peace and serenity. Only then will we be able to move on and achieve our goals, no matter how big or small.

Our memory makes up a big part of what defines who we are, and so, we don't want to forget. As we age, we often reminisce, and can get lost in nostalgic thought about those good old days, that perhaps weren't as good as we recall, but not necessarily all being negative either. Our perception and perspective is all relative and important. I find it fascinating how in families, sibling's recollection of the same experience can be entirely different, and occasionally can lead to argument and even divisiveness. One sibling will see great hurt and loss in the family, another will see the exact opposite, as if they'd grown up in different households and families.

This day is what makes up the good old days, and like Psyche where she first encountered Eros, we contemplate that cup of emotion we hold, connected to relationship, friendship and romance, and we long for days and loves gone by. We are more likely to learn and find happiness in looking back, if we do not stare, regret, nor shut the door on the past.

If we embrace, appreciate and are grateful for our present, we can move forward with hope, for a future that will be easier, and happier. We can weather the rough seas of life and loss, finding calm in the eye of the storm, and know tranquility, peace, serenity and freedom.

Two of Cups - Love

I've been doing a lot of thinking and day dreaming lately, which could be a dangerous thing! But, before I leave myself open to revealing my vulnerable feelings, I will simply tell you about the card I drew this morning. I don't think it's too hard to read between the lines.

That said, the Two of Cups is about connections, friendship, love, passion and romance. Eek! Of course this card does not always mean romance, it can signify friendships and connections as well.
Here, the Two of Cups portrays the meeting between the god Eros, and the mortal Psyche. It is a sad quandary Eros has gotten himself in, accidentally pricking his finger with the arrow he carries , which causes him to fall in love with the woman he has been ordered to kill!

The Two of Cups heralds the beginning of a relationship. Perhaps a relationship that has undergone difficulties or separation, and now there is about to be a reconciliation. This relationship is one where each individual is a complete and whole person, having maturity of growth, through life experience. Neither is looking for the other to complete them, nor to be responsible for each other. They are companions comfortable in their own skin, and with one another. They understand each other. This couple has realistic expectations of one another, have their feet firmly planted on the ground, and do not have their heads in the clouds.
This also may indicate the start of a business relationship.

Cups are connected to emotions, relationships, friendship and romance. As well, the suit of cups are associated with the element of water, and the water signs of the Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Many of us are fearful of love and friendship, because we know within our hearts, that when we love, we leave our selves open and vulnerable, to being hurt, perhaps having our hearts broken, and ultimately loosing the very person we love through separation, abandonment, and or through death. There are worse things than death, but nothing greater than love. It transcends and heals all things of the heart, and love casts out fear.

" I am afraid of the things that cannot hurt me, and I know it. I yearn for things that cannot help me, and I know it. What I fear is within me, and within me too is what I need. "
                                                                                   
                                                                              -  Chassidic Quote

Three of Cups - Joy

 Cups are the suit connected to emotions, relationships, , community, fellowship, friendship and romance.
In the Three of Cups, Eros and Psyche are portrayed being wedded to one another. A joyous occasion.
Joy is state of mind, and a feeling that is cause to celebrate. In today's world it seems joy can be hard to find.


Having a grateful attitude is a habit that can help us to celebrate joy in our lives. By not minimizing the simple  things, or not taking things for granted, this can greatly increase our feelings of joy. Our happiness is proportional to maintaining this daily habit.

The Three of Cups represents the initial completion of abundance, happiness, love, being loved, and emotional fulfillment. It's time to celebrate.
Relax and take credit for a job well done. There are successful ventures ahead. Life is unfolding and the journey is just beginning.
You may be moving toward retirement.

Along with the joy there can be a certain flush of romance and life that is full of promise and with it comes deeper experience of the heart, that is reached through both happiness and sorrow.

 “All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still 'about to be'.”
                       - C.S Lewis, Surprised by Joy

Five of Cups - All Is Not Lost!

This card, the Five of Cups can represent some of the most difficult obstacles in our personal life, particularly in regards to our relationships, that are tested over time, and there are often regrets over past actions relating to betrayal. Not intentional betrayal of another necessarily, but toward one's self, and being honest.

It feels like we have lost absolutely everything we love, dreams have been unfulfilled, our hearts are completely broken, and we wear the cloak of mourning, as if there has been a death.
We say to ourselves " If only..."

The Five of Cups can look like a very bleak card, full of despair. Psyche who has betrayed Eros, desperately runs after her. The four cups are spilled on to the floor, but the fifth cup remains full and standing. But Psyche takes no notice. The full cup represents, all is not lost, if we take up the challenge and commit to making a brighter future.

Depending on our attitude towards our circumstances, struggles and difficulties we find ourselves in at present, it can feel impossible to see the lessons, to be gleaned from the situation. We can become myopic, and can't see the forest for the trees. We may find ourselves in denial about what has happened, getting caught up in our sadness, and trouble hearts. We don't see what there is to be grateful for, and there is to be learned. The cup isn't half full, it is full.

We can rise from the ashes as a stronger individual, having an attitude of gratitude. This make all the difference in our happiness.

Loss, tragedy, and heartbreak can give us insight, and even epiphanies. These can give us experience, strength and hope, that we can share with to others. Solutions hide in our obstacles. This has truly been my own experience.

Today all too frequently, people are either rushing into relationships or trying to get out by running away. We often don't slow down, and reflect on our lives long enough, to take an inventory of ourselves, to figure out what it is we really want, or need. Too often we want what we can't have, or don't want what we have, and then wonder why happiness seems to elude us, instead of appreciating and accepting, what we do have. Certainly if I am not happy within myself, we will never be happy with another, regardless of my circumstance.

We all experience loss in our lives. Some people experience more than their fair share of loss, but they are able to overcome, and they inspire others through their example, turning their weakness into strength.