Six of Wands - You've Got A Friend

 I couldn't have ever reached my successes or achieved my goals without the help of my friends. Regardless of what form this help comes, in big or little kindnesses from others it can be monumental, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. This love, support and encouragement should never be underestimated or taken for granted because it can change our lives.

 It's certainly changed mine in too many ways to count, and I am so grateful for my friends and even for those who are not friends because they too have taught me so much about life and love.

Recently I had my 64th Birthday, and was given a surprise party, something that I've never had before in my life. I was completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generousity shown to me, and it will be one of the most memorable Birthdays ever.

 I can say that the kindness of others has changed my life, in that I'm so grateful, because it has deepened my humanity, it makes me want to be a better person and to continue to pay it all forward in whatever way possible.

There couldn't be a better card to draw today than the Six of Wands. Wands represent Creativity, Fire and growth all enveloped in self-confidence and progress.

In the Six of Wands, we see Jason who has finally achieved the goal of finding The Golden Fleece, but he could never have accomplished this difficult spiritual pursuit without the love, support, and encouragment from his friends that enabled him to fulfill his creative vision quest.

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.

Using The Magician's Tools When The Arse End Goes Out of 'er.

Well I couldn't have drawn a better card than the Magician today. I have spent the past three days without my internet or my phone due to unknowingly disconnecting a cable from my router and then I unknowingly connected it incorrectly. I finally figured this out with persistence, and the expertise of a good computer technician I called a few times from a good neighbour's phone..

 Being sick with a rotten cold and flu bug, along with some car problems, all added to my frustration. It takes patience to ride the wave of chaos and confusion, and it can do a number on your self-esteem, your self-confidence, and your overall health, if you let it. We all experience days like this and can feel like we have some dark raining cloud hanging over our head with a universe conspiring against us. We have to make a choice to turn our good days into bad somehow. There is always something good to be found in the bad days, and they can go from bad to good, which makes the good days even better, with the wisdom of patience and gratitude.

Letting go, taking care of yourself  and just riding the wave until calm seas prevail, is the only thing to do, if you have given everything else a try, and then, wait. If not, it's real easy to make things more complicated and difficult for ourselves, in trying to force a solution.

I have to say I have a love hate relationship with technology, and though I certainly wouldn't call myself a geek, nor a Luddite, but I think I'm somewhere in between. Maybe a Geuddite. I enjoy all the benefits of technology but have real negative feelings around how dependent I am upon it, when things go wonky or as they say in Newfoundland, the arse is gone out of 'er. The nature of being human is that we often take for granted what we have, until it's gone.

The Magician reminds me that I do have tools at my own disposal to take care of my mind, body, and soul if I only utilize them on a daily basis, and when I need them. If I do this my self-esteem and self-confidence and my gratitude is much more likely to remain intact.

Time for a hot cup of some honey, lemon, ginger and vinegar.

How Loss and Difficulty Can Inspire You To Change - Five of Pentacles

 Having a financial or material loss can effect your self-confidence, and the faith you have in yourself. Often those who have fallen on hard times, are often blamed for their own misfortune. We may also blame ourselves or someone else for difficulties and loss.

We live in a world that judges others by what they have, or do not have, by what they have done or what they have not done. It is easy to sit in judgement of another, but it is neither fair nor helpful regardless of the situation. Of course we have a right to our own opinion, but it doesn't mean we are in a position to judge without mercy.

 Not many would be have empathy for Daedalus, who has had to forfeit his success, and lost his position because of his unscrupulous character, but he has murdered his own nephew out of jealousy, in order to hang on to his status. Daedalus has been forced to let go, and has hit rock bottom, which will hopefully result in some kind of inner transformation.

Definitely an act of murderous treachery and betrayal and would be punishable by death in another time and place.
I believe retribution, and vengeance are not mine and I am grateful that the God of my understanding, is a God of mercy.

The Five of Pentacles message is a warning to not get caught up in the trap of superficial material gain to define our self-worth, as we are are sure to experience loss and difficulty. We will hit bottom sooner or later, especially if we don't develop a solid inner center within ourselves, where higher ideals are reflected  and manifested in our character.

Anton Bastrykin- Angel of Mercy