Old Age Isn't For Sissies

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ 5 of Flame Songs

This card rather defines my life at the moment. My 91 year old father-in-law is slowly losing his short term memory and grasp on the present. When I'm at rest I'm not at rest, I'm pulling up every trick and resource in my own memory banks to stave off the inevitable chasm of change. Today we mowed the orchard and thinned apples while agreeing to disagree on whether he owned two identical Dodge Ram pickups and where the second one was.

I'm reminded by this card there is nothing new under the sun, but sometimes we can look at a problem from another viewpoint and gain some insight.

"I am in the prime of my senility." ~ Joel Chandler Harris 1848-1908

The Fool On The Hill

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ Fool

I've drawn this card as my daily card three times in the last seven days. It is a lovely fool card, the only one I can think of where the fool actually sees where a leap of faith, or bad judgment might land her.

While I think my thoughts about all the choices offered by this card, which has reminded me of something different each time, I thought I'd put the same song in your head that has been running through mine all week. This song always struck me as melancholy, which is the sort of mood I'm in, being away from home so much lately.

Fool On The Hill
(The Beatles)
Day after day, alone on the hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still.
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool.
And he never gives an answer .....
But the fool on the hill, Sees the sun going down.
And the eyes in his head, See the world spinning around.
Well on his way, his head in a cloud,
The man of a thousand voices, talking perfectly loud.
But nobody ever hears him,
Or the sound he appears to make.
And he never seems to notice .....
But the fool on the hill, Sees the sun going down.
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning around.
And nobody seems to like him,
They can tell what he wants to do.
And he never shows his feelings,
But the fool on the hill,
Sees the sun going down.
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning around.

Trompe L'oeil Towers

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ Tower

There are Towers and then there are Towers...Death, unexpected job loss, divorce, birth, all Tower events that alter our life and require us to change and regroup.

But I'm reminded by this card and my own actions yesterday that we can manufacture tower event reasoning out of anything and use it as an excuse for destructive behaviors. This morning I'm kicking my (Y) and am back on track. False Tower reasoning be gone.

"No experience is a cause of success or failure. We do not suffer from the shock of our experiences so-called trauma - but we make out of them just what suits our purposes." ~ Alfred Adler 1870-1937

I'll be computerless again until probably Saturday, no posts...

Fishing for Potential

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ 7 of Wave Songs

There are times in our lives when we feel everything is stable; we are contented and/or our needs are being met, and change doesn't interest us. All that can change in a moment and suddenly we start thinking about moving house, changing jobs, having a baby or realizing the empty nest is upon us, death, divorce, spring fever...

I'm reminded by this card that the potential for change is always there and it is good to dream a little dream, explore potentials, just be open to the idea of change, sometime. Even good changes can be stressful, a little pre-thinking can eliminate much of that stress. What kind of potential ideas can we draw into our net today?

It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things." ~ Donald Miller 1971-

Kodak Moments of Nurturing

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ 4 of Flame Songs

Are you a people watcher? I love to sit and people watch; in the 10-30 seconds someone might be in my personal viewfinder I can assemble a life story, condensed version. I don't have any children so I particularly like to watch family groups, there is a whole gamut of information to be had there, nurturing levels included.

I'm reminded by this card that there is no perfect child or parent, but I was blessed with parents who always did their best by us and most importantly our home was filled with love, we always had enough to eat, and there was never any question about shelter. Some of my little girlfriends loved to come stay over at our house because they were amazed and delighted to see two parents who hugged each other often and for no reason other than they loved each other. A foreign concept to some kids.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." Yogi Berra 1925-

Can't Live With Them, Can't Shoot Them

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home: 10 of Waves

You've probably heard the old saw in the post title above and it usually refers to family, singularly or in the plural. And we usually say it when we set out with unrealistic fairy book expectations.

I'm reminded by this card that when the chips are down family is what hold you up. That when there isn't any time for unrealistic expectations to warp our actions and reactions, families really do measure up. Bless them all, both sides, God Love 'Em.

"Those who think the family has had its day should think again." ~ Eva Burrows 1929-

It Sees Me

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ 9 of Swords

I wonder if humankind would have any conscience at all if they thought no one would ever know what they were doing.

I'm reminded by this card the most powerful guide and critic we'll ever have is ourself. We pretty much know where we measure up on lying, theft, fidelity, nurturing, cheating, cruelty. It is the small things each day that can eat a heart away and make life a living nightmare for the soul.

"What can you ever really know of other people's souls - of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? One soul in the whole creation you do know: and it is the only one whose fate is placed in your hands." ~ C.S. Lewis 1898-1963

*I will be away from my computer this week, but not my deck!

Small Cogs

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ 3 of Discs

I miss having a storefront business or a go-to-job. I work plenty hard as an entrepreneur but I have no schedule...and no noticeable memory so it is hard to remember what day it is. My 91 year old father in law has the same problem. We've worked out a system of dating the eggs he collects so several times a day he knows what day it is. What all that has to do with the three of Discs I'm not sure other than the questioning pose and the arm full of Discs/eggs brought it to mind.

I'm reminded by this card that any job worth doing has some kind of underpinnings or foundation. No matter how small, each cog is critical to outcome of the whole.

"Beware of the person who can't be bothered by details." ~ William Feather 1907-1976

Retire?

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ 10 of Discs

I'm a worrier and that is a fact. We don't have enough saved for retirement and that is a fact. The all-knowing sites that help work out retirement needs say we should have around $600,000.00 in stocks/equity/cash/Roth/pension. And I can look around and see we will very probably live well into our 80's and possibly our 90's, approximately 30 so called Golden Years.

I'm reminded by this card that life is mostly what we make it. We have each other when many folks are truly alone. We are healthy hard workers. We have a farm where if needed we can be the source of our own meat/milk/eggs/produce. We are happy with a simple low key life. And that is what I see reflected in this beautiful 10 of Discs card.

"An elegant sufficiency, content,
Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books,
Ease and alternate labour, useful life,
Progressive virtue, and approving Heaven!" ~ James Thomson 1700-1748

Re

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ Ace of Cups

Regrets? I have a few. Opportunity for rebirth, renewal, restarting? I'd have to think on it.

I'm reminded by this card that regrets and redos are part of what make or break our character. We can wallow in wishing or we can go forward smarter and stronger. I have only two regrets...one thing I wish I had done, and one thing I wish I hadn't done. The rest of it I can live with knowing today is a new day and I have the opportunity to be a better person, to others and to myself.

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets." ~ Arthur Miller 1915-2005

Get A Job...

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ Queen of Swords

The Queen of Swords is the inner voice that tells us to turn our hat around, pull our pants up, and get a job. She is also the one that says 'that isn't good enough'.

I'm reminded by this card that common sense advice and nagging share a close relationship. If we think someone is nagging us, we need to pay more attention. Somewhere back there is a nugget of advice we choose not to heed.

"Nagging is the repetition of unpalatable truths." ~ Edith Clara Summerskill 1901-1960

It's All About Me. Or Is It?

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ 8 of Swords

I've been learning about ego this month. For those of us that are self educated it often takes time to get around to subjects we might have been better served learning about in our early years rather than our later ones.

I'm reminded by this card that what I do is not who I am. If I can let the worldly labels slide off I can become closer to who I really am or can be, inside. And perhaps how to write a sentence which does not contain the word I.

"Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight." ~ John Bradshaw 1933-

Rock Your World

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ 9 of Wands

In this version of the 9 of Wands we see the trapped figure who has turned to face the light rather than the serpent and the dark.

I'm reminded by this card that this option is always available to us, as is our choice of a optimistic or pessimistic life. Because choosing seeing the light rather than the dark is the sort of life choice that will rock you to the very foundations.

"We have long forgotten the ritual by which the house of our life was erected. But when it is under assault and enemy bombs are already taking their toll, what enervated, perverse antiquities do they not lay bare in the foundations." Walter Benjamin 1892-1940

Criminitley, Just Get It Done Already

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ Prince of Swords

I really have to watch myself or I find myself in this Prince's position of overwhelming a situation. I hate fiddle-farting around, just get it done and get on with the next task. Some personalities live on fiddle-farting and thinking things to death. So I must walk softly with my big stick, lest offense be incurred.

I'm reminded by this card of the ongoing saga of the falling-down-garage-door. I Prince of Swords it yesterday and I'm glad I did it. In this case let the pieces fall where they may.

"We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them." ~ Abigail Adams 1744 - 1818

On Being Human

Daily Draw: Stella's Tarot ~ Ace of Discs

I was reminded once again today that what we need appears when we need it. It has happened so many times I shouldn't be surprised but I always am.

I'm reminded by this card that I am human. Utterly endless frailly human. But it's ok. Everything works out in the end.

"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better."

Stella's Tarot is the deck of the week, Directed by Stella Kaoruko, painted by Takaho Hoei. This is the full deck by AGM AGMuller 2008.

Flick of the Bic Life?

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home Tarot ~ Flame Creation

I've been the Queen of Wands all week!

I'm reminded by this card that within all of us lies the spark that ignites, but more importantly, nourishes the flame to full creation. It is dead easy to have a flick of the bic life, anyone can do that...but to start and finish seems to be a lost art.

"Let the flames of inspiration ignite, consume, and transform you. Like the legendary Phoenix, you will rise from the ashes and soar." ~ Molly J. Anderson-Childers

I Am Here, Now

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home Tarot ~ Chariot

I'm reminded by this card, that when the mad monkey in our mind forces us to later, tomorrow, next week, next year; or yesterday or last week, or 40 years ago...we just created an eclipse for this moment. How much of our life have we completely missed by not showing up for the current moment?

"You haf too much Ego in your Cosmos." ~ Rudyard Kipling 1865-1936

The Pieces Begin To Fit

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home Tarot ~ 6 of Earth Songs

Many of our life lessons aren't learned by doing, they are learned through hindsight.

I'm reminded by the puzzle pieces in this card how pleased and relieved I am that everything seems to be coming to a smooth conclusion, for the nonce anyway, in one of the most troubling but rewarding areas of my life. Looking backward I can see areas I could have tweaked but when dealing with six difficult personalities all I can say on reflection is I did the best I could with what I have to give.

"There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle." ~ Deepak Chopra 1947-

Obsessions

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home Tarot ~ 5 of Wave Songs

Ever been burned up by obsession? I've talked about some of my obsessions before which is why I have my three week rule.

I'm reminded by this card that need isn't the same as want, that we can be possessed by the idea we just have to have something, be it cards, automobile, or baby. I'm reminded to look around at what I have, which is more than I need, and step back from the wants.

"Passion is a positive obsession. Obsession is a negative passion." ~ Paul Carvel 1964-

Innocence

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ Flame Innocence

That crossover time in our life, of which there are many, when we realize there is more to life than what we know/see/do ourselves. It can be frightening, off-putting, exhilirating...

I'm reminded by this card that a closed mind is a double pronged killer. It kills the things we wish to keep at bay, but at the same time it kills the things that can make a life worth living, a life worth celebrating, a life of true joy and peace and personal power.

"Innocence is like an imprisoned lark,--open the door, and it is off forever. The bird that roams through the sky and the groves unrestrained knows how to dodge the hawk and protect itself; but the caged one, the moment it leaves its bars and bolts behind, is pounced upon by the vulture." ~ Thomas Chandler Haliburton 1796-1875

Straggly Shrubs?

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ 8 of Earth Songs

This is quite a lot more exuberant than my lifestyle, but it says to appreciate and reap the rewards of being at the top of my profession. I have a tendency to take my work less than seriously because if asked I describe myself , with tongue in cheek, as an entrepreneur with multiple streams of income.

I'm reminded by this card that just yesterday I had a phone call and a long email from two different people praising and thanking me for jobs well done. Sometimes after awhile we have a tendency to see ourselves as the shrub in front of window...not at all. After 20 years the shrub is way overgrown and straggly and needs a good trimming; reminding it of its original purpose and like that shrub I think this card is reminding me of the same thing. To remember who I am and what I do and why.

"Natural ability without education has more often attained to glory and virtue than education without natural ability." ~ Cicero 106 BC - 43 BC

Everything Is Coming Up Roses

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ 9 of Wave Songs

What a lovely card to draw for the first card of the new week.

I'm reminded by this card of all the fun I had with my red hat chapter for four years. It was a crazy thing for me to start, Ms. Loner herself, but I made some good friends and even more important in my mind was learning that I could have fun. Fun for no other reason that the having of it. I've long since moved on but the lessons in just having fun have stayed...And I do! Some lessons are a long time coming. It shouldn't take us until our 50's to learn how to have fun.

"Fun is good." ~ Dr. Seuss 1904-1991

Songs For The Journey Home comes from New Zealand; 197 page excellent book by Catherine Cook, wonderful creative art by Dwariko von Sommaruga.

Tibetan Oracle Overview

I've spent a number of pleasurable hours working out my life specifics according to my Four Pillars of Destiny. It has been amazingly accurate as I look at my life backward from this mature end of the spectacle.

The complete lack of Water in my life shows up everywhere. I'll be working on that, it is never too late, right? After all, even in my 50's I could easily live another 40 years, best to make to most of them.

I can also see why to have this done professionally would probably cost an arm and a leg, it is quite time consuming even if all the generalities were ensconced in memory. My accountants mind likes that there are so many checks and balances, really in a quite straightforward way of working. I'm definitely going to be doing some Pillars of Destiny for others. Thanks for learning along with me this week~Now what will I learn next week?

"Truth, righteousness, peace and love — these are the four pillars on which the mansion of happiness is built." ~ Sathyanarayana Raju 1926-

Four Pillars of Destiny

Daily Draw: Tibetan Oracle ~ Four Pillars of Destiny

Further analysis of my Pillars shown in yesterday's post.

• Natal Year Card animal and element (Metal/Rabbit) give an indication of character.
  On the Natal Month Card the element is more important than the animal. (Earth/Dog
• The Natal Day Card has the animal (Ox) showing our true self, the element (Metal) shows us which days are auspicious for doing things.
• The Natal Hour Card animal (Monkey) weighs in more than the element. (Fire)

In doing some research in Feng Shui and Destiny Pillars I see two schools of thought. Those who think the addition and placement of colors and things will automatically result in more money/love/health etc. And those who know setting our intent makes us work to bring what we need into our life.

"When you drop or spill something, instead of getting upset lie down next to it." ~ Grandmother's Feng Shui Wisdom, Chantal Monte