Humble Alder

 Tree Wisdom Cards ~ Alder

"You Are Enough". I've seldom found that to be so, I'm often my own worst enemy. Yet a little research shows me a lot of our everyday furniture is alder based, and black alder bark has been used for centuries, it contains the anti-inflammatory salicin, which is metabolized into salicylic acid in the body. Big timber men think of alder as junk wood, but it is a backbone of the industry. 

So yes, I can see myself as alder, the backbone of my humble selfness. I've always known I'm no Sequoia... but I'm enough. 

Extincted

 Tree Wisdom Cards ~ White Lilac

Social Confidence. An odd thing happened on the way to social functioning again. After a year with no company, when Elle and Harvey arrived this week... turns out the dogs have become unsocialized. Xavier and Xing-Xing, our puppy mill doxies went nuts, Xingy even had Elle's cuff in his mouth! Total reversion from the gentlemen with impeccable manners they had become. Fiona, she of sweet nature and mild manners went berserk. 

I'm wondering if this is a microcosm of the forty-seven mass shootings we've seen in this country this year. My mind turns to politics and I want to spew. Instead I'll turn to our new trees, stroke and speak to them, admire the pink blossoms now on the weeping crabapple, the enormous bloom coming on one of the magnolias, and appreciate the color beginning to show on our existing lilacs. Nature will still be here long after we've extincted ourselves. Good for it. 

Moderation

 Zillich Tarot ~ 7 of Cups

Self delusion, passion turning to obsession, overdoing to extremes. Easy to do, hard to step back from. The excitement of the chase, the thrill of possession, the ashes of no meaning at all. 

Moderation is a hard lesson to learn.

Princess of Health

 Zillich Tarot ~ Princess of Discs/Page of Coins

"you really like me!" Sally Field. "they really want me!" Kaiser Research Study. When we were in our 50s we were part of a years long study in relation to the feasibility of giving shingles vaccinations to people in that age group. Prior to approval of the study they were only available to those 60 and older. It was interesting and fun. I'm currently in a worldwide study for the experimental implant in my eye. Also interesting and fun. And gives me hope. 

Today we were invited to apply for acceptance in one or more of a number of studies related to dementia or cancer, both of serious interest to us. 

In a world where people will believe in anything and nothing, to me, it is important to be part of the long term truth. We are willing to put in the time and effort for those who have yet to experience these terrible diseases. Maybe their results will be better than ours. 

The Rest Of The Story

 Zillich Tarot ~ Fool 

A boy and his ox, working fertile soil. Typical innocent though, he is still heading for the cliff as he has his focus turned to Sirius. I'd have not got all that without my magnifier and the little companion book. When I was growing up the radio offered Paul Harvey's program "the rest of the story". A news story would be presented and then the announcer would boom "but here is the rest of the story". Something about the background of the person of interest, or the backstory of how things came to this state. 

Even as a little kid I got it...the concept of without the full story we didn't produce intelligent opinions, we were just shooting in the dark. Perhaps that was even the seed of my info-junkiedom. The Fool is always destined for an interesting journey, but without forethought he will also stumble and fall when it isn't necessary. 

Real Hugs

 Zillich Tarot ~ 9 of Cups 

We have friends coming this afternoon. Real hugs from real people after fourteen months. How cool is that? 

And second eye surgery this morning, more sciencemiracle. I'm going for a 9 of cups day all the way. 

Stuffed Squeeze Purse

 Zillich Tarot ~ 6 of Coins 

Advantageous circumstances. Remember those squeeze rubber coin purses businesses used to give away? Both my grandmothers used them. That is what my life feels like right now, my squeeze purse of advantageous circumstances is stuffed. Old fashioned or not, I'm one lucky person. 

Looking At The Moon

 Zillich Tarot ~ Moon

Always my favorite card in a deck, but considered a darker card by readers in general, one of madness, illusion, broken dreams. Zillich associates the phases with Artemis, Selene, and Hecate or maiden mother crone. Which I think is a modern construct, but whatever if I wanted a deck to always tell me the same thing, I'd always use the same deck. 

I'm a bit maiden/crone this week. I've worn glasses since I was sixteen, this week, even with just one eye done I've discarded them. But I look like people do who have always worn glasses, we look like we should still be wearing them. I think It's the 'glasses eye bags'? But imagine this time next week after the second eye is done. I'll probably be able to see through Rob's clothes. It's be our little joke, ok? He'll be wondering why I'm following him around. Looking at the moon :) 

Claritized

 Zillich Tarot ~ 3 of Wands

The birth of spring, raw energy, clarity of purpose. Clarity seems evasive to me this morning. Am I expecting a lightning bolt? A clear straight road? A book to tell me how to be/get claritized? 

Better I just continue my deep spring cleaning...something will come to me. 

Personal Truths

 Animals Divine ~ 7 of Wands

Steadfast, true to myself, my standards, my beliefs. Sometimes it's lonely...there are as many opinions and beliefs and conspiracies out there as there are people. 

When I was little I believed everything everyone told me, after all everyone was an authority over me. As time went by I realized people lie, people have agendas, people are still believing what they were told without thinking about it. This is better. 

Stop And Reflect

 Animals Divine Tarot ~ 6 of Swords

Under shady palms during the midday sun...stop, reflect, take inventory. I started the week with spring cleaning, so far kitchen and living room top to bottom. Now my eye is healing, neither one working very well, and with serious depth perception problems, I'm mostly sitting. Counting my blessings, watching the new trees start to bud out, the weeping crabapple even has some color starting! Making fresh greek yogurt, love my little instant-pot. I'll  live, it is just a couple of weeks. 

ScienceMagic

 Animals Divine Tarot ~ Magician/El Loco

Generations of science but my first cataract surgery seems like magic to me. Can't wait to have the second eye done next week. One example? From my pillow I could read the clock on my nightstand. I haven't been able to do that for at least twenty years...magic!

Hearing No Saying No

 Animals Divine ~ Moon

Good omens for today, Moon, raven, and wolf. On the other hand this is Odin who apparently had never heard the word NO and could have benefited from it. Hearing no, and saying no bring balance into our lives, and as always, seeing the moon makes me happy. All good on the western front. 

Determination

 Animals Divine Tarot ~ Chariot

Freya on a boar with a companion lynx. I haven't got much in common with Freya other than a sense of determination. As a driving force in my life though, it could be considered my spiritual chariot. 

Lynx is a great scrabble word isn't it? Played right you could ride that one to victory...

Reevalueate

 Animals Divine Tarot ~ 7 of Swords

"Reevalueate priorities". Don't know about anyone else, but that is what I've spent the last nine months doing. January-June 2020 were mostly the get on a horse and ride in all directions at once stage. From then on I seemed to get my brain organized in a manner that has taken me in more focused and useful directions. 

I've made deeper learning a priority. I've explored subjects new to me. I'm trying my hand at a new hobby which is giving me great pleasure. I've reorganized some of our basic habits. My 7 of Swords has been a mining for treasure in my mental backyard and I've indeed found value to carry me forward.