Little

 Animism Tarot ~ Two of Coins

Cheung offers the kangaroo as an exemplar of the 2 of Coins, and says, in the ups and downs of life hold what is dear, lift it when it falls. 

We had a raider in the henhouse last night. We built a fortress, following every good idea we found on Backyard Chickens Forum. While our neighbors lost four henhouses full of hens to racoons, weasels, marmots, fox, coyote, who knows what over the years, our fortress has held steadfast.

Yet we lost Little in the fray before I could get there, and buried her this morning under the Grand Fir where they take their dust baths of a sunny afternoon, hold their gab fests, poke fun at Rusty Boy their rooster. And today we'll re-refortify. And hold what's dear. 

Always Scathing To Be Had

 Animism Tarot ~ 6 of Wands

Two Sixes in a row, night and day. This Six is about finding the way though and coming out the other side unscathed and on top. Been there too...except for the scathed part...there is always scathing to be had. 

One way to the top side, always celebrate the good.

My niece and nephew came yesterday, tons of hugs all around.

Went to the beach yesterday, tea and Long Beach Bakery donuts in the sun watching the Pacific Ocean roll in, luxury and joy.

Where I had three teeth pulled Monday is starting to settle down, won't be long before I can chew rather than gum..

The Gladiolus are blooming, great glorious bouquets all over the house!

My childhood friend Theresa called this week. Hard news, but so good to hear her voice and laughter. 

One Minute At A Time

 Animism Tarot ~ 6 of Swords 

Promoting the theory via the  Adélie penguins that adversity makes us stronger and we are given no burdens we can't bear. Not buying that or there wouldn't be any suicides. Hardship can make us seem stronger, if we have a fighting or stubborn nature; sometimes, life is one minute at a time, all we can take or do. 

Some times, in the dark days, I'd just lay down on the floor of whatever room I was in, that was as far as I could go. Once I dropped my shopping and ran out of a quilt store because the owner was on a rant with a friend. Once I crawled to the back wall in a Target and huddled there with my hands over my head because a child was pitching a fit. I have lots of breaking points, that broke, so I'll never tell anyone 'you can take it'. Maybe they can't. All I can offer is a hug, heartfelt, knowing there were days when that would have made a difference for me. 

Probably

 Animism Tarot ~ Knight of Swords

The Greyhound, focused, going like the wind, giving his all to achieve it. 

I'd never call myself a Knight or a Greyhound, but I am focused on moving my life along, living each day each day as if it were my last, planning on living forever. Seems to be working. I think. Probably...

Ideology

 Animism Tarot ~ Page of Coins 

The original Prepper... but ready for hard times, not end times, two totally different mental spectrums. 

I'll take the squirrel's ideology every time. 

Casting Threads

 Animism Tarot ~ Wheel 

Makes me dizzy to think about every word and action creates a thread. Just how big is my web now? How many shining routes now dusty and broken? How many are the really long ones, the leap of faith it took to make the jump and actually end up on the other side. 

I'll cast more threads today, already started, 4:30 AM and I'm sending emails looking for white fountain pen ink, standard cartridge. :) Life, always good for a day of thinks. 

Set Upon

 Animism Tarot ~ 5 of Wands

Many 5 of Wands show representations of a more structured manner of settling disputes, learning to communicate to avoid strife. This little guy seems set upon, and triggered my support the underdog chord.

But is he? Is he being bullied or harassed or endangered or is he being menaced by some hanging fronds and is it all in his mind? When we are little this sometimes seems the case because everyone else is bigger, louder, stronger and our self-defense mechanisms are on hair trigger.  Our 5 of Wands times gives us opportunity to learn how to cope and react, organize our mindset in a healthy way. I wish this little guy all success on his journey. 

Now Moot

 Animism Tarot ~ 10 of Cups 

Companionship of some type, comfortable surroundings, a level of contentment that may not have been mentally attainable in mid-life, the later years are here. We live with whatever bungle we've made of family, whatever financial stewardship we managed, what is left of our mind and energy and the time to use them to our benefit. 

Old age. Who amongst us ever thought we'd be here. Yet here we are. Better here than in the family plot too soon. I have a plan for today, and can look forward to tomorrow, and cast yesterdays aside, they are now moot. I'm lively and as young as I choose to think. Life is good.

Odd Lot

 Animism Tarot ~ 7 of Cups

Sorting out the darkness, in order to choose a path. No too terribly many options for a Polar Bear, but we have access to information he doesn't have. What we choose to believe and act upon drives our results. Funny how when things work out we congratulate ourselves, when they don't we lay blame right and left. Humans. Odd lot. 

Luck

 Animism Tarot ~ 9 of Cups 

Have I ever said 'they are So lucky'? Reckon so. And sometimes luck does seem to strike out of the blue, but mostly I believe luck is what we make it. Attitude and effort. Probably took waiting for luck much of my life to make me see that reality. 

Better late than never. Changing my attitude mid-life and putting in the work where I wanted luck to strike has created a really amazing 9 of Cups life. And Bear represents my solar plexus chakra!

Cope And Excel

 Animism Tarot ~ 2 of Swords

Cheung  presents our panther as blind, yet able to use its other senses to not only cope but excel. Life is nothing but choices, day in day out, big 'uns and little 'uns. I'm pretty proud of how I'm dealing with failing sight, not so much how I'm not coping with failed family relationships and a nation divided. 

Perhaps it is because I can't do anything at all about the last two that makes me feel so ineffective and useless. I'm thinking I need to take tea with Buddha, and practice some more mindfulness of what is, and detachment from what isn't. 2 of Swords...gotta deal with it. 

Dry Horse

 Hermetic Tarot ~ Moon

As they say in movie making, my mind today is a dry horse. 

Fulfilling

Hermetic Tarot ~ 10 of Cups

The chalice and lotus above tip and fill the cups and lotus below, again and again. Fulfilling; a wonderful word, even better when put into action. 

We think self-fulfilling prophecy's, I'm clumsy, I'm dumb, I'm excluded. I will win, I will finish, I will persevere, I will learn. I am filled with joy, I am thoughtful, I am a credit to my sex. Where our mind goes so goes our cup. Simple steps to reap a fulfilled life. Why choose to live with a cup filled with bitter brew and ashes? 

We All Get One

Hermetic Tarot ~ 2 of Coins

Continuous change, mad to glad, confusion to clarity, hot to cold, it is the scope and breadth of our lives. Some so gradual we don't even note it, other times rapid, tower-like. 

Life. We all get one. What we do with it makes the differences between us. 

Being The Plow

 I Ching Pack ~ Hexagram 35

Titled Seeking Reward in this translation. I prefer Progress, in the course of our life. We start out being the plow, then the creature pulling the plow (didn't we celebrate that day!) then the person guiding the plow, when we realize being in charge isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

Then we recognize we can actually be the foreman of our life, learn to make wiser choices, and begin to live a fuller life, receiving and giving in balance. I can live with that.