Lifted By The Phoenix

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 10 of Wands

A skeleton falls to it's knees in a pile of ash as the Phoenix rises behind it.

I write frequently here about moving on, getting over it, facing forward not backward...but occasionally there are situations that are worth revisiting, retrying. Sometimes things do work out right. Not often enough to quit moving but it is comfort to know occasionally the burden does drop away.

"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story." ~ Orson Welles 1915-1985

Interesting and Unpredictable

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ Knight of Swords

Titled Son of Feathers, he is still an apprentice, allowed to try his wings with different experiences until one day, ultimately fully fledged, he is ready to settle in as King.

I'm reminded by this card I've had a feather in my bonnet for years about artist/authors changing the suit names and recently decided I am no longer using non-standard suit names on my blog. As a Knight I too am allowed to test my wings in many different ways, keeping life interesting and unpredictable. As a Knight I am an adult and can choose rather than have choices made for me. Sometimes less is more.

"Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom." ~ Gautama Siddharta 563-483 BC

The Drummer

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ Knight of Wands

Deep in this card there is a drummer, the shamanistic spiritual carrier of the song of family.

I'm reminded by this card we are what we came from, what we choose to be, and what we are becoming. There is no static place in life, only in death. We are the root, the caretaker, the singer of the family song. So be it.

"Who knew that he was gonna be the drummer? It's weird, and it's a blessing. ... He was the hyper guy of the family. Dad said he needed ... something to use all that energy." ~ Henry Garza 1978-

Anew

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ Ace of Wands

It is always a pleasure to start each day with a clean slate. I do get sick of doing the same things over and over; I mean who invented eating? Day in day out so much perfectly good time is spent getting cooking eating releasing. On the other hand even in the limited life I'm leading at the moment it is fun to draw the first card and see where it will take my mind. See what the chickadees juncos and nuthatches will get up to at the suet feeder. Wait for whatever Xing-Xing and Xavier will do that will elicit a belly laugh. The ice on the pond the blue of the sky the smell of cedar, how many clean spoons I can get away with before MIL has a fit.

I'm reminded by this card that life is good and I'm happy to be here. Where ever here is on my life path to somewhere beyond.

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." ~ Elwyn Brooks White 1889-1985

Misconceptions

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 6 of Swords

My childhood bedroom winter window, rimed with ice, looked like this feather network today. Looking through it gave a flawed perspective of reality.

I'm reminded by this card how easily misconceptions about people can happen. We base our opinions on first impressions which freeze in our brains, disallowing for the multiple aspects that make up personality and character. We really never finish knowing someone until they or we die. A treasure trove awaits when we thaw our brain and explore our fellow travelers.

Think Thank Thunk

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 10 of Cups

Another ten...amazing. One of my memory aids when first working with the cards was: Swords are discovery, Cups are thoughts about that discovery, Wands are actions on discovery and thoughts, Coins are the result of discovery, thought, action. If we acted on every thought we have we'd be too busy to breathe...thinking is a good thing.

I'm reminded by this card, as a quiltmaker my process follows the same pattern, a lot of the building of a quilt occurs on 'the working wall of my mind'. Even when I've had brilliant ideas, they have always been improved by a good cogitation...My current Hanged Man position is the result of long term mulling, I thought about how I could serve my in-laws best for nearly three years before I made the offer. That working wall time has served me well. Just some thoughts on thoughts as 2009 draws to a close.

"It is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so." ~ William Shakespeare 1554-1660

Pay The Piper or Pay Yourself

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 10 of Coins

A lovely draw for Christmas day, and not surprising to see another ten at year's end. Our last chance to rebalance our earthly concerns in 2009.

I look at this card and I see a seed and tree rings. We can seed our future with savings and investments that grow interest rings, or we can do the same with debt that seems to circle us with interminably growing interest expense. Like everything else in our lives, a choice between want and need.

"Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment." ~ Mark Twain 1835-1910

Feathers

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 10 of Swords

I've been researching the history of the Inca Maya Aztec and Toltec cultures recently and have studied ancient Egypt for many years. What these five have in common is they all lost their advanced civilization status; they forgot how to be wise.

Eh? What does this card have to do with lost civilizations? This card reminds me that the feather is a beacon of hope, a powerful prayer in and of itself, a sigil even in the darkest days; the difference between finding our way out of the dark and choosing to stay in the dark.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.
And sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." ~ Emily Dickinson 1830-1886

Thoughts Become Actions

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ King of Wands

Many of these cards look like quilts to me, utilizing some of the gorgeous batik fabrics we have available today. This card could easily stand for an artist in the throes of creative fire, acting on the images flying through his head.

I'm reminded by this King or Father of Fire as the artist titled the card, idle hands create a fertile ground for pointless worrying; busy hands offer that mind solace.

"Among the notable things about fire is that it also requires oxygen to burn - exactly like its enemy, life. Thereby are life and flames so often compared." ~ Otto Weininger 1880-1903

Life Values

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 3 of Coins

Space which contains a footprint and Om.

I'm reminded by this card that the material world can be a cruel and unforgiving place if we judge our needs by someone else's yardstick. We fight age yet it is only in our 40's and beyond that we really begin to appreciate self and potential and recognize what an enemy ego can be. The best kept secret is that middle and old age present us with mental emotional and spiritual gifts that far outweigh the value of youth.

"To hold the same views at forty as we held at twenty is to have been stupefied for a score of years." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894

Shadow Ripples

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ 5 of Cups

Every action we take causes ripples, from shallow breath to birth or murder. We seldom take into consideration every action can and does ripple inward also.

I'm reminded by this card some days those pleasant shadow ripples inward are all we have. Other times we swirl in the hateful eddies. We hold the power and we can control our mind and choose which direction to ride those waves.

"Do not suppress it-that would hurt you inside. Do not express it-this would not only hurt you inside, it would cause ripples in your surroundings. What you do is transform it." ~ Peace Pilgrim 1908-1981

Mamma's Boy

Daily Draw: Margarete Petersen Tarot ~ King of Coins

My first draw from this gorgeous art deck, and I think I'll not be looking at the book any more. It indicated this King (or Father as it is titled on the card) of Coins entire life course is based on unquenchable desire for his mother. ??

I've been thinking about this for an hour, and was very tempted to just put the card back and start fresh. But you know what? Life doesn't work that way, we get what we are dealt and the best way is always to deal with it. Ignoring something we don't want to cope with is a loser's proposition and takes our own power away from us. Not going there.

"We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions." ~ Jessamyn West 1902-1984

The deck this week is the English language/second edition of the Margarete Petersen Tarot, published 2004 by Konigs Furt, beautifully boxed and including a seventy-two page booklet. The cards were painted over a period of twenty-two years in Germany, Bavaria, and Switzerland.

Hedjet

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ 9 of Coins

Wearing the ancient Hedjet crown of Upper Egypt, a Pharaoh is shown at the pinnacle of his reign. Everything is cooking on the front burner, peace is in the land, the Nile has never heard of a drought, and life is good. At least if you are on the top of the pile.

I'm reminded by this card that often we don't recognize this in our own lives except in hindsight. After the job folds or someone dies, or the house burns we wonder what we ever had to complain about, before. My life is awash in blessings. Small and large they are equally important because they all are part of the whole.

"Don't curse the effect, if we continue to nourish the cause. Any day we wish we can start the process of life change." ~ Jim Rohn 1930-2009

Revolving Crowns

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ Queen of Wands

Some readers will first pull a significator from the deck to represent the querent. Often with women it is the Queen of Swords (take no prisoners) or Queen of Coins (no wants no worries) or Queen of Cups (I'm in love falala); not so often the Queen of Wands. By the time you've reached Queen on life's journey you are no doormat for anyone, least of all the Queen of Wands but she is the go-to lady when you need help, comfort, attention, nurturing. She is the get-er-done chairperson, the iron hand in a velvet glove.

I'm reminded by this card and the Queens how each plays a part in the life of adult women; needs must require us to wear a revolving variety of crowns in the course of our days. In the not too distant past I had a pretty good Queen of Coins going and she is even now bubbling under the surface. Next month I'll bring out the Queen of Cups to celebrate our 40th anniversary, I'm the luckiest woman in the world. But day to day these times I'm a combination of Queens of Wands and Swords...I protect and serve. As caring gigs go, this is a great one, I wouldn't be anywhere else.

"It is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off." ~ Woody Allen 1935-

Have And Haven't

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ Five of Coins

The first thing I thought of when I saw this card was a gentleman I met yesterday. From my point of view he had the best of everything; a top of the line Scoot, dressed in clothing that cost more than my entire wardrobe, living in a stunning environment that starts at $3400.00 a month...not that money is everything by any stretch, but all he could do was complain. The seats were too hard, the service was too slow, it was too hot, he was in a cold draft, the food was lousy, he didn't like who he was setting next to, the weather was rotten...it was depressing me to be around him so I left. Who needs it?

I'm reminded by this card in hard times or good, we need to focus on what we have, not what we haven't. That way lies madness.

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." ~ Eric Hoffer 1902-1983

Patience Grasshopper

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ Knight of Coins

A knight card without a knight. Usually a card of movement and growth which recognizes I am not in a position to move or change anything right now.

I'm reminded by this card that a horse without a rider holds plenty of potential. While I've been here this past year caring for a FIL being overtaken by age and dementia I have also been gifted with time to think. I've laid a plan for future income in place. I've learned to admire and respect the man behind the scary man everyone else knows. My time here has not been fallow, but a time of ripening...

"Patience Grasshopper." ~ Master Po

Magic

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ Magician

The essence of the four elements, perfectly balanced.

I'm reminded by this card that perfect balance is magic, because achieving it is nigh impossible for we mortal beings. There are days though that have been remarkable in their seeming perfection. These memories are like gold stores that can be drawn upon when life's equilibrium has gone south.

"You live eighty years, and at best you get about six minutes of pure magic." ~ George Carlin 1937-

Ma'at

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ High Priestess

Ma'at, who weighs our heart against a feather at death. A personal and national concept of truth, balance and order.

I'm reminded by this card what matters is walking the walk...talking the talk is counterproductive and ego driven.

To reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge." ~ Deepak Chopra 1947-

Sobek

Daily Draw: Nefertari's Tarot ~ Devil

Sobek, like many Egyptian gods was both worshiped and reviled. Much like the Devil today...

I'm reminded by this card of the lip service we give to living a clean life while embracing the seven deadly sins.

"People who cease to believe in God or goodness altogether still believe in the devil. Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult." ~ Anne Rice 1941-

A deck of luxury this week, the golden Nefertari's Tarots from Lo Scarabeo. First published 1999 as Tarot of the Sphinx, Lo Scarabeo added it to their gilded specialty line in 2000. Art by Silvana Alasia, the Nefertari differs from the blue toned Sphinx deck in that Nefertari's art is mirror imaged and the background of each card is heavy gold gilt with black borders.

Which Door?

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Queen of Cups

This card is represented by Jane Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Jane and Charles Bingley who loves her are separated by officious family and friends who think they know best.

I'm reminded by this card of how often we rely on and even seek the advice of people who don't know us like we know ourselves. We give our own power and destiny away when we don't give ourselves credit for having the brains to make our own choices.

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~ J.K. Rowling 1965-

Loving Thoughts

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Ace of Cups

This card is represented by Emma, a woman who thought she didn't care a fig for men or marriage...until she fell in love. Where rational thought departs and emotional thought begins.

I'm reminded by this card of the power of love and the great heights and depths it can drive us to. I lift my cup today to the glory and joy contained in that four letter word.

"Love looks not with the eyes,
but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." ~ William Shakespeare, Mid-Summer Night's Dream, 1595

Coping or Mastering?

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ 8 of Coins

From Persuasion, we see Anne Elliot 'taking care of business'.

I'm reminded by this card how some people seem natural born doers and organizers, some people recognize the need and train themselves to be able at life, some people are oblivious to the need and walk through life leaving a shambles in their wake. In the end we are what we choose to be, natural talents or not.

"Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backward, or sideways." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr

Rational Thoughtfulness

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Ace of Quills/Swords

From Persuasion, this card represents Anne Elliot's rational reasons for refusing Frederick Wentworth's first proposal. The seven years that passed before the second proposal was a time of growth and maturing that no doubt gave the marriage a much stronger base.

I'm reminded by this card that snap decisions that don't take all sides into account and enthusiastic immaturity can all add up to a lot of years of regret. Our divorce courts offer endless examples. This Ace of Quills simply asks us to use our brains before leaping with our heart.

The mind is its own place,
and in itself
Can make a heaven of hell,
a hell of heaven." ~ John Milton 1608-1674

Conditional vs. Unconditional Love

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Hanged Man

This Hanged Man is represented by Fanny Price of Mansfield Park. A character many find uneasy to love because she is a little too good for comfort. But Fanny knew how precarious her position was; in those days poor relations often became basically servants of the household that took them in.

I'm reminded by this card of the difference between being a martyr and service given unconditionally. Something I've been thinking about a lot this week. And what the underlying reasons are behind no.

"It requires great courage to preserve inner freedom, to move on in one's inward journey into new realms. It is often easier to play the martyr." ~ Rollo May 1909-1994

Dodgem

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Hermit

Mr. Bennett uses his library as both refuge and escape from an ill-matched wife and the responsibilities of five daughters.

I'm reminded by this card of the times I've done the same and been sorry afterward. Avoiding making decisions means someone else makes them for us, be they friend or stranger. Better that we steer our own ship.

"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities." ~ Josiah Charles Stamp 1880-1941

Poor and Accomplished Meets Rich and Vain

Daily Draw: Jane Austen Tarot ~ Temperance

This card relates to Emma Woodhouse and Jane Fairfax and their prickly relationship. Poking fun at something she isn't intelligent enough to appreciate is Emma's answer to many things. As she matured in life she realized some of the traits she disdained are useful, even admirable.

I'm reminded by this card that rounding our social and moral corners are part of life and growing up. Many things I thought I'd never do, I've done, because life required me to grow up and stand up and be counted. I've learned to analyze and observe when someone's behavior rubs me the wrong way. Do I react because it is behavior I haven't had the maturity to fold into myself yet? Temperance asks us to judge less and keep our mind open to any potential for personal growth.

"Fools! not to know how far a humble lot
Exceeds abundance by injustice got;
How health and temperance bless the rustic swain,
While luxury destroys her pamper'd train." ~ Hesiod, 800 BC

I've tried to read all of Jane Austen's books and never made it past the first couple of chapters in any of them, so why do I have the Jane Austen Tarot kit? Because it has a well written comprehensive book by Diane Wilkes that accompanies it. Published by Lo Scarabeo in 2006, art by Lola Airaghi.

Thoughtful Expression

Daily Draw: The Fifth Tarot ~ 8 of Stones/Discs

"We are the divine expression of the creator, and what we do becomes our creative expression of the divine".

I think I'll sticky-note that to my brain. It would certainly remind me to walk toward the light with my daily words and acts.

"Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace." ~ Karl Barth 1886-1968

Pulling Our Own Socks Up

Daily Draw: The Fifth Tarot ~ 6 of Fire/Wands

Subtitled Inspiration, this card speaks of leadership and some of the ancient examples world peoples have called upon or followed. Good bad or indifferent, role models have always had chinks in their armor, but they all stand out because they have taken their lives into their own hands, none of these six would ever be called hand-wringers.

I'm reminded by this card of how often people sit and wait for someone else to create their miracles and tell them what to do. We see this all the time as readers, querents want to be told what to do, told what will happen rather than using the cards to inquire deeper into themselves for hope, ideas, strength, and inspiration. I don't have any answers for the world, but I can encourage querents to recognize where their real power is...our true answers always lie within.

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." ~ Audre Lorde 1934-1992

Introspection

Daily Draw: The Fifth Tarot ~ 8 of Fire/Wands

The art on this 8 represents fusion of fire and water. We know the time of action is coming, in preparation we have gotten prickly and withdrawn.

I'm reminded by this card, like the 4 of Swords, it is ok to step back from public life, in fact would be a good idea for everyone occasionally. A personal retreat to refocus on what is important and what isn't. It is easy to forget to do that in the rush ahead, busy make work, modern life. We waste an incredible amount of time and energy doing we know not what.

"Let anyone try to cut a thought across the middle and get a look at its section, and he will see how difficult the introspective observation is. The rush of the thought is so headlong that it almost always brings us up at the conclusion before we can arrest it. Introspective analysis is in fact like seizing a spinning top to catch its motion." ~ William James 1842-1910

Blueprint, Choice or Fate?

Daily Draw: The Fifth Tarot ~ 7 of Lotus

My first draw of the Fifth suit, titled Divine Blueprint. It refers obliquely to the seven Chakra and those times when we feel invincible, sparkling and chock full of energy, full of good health mentally and physically and spiritually.

I'm reminded by this card that the older we get the fewer of these days come together...but oh how glorious when they do. With the onward slide of boomers into geriatric and proclivity to bariatrics there are a whole lot of us looking at a pretty bleak old age. Throw in pensions that have bombed and what we have left is what our own physical and mental attitude will provide us. Do we choose grey and greyer or opt for the hard work of pulling our own colorful socks up? In so many respects our core is the key to life and something we give very little thought and time to.

"We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places." ~ Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt 1950-

Cut The Cord

Daily Draw: The Fifth Tarot ~ Cosmic Man

Many times when we are in the Hanged Man position we've chosen to be there. Other times we are suspended there because we don't know which choice to make. Or we are here because we have a mess to clean up before we go on. Procrastination is the biggest life waster on earth.

I'm reminded by this Cosmic Man that no matter how alone we feel, we aren't. Any decision we are faced with, somewhere someone has already walked this path. Just knowing that in our heart can give us the strength required to cut the cords and get our life moving again.

"Do not plan for ventures before finishing what's at hand." ~ Euripides 480 BCE–406 BCE