Rising Unemcumbered

Daily Draw: Merry Day Tarot ~ Judgement

An image of release from emotional stagnation, judgmental attitudes, unchained of ego.

What a rush that must be. I doubt anyone has ever achieved it, but as a goal it can't be beat.

"It would be...heartless terror. Yes. Terrible, and...Very great. To shed your skin, every old skin, one by one and then walk away, unemcumbered, into the morning." ~ Tony Kushner 1956- Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches

Try Something New Learn Something New

Daily Draw: Merryday Tarot ~ Hierophant/Student

At number seven where the Chariot normally sits Poole has assigned Student. No longer the Hierophant who interprets sacred mysteries but a knowledge seeker who may some day be a teacher in turn.

For my 'try something new' I just ordered a digital magazine back issue. For my 'learn something new' the excitement is ramping up for my Dirty Little Secrets course. Our first pre-course assignment  is turn up a new or past dig in our own area. I have my nose to the ground on the hunt...

"I've always been a student of this life, not a teacher. More of a sponge than a fountain." ~ Louis Chunovic Chris-In-The-Morning: Love, Life, and the Whole Karmic Enchilada

Good For Our Character

Daily Draw: Merry Day Tarot ~ Strength

A maiden drumming on a bodhran for the enjoyment of her saddled dragon. Not something you see every day.

I'm reminded by this card the saddle is probably painful to the dragons wings, but there he sits in Poole's vision of quiet strength. Gold stars to all of us who do things we'd rather not, all for the common good. No doubt it is good for our character...a momism I've heard a thousand times.

"And though I came to forget or regret all I have ever done, yet would I remember that once I saw the dragons aloft on the wind at sunset above the western isles; and I would be content." ~ Ursula K. Le Guin 1929- The Farthest Shore

Walking

Daily Draw: Merryday Tarot ~ Hermit/Teacher

To have hermitage and solitude be of any use, the Hermit must reenter and interact in society as part of the cycle. To learn from and share with others, recognizing the value of that exchange.

 Julia Cameron calls this refilling the well and I can attest to the usefulness of the process. Ware the fine line between walking alone, walking with others, and hiding.

Giles: "They came after me, but I was more than a match for them".
Buffy: "Meaning?"
Giles: "I hid." ~ Joss Whedon 1964- Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Mission Accomplished

Daily Draw: Merryday Tarot ~ 10 of Wands

I had another post here based on my own visual mistake. Which brings to mind...
Perhaps someone said bricks and she thought they said sticks?

I wonder how often we screw up our lives by mistaking what we see or hear for something not remotely connected. It is a happy accomplishment when we can catch it and fix it. 

"When they were giving out brains, you thought they said grains, and you said "Make mine oatmeal"
When they were giving out noses, you thought they said roses, and you said "Give me a big red one"
When they were giving out heads, you thought they said sheds, and you said "I'd like a wooden one"
When they were giving out looks, you thought they said books, and you said "Give me something funny"

Spark The Fire Of Creativity

Daily Draw: Merryday Tarot ~ Empress

This is what it looks like here, now. The lily pads and wild daisy are blooming like mad, the silver birch have their new bark. See her petting the bunny, discretely so as not to ruin the pose?
That action makes this Empress one of my favorites because it makes her approchable.

Subtitled creative...what are you creating this three day weekend? Go with the Empress, make it beautiful and useful. And fun, life is short.

"Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke 1875-1926

I'm using the Merryday Tarot, sometimes called Merry Day. Louisa Poole is the artist and author of the two part companion book, one half on personal numerology, one half covers each card of the deck and why she renamed or revisioned some of the cards.

Sorry Isn't An Apology

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ King of Cups

Looks a bit worn to the nub doesn't he? This is Mark, husband to Isolde, who loved Tristan.

I'm reminded by this card just how mean we can be to the ones who mean the most to us. I don't know why, perhaps we think we will be immediately forgiven if we placate with a swift sorry...

"I felt her absence. It was like waking up one day with no teeth in your mouth. You wouldn't need to run to the mirror to know they were gone" ~ James Dashner, The Scorch Trials

Fearless

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ Knight of Wands/Staves

Siegfried is said to be fearless and clever. I'm not sure a state of fearless exists.

I'm reminded by this card you can be scared spitless and still be the bravest brave person there ever was. Perhaps fear protects us better than fearless, as long as we don't let it cripple.

"I'm not saying right is wrong,
It's up to us to make the best of all the things that come our way.
There's four and twenty million doors
On life's endless corridor" ~ Noel Gallagher 1967- Masterplan

Loggerheads

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ Temperance/Balance

Venus and Vulcan. Coupled by the gods, as opposites their marriage was stormy, mostly because Venus sampled every man she met.

I'm reminded by this card their marriage survived because the opposites that kept them at loggerheads in the beginning eventually melded and became the glue of deeper understanding and completion.

"You're not the person that I knew back then" ~ Avril Lavigne 1984- It's Complicated

Seldom The Same Thinks

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ Queen of Swords

Venus, a practical open-eyed woman whose had and seen it all, who knows what is wishfulness and what is real. 

All these swords remind me I have an oddball medical appointment coming up. I've had a month already to think about it and every time I do I decide to approach it in a different direction. Such is the human mind and time; seldom the same thinks two days running.

 "... insanity is never reasonable." ~ E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

Nasty Character Trait

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ Knight of Swords

Waldherr presents Cupid as this knight, and as a type of righteous hall monitor, self appointed. Ever watched Cadfael?  An image of Brother John smarms to mind.

I'm reminded by this card of the times I've been there, pointing out someone else's wrongs, Monday morning water-cooler judge and jury. Eeeuuu.

"Lord, save me from a religious man." ~ Billy Graham 1918-

Isn't All A Bad Thing

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ 10 of Swords

Venus and Cupid come to real understanding and wisdom which finally allows them to 'live happily ever after'.

I'm reminded by this card there isn't a happy ever after, but if we gain true wisdom from our mistakes and heartaches then the 10 of Swords position isn't all a bad thing. Only painful in that it had to come to this by our own thoughts and actions.

"Never laugh at live dragons." ~  J.R.R. Tolkien 1892-1973

A Bird In The Hand

Daily Draw: Lover's Path Tarot ~ 9 of Coins

Danae, wife of Zeus and mother to Perseus led a life of spectacular ups and downs. We see her here, taking nothing for granted but full of appreciation for what she has.

I'm reminded by this card, the next time I get crabby about being out of milk, or a hole in my sock, feel free to kick my (Y), as I am the luckiest girl alive.

"There is more to life than simply increasing its speed." ~ Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948 

This week's deck is the gorgeous Lover's Path Tarot. Art and 162 page companion book by Kris Waldherr, 2004. One of the most beautifully presented sets U.S. Games Systems has ever published.
Each suit portrays a classic love story, Arrows show Cupid and Psyche; Staves show Siegfried and Brunnhilde; Cups show Tristan and Isolde; and Coins show Danae and Zeus. Each major card, many renamed, represents a singular story from mythology.

I'll Consider It

Daily Draw: Crowstones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~ Bare Tree and Lightening

I looked at the little booklets that came with these two oracles today. What the authors  define as Grief and Tower was the draw.

 I'm reminded by this stone and egg the past is over and gone and the future never behaves as we hope or expect.

I'm reminded by the little row of my daily draws to Rise above it, Get going, Let it be, and Celebrate life. Can't beat that kind of advice but it has to move beyond the stones, into my mind. I can do this. And have done. And will again. I'm only human after all, not that that has ever been an acceptable excuse for any kind of behavior...


"We considered behaving, but it's against our nature." ~ O.R. Melling, The Book of Dreams

Break A Habit Or Two

Daily Draw: Crow Stones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~ Goblet and Ouroboros

Ahh. Celebrate and completion, something that has gone full circle. Hummm.

I'm back to working at believing and living like I'm cancer free. With practical suggestions from a book.

The last load of laundry is in the dryer, again. Talk about a never ending circle.

The week is cycling around, again. I think it was just Friday a week ago wasn't it?

I'm reminded by these tokens most of life is a circle, in part because we like it that way. And part from sheer habit. I think I'll break a habit today.

"I am a Smedry, and we do ridiculous, unexpected, eccentric things like this all the time! ~ Brandon Sanderson 1975-  Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens

Discourse On Judgmentalism

Daily Draw: Crow Stones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~Mask and Noose

Actually half of a mask, a noose, and there on the right midscene is a mote in the camera's eye. Makes an interesting read...

I may believe someone is up to mischief,  which is in turn hanging me up, because I'm not taking into consideration mischief I might be up to. In other words crap in crap out. Get a life Sharyn, none of it matters.

"Sermon on the Mount and Sermon on the Plain" ~ Matthew and Luke

Buzzard and Bindle

Daily Draw: Crowstones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~ Crow and Bindle

There was a turkey buzzard in the yard when I got home from work yesterday. I was sure one of my little hens was dinner and shot out of the car and over the fence before I realized his talons had been empty when he lifted off.
All small beaks were accounted for to my great relief. I'll put some corn down for the crows today, they are great harriers of birds of prey.

Then I'll put my banana and pb&j sandwich in a sack and will be off north. It is a good day to be on the road, overcast and cool. I'm reminded by this stone and egg, sometimes the message is mundane but it's always there.

"The face is ruddy and wrinkled and topped with an embarrassingly sparse cap of feathers.  Its expression is uncommonly serene and there is something about it that suggests infinite patience.  Huddled on their perches, wrapped in shabby vestments, the birds look like a group of balding monks gathered in prayer." ~ Pete Dunne The Wind Masters

Bin The Old List

Daily Draw: Crow Stones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~ Sad sack and Pomegranate

Hmmm, When our attitude is unhelpful it puts its seeds of discontent into every part of our life.
Or. Pull that face at a party and all the guests will sing "every party has a pooper that's why we invited you".
Or. It is alright to have a sad or off day but keep it in perspective because everyone else has them too.

I'm reminded by this egg I keep promising myself to buy a pomegranate and I sail right past them. What is that all about, and how many simple things do I have on my list that also get bypassed? Time to widen my viewpoint or make a new list...

"Fun fact #1 about pomegranates: Pomegranates are awesome.
Fun fact #2: Pomegranates are like little explosions of awesome in your mouth.
Fun fact #3: A lot of people think you're not supposed to eat the seeds of a pomegranate - but that's not true, people who tell you that are liars, and they don't know anything about life, and they should never be trusted." ~ Tahereh Mafi 1988- Shatter Me

Round File

Daily Draw: Crow Stones and Oracle of Eggs-pression ~ Letter and Key

I've still got a stack of unopened personal mail on my desk that goes back nearly a year. Perhaps dealing with it is one of the keys to getting better.

I just dropped it in the round file. That is the best I can do but it is an action.

"Was this a betrayal, or was it an act of courage?" ~ Margaret Atwood 1939-  Der blinde Mörder

True Truth

Daily Draw: Oracle of Eggs-pression & Crow Stones ~ crown and starfish

A new source of thoughtspeaks...Crow Stones from Robyn Tisch Hollister and Oracle of Eggs-pression from the heart and mind of By The Sycamore Tree.

I'm reminded by the crown and star to use my brain as it was intended, to think clearly and knife through all the carpola we are bombarded with, to see the truth as it is, not as I might wish it.

"Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.'" ~ Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931

Overwhelmed

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ Balance/Temperance

Temperance falls at number six in Chesca's reordering, and is related to the threes. She combines air and fire, land and water, positive and negative, grounded and creative, into one person balanced and at peace.

I see the Tommyknocker green overwhelmed with natural strength and  health, healing beams going straight into my brain and then through my entire body. Why not? The world moves on and with it, you and I.






"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them." ~ C. joybell c. 

Clarification By Obfuscation

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 7 of Wands

Some readers pull a clarification card when they haven't got a clue what the cards in front of them mean. Then they read the one card. Sound familiar?

I'm reminded by the clearance card we do this in life too. We don't see that stubbornness or timidity or habit is a problem and we cling to all the losses it has caused, making an enormous carbunkle out of what was once just a pimple. We need to skip the complicated how come and why should I reasoning and take a hard look at the boil.

"It is hard to lead a cavalry charge if you worry about  looking funny on a horse." ~ Adlai Stevenson II 1900-1965

Once I Wasn't

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 7 of Cups

I freaked. I absolutely panicked when I lost my little sister so suddenly last year. We all knew we want to be cremated but beyond that nary a thought crossed our minds.

My panic was that we'd all be scattered to the four winds and lost forever to each other. So I rushed off to Montesano and bought plots on either side of my folk's stone, bought slabs, (monument speak for headstone) and had all our names inscribed. They should be set in place next week. Maybe no one else will be planted there, and the cost was painful, but in my mind we are all together again, the whole family we once were. It gives my heart incredible comfort.

"Once I wasn't
Then I was
Now I ain't again"

East Give Street and Take Avenue

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 9 of Cups

This card reminds us to not only give with open hand and heart, but to receive the same way. 

I'm reminded by this card about the odd proclivity in myself and the people I know, when gifted by word or deed we immediately start pointing out all the reasons we are not worthy. Nonsense, we only need say thank you and appreciate that someone appreciates us. Gratitude is a two way street.

"I know what I have given you...
I do not know what you have received." ~ Antonio Porchia 1885-1968

Too Late To Edit

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ Wheel of Fortune

In Chesca's ordering the Wheel falls at 12 and is related to the 6's. The outer edges are living hazel, coppiced into a loom. The loom stretches across infinity and encompasses the living universe. She cautions us to have a care with our weaving; too tight leaves us with no room for compromise, too loose can keep all good outside our grasp. The Wheel itself is based on her Year Wheel.

How do you view the Wheel when it comes up? Although I see myself optimistic, what comes to mind is "oh good, the bad stuff is moving on". What I'm missing is life totally in the moment and if I keep looking forward I'm missing the present...which can be improved upon. Often the idjot in me misses that obviousness.

 Yosemite Sam: Oooh! You carrot chompin', flop-eared, bob-tailed rabbit! I hope your innards turn to outards and your ears go visey-versey! Why you low down, flop-eared, son of a kangaroo! You'll pay for this, you dog blasted, ornery, no account, long-eared varmint!
Bugs Bunny: Eh...(munches on a carrot), Maybe we can fix it in the editing. ~ Warner Brothers

Tommyknocker Glow

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 3 of Wands

Look at all that green and the caduceus and the wiggly bits on the cloak . More healing radiance.

I'm reminded by this card that what heals can also kill.
What kills can also heal.
What heals can also kill. 
I'm having a procedure today that offers both options. 
Fa-la-la, I'll think about something else.

"This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived." ~  Chris Cleave 1973- Little Bee

Blunt Trauma

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ Justice

Chesca Potter places Justice at number four and associates it with the minor twos which hold attraction, challenge, decision, and injustice. In these acts are the plots of the Boston Marathon bombers. Which brings us back to Justice.

I'm reminded by this card no one ever said life is fair, or balanced, or even honest. What it does give us is consequences of our actions. Which also are not always fair, balanced, or honest. Blunt trauma indeed...on the other hand for today's journalists,

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." ~ Albert Einstein 1879-1955

Mess With Life

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 6 of Arrows/Swords

Life is transition but there are points of departure that do stand out as significant. Moving = new job, school, church, roots, companions, doctors. When I had  my salon I had several women tell me finding a new hairdresser is harder than finding the right doctor. Life messes with us in so many ways...

I'm reminded by this card we in turn mess with life, and isn't it a great thing? In many respects we are the captain of our own boat and if we don't like the direction it is taking look inside at the one steering.

"But I don't blame you anymore, that's too much pain to store...it left me half dead...inside my head. And boy looking back I see I'm not the girl I used to be. When I lost my mind, it saved my life." ~ MoZella (Maureen Anne McDonald) 1981-

Protection

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ 4 of Stones/Coins

A doe will plant her fawn like this one under the dolmen, or in tall grass or ferns, and will then leave to take care of whatever business a doe has. By nightfall she will be back to gather the fawn.

How many ways in a day am I protected, just off the top of my head?

• Homeowners, auto, medical insurance
• Rob
• roof over my head
• car in perfect running order
• employment
• food
• Mother is safe

Those are majors, but I also have littles: safe ladders, umbrellas, good shoes and socks, sturdy hen coop, heat, sunscreen, roof on my deck, windows, bug spray, gloves...this list could go on for days.  And I am grateful for the protection of it all.

"Life is so complete that even when we are knocked on our backs, we have the best view of the stars." ~ Laura Teresa Marquez

Doctorate Of Stability

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ Greenman/Emperor

The site is gone now but the book I refer to for this deck was offered freely on the Chesca Potter website. It varies from the published book by Mark Ryan in some content and how the majors are numbered. We have the Greenman standing for the emperor, numbered eight, and associated with the minor fours.

My being brave wallpaper shows hundreds of thousand of sunflowers today with one huge healthy tree. The Greenman's strength and stability is that tree today; I see the oncologist in a few hours, I have a problem with a rib bone. I'm glad to have the full force of that positivity with me today and also hope for a good laugh on me this time tomorrow.

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." Marcus Aurelius April 27, 0121-March 19, 0180

Be Still

Daily Draw: Greenwood Tarot ~ Queen of Arrows/Swords

The white hart is still while healing swirls around her.

I'm reminded by this card trying to outrun everything isn't always the best solution. Mostly though, it is the only solution my mind allows...

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." ~ Rumi 1207-1273