Plan!

Greetings!

Hope your week's been treating you well -- I've had another busy one here.  Got to most of the things I had planned -- as well as a few that weren't planned. 

The biggest unplanned one was a dentist visit for a toothache that turned into a massive root canal ordeal.  Had that Wednesday; am still drugged up because of it.  That, combined with my carpal tunnel hands, has resulted in some very interesting typing and spelling.  Every time I hit the spacebar, I also hit the "m" key.  I'm going back and correcting as I type, but I'm sure I'll miss some.

Let's jump into a reading for this weekend -- again, we'll pull two cards.  First offers a starting point -- second suggests where we can go if we implement that starting point.

Our first card -- is The Emperor!

Interesting -- we began with this card in our last reading!  Guess he's not finished with us yet.

Rather than repeat what this card suggests (it's the same as last time), I'll just short-cut it a little.  The Emperor is about preparing to ensure a good, solid infrastructure -- not about enjoying the results of that infrastructure.  The Emperor cares about planting the fields rather than thinking about the harvest -- because he knows you have to plant before you can harvest!  Because of this, he usually sees the big picture and plans well for the future.  He doesn't get impatient waiting for results ... he knows that if you prepare properly, the results will come in time.

Well, if we take the long view ... if we plan things out and prepare accordingly, what can we expect?

Our next card suggests exactly that -- the Three of Cups.

This is a celebration card -- it suggests that things work out and we attain success.  Furthermore, it's more of a "we earned it", not a "we were given it" type of success.  You have to work for it -- but if you do, you gain the success you deserve.  Furthermore, since you do work for it, you'll appreciate it more!

So -- think about spending a little more time planning.  I know it's easiest just to "go with the flow" and deal with things as they happen -- but if you really want to attain something, you're best served by following a plan.  Whether that's schooling or experience to gain a better job, wanting to further a relationship, or even advancing to better housing, you'll further your chances of success by careful planning --and then following (and adjusting as necessary) that plan!

That's it for now -- hope you have a great weekend!

Woodsong

Make It So

Hi All!

Hope your week's begun well -- I've had one of those days where you're so busy you don't notice time passing.  S'good most of the time -- except when you notice the time and say "Oh no, I wanted to do the reading this morning!"

Back to that in a minute -- wanted to tell you about something fun that I did the other day.  Way back in my ill-spent youth, I used to play in a rock 'n roll band.  Played bass, guitar, and keyboards.  We were actually pretty decent and toured around the southern states.

Played in a jazz band in college -- and playing in a band with horns is a really cool experience.  That was all many, many years ago, though.  Haven't played in a group since.

Until the other day -- found a local Meetup group of younger folk and "old farts" who get together each month to play old standards.  I was originally supposed to play trumpet, but the keyboard player didn't show so I played keys instead. 

It was a complete blast!  We played old blues, Buddy Holly, BB King, Ray Charles, Elvis, Allman Brothers, Santana, etc, etc.  Even took solo's on the organ -- something I haven't done in over 35 years!

So now I'm motivated -- there's also a jazz group with brass section, so I'm practicing on my trumpet (actually a cornet).  You may remember me talking this summer about a jazz class I took -- I'm able to apply all the jazz information to trumpet and it's really opened up my eyes (and ears).

I had forgotten how much fun this stuff is!

Enough about me -- let's jump into this week's reading.  We'll again pull two cards -- the first offers a beginning point to think about; the second offers tips on how we might best implement the first card.

Our first card is -- The Emperor.

The Emperor is about responsibilities -- he cares for his people and is happiest when they're happy.  The Emperor doesn't care about driving a fancy car -- but he does care about the roads being in good shape.  He doesn't care about having an impressive job title -- but he cares about doing a good job.  He's not impressed with empty titles -- but he is impressed by wisdom.  He doesn't care about symbolism -- but he does care about substance.  He knows that in order for those he cares about to thrive, they need the infrastructure to be effective.

An Emperor moment -- he determines what his people need to be productive, then he puts that in place so that his people can be productive.  Actions please him, not praise or platitudes.

Another Emperor moment -- determine what you need ... then get it done!  Results matter!

How can our next card help us here -- the Queen of Wands.

This Queen tends to be strong, active and confident -- if you need things done, she's the gal you want to talk to.

She has the skills you need to make things happen -- she has focus, she can work independently, she's creative in resolving problems, and she has energy to attack issues.  Most important, she KNOWS she's going to succeed -- mainly because she's done it before.

By the way -- notice that black cat sitting in front of the Queen?  That reminds us that there could be a dark side once this Queen gets going.  She can be stubborn, she can be overbearing, she can drive her subordinates crazy, she can't understand why other people don't see issues the same way she can.  Be wary and try to avoid these traps.

When we put these cards together -- what's that line in Star Trek?  "Make it so."  That's what these two cards suggest.

The Emperor suggests where we should look to find things we can improve -- that we should look closely around ourselves.  The things that matter most will be the things that affect the people we care about (including ourselves!).

Once we've located an area we can improve, the Queen suggests we get right down to "Making it so".  Be focused, be confident, be strong -- we've all been around the block ... we know what we need to do to make things happen.  Again, "Make it so"!

And that's probably a good place to start our week -- let's show ourselves how productive and effective we can really be!

I'll be back later with more -- until then, have a great week!

Woodsong

If you really care ...

Hi All!

I'm day late -- had the day off yesterday and caught up on some reading (and sleeping!)

Read Tarot at the Middlefaire Renaissance fest up in Hillsboro, Texas this past weekend.  It's a small faire, but was nicely done.  I accidentally set up my booth off the beaten track (I was supposed to set up in back of the tavern -- but I couldn't figure out which side was the back.  I guessed -- and guessed wrong!) but still was able to visit with a number of very nice people.

My main incentive was to give my "portable Tarot booth" a test run -- glad I did, discovered some

Portable Tarot Booth at Middlefaire in Hillsboro, TX

changes I need to make.  Also was glad to see it held up well to the relentless winds in Central Texas!

Hillsboro is near Czech country -- we had a school bus of young folk show up Saturday to perform Czech folk dances.  Very energetic and entertaining!  Sunday's dancing was interesting as well -- the "jesters" led the entire royal court in the "Time Warp"!

Only downside is that my carpal tunnel has gotten really intense and painful.  Feels like I'm typing with a catcher's mitt on; I'm mis-spelling almost every word and having to go back and correct constantly.  Please excuse me if you find some errors I've missed!

I'm starting to think I might ask the doctor's to cut after all.

Let's jump into the reading this week!  First card offers a starting point to think about; second card offers suggestions regarding how we can best realize the benefits of that starting point.

Our first card is ... The Empress

This card is a nurturing and compassionate card -- if you think of an Earth Mother, you'll be close to the idea.  This is a caring card -- caring both for people and also for nature.   This is a creative card as well as being a sensitive card.  This card doesn't just want good things to happen to those in her care, it wants to make good things happen.

So -- think of the people you care about, think about projects or issues you care about.  Not only political issues, but also personal issues -- maybe even things like arranging new seating in an backyard garden.  This card wants to care about -- and enjoy -- the physical environment surrounding her.

Now, think about things you'd like to have happen to improve the things and the people you care about.  How can you best achieve these things?  Let's see what our second card suggests ...

Our next card is ... the Ten of Wands.

When you look at this image, you see someone carrying a heavy load.  I get the impression that this person also carried a heavy load yesterday and again on the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before ...

Even though this card suggests a weighty task, this person is not broken down by the task.  He was successful in the past ... and he expects to be successful in the future.  He's learned that hard work is necessary to achieve the things he wants -- and he's not scared off by the challenge.  When he looks at a task, he sees the reward at the end of the task and isn't daunted by the requirements of actually performing the task.

So .. our Empress sees what she would like to achieve -- and our Ten of Wands reminds us that putting in an honest effort is the most assured way of achieving what we want.  It may take time -- and it may not be easy -- but if we put in the effort, it's certain we'll achieve our goal.

Just caring about something isn't enough.  We have to care enough so that we put in the work to get there -- that's the real sort of caring that's most meaningful!

And that's it for now -- will see you again later this week!  Hope you have a good one!

Woodsong