Decisions, Decisions ...

Hi!

Hope everyone had a wonderful week last week -- for many of us, it was a Thanksgiving holiday.  For my family, that means great food, great naps, football, and the movies.

We saw "Catching Fire" on Thursday -- really enjoyed it!  I didn't see the Hunger Games, but have read all the books.  The movie was pretty faithful to the book, so had no trouble following it.  I don't get out to the movies all that often, so this was a very pleasant time.

My older son's getting out of the Navy this month.  He had 30 days of leave accrued -- but Navy rules say that he can't take them all at once -- so he came home for two weeks, then is flying back for a week, then is taking the rest of his leave while he's being discharged.  It's been nice to have him home -- in fact, both sons will soon be out of the Navy  (youngest already is).  It was a good experience for both of them and really helped point them in the right direction.

Went and did the nerve test for my hand problems (if I'd have known how much it was going to hurt, I might not have done it) -- they found  some pretty severe nerve damage in both arms.  Haven't talked about the next step yet, but will probably opt for the surgery.

I'd usually be more "talkative", but typing is kind of difficult (well, typing is actually fairly easy.  Hitting the right keys is pretty difficult!) right now, so will be kind of brief.  My apologies; hope to make up for it after my hands are working again.

Almost done -- "Dickens on the Strand" is this weekend in Galveston!  I'll be down there doing tarot readings -- if you're there, come by and say "Hi"! (look for the green-and-red booth -- I think I'm in location 716)

Okay -- time for the reading!  We'll draw two cards -- the first offers something for us to think about, the second suggests things we might consider when doing so.

Our first card is ... The Two of Swords.

The Two of Swords is a decision card.  It suggests times when we're faced with having to make a decision about something -- likely a difficult decision.  What most of us do when facing a weighty decision  is to "stall" -- we're not sure what to choose, so we put it off and don't do anything.  We might say "I'll think more about it tomorrow" or "I'll decide later", but what we're really doing is stalling.

The thing about stalling is that it in itself is a decision -- by not choosing anything, we're committing ourselves to a course of action.  We're having to do whatever it is that happens when we don't choose our own course!

In my mind, it's always better to make your own choices rather than have them be made for you. 

What's the worst that can happen?  You might make a poor decision?  So what if you do?  You just correct it, change your mind, backtrack, solve the problems ... and learn from your decision so you can make a better choice next time!

What do we have to help us make our decision?  Let's look at our next card -- the Nine of Pentacles.

This is a card of comfortable affluence.  This is a person who's made wised decisions based on their personal financial and physical welfare and is enjoying the results of these wise decisions.

What this suggests is that we really take into consideration how our decisions may affect our personal fiscal well-being.  Rather than just going on "gut-feeling", maybe we should run some numbers to see what makes the most sense.  Having issues with the old car and want a new one?  What will is cost per year to maintain the old one?  Will it be more than the payments (plus maintenance) for the new one?  Should you spend a bonus on spiffing up your wardrobe -- or pay off a credit card  instead? 

What will aid you most in the long run?  Sometimes the "wise" decision isn't the "fun" one -- take a little time to try and identify  what makes the most sense.

And that's it for now!  Have a great week -- I'll try to catch you again before "Dickens"!

Woodsong

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

Don't Sit Still

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I'm late this week -- Monday and Tuesday were incredibly hectic!

Some good news regarding my recent theft -- we found out who did it (it was our houseguest).  He sold all the guitars to local pawn shops and a Guitar Center -- they have his picture, video surveillance, and his ID confirming all of this.  My daughter has gone pit bull with ther police -- she called every ten minutes demanding they schedule an investigating officer.  They finally did (probalby to quiet her) -- this would normally take months to do.  She gave him all the information; they've issued a felony warrant for his arrest.  We also have two people who drove him to the local stores who will testify against him (he told them his dad had given him the guitars).  Turns out he stole some jewelry from one of them as well.

Total cost of the stolen items is now over $20,000 ... this pushes it into a more serious felony (doubling the jail time). 

Don't know if I'll get my stuff back -- not sure how it works.  Cops said "Sure, you'll get it back", stores have said "Sure, we'll sell it back to you".

Still, it's a good start to the week for me.  Heading up to Middlefaire in Hillsboro this weekend.  If you're in the area, come pass by and say hello!

How about we jump into this week's reading?

Our first card is -- the Eight of Pentacles.

This card suggests that pleasant feeling we enjoy when we're learning and applying newly learned skills.  It suggests the sort of focus we have during this time.  This type of exercise does take some effort -- but it's the type of effort we don't mind ... because what we get back from the effort makes it worthwhile.





Let's see what our second card suggests about how we might apply this effort -- the Nine of Cups.

I call this one the "Fat and Happy" card -- doesn't mean you'll be fat and happy, but does suggest taking time and being able to enjoy and appreciate the things we've earned.  Sounds kind of obvious, but many of us don't take the time to slow down and appreciate the fruits of our labor.

When we put them together, we might ask "Why should we commit ourselves to a project?"  The answer ... "Because you'll enjoy the process -- plus, you'll be able to enjoy what you've earned because of that effort."

It's hard to sit pat with the skills you may have.  There's always something new to learn ... you never really stop learning.  How can we see this learning process as something to enjoy rather than something to fear?  Just remember how good it feels when you learn a new skill -- you feel so much more capable and pleased with yourself.  Then think about the extra benefits you may gain because of the learning -- new job assignments, praise, maybe even some monetary or physical benefits.

Basically, you become a more capable and better person.  And ... that's how it's supposed to work!  Don't sit still -- keep moving, learning, and growing.  The payoff makes it worth the effort.

And that's it for now -- I'll be travelling Friday, so may not make it in time for the weekend reading ... but I'll try to do so!

Woodsong

Keep Earning It!

Greetings!

Hope your week's been going well -- mine has been pretty busy, but pretty productive, too.

I'm heading up to Middlefaire in Hillsboro, Texas next weekend; had to go to Fort Worth this week and found a new route in the process!  Much easier than what I've normally done.  I can take the same route to Hillsboro, so I'm pretty pleased.

My daughter's off to have some (elective) surgery this afternoon.  I'm not supposed to know what it's for (tatoo removal?  I wish!), but have to take the afternoon off to do driving duty.  I don't mind sitting in waiting rooms -- get to catch up on reading!

Let's jump into this weekend's reading ...

Our first card is -- the Six of Wands.

This card is a celebration card -- it suggests those times when we've been successful and that success is being acknowledged.  The message here is "You earned it, so enjoy it!"  Seems a ridiculously obvious thing to say, but society tells us we should be humble.  Humility is fine -- but you want to be realistic as well.  It's okay to feel good when you come out on top!

There's a slightly darker side to this message, though.  It's saying "You did well today -- but don't get cocky ...  tomorrow's a new day!."  It's reminding us that we face challenges every day.  Just because we're successful one day doesn't mean we don't need to put forth an effort the next day.

And our second card refers to this -- the Three of Swords.

If I were ever tempted to remove one card from the deck, it would be the Three of Swords.  It suggests heartbreak -- great sadness.

In this shared context with the Six of Wands, I see it leaning towards that darker side of the Six. 

It's okay to be confident -- to assume you'll be successful in the future just as you may have been successful in the past or present.  However, that doesn't mean it's automatic -- you have to face your challenges and put forth a good effort to overcome those challenges. 

None of us are entitled -- if you want something, you have to work for it and earn it.  Don't sit back and expect it to happen -- you must make it happen!

Hope you have a great weekend -- I'll see you again next week!

Woodsong

The Sun Will Rise!

Hi All,

Sorry I missed yesterday -- this week's started off very busy for me.

Hope you had a good weekend -- we had some company and did the Renaissance Festival thing.  Had a really good time -- but also had something unfortunate happen.

Some of you long-timers may remember I've had a couple of instances where someone snuck into my house and stole guitars.  Happened again this past week -- they took 16 guitars, 3 mandolins, and a viola (about $15,000 total worth)  What's screwy is they left most of the guitar cases!

We've had a house guest (one of my daughter's friends) who was supposed to only stay for a weekend while his new apartment was readied.  Ended out lasting almost three months!  We don't know 100% that he took the gear, but we do know he constantly left our house unlocked (even after being told not to do so) when he was gone during the day.

We'll do the police report thing this afternoon -- although I'm not expecting the police to do anything.  The first time I had guitars stolen, I watched the thief auction them off one at a time on Ebay.  Reported each one and the name of the seller to the police as it appeared; they did nothing.  The second time I had guitars stolen, my son actually caught the thief inside our locked house (he had climbed in a window).  The police again did nothing.  I don't expect anything different this time.

Anyway, it's a new day and a new week.  Not going to let it get me down!

How about a reading to start our week -- we'll again draw two cards.  The first offers a suggestion to consider; the second offers perspectives we might use to help us think about the first card.

Our first card is -- the Six of Swords.

I've mentioned before that when you see an old black-and-white movie where the gypsy fortune teller pulls a card and says "Oh, you will be taking a trip over water" ... this is the card she pulled.

It doesn't mean you'll be taking a trip over water -- but does suggest some sort of change you might be considering.  One of the reasons we fear change (even if we want it) is because we fear the uncertainty it involves.  "Things might be worse if I change!" True -- but they might be a heck of a lot better, too!

It's normal to feel unsure when you're considering change.  When you're in this situation, it helps to recall the reasons you're considering change in the first place.  Want a better job?  A better living environment?  New relationship?  These are types of reasons for change.  Think about the reasons you desire change and it helps get you over the uncertainty involved in making that change.

Our second card suggests what we may encounter during a change -- The Sun.

Think of uncertainty as a cloud that's masking things -- you're unable to see things clearly; everything is uncertain and confusing.  As The Sun rises, it slowly burns away that cloud -- making it easier to see things as they really are. 

One thing that you always know -- the Sun will rise!  When you're unsure about things, you know that you'll eventually be able to clear away that uncertainty in order to analyze things as they really are -- so don't shy away from issues because you're unsure about them!  Of course you're going to be unsure about something new -- but as you learn more, you'll be able to view and know them clearly.  Just let the Sun rise!

Hope your week goes well -- I'm off on the road tomorrow, but hope to be back in time for a weekend reading.  Talk to you later!

Woodsong

Confidence Gets You Through!

Hi!

Hope you had a good weekend -- we had a wet one!  Didn't get the flooding that other areas in Southeast Texas received, but a good soaking.

Did a little woodworking, watched some football -- fall weekends in Texas!  My favorite time of year.

I appreciate the feedback on the radio show -- and I think the Youtube channel might be the best way to start.  I'll have to find a young person to show me how to use my camera first, but I hope to have something started in a week or so.  I'll keep you posted when something happens!

Let's move on to our reading to start the week -- we'll again draw two cards.  One offers a thought to get us in motion, the second refines that thought so we can best utilize it.

Our first card -- the Knight of Swords.

I've said before, some cards are masculine, some are feminine.  The Knight of Swords is probably the most testosterone-laden card in the deck!  In the deck I use (Robin Wood), the knight has a sword, he's riding a horse ... and it can fly!  What can possibly be more "guy" than that?

This is actually a good card -- it's full of energy and full of confidence.  This knight sees a challenge and is charging off after it.  He's eager to solve the issue!

His weakness is his eagerness -- he's so quick to act that he often misreads the challenge.  He's charging off for a solution in one direction -- but may be more successful if he looks in a different direction.

Sometimes the core issues aren't blatantly obvious -- we have to reason things out in order to understand them.  Only then can we make a careful and thoughtful decision regarding how to approach our problems.

Not to say the Knight of Swords won't be successful -- but he's probably not going to be efficient and may make several false starts before he finds the right course.

False starts can cause us to lose confidence -- we'll win if we stick to it, but constant failing makes it hard to stay the course.

Let's see how our second card can help -- the King of Wands.

If this King were a person, he'd be a very successful businessman -- or maybe a powerful and benevolent statesman.  He's extremely confident -- this spreads to his followers; they become confident, too.  This King believes in himself and in the rightness of his actions.  He knows the right thing to do and he is confident that he will reach the outcome he's chosen.

When we look at both of these cards, we see that the danger of the energetic Knight is that he may lose confidence -- especially if he fails a few times.  The King, on the other hand, is supremely sure of himself.  The King tells us to remain confident in ourselves and our ability to achieve what we desire. 

Let's use the energy of the Knight -- and try to temper and guide this Knight with a little evaluation -- and use the confidence of the King to get us through any temporary setbacks we may encounter.  These are merely stumbling blocks -- we can overcome them!

And that's it for now -- hope your week goes well!  I'll be back with more later ...

Woodsong

Be Optimistic -- New Challenges!

Hi All!

Ready to start a new week?  I know, I know!

The weather took a turn here in Houston over the weekend -- we had a real cold front come through Sunday.  Temps in the low 70's; people in Houston are trying to remember where they stored their winter gear!

It rarely gets really cold (like down to freezing) in Houston.  When it's in the "cool" range (which means anything below 70 and 50 degrees), we break out our sweaters.  When it's "cold" (read between 50 and 40 degrees), we break out the winter coats.  Not sure what we do when it's "freezing" -- it just doesn't happen all that often!

One year, we had a fluke cold front that unexpectedly brought temps down to the mid-40's.  I had no idea where our cold-weather gear was, so ended out sewing up a handful of quick-and-easy fleece earbands (take a look at  Fleece Ear Warmers!)

The only downside to our "cold" fronts is that our normal "hot" weather usually returns after just a few days.  I remember days in February where we hit 100 degrees!

It's not as bad as it might seem -- we spend a lot of time in air-conditioning!

Before I jump into this week's reading, let me ask you a question.  I've been considering hosting a weekly web-based radio show -- probably about a 15 minutes segment.  You could listen to it either online or via phone at a toll-free number.  You can even post questions and comments.

Question is:  Do you think I should do it?  Would you be interested in listening if if I do so?  If so, what times/days do you think would work best?  I did a test show last week at 4:30 CST on Friday afternoon.  Do you think earlier is better?  Or later?  Different day?

I'll look forward to hearing what you think -- just leave a comment below to let me know.

Okay, now lets jump into this week's reading -- we'll again pull two cards.  The first suggests some starting point to consider; the second offers some perspectives we might want to consider.

Our first card is ... The Fool!

It's hard not to like this card.  It suggests innocence, excitement, looking only to the positive and ignoring the negative.  It suggests new engagements, new directions, new potential and possibilities.  It only sees the good side, not the bad side.

True, it sometimes gets into trouble with this approach (it is called The Fool, after all!); but it also can stumble into grand situations.  Remember, this card doesn't mean you follow this approach throughout your experience with a new situation -- just that you let your optimism lead you into potentially good situations.  After all, if we always look at the negative side of things, we'll never get out of bed in the morning!

It's good to be blindly optimistic about good prospects sometimes -- but once we get moving, what should we consider as we deal with issues?

Our second card suggestion -- the Eight of Pentacles.

This is actually a good follow for The Fool.  The Eight of Pentacles isn't afraid of new endeavors.  He enjoys taking on new challenges and learning new skills; he isn't afraid to put in a solid effort to help himself succeed.  In fact, if the Fool suggests the beginning point, the Eight is a perfect mid-point.  This Eight isn't really worried about the end result yet.  He finds comfort in doing the work necessary to lay the groundwork so that he can achieve his ultimate success.  He's not impatient -- because he's enjoying the learning and effort involved in the mid-point work.

Will you succeed?  Maybe so, maybe not -- but The Fool will get you going ... and the Eight of Pentacles helps you through the mid-game.  Play these two right to lay a solid foundation to increase your chances of achieving your goals!

That's it for today -- hope your week goes well ... and keep looking for opportunity!

Oh -- and be sure and let me know what you think about the radio show!

Woodsong

Put the Rabbit in the Hat

Hi All,

It's almost the weekend!  A cold front is scheduled to pass through Houston -- bringing temps down to the mid-80's!  (Well, that is a cold front in Houston).

We've got cleaning and straightening up scheduled all weekend.  Will probably end out not doing anything, though.  That's just the way is seems to go.

My daughter's getting her Associate's degree in December -- went through the process yesterday to get it all arranged.  She's going on to University of Houston in the spring for her BS in Marketing -- they have several campuses in addition to their main one.  They have an excellent business campus in downtown Houston and I think that's the one she'll be attending. 

I told her to consider continuing on for an MBA -- if she plans the courses right, it'll only add another year to her schooling.

It's so hard to go back to school after you're out in the working world (that's assuming you can find a job in this 14% real unemployment world -- but that's another story!); we've been telling her to get all she can now.  I think she's starting to understand that a little bit now!

She's been working at her first real job for the last two months -- part-time waitressing.  Some night's she'll do really well -- like maybe $300 in a three hour shift.  Other nights, not so well - like maybe $8.00 in a shift!  Still, she's starting to see things from a working taxpayer point of view.

In other words, she's now reaching that grown up point where you realize you don't really know everything after all!

How about a reading for the weekend?  We'll start with -- The Empress.

The Empress is a very maternal, nurturing, and caring card.  It suggests taking time to consider personal relationships that matter to us -- to consider ways we can better the way we handle our environment -- and to consider ways to create a better living environment for ourselves and those we care about.





Where does this bring us?  Let's look at our next card, the Three of Wands.

I envision this card depicting someone who is expecting his ship to arrive.  He's done the front-end research necessary to be successful, he's put the pieces in place so that he can realistically expect success.  And ... after doing all the prep work, he's now taking a moment and is expecting to succeed!

He's not seeking success by playing the lottery or hoping for a quick fix -- he's taking the longer but more certain route by doing the right things in order to be successful.


I've been corresponding with a wonderful person for years via this Tarot medium (I'm not going to name her, but she knows who she is).  Recently, I emailed her that "The best magician cannot pull a rabbit out of a hat -- unless there's already a rabbit in the hat!"

The message -- don't worry about the outcome.  Instead, start laying the groundwork so that the desired outcome becomes inevitable.  If that's schooling, then get it done.  If that's work experience, then get it done.  If that's contacts, then get it done.  If that's learning a particular process, then get it done.

Once you've done these things, you've greatly increased your chance and expectations of success.  If you keep it up, success is inevitable.

In this case, since we began with the Empress, I'm thinking we're looking more at personal issues rather than professional issues.  Think of your living environment, your friends and family -- what would you like to improve?  Then ... what can you do to best encourage that improvement?  Start picking away at the obstacles -- once done, you can realistically sit back and expect success.

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

Woodsong

Intuition

Greetings!

I hope your week began well!  Mine started slowly -- had to wait at home all day yesterday because I had a water leak in the attic.

I have two central AC units in the attic -- both used drip pans.  They'd pull much of the water from our super-humid air (Houston) and would drip the condensation into a drip pan underneath the AC unit.  A drain line led from there and exited on an outside wall.

Worked fine, but every now and then the drain line would get clogged.  The drip pan would fill up and start overflowing into my ceiling.  The ceiling in one of my upstairs bedrooms once actually completely fell in from the water!

Turns out it's an easy fix -- just go up in the attic, stick a tube in the junction between drip line and drip pan, and BLOW really hard.  Clears it up pretty easily.

Problem was, I never remembered to go and do it until it started leaking!

So, the last time the AC was serviced, I asked the AC guy to do something about the drip pans.  He complied, eliminated the drip pans completely, and created a drip line straight from the two AC's directly to the outside wall.  Worked great -- for a while.

Turns out this line can clog up, too.  Because of the way the two drip lines joined right at the edge of the roof line, I couldn't get in there to try and clear it up.

I had to call a plumber -- I was kind of ticked because I had asked the AC guy to try and eliminate this problem.

The plumber cleared the line; when he was leaving, he said "You know there's a cap on your drip line you can use to eliminate this problem.  Just open the cap, pour in a bottle of bleach, and replace the cap.  The bleach will kill the algae that plugs the drip lines."

How brilliant!  I wish the AC guy would have mentioned this when he fixed the drip lines!

Anyway, ceiling's not leaking anymore and I'm going to add "Bleach in the drip line" to the yearly maintenance list -- maybe even the bi-yearly maintenance list!

Let's get on to this week's reading.

Our first card is --- The High Priestess.

This is a card that gives guys trouble -- but women tend to identify well with it.  Guys don't like it because we just don't understand how it works -- meaning we don't understand how it CAN work!

The High Priestess is essentially feminine intuition!  It's that special unexplainable something that women use to make mental leaps from one place to another.

I honestly think both women and men have this sort of intuition -- but men tend to ignore it.  Women best use it to analyze complex situations -- instead of having to puzzle out each step, women listen to what intuition tells them -- enabling them to make mental leaps to arrive at the proper solution.

This is a wonderful tool we can use -- but we don't always trust it.  Often, after intuition tells us the leap, we then try to confirm it by rationally analyzing it.  Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn't -- but it always delays us.  Intuition works best when you don't try to explain it -- you don't know why you know something, but you do know that you know (if that makes any sense!)

So, how can we best use our intuition to help use this week?  Let's look at our second card to get some ideas -- The Heirophant!

This is an interesting mix -- the Heirophant is the authority figure, the rule-follower.  He completely ignores intuition -- if there is a problem that needs to be resolved, the Heirophant wants to solve it the tried and tested way.  He's not an innovator -- he wants to follow established rules and methods.

I'm thinking we can combine these two approaches -- follow intuition until it reaches a point where established methods can take over.  If we try to follow our intuition the entire way, we may fail.  If we try to follow the rules the entire way, we may also fail.

But -- when we combine the best parts of both approaches, we best optimize our chances for success.  We shouldn't ignore either method ... but should incorporate each where it best fits.

And that's it for now -- hope this can help you approach any issues you may face this week!

I'll be back later with more -- see you then!

Woodsong

Ready for the "Wochenende"

Hi Everyone!

Wow, the morning is really slipping away.  I keep getting sidetracked!  I'm pretty scatter-brained anyway, so that's a common occurrence.

Need to spend a little time at the sewing machine this weekend -- put most of the covering for the portable Tarot booth together earlier, but need to do some trim and trimming to finish it up.  Will post a picture when I do.  I'll be using it at both Middlefaire (with the yellow and blue topping) and Dickens-on-the-Strand (with a Christmas-appropriate red and green topping).

I have a computerized machine, but I'm kind of geeky/nerdy and really like old mechanical machines.  Something about gears gets my blood flowing.  I like old cars, old sewing machines, old clocks, old electro-mechanical organs, etc.  I have a number of old mechanical Bernina machines -- I mostly use a 930 (got it for a great deal).  I have an 830 as a backup -- actually have two 830's ... scored one with the original Bernina cabinet locally a few months back.  I don't need it (or even have a place to put it), but couldn't pass it up.

Uh-Oh -- I'm getting sidetracked again!  Looks like it's going to be that sort of day!

Let's get to the reading before I tangent off again!

We're pulling two cards -- the first offers a starting point, the second offers things to help us understand how to best use our starting point.

Our first card is ... The Page of Wands.

Sorry -- my son just called.  He's going to take Nala back (remember the dog who chews up everything?)   She's moved on from eating TV remotes and books to eating shoes, newly planted blueberry bushes, our other two small dogs (Skippy and Diego), and my grand-daughter.  Plus she ate the replacement TV remote.  The doggie chew-toys we get don't last more than a few minutes.  She ate her food bowl last night -- not the food in the bowl, but the bowl itself!

See ... it happened again ... got sidetracked!  I've got a call scheduled in 10 minutes, so I'll probably get side-tracked again!

Anyway -- Page of Wands.  Pages suggest the excitement we feel when we become enamored of the idea of a new project.  It excites us, fills us with energy, we spend gobs of time thinking about it.  Wands in particular suggest excitement, so a Page of Wands work themselves into a frenzy while thinking about the possibilities of a new project or task.

It's a fun place to be -- but there's a downside.  Pages are great at thinking about new things -- but aren't so great about actually getting to work implementing their project.  They're too busy thinking about it.

The danger here is becoming discouraged -- you've got a great idea ... but the longer you think about it, the more you risk finding objections or obstacles.  You may even come to doubt your concept.  A great idea is like a flame -- you have to add fuel to it or it'll eventually burn itself out.

So -- how should we consider this?  Let's take a look at our next card -- The Four of Pentacles.

I was doing a reading a couple of years ago for a young couple.  The young lady part of the couple made me promise to call this card "Mr. Grumpyhead" whenever it was drawn!

So -- we've pulled Mr. Grumpyhead!

This card suggests pulling back and erecting fences as a response to things that are in doubt.  If he builds a wall, he can keep the risk out.

The problem with this is that he'll never move beyond this wall.  The world will pass him by outside his walls -- and he'll be left behind.  Instead of ensuring his success, he's guaranteed his failure.

The answer -- consider that moving forward takes some risk.  If you try to resolve all objections before you move ... well, then, you'll never move!

If you find yourself doubting your capabilities ... or your concepts ... be wary of the trap of lowering your expectations in order to build a "safety" wall.

Whew!  Made it through without getting too sidetracked (only two phone calls, one instant message, and three texts!)  Kept coming back on course, though!

Hoping you and yours have a great weekend!  By the way "Weekend" was my Romanian word in my language discussion group today.  "Weekend" in Romanian is "Wochenende" -- the "ch" is hard, so I think it sounds a little like "weekend" when pronounced out loud.

Ack -- sidetracked again!

Woodsong

Play the Middle

Hi All!

Hope you had a fine weekend -- I had a pretty busy one. 

Spent a few hours at the Celtic Music Fest at Sherwood Forest; wish I could have spent more time. 

I was listening to a bagpipe group when they stopped to "tune" their bagpipes.  One of the pipers explained that there were many moving organic parts to a bagpipe and that it was very difficult to keep it in tune.  "In fact", he said, "pipers like it when pipes randomly slip out of tune since it adds interest to the tone!"

Don't know how true that is -- but don't think I've ever heard pipes that stayed in tune either.  Maybe there's something to it?

Sent off my vendor registration to Middlefaire this morning.  Will be attending Middlefaire near Hillsboro, Texas over the weekend of November 2nd and 3rd doing tarot readings.  If you're in the area (Hillsboro is between Waco and Fort Worth), stop by and say hello!

Let's jump into this week's reading --

We begin with ... Temperance!

Temperance is an interesting card -- it suggests being "temperate".  Don't sway too much to one side -- nor too much to the other.  The simple (but plain, boring, normal) straight and narrow path may be the path that works best for you.

Sometimes you need to go out on a limb -- but if you do that all the time, you're likely asking for trouble.  We need to be able to recognize when it's best to play it safe and secure.

Of course, we don't want to do that all the time, either!  Going after the risky play works sometimes -- and even when it doesn't work, we still learn from the experience.  The trick is to learn how to balance the two options.

Let's see what our second card has to say about this ... the King of Cups.

King's are pretty swuft.  I think I explained a while back that "swuft" is a Southern term that means "pretty smart and experienced".  Well, Kings are that way for that exact reason -- they've been around the block -- they know what's worked, what hasn't, and why (maybe the most important part!)

This king is kind and caring; like the Queen of Cups, he's also very patient and tolerant.  He wants to help people -- because he cares about their well-being.  When he gives advise, it's a good idea to pay attention to it!

So -- this King is calm, he's patient, he's very tolerant and balanced.  Sounds like "Temperance" personified!

Put the two cards together and we get something suggesting that we may be tempted to over-react to a situation -- but that we might be better served by being patient and remaining calm.  If we can do so, we may find that reacting in a calm and measured manner may keep us from digging ourselves into a deep hole!  Play the diplomat -- try to understand the positions of all sides --  maybe we'll find ourselves being the peacemaker rather than the war leader!

Hope you have a great week -- I'll be back later with more!

Woodsong

Consider that Change!

Happy Friday!

Ready for this week to be over and to relax over a weekend.  Am heading off to a Celtic music festival at Sherwood Forest (near Austin); I really enjoy Celtic music so am really looking forward to it.

I get a daily "This day in Texas history" newsletter -- today's was very interesting.

Turns out that on this day in 1865, Jacob Friedrich Brodbeck -- a German immigrant living in Luckenbach, Texas -- is reported to have successfully flown his "airship" for about 100 feet at a height of 12 feet.  He used a spring-powered motor!  Once the spring was exhausted, the airship crashed.  Frustrated, Brodbeck burned the pieces.

Also, in 1902 -- one year before the Wright brothers -- Texan Reverend Burrel Cannon is said to have flown his airship (the Ezekiel Airship).  Actually, Cannon was too big to pilot the craft, so a smallish employee (Gus Stamps) piloted the craft.  The flight covered 167 feet at a height of 10 feet.  Powered by an 80 horsepower engine, Stamps grew wary of the vibration and shut the engine down.  The craft then glided to a successful landing.

Cannon then crated the machine and brought it to a railroad yard; he intended to ship it to Saint Louis for the 1903 World's Fair (where there was a $100,000 prize for a flying machine!)  Unfortunatly, a strong windstorm swept through the area and overturned the railcar carrying the flying craft -- destroying the craft.

Cannon was unable to secure funding for repairs.

So, if you're a Texan, you can claim a Texan was the first in flight.  If you're not a Texan, you can say "Those darned Texans and their tall tales!"

-- or, you can say "Maybe they were the first to fly ... but they were the first to crash, too!"

On to the weekend reading!  We'll draw two cards -- the first will suggest some topic to consider, the second helps us understand the implications of that topic.

Our first card is ... the Six of Swords.

We actually saw this card in yesterday's post -- I used the Rider-Waite-Smith Six of Swords as one of the images.

If you've ever watched an old black-and-white movie where a gypsy fortune teller turned over a card and said "You will be taking a trip over water" ... this is the card she turned over.

Doesn't mean you'll be taking a trip over water though!

The Six of Swords suggests some sort of change -- especially a change from a known and familiar condition to a new and unknown one.  Perhaps a physical move from one dwelling to another -- or a job change -- or maybe hanging out with a new group of friends.  Things like that.

The interesting thing about this card is this -- let's say you have a job that you really hate.  You find a new job that excites you and turn in your notice.  What happens now is really interesting.

You're about to leave this job you hate -- when you start having second thoughts.  You may not enjoy the position -- but you're familiar with it and start becoming uncomfortable about moving to a new and unknown situation.  I call it the "Job Changing Blues".  Everyone has it.

Some people have it to the point where they won't ever consider making a change!  Even if they dislike their current situation (and this doesn't have to be a job), the thought of changing is so daunting that they won't consider the possibility.

Well, you can't do much about the unknown part -- but you can make decisions based on the known.  If you're unhappy with your situation, then you know that you're unhappy with your situation.  If you change, you may not like your new place -- but you may love it -- so don't worry about it!  Keep in mind your current feelings about your current situation.

Let's see what our second card offers -- the Knight of Cups.

This card suggests what is happening when we just can't get around to making a change.  The Knight of Cups can get hung up over thinking about a situation.  He can become completely stymied because he just can't convince himself to do anything.  If we look at the picture, we see his horse is standing still while the Knight contemplates his cup.  He doesn't know what to do -- so he does nothing -- which is doing something!  Except -- it's likely doing something that he already doesn't like to do!

If you find yourself hesitant to make a Six of Swords sort of change -- because you're stuck being a Knight of Cups -- at least recognize what's going on.  If you feel it's necessary to make a decision, then make the decision.  All a choice does is set you on a path.  Stumbling blocks may arise along the way, but those are things you deal with as you go.

And that's it for today -- hope you have a great weekend!

Woodsong

Tarot Decks Come in Three Flavors

Interested in learning how to read Tarot cards? If so, one of your first decisions will be "What style of deck should I use".

Although there are now hundreds of varieties of Tarot decks, most fall into one of three general styles -- Marseilles, Rider-Waite-Smith (also called Rider-Waite, or just RWS), and Thoth.

There are typically 78 cards in a Tarot deck -- 14 cards in each of four different suits, plus an extra 22 cards called the "Trump" cards. These 22 trump cards are known as the Major Arcana; the remaining 56 cards are called the Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana -- the 22 Trump cards -- are handled very much the same in all of the three different flavors of Tarot decks.  It's the treatement of the Minor Arcana cards that determines which general style your deck follows.

Marseilles - Nine of Cups

The first style -- Marseilles -- follows the traditional, old-school style found in early Tarot decks -- and also in standard playing card decks. The artwork on the Major Arcana tends to be simple and limited to only a few colors. The Minor Arcana looks much like ordinary playing cards -- there are four face cards (King, Queen, Knight, Page) and 10 "pip" cards (Ace through Ten). Again, the artwork on the face cards tends to be simple. The pip cards don't have artwork other than a "pip" count. For instance, a Five of Swords will have five swords depicted on the card.

The Marseilles style looks so much like playing cards because Tarot decks were originally used to play a card game! It wasn't until later that mystics began to use these decks for divinatory purposes.

The second style of deck -- RWS (After Rider, the publisher, Waite, the designer, and Smith, the artist) -- was published in the early 1900's. It was designed from the very beginning for magickal use.

Because of this, the artwork is much more complex and symbolic. The Major Arcana and the face cards are more colorful, lifelike, and detailed. It's the Minor Arcana, though, where you'll find the main difference.

Six of Swords - RWS

Rather than using pip simple counts, the artist (Pamela Coleman Smith -- who also illustrated childrens adventure stories) decided to draw vignettes of people engaged in some phase of everyday life. Because of this, the pip card images touch your subjective mind and yield many thoughtful perspectives -- what are the people in the images thinking, what are their motivations, what are their fears, etc -- to enrich Tarot readings.  (Note:  I use a RWS clone -- the Robin Wood deck -- when I do readings.  However, the images on the blog are from the RWS deck.)

Thoth - Two of Swords

The final deck style is the Thoth style -- named after a deck designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Freida Harris. The Thoth deck was intended for magickal use from the very beginning. The paintings are surrealistic and highly symbolic. Thoth adds a new technique to the mix, though. Each non-face card of the Minor Arcana has a subheading describing some motivation or aspect -- things like Happiness, Luxury, Virtue, Oppression, etc. Because of this, some readers find it easy to read with Thoth decks. Thoth decks also make it easy to draw from other esoteric disciplines -- like astrology or Kabbalah -- in order to create inspired Tarot readings.

Most decks you'll find in a bookstore will follow one of these three basic styles. Marseilles styles will use pip counts, RWS styles will use pip scenes, and Thoth styles tend to be surrealistic but label the Minor Arcana with additional descriptions.

Hopeful Expectations!

Hi!

Hope your weekend went swell -- had a busy one over here.  Thought I had my Tarot Booth done -- then decided to do tarot readings at Dickens-on-the-Strand in early December in Galveston.  Have to alter the booth for requirements at Dickens.  Will make it wider, plus will have to change my "yellow/blue" colors to "red/green" since Dickens requires booths to be "Christmasy".  I'm really looking forward to it.

Dickens-on-the-Strand is a weekend street fair in downtown Galveston near Christmas time.  Everyone dresses up in Victoria garb -- good food, good drinks, good music, parades, etc.  Plus, you've got the beach as well! 

We were going to be there anyway (went first time last year and loved it) and already had our hotel reserved (on the beach!), so it was an easy decision about doing readings.  Sent my application off today!

Between working on the booth Saturday morning, football Saturday afternoon and evening (Alabama/Texas A&M and the LSU game), plus helping a friend move Sunday (although didn't get much done) combined with total collapse Sunday evening, I had a pretty busy weekend.  The good news is that allergies haven't affected me much this weekend -- maybe the season's closing up?  Or maybe the echinecea is finally kicking in!

Echinecea is magic for me -- totally blocks out allergy problems.  Only downside is that I have to start taking it about two months before the allergy season -- and I'm VERY forgetful.

Enough about my weekend -- again, hope yours went fine!  Let's jump into a reading to start the week.  Again, the first card sets the table, the second card brings it home.

Our first card -- the Knight of Wands.

This is a very energetic and busy card.  It's always ready to take on new challenges and is very confident about succeeding.  This Knight doesn't shy away from tough challenges!

That's the good news -- the bad news is that this knight (like all knights) isn't always successful.  The main issue is lack of focus -- knight's have great intentions, but tend to be a little scatter brained.  Planning isn't their strong point -- they'd rather jump right into a project and figure it out as they go.

This will work sometimes -- but won't othertimes.  With a little advanced planning, we can greatly improve this Knight's success rate.

So what should we consider if we find ourselves in this Knight's shoes?  How about our next card -- The Star.

This Major Arcana (or Trump) card suggests being hopeful.  When faced with difficulties, the Star  doesn't get discouraged.  It keeps it's eye on the end goal, not on the stumbling blocks that may arise along the way.  It's always confident that things will work out -- even when times seem dire.

If we think how these two cards might fit, we can see where the Knight of Wands might get discouraged at times.  It's always jumping into a challenge -- and sometimes hasn't prepared properly.  This oftentimes leads to failure.  Although this Knight is confident, repeated failures can lead to discouragement.

And that's where the Star comes in -- don't get discouraged, remain hopeful about eventual success.  The Star offers focus -- if things fail, then examine them to determine what you can do to correct problems ... then correct them.  Rather than quitting after failure, the Star takes the necessary time to honestly analyze issues and find (and correct) problems blocking your success.

If you join "energy and expectations of success" with "realistic and hopeful", you get a very powerful combination.  Think of ways you can use these energies to help you along this week!

Hope you have a good one -- will talk to you later!

Woodsong

Look For The Best, not the Worst

Hi All!

Hope your week's been going well.  It's been kind of quiet over here -- well, kind of.

We're dogsitting for my son.  "Nala" is a medium size lab/shepherd mix; she's a real sweety ... but is pretty young, wild, and untrained.

She ate a couple of dozen of my grand-daughter's toys her first day with us.  Next, she ate some books the second day -- pulled them off the shelf and chewed them up.  Next day, she ate the TV remote conrol thingy.  Yesterday, she ate a stack of catalogs.

She has plenty of dog toys available -- but doesn't seem to care for them.  Am dreading what I'll find when I get home!   Am anxious for the dogsitting to end!

Let's get an early start on this weekend's reading -- we'll again pull two cards.  The first suggests some positive attribute; the second offers tips on how to best realize or utilize this attribute.

Our first card is ... the Six of Cups.

We began with this card just a couple of reading ago!  Prior to that, I think it had been many months since we had seen this Six.  Pulling it twice in near-adjacent readings suggests that we may want to dig deeper into how we might realize the positive aspect of this card.

I said in that earlier reading:

"The Six of Cups suggests the feelings and wants we had as a child.  When you're a kid, you don't worry about jobs, or taxes, or crime, or foreign affairs -- you just want to be loved, to be comfortable, to feel secure.  The yearning for that sort of security is what the Six of Cups is about.

We all want it -- but most of us have to work to get it.  I have friends with really lousy jobs -- they'll complain constantly about them.  Whenever I suggest "Why don't you look for a new job?", they're full of excuses about why they don't do so.  I figure if you have a problem -- but choose not to try and solve it -- then you've accepted the situation and shouldn't complain about it. 

You ALWAYS have options -- you just have to decided to make the effort to look for them and implement them.

Want security?  Want to feel safe and comfortable?  Then determine what you need to do in order to gain that security -- then do it!"

 Hasn't changed -- this card strongly suggests that the need to feel comfortable and secure is something special we want to realize.

Let's look at our second card -- perhaps it'll help us a little more this time -- the Queen of Cups.

This card suggests patience, caring, and empathy.  This card tends to see the good in people -- rather than trying to assign blame to them.  I usually say this card will always believe you when you say "The dog ate my homework" (or book -- or remote control -- or toys -- or catalogs -- or whatever I'll find when I get home!) ... even when she knows it's not the truth.  She believes it because she wants to believe in you --- she cares about you. 

That's the strength of this card -- and also the weakness.  Because she is so caring, ill-meaning folks can easily take advantage of her.  But -- she doesn't take exception when they do!  She'll give them the benefit of the doubt and will expect that they'll learn from their mistake and become better individuals.

Bottom line -- this person doesn't get upset when people don't perform as they should.  She doesn't take it personal.

So let's put these together -- we want to feel safe and secure.  Perhaps if we expect the best from people -- rather than expecting the worst from them -- we'll feel more secure.  We won't worry about getting abused or mistreated -- because we'll always interpret people's actions in a good light.  Instead of assuming people have bad motivations -- we might look for less sinister interpretations.  This could help us see that folks really aren't "trying to get us" -- they're just being people with the same innocent and honest faults and weaknesses we all have.

Wish me luck with Nala today!  (I'm really dreading what she'll have eaten this time around!)

Woodsong

Expect to Succeed or Fail -- and You Will

Hiya,

Rough start to the week for me.  Spent at least half of the weekend finishing up my Tarot Booth frame (it's done!  Finally!) outside in the back yard.

Needs a little paint and the top/back fabric

 Unforuntately, this is prime Grade-A allergy season in South Texas and it slammed me hard yesterday.  Had a rough night Sunday, spent Monday recovering.  Back in the saddle again today, though.  Ready to get to it, but am a day behind everything!

Planning to do some sewing this week for the top and back of the Tarot Booth.  I'm going to add some thin PVC pipes on the top to make a "bow" -- hoping that will direct rain off to the sides rather than pooling on the top fabric.  Will see how that works out!  (I really don't know what I'm doing; am just making it up as I go along!)

Ready for a reading to start this week?  We'll again draw two cards -- the first offers a suggestion for us to think about, the second offers ways we can best realize the positive message of that first card.

Our first card is -- the Eight of Pentacles.

This is a fun card; it's message is very similar to that of the Three of Pentacles.  Have you ever become so involved in a project that time seems to fly by?  Maybe you look up and realize you've missed lunch time -- or the school bus!  This can especially happen when you're involved in learning something new in a subject that fascinates you.

That's pretty much what this card suggests -- I call it the "Joy of Learning".  Sometimes we resist learning new skills or subjects -- it's going to take an effort, we don't have the time, we're worried we won't "get it", so on, so on.  For those times when we do take the plunge, we may be pleasingly surprised with an interesting subject and the mental or physical exercise.

Learning something new can be fun -- even if we're not that good at the subject (like me an my Jazz Guitar class!)  It's the gained knowledge we find absorbing.

Interestingly enough, this sort of effort can be envigorating.  Even though we spend energy in the learning process, it somehow gives back way more energy than we spend.

This is a good spot to be in -- so what's stopping us from going there?  Oh yes, I forgot.  "It's going to take an effort, I don't have the time, I'll probably not be any good at it, so on, so on".  It can be a pretty long list -- how do we get past it?

Well, let's look at our second card for tips -- the Seven of Swords.

Some folks think of this as a negative card -- but I always see it as extremely positive.  This Seven suggests taking on a challenge when everyone expects you to fail -- but you find a way to succeed in spite of that.  You don't worry about failure -- you go into the challenge expecting to be successful ... and then spend your efforts ensuring that you are successful.

How can this card benefit us?  Let's rewind a bit -- "It's going to take an effort, I don't have the time, I'll likely not be any good, so on, so on".  Translation is "I'm probably going to fail, so why try!"

If you go in expecting to fail, you probably will.  The trick is -- don't expect to fail.  I saw a roadside sign once, that said "Whether you expect to fail or expect to succeed, you probably will!"  It's your mindset at the beginning that dictates your end results.

The Seven of Swords doesn't recognize all the "reasons" ( ie, EXCUSES ) for failure -- he only sees the expectations for success.  This positive outlook makes challenges look like opportunities rather than roadblocks. 

That's how you want to go into challenges -- expect to be successful from the start.  It may be kind of hokey -- but it works!

That's it for now -- will catch you again before the weekend.

Woodsong

Don't Wait -- Fix It Yourself

Hi!

Even though this was a short week, it still felt like a long one to me for some reason.  I hope your week went well.

Hoping to get the frame for my "portable" Tarot booth finished this weekend.  Have most of the pieces put together and painted -- just a little bit of fitting and hole-drilling left.  Still trying to figure out how to put the fabric on -- I'll post pictures later, but if you think of an upside-down "L", you'll have the basic shape.  I'll put fabric on the top and back, but am wondering if it'll tip over in a strong wind.  I'll probably leave slits in the fabric -- maybe even not attach the bottoms?  Will play with it once the frame is complete.

Then it's on to finishing the roulotte!

Let's jump into a weekend reading!

We'll start with -- the Six of Cups.

I helped a group design a set of tarot cards once -- one of my cards was the Six of Cups.  I painted a picture of a child's lemonade stand for the image.

The Six of Cups suggests the feelings and wants we had as a child.  When you're a kid, you don't worry about jobs, or taxes, or crime, or foreign affairs -- you just want to be loved, to be comfortable, to feel secure.  The yearning for that sort of security is what the Six of Cups is about.

We all want it -- but most of us have to work to get it.  I have friends with really lousy jobs -- they'll complain constantly about them.  Whenever I suggest "Why don't you look for a new job?", they're full of excuses about why they don't do so.  I figure if you have a problem -- but choose not to try and solve it -- then you've accepted the situation and shouldn't complain about it. 

You ALWAYS have options -- you just have to decided to make the effort to look for them and implement them.

Want security?  Want to feel safe and comfortable?  Then determine what you need to do in order to gain that security -- then do it.

So what does our second card say about this?  The Ace of Pentacles ...

Well, that pretty much affirms what we've already suggested.  The Ace of Pentacles is about beginning new projects, new ventures -- especially commercial or professional ones.  Are there actions you can take to help make your life more comforable and secure?  Maybe it's a new job -- but maybe it's making a better effort in your existing position.  Maybe it's re-evaluating the things that make you uncomfortable -- perhaps you're misrepresenting the situation?  Maybe it's new hobbies that make you feel more capable and competent?  Maybe it's spiffing up your living quarters -- or fixing up an unreliable vehicle?

Whatever it may be, if it's something that's keeping you from feeling safe and comfortable, look for ways you can remedy the situation.  No need to wait for things to fix themselves; take an active hand and fix them yourself!

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

Woodsong

Get Rolling (Part Two)!

Hi All,

Hope you had a great weekend -- yesterday was a holiday in the US, so we had a long weekend.

I had a busy one -- my son in Chicago got out of the Navy!  Flew up there Friday morning and drove his moving truck back to Houston (well, actually, to about 2 hours south of Houston).  Took us three days -- I've done it in a day before, but we wanted to stop Friday night, then wanted to stop again Saturday night to watch the LSU-TCU game.

Not the most scenic drive in the world -- the Illinois portion is pretty plain -- as is the Missouri and half of the Arkansas part.  Once you turn west at West Memphis, you start getting into some hilly terrain and it's kinda pretty.

Driving the truck wasn't so bad -- Penske seems to have the best deals on trucks.  Got 10% off for reserving online and another 10% off for AAA membership.  Top speed was about 65 MPH, so I rarely had to worry about passing anyone.  Finding diesel got a little squirrely at times -- don't understand why a station would put the only diesel pump right next to their building so that a long truck could not manuever there.

Anyway, made the trip with no trouble; trying to get back into the weekday mix again!  Not ready for it!

But am ready for a new reading for this week!  Let's start ...

Our first card is -- the Page of Wands.

Pages are interesting creatures.  They tend to get really excited about things -- that's both their strength and their weakness!

Strength -- because that initial excitment really powers you and fills you with energy and confidence and fuels you to tackle the challenges you may face.  Wands in particular provide the energy and excitment -- but don't really point to the nature of the challenge.  This is kind of good -- because it's like a "wild card" that applies to any sort of challenge you may approach.

But -- the weakness!  Pages tend to be so excited about projects that they have a hard time actually getting started!  Thinking about the potential is exciting and invigorating -- actually knuckling down, getting to work, and getting their hands dirty isn't so exciting.

Still -- it's a good starting point for a new challenge.  If you don't begin being excited about the project, it's hard to make yourself get busy.  It's like being able to see the end before you even start -- it makes the trip seem much more attainable.

So how can we kickstart our Page of Wands?  Let's look at our next card -- the Nine of Wands.

I like this guy -- I always picture someone who's just completed a difficult task.  He's tired and spent -- but feels a great sense of accomplishment after powering through his challenge.  It was tough -- but he saw it through.

When we put these two together, they really fit well.  The Page offers the energy we'll need to face a challenge; the Nine suggests how great we'll feel once we complete the challenge.  This might be the incentive we need to stop thinking and start doing!

That's it for now -- hope the rest of your week goes well!  Talk to you later for a weekend reading!


Woodsong