Who Is Your Enemy?

Arwen_mirror_319x413Today’s card reminds me that the enemy is not in my mirror. The enemy is not in my head. The enemy is not in my heart.

The enemy is not me.

How often do we hear some version of “Oh don’t think that. The enemy is in your head.”

Well, here’s a thought. How about if we don’t call those negative thoughts “the enemy” or “bad things” or any version of that?

How about we agree that it’s just a difficult pattern we are working on?

or

A challenge we are in the process of reframing?

or

any other more positive way of saying, “Yeah I get it. I’m negative sometimes but you know what? I’m working on it so stop telling me I’m bad even when you are trying to build me up.”

Grin. It’s a process, darling dears. Once you realize you’ve made it, you too can say you were an overnight success–it only took me HOW MANY years? 😀

Yeah. Overnight.

Thousands of them. Literally.

Don’t worry if you slide. Please don’t measure yourself against anyone but yourself.

And even then measure the way they cut fabric.

GIVE YOURSELF ROOM FOR MISTAKES.

You know that’s why they are generous when they cut fabric right?

Yeah.

So aren’t you worth a few extra yards?

I think so!

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Oh, that picture? Yeah. That’s just one of the beautiful Lisa Hunt drawings in my Fairy Tale Spreads eBook.

April Monthly Tarotscopes

DSCF2927Whoa! How did it get be April already? Did you grab your copy of my ? Illustrated by Lisa Hunt, this 30 page book has already garnered a lot of attention. Bonnie Cehovet and Mary Nale have given it high marks.

So what did your sign get this month? Do you need to worry about legal issues or do you get a “play all month” pass? Let me know how last month was for you in the comments.

Afraid you can’t find joy? Worried your bliss has taken a permanent vacation? I can help. Let’s have a conversation using Tarot as a tool for personal development. Contact me.

This podcast is 17 minutes long. Thanks for sharing it on your Facebook page, via your Twitter account and your Pinterest as well as any others. I am truly grateful to you for doing that.

This month’s deck is my personal reading deck–the Gaian Tarot (aff).

Here’s where you will find my podcast if you don’t see it on the Podcast Player down below.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Early Cherry Tomatoes, Arwen, 2012

What Do You Seek In The Mirror?

Today’s card is not a card. It’s a drawing by Lisa Hunt. Lisa drew this as part of her illustrations for my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads book. The spread is my Mirror, Mirror spread which uses the theme of the self-identity. Read more…

Arwen_mirror_319x413Today’s card is not a card. It’s a drawing by Lisa Hunt. Lisa drew this as part of her illustrations for my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads book. The spread is my Mirror, Mirror spread which uses the theme of the self-identity.

In Snow White the mirror, to me, represents many things. Reflecting on ourselves. Looking at others through the mirror. Mirrors are popular divination tools as well as ways to scare ourselves (anyone ever play “Bloody Mary”?). And what about the ways our society tells us we should appear? If we are to believe the fashion industry, women need to be six feet tall, 110 pounds, and blonde. Men must be muscular and dark. But is this what you would spend your life fighting to be? What a fashion mogul sees? I didn’t think so.

So I decided to apply this lesson of the fairy tale to a Tarot spread. I wanted to find out how we look at ourselves. What reflection do we see? What do others see in our mirror of ourselves? And how can we break our obstacles that we set up for ourselves? I decided that the magical mirror of the stepmother would be the vehicle for this tarot spread.

This illustration really captures the energy of this spread for me. Lisa shows how we sometimes don’t see our real selves in the looking glass. And we have a choice to do that. We can set our intentions to see the beautiful soul or we can see what our old tapes insist we see. Fat. Ugly. Unkempt.

I know which I’d rather see, don’t you? I saw a quote today by Viktor E. Frankl that really spoke to me. It seems to capture this energy as well.

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

So for your 180 seconds today, will you commit to making sure you pay attention to the spaces? Before you react, pause. Think. Reflect. Let your choice be the positive one.

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Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

How Do You Talk To That Person?

mirror2Today’s card is not a card but an illustration by Lisa Hunt that she did for my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBook. It’s almost ready. This is one of my goals that has already happened because of working with Leonie Dawson. (NOTE: I no longer work with her but she’s a cool chick!)

This image is for the Mirror, Mirror spread which is about how we see ourselves. A lot of times when we gaze into a mirror we don’t see who we really are.

It’s hard to not be self-critical. It’s a challenge for me not to grind myself up piece by incorrect piece as I look in the mirror.

When I am stuck in negative mode, here is what I see. Ugly teeth, sagging huge boobs, frizzy hair, fat belly, gray hair. A woman who is so physically repulsive no one would want to be near me.

I can hear you now. WOW. Really?

Yes, I really am that harsh on myself WHEN I am STUCK in negative mode.

But I’m not there very often any more. It’s a dead-end situation.

Now I focus on being kind to my self. I see my hazel green eyes, my great smile, the kindness in my face. I see my hair attempting to take over the world by wild curls. I see a body Rubens would have loved to paint. I love myself because I am a system of flaws, perfections and everything in between.

We are generally our own worst enemies. We rarely let someone get a negative word in that we haven’t already applied to ourselves.

Why?

Maybe it’s self-defense. Maybe we want to take the sting out of the criticism we fear is coming.

What if…

What if you committed to 180 seconds of being nice to yourself. I mean setting a timer and facing yourself in the mirror. Then rattling off as many compliments as you can think of.

I look great in jewel tones.
My skin is fabulous today.
My hair is shiny.
I am nice to puppies.
I am a great cook.
I let that other driver cut in front of me.

Can you do that? Can you face your mirror self and tell her or him how much you love that person?

180 seconds is all I’m asking.

Mirror, Mirror, Lisa Hunt, 2013 (c) All Rights Reserved

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on.

P.to the S. I love you because of everything you are–not because of anything you aren’t.

P.P. To The S. Do you want to be the first to know when this book is ready? And my other books as well? Sign up here.

Tarotscopes for 2/3-29/2013

Arwen Lynch, professional joy seeker, shares this week’s horoscopes as seen through tarot cards.

5-teacherHere are this week’s Tarotscopes. Enjoy! Feel free to share them with your friends and family.

And, the February in-depth Podcast is available. iTunes users click here. Don’t use iTunes? Go here to listen to this free podcast for your monthly Tarotscopes.

  • AQ ExAir How high will U have to climb? How thin will the branches be? Don’t worry. Explore to yr heart’s content this wk. Wander!
  • PIC HPS Mysteries reveal themselves when U ask the right questions. Go w/i to find lost personal meaning. Seek the truth of yr heart.
  • ARI Justice Stand for what is right. Protect those that need protecting. Don’t waste energy on those who can take care of themselves.
  • TAU Lightning Hold on tight. Inspiration striking soon. May shake U to foundation. Have plan B ready. Leave the drama for yr mama.
  • GEM 1Air Opening up in sweet surrender is the key to flying free. Escape yr self-imposed limits. Permission to fly not needed.
  • CAN 10Air Yearning? Searching? Find others of a like mind to travel w. All travel is not physical. Spiritual self needs nurturing.
  • LEO Teacher Learn to laugh at yrslf. Trick yrslf into having more fun this wk. Establish yr boundaries to include fun, please.
  • VIR 10Wtr Returning to yr source necessary to fill emotional well. Not failure if U understand how things cycle. It’s all a circle.
  • LIB Temperance Moderation in all things–including moderation? Changing yr energy/mindset necessary if U want to transform yr life.
  • SCO 9Wtr Open up. Fill up. Joy available. Heart’s desire here. What will U welcome into yr life this wk? Make it big, darlings.
  • SAG 1Fire Tango? Peaches? Sacred Sexuality? All means to a juicy, joy-filled life. Pick two and celebrate breathing this wk.
  • CAP 5Air Competition isn’t necessary. U are already above that fracas. Let go of those who live by bickering. They drag U down.

Want to take a peek at the illustrations for my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBook? . So excited!

What Will You Dream Today?

One of the things I have done with this (and I’m still working on it and will be because that’s how it works) it to write down goals. Then steps to those goals. And these goals are actually HUGE dreams.

GhostsSpirits_6PentaclesToday’s card was intentionally picked. I wanted to share some of Lisa Hunt’s recent deck with you. This card really jumped out at me as I went through the deck. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First is the man’s face. He looks wise to me but also wary. There is a sense of wildness in him. The polar bear next to him seems to emerge from his fur hood. I instantly thought of the native peoples of the north–what many of us call Eskimos even though that’s not truly the tribal name. That’s like labeling all aboriginal Americans Indians. We know there are many tribes.

But I’m not here to lecture on names. I want to talk about generosity and community. When I first began reading Tarot, I was drawn to those who wrote books about it and those who created art with it. I wanted to do the former and was just blown away by the latter.

One of my lifelong goals has been to write a book about Tarot. I’m three spreads away from completing my Tarot for Writers book which thrills me. But there’s another smaller book that will be released very soon.

And it will be professionally illustrated by Lisa Hunt. I’m here to tell you I would have never thought to even ask her (or another much-loved artist) about working on my book even a year ago. But the workbook+planner I got changed that.

One of the things I have done with this (and I’m still working on it and will be because that’s how it works) it to write down goals. Then steps to those goals. And these goals are actually HUGE dreams.

Step one of “get my book illustrated by a well known Tarot artist” was “ask.”

Simple, right? But so scary! Really. What if they laughed at me?

Now I am friendly with more than a few Tarot artists online. But I only asked two about this project. I have another project that I’ve asked someone else about–that’s on the back burner just now due to my writing projects. Grin. It’s going to be an incredible year!

Back to this dream though. This card is about community and generosity. Now this is a paid job but Lisa has been so generous with her work. I wanted pencil for this book because I love the look of it. So there’s no color like in this card.

I’m rambling, aren’t I? Forgive me. 😀 I just wanted to ask you about your dreams. What do you dream about when you see your prosperous life and generous community surrounding you? Take your three minutes today, those precious 180 seconds, and let your mind create that dream.

Then write it down. What would it take to get there? I believe you can do it. I see you living in abundance and joy.

Want to get a free copy of my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBook? It’s yours when you .

The catch is that you have to get the workbook+planner by midnight tonight (1/31/2013) PST. Then contact me. I’ll send you the link.

6 of Pentacles, Ghosts And Spirits Tarot, US Games, 2011

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on.

Image used with permission by U.S. Games Systems Inc

P. to the S. A little Lisa Hunt-shaped bird tells me that she may be featuring some of the work she’s been doing for my book on her blog today. Keep your eyes peeled.

Deck Review: The Fairytale Tarot

fairytale_mrp_10_coinsThe Fairytale Tarot: For a Happy Ever After
Karen Mahony & Alex Ukolov
Irena Triskova (Illustrator)
Publisher: Magic Realist Press; 1 edition (December 5, 2005)
ISBN-10: 095450075X

Here is a simply gorgeous deck. I ran across this one when I read something Karen Mahony said on Aeclectic Tarot. I viewed the images and feel in love. I have been an aficionado of fairy tales from a very young age. Continue reading “Deck Review: The Fairytale Tarot”

Spread: Fairy Tale Spread — The Ugly Duckling

I shared this spread on Aeclectic Tarot in December of 2005. It is part of my Fairy Tale Spread series.  I have expanded on that spread in this post. This is a deep, introspective Tarot spread that I hope will help you find out things you needed to know. If you would like me to do this reading for you, please feel free to email me.

In the Tale of The Ugly Duckling, we find someone who has Continue reading “Spread: Fairy Tale Spread — The Ugly Duckling”

Spread: Mirror, Mirror

Snow White Walt Disney Corporation
I have launched a project for myself that I am calling the Fairy Tale Spreads. I have long had a fascination and appreciation for fairy tales.

First as a child, I dreamt of unicorns and dragons and witches and princesses thanks to these tales my mother read me. As I grew older, I revisited them from a feminist perspective and found them to be lacking. But now that I am older, I find myself back at the doorstep of the old story teller again. And this time, I am looking at them with a more discerning eye. I am looking for the lessons that I see in them and pulling those lessons out to transform them into tarot spreads. Continue reading “Spread: Mirror, Mirror”