Pentacles Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

How Many Unicorns?

Today’s card is from a deck that I own but don’t really work with. It’s a themed deck where the artist worked in the theme in just about every card. Don’t get me wrong! I’m as airy-fairy as the next sparkly pink princess, but at some point 78 unicorns is a few too many.

Still this card reminds me to stop and pet the unicorn–or at least smell the roses. I try to do that when I go for my walks. Now my walks have a purpose. Well they have two purposes. Okay, four really if you do the math. Two dogs who both have to…well, you know!

So I get to see my block at a lot of different times of the day. Early morning grey. Noon blazing sunlight. Late afternoon shade. Night time shadows. It’s nice to see it and know it’s my ‘hood, my turf, my place in the world. And I have to remember to love it even in the downpours, the 100+ heat and all. I have to celebrate the breeze when it hits my sweaty face. I have to celebrate the rain plastering my hair to my head.

It’s all part of my Joy Seeking life, darlings. I have to accept that it is all good.

The Nine of Pentacles is the traditional card of acknowledging success while looking ahead to the next effort. Do you do that often enough? Look yourself in the mirror to congratulate you on a job well done?

If not you, who?

You really must be your own publicist, darling. Toot your horn as much as you toot someone else’s. If someone tells you that you are awesome, say, “thank you.”

Here.

Let’s practice that.

You’re awesome!

You know what to do!

Nine of Pentacles, Unicorn Tarot [aff]

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Celebrate What You Don’t Have?

Today’s card reminds me that my attitude can absolutely affect my pocketbook. I drew two cards at random from Roxi Sim’s gorgeous, colorful Pearls of Wisdom Tarot. I meant to pull one, but two insisted on coming out so two is what I’m working with.

I was struck by the differences in these two cards. In the Ace, she is celebrating all the things abundance CAN bring. Not has. Can. This is a card of potential, you see. It’s the beginning of what money can do. And not just money, but for this post, I’m going to stick with that.

Then move your eyes to the next card. Dying plants in the upper corners. A waning moon in the sky. A dark closed in room where two people fail to appreciate what they do have as they mourn what they don’t.

Look at these cards again. In the Ace, all of the things are in the border. They aren’t hers yet. They aren’t real. They are in the works. They are possibilities. Her face is open. She is smiling. She is reaching up to the pentacle above her head knowing that the light flowing from both sides is her path to prosperity. All she has to do is walk it and believe in it.

The Five of Pentacles is so different. There’s food on the table (pears). There’s beautiful flowers (daisies). There’s even money and jewelery. He even has a pearl earring!

But there’s no joy.

Why is that? Is this card the “keeping up with the Joneses” card? I mean they both have clothes and a roof over their head. Sure, the candle is nearly out. The pearls show some missing so maybe they had to be spent? The money bags are nearly empty. But they are so closed off in this image. What can flow in or out when they are so closed?

I have this in my own life sometimes, don’t you? Days where I look at my bills in comparison to my bank account. Days where I wonder how I will make it to work because the E on my gas gauge looks like a T-Rex ready to take me down.

I have to go back to a saying a learned from my friend, Ruth Glendinning.

I walk in abundance.

Abundance isn’t necessarily cash in hand, darlings. It’s just having enough of what i need with some left over to share. And I do share. I give where I can including folks standing on the corner. No, I don’t want to get in a discussion about whether or not they “deserve” my help. Everyone deserves help–from Bill Gates on down. What that help looks like may vary of course. GRIN!

So here’s a challenge for you today. Take three minutes. Yes, 180 precious seconds of your day. Make a list of what you have. Not of what you want. Of what you have.

Food in the fridge?
Pets on the couch?
Books to read?
A TV to watch?
A computer to read this on?
Friends who make you laugh?

You feel me? Make a list of what you have. Call it “My Abundance List” and add to it every day. You will be surprised how abundant you can feel when you realize you have a toilet bowl plunger when you need one. 😀

Seek joy, y’all. Walk in abundance. Pass it on.

Ace of Pentacles and Five of Pentacles, Pearls of Wisdom Tarot, Roxi Sim

Balancing Prosperity With Budgets

Today’s card is from a really pretty new deck. I’m fast falling in love with it. In a strange way, it reminds me of Dana Driscoll’s Tarot of Trees. I can’t really place my finger on exactly WHY it does but it has something to do with the intensity of the colors, I think.

Here we have the Two of Pentacles. Traditionally a card of choices, I see this raven as something of a trickster. There is a connection between the twos and the Major Arcana II the Magician so maybe that is why. Of course, the Raven CAN be a trickster in many beliefs.

Still, here it looks as if he is pulling coins out of thin air. It can certainly feel that way when we are making money choices, can’t it? As if we don’t have enough and will never have enough?

I think this card is a reminder to me to think abundantly while living carefully. I have a lot of good things going on right now so I am able to afford things I couldn’t in my 20’s. But that doesn’t mean I need to buy the whole horse when I all I want to do is ride one hour a week. 😀

How do you balance your abundant living thinking with your carefully budget life? Do you think one negates the other?

I don’t. I think carefully budgeting myself while calling in prosperity is my “Yes, okay” to the Universe. I’m making a promise not to squander the abundance. I’m making a choice to be careful with my wealth.

And? I don’t see wealth as money alone. Pentacles are the suit of community and earth as well as money. So my friends and family and pets are all covered in this abundant life.

Today I accept that I live in abundance. I acknowledge my right to a prosperous life. I embrace the wholeness of my wealthy, healthy self.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Two of Pentacles, Dream Raven Tarot, Schiffer Books, 2013

When Are Your Sacred Moments?

Today’s card is a reminder to me to look at all that I have. I was reminded of this by my friend Cathie who is my Kansas self. She commented on this tangle that it reminded her of looking down on a garden.

The traditional Nine of Pentacles shows a woman in her garden admiring all that she has. She is wise enough to know that prosperity isn’t just money. Do you see the nine coins in this image? They are there. You just have to look for them.

Sometimes we just have to look for our wealth. We just have to know where it is. In Joanna Colbert’s newsletter today, she offers ways to make any journey into a pilgrimage. You should probably subscribe to her newsletter. They are one of my highlights when they arrive.

Joanna is preparing to kick off her next Seasonal Practices journey for Beltane. I can’t recommend this enough. She’s a marvelous teacher.

The Nine of Pentacles is, perhaps, a teacher as well. It teaches me that I am living a life I love. Are there places I might want to tweak a bit? Sure. But that’s not dissatisfaction so much as it is knowing I can move up another level. I can increase my joy that much more.

I am beginning to do this by acknowledging where I need to create space–where I need to make quiet sacred moments for myself.

So your challenge today is to create a quiet sacred moment for yourself. Just for 180 seconds, that’s all. Three minutes of intentional acknowledgement of that time.

Zentangle, Arwen, 2013

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on!

She Had To Trust Herself

Today’s card reminds me that the best way to get to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice. There’s another piece to that as well.

Believe, believe, believe.

How do you know when your talents and skills are good enough? When it is time to put on your party dress, doll up your hair and show off?

Hard to say, isn’t it?

Know why?

It’s because we may have practiced, but we don’t believe. We don’t trust.

We don’t trust.

That bears repeating because it’s part of the key to this card. She had to just finally let go and trust that she knew enough, was skilled enough, was enough.

She had to trust herself.

She had to realize that she was smart enough to know that talent alone isn’t enough. Dedication to your craft is the best way to honing your skill. Belief in your own power brings something amazing to that combination of skill and talent.

What do you know enough? What skill(s) are you holding back on simply because you don’t trust yourself?

Is it worth it to deny yourself that moment in the spotlight?
Is it worth it to hold back your own beautiful brilliance?

I don’t think so. I think it’s time for you to shine. Let the world see how amazing you are.

Today I celebrate my place in the sun. I am more than enough. I am loved and loving. I am a brilliant woman ready to show the world my stuff.

What about you?

For your 180 second challenge, write/sing/draw/pray an affirmation that celebrates your own shining self. Feel free to use the one above if you like. Then speak it out loud to yourself. I mean look yourself in the mirror and say this affirmation, darlings.

Make it a beautiful day. Shine. Your Carnegie Hall moment is here.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

9 of Coins, Oracle Tarot, Lucy Cavendish

How Selfless Do You Have To Be?

Today’s card is from one of those decks that I don’t have but think I might like…just for the sake of curiosity, you know. It’s only 56 cards so I believe it to be only the minor arcana. A traditional Tarot deck has 78 cards with 22 of those being the Major Arcana.

I do love the message on this. “This card greatly improves the fortune of the cards around it.” How selfless is that? It isn’t focused on what it can get but rather how it can help those other poor little cards around it.

No, I’m not being sarcastic although it might sound like it. I think it’s a pretty cool setting to be on. Instead of the Gimme cycle or the How can I spin this for me cycle, we have a card that improves the fortunes of others.

The hand holding the pentagram is very Rider-Waite-Smith. I love fullness of the clouds around the wrist as well. Beneath that is the very traditional gateway of green and flowers symbolizing growth. Beyond is a mountain promising all sorts of good things.

For your 180 seconds today will you be a promoter of someone else? Will you step aside from your own spotlight to shine it on another? Who do you know that might deserve a shout out? Feel free to list them here and tell us why.

While we may not greatly improve their fortune, I’ll bet we can at least increase the attention they get. And who doesn’t love that? An unexpected pat on the back is especially sweet.

That’s all I’m asking of you today. Just three minutes telling someone else about someone else.

Ace of Pentacles, Zolar’s Astrological Tarot Deck, U.S. Games

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Pain, Queens + Baths

Today’s card reminds me that I am in charge of my own physical well being. I talk a lot about how seeking joy keeps me mentally healthy. It matters to my spirit to release negative thought patterns.

What about my physical body? What is it that seeking joy can do for me there?

Not many know that I suffer from chronic back pain. I’ve mentioned that I’m losing my hearing. My eyesight is trying to catch up with my hearing.

So how on earth can I keep rattling on about seeking joy when I have so much physical stuff going on?

I do it because I have to. It’s my survival technique.

Here we see the gorgeous queen of pentacles from the Ukiyoe Tarot (I’m super excited that it is being re-released this year). She balances a coin on one hand. In her hair she wears an elaborate headdress of combs and jewels.

The screen behind her shows an autumn day with deer seeming to laugh behind her. Her robes are rich. She stands on a gorgeous rug. Her focus seems to be more on someone or something off screen rather than on the coin she holds.

She is so composed that there is no way of knowing if she is in pain. I try to be like her as much as possible. I don’t want to talk so much about pain or discomfort or what I can’t do. I’d rather talk about joy and what I can do.

This card challenges me to focus on me. Focus on my own well-being. To put myself first. When I nurture myself, I am more available to others.

So I’ll seek joy today in giving my physical self some nurturing time doing back exercises. I might even indulge in a bubble bath. Secret? I shower instead of bathe because getting in and out of the tub is difficult these days. Smile. I miss soaking in the tub.

Can you commit to taking 180 seconds today to do something caring and nurturing just for you? That’s three minutes to have a quiet cup of tea or massage some cream into your feet.

What will you do to nurture you today?

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Queen of Coins, Ukiyoe Tarot, U.S. Games, 1982

Seek Joy, Y’all! Pass it on!

What About Greed?

I don’t want to face what the song asks me to review. What do I have that I simply wanted and didn’t really need?

This card reminds me of a song by Bernice Johnson Reagon. I heard Sweet Honey In The Rock perform it last night. The concert was amazing. If you ever have the chance to hear this accapella group, DO!

See this man grasping the coins? He’s so angry. He’s so focused on not letting anyone else have what he has. But look at the room. There’s just a wall of drawers behind him. Of course, the scene is that he’s in a bank protecting the money but to me, I see those drawers as all the things he thought he needed.

But he never uses them. They just sit there–in drawers–locked away. Just proof that he has it all. In the song “Greed”, Bernice Johnson Reagon says,

“Greed is a strain in the American Dream
Having more than you need is the essential theme.”

And isn’t that the truth?

Inventory time. What do you have that you wanted but now no longer use? I cringe when I think of what I have just in Tarot decks alone. Now I do use my decks for things like…oh, you know…this post!

But there are things I don’t need. Things that someone else might use, might read, might hang on their own wall.

Greed. It’s certainly not something I want to think about. I don’t want to face what the song asks me to review. What do I have that I simply wanted and didn’t really need?

Ouch.

So today I’m going to put my three minutes, those 180 seconds, to doing a mental inventory on where to start with my purging project. I need to get rid of some things.

I need to consider if I need an iPad or just want it.

What about you? What do you think about the idea of greed?

See the full song here: http://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/greed.shtml

4 of Pentacles, Frank Fradella Adventure Tarot, USGames

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

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.

Today’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.

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.

Seeds, People + Growth

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Today’s card is about appreciating growth while you plan for the future. You need to stop every now and again to smell the roses, but you shouldn’t forget to germinate some seeds.

Seeds aren’t just green plants. Seeds are often the interactions between ourselves and the people around us.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

One of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou knows how to cut to the heart of a matter so beautifully.

Consider your own presence in the world. Do you try to make others feel good? Feel good about themselves and their world? Or do you tear them down. Worse, do you tear yourself down?

Focus on building others up. Focus on spreading joy into their world and watch how joy comes back to your own being. When you treat others as you would like to be treated, you are paying it forward. Even when you feel like someone you are communicating with is trying to bankrupt you, you will find that if you approach the situation with as much joy as you can muster, you will be enriched in the long run.

I know it’s difficult to stay positive in a job where the only reason someone wants to talk to us is because they are having a problem. What can you do to look in the mirror when this happens? What can you do to keep a joyful, positive attitude in the face of a nearly constant barrage of unhappiness?

Remember their frustration is not in your hula hoop. Fixing their problem is. Empathizing with their situation is. But being frustrated because they are frustrating only (wait for it….) frustrates you! And is it really worth it in the long run?

I didn’t think so! So make people feel as if you are listening to them. Make them feel as if you want to fix their problem. Make yourself feel better in the process.

What seeds are you planting today? What growth are you nurturing? How are you showing your friends how important they are to you?

Remember this. I love you.

Nine of Coins, Simply Deep Tarot, Schiffer Press, 2011

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Looking to focus on your own growth this year? Join me as I work through Leonie Dawson’s.