sevens Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

How Does It Stop You?

Today’s card isn’t an easy one. For one, it has a keyword that is a real trigger word for me. For two, I don’t really love decks that include keywords. In my opinion, they are limiting. They confine you to one thought or idea.

Unless you are like me and just leap off the cliff every time letting your intuition carry you.

Here we see a woman kneeling in the desert. A vulture hovers over her head. She is not sharing her water with that bird nor with the snake who coils up and around her arm. It’s all for her.

Sometimes I have these twinges of jealousy. I see another Tarot professional using a spread like one of mine. I see someone saying “Seek Joy” without the y’all and I want to fuss, “HEY! Say it right. That’s MINE.”

But it’s not, is it? The concept of seeking joy is as old as time itself. It is far larger than me.

So when I feel those twinges of jealousy, it might be better for me to think, “YAY! Someone else is on the joy hunt with me. The more the merrier!”

Jealous can ruin relationships. How many of us can raise our hand when asked if we’ve ever lost someone due to a jealous nature–theirs or ours.

Sucks, right?

So maybe the next time that ol’ green eyed monster starts nibbling on your ass, you can turn that around.

Just because my partner looks at other women, doesn’t mean I’m not enough.

Just because my colleague books a huge speaking date, doesn’t mean I won’t.

Just because a fellow author hits the NYTimes best seller list, doesn’t mean I can’t.

Stop letting jealous get in your way. We use it as a reason to stop doing what we love.

Well, if so-and-so is taking ALLLLL the speaking engagements, I’ll just go sulk.

Yeah, that’s useful. Right?

So let this Seven of Cups from the Daughters of the Moon Tarot by Ffiona Morgan et al remind us that we get further by sharing our resources. We empower ourselves when we celebrate the successes of others–sincerely. We grow when we stop seeing one another as threats to our happiness.

Seven of Cups, Daughters of the Moon, 1991

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on!

Don’t forget to grab your copy of my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBook. Check out Bonnie Cehovet’s review here.

What Can I Drop?

Today’s card is a reminder that sometimes we are fighting the wrong battle. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t fight. Not at all.

I believe in standing up for what is right for me. I believe in telling someone to not send me hateful, racist jokes. I believe in telling someone not to waste their time baking me a coconut raspberry cake. I believe in shouting at someone for kicking their dog.

But I also believe that my joy is founded on two things. One is my “Eschew Hate” motto while the second is my “Bloom Where You Are Planted” slogan.

Does that make me a Pollyanna Sunshine? Probably and I’m more than happy to hold on to that name. I’ve earned it.

This weekend I had an opportunity to be kind where I could have been catty. I took the opening given to send love instead of nastiness or even worse–nothing.

I stood my ground but I stood it the way I wanted to stand it. Firm and positive.

This crow seems to be a bit tied up. The albino snake (looks like a corn snake to me) is definitely in the winning position. The crow’s sharp beak could easily pierce the snake’s skin to escape.

But instead, he’s holding on to the gem.

Why? Why hold on to that when letting go of it would free him from the coils?

Why indeed.

Why do we hold on to the “I’m right. You’re wrong.” when letting go of it releases that other person from our world? If we have nothing to prove to them, why don’t we just let them go?

For your 180 seconds today, I’m asking you to let go of someone. You know who I mean. That person who is no longer your friend. That person who you still check in on virtually or via friends just so you can rub salt in your own wound.

Three minutes. Let them go. Free yourself.

Seven of Swords, Mary-El Tarot, Schiffer Press, 2012

I forget to announce the winner of the $10 Gift Card!

Vanessa Terrell! You win.

And Linda Ursin, you win the fifteen minute reading!

Love, Attitude + Revolutions

One way to actually make this happen is easy but you have to be consistent. And it feels silly at first.

Today’s card reminds me of a quote by Rob Brezny that I love. He says, “The revolution begins at home. If you overthrow yourself again and again, you might earn the right to help overthrow the rest of us.”

That’s an important thought when you combine it with this clever Seven of Wands from my cherished Victoria Regina tarot. Here a young woman of African descent wields her pen against others. She is outmatched but has the higher ground giving her an advantage.

That higher ground for me is my attitude. Yesterday I was very hurt by someone I love dearly. They asked me to stop saying “I love you” because it threatened their partner. I reacted badly I fear. I told them that I would rather unfriend them on Facebook (but not in real life) than have to police my words. I regret that very much. He understood but I felt crappy. To put it bluntly, the whole exchange made me cry.

Then I remembered this saying from Florence Scovel Shinn.

“Change your thoughts, and in the twinkling of an eye, all your conditions change. Sooner or later, you reap the fruits of your words and thoughts.”

It seems so simple to say, doesn’t it? That what you think becomes real? It actually is very true. So you need to make sure that what you are thinking is what you choose to have in your life.
One way to actually make this happen is easy but you have to be consistent. And it feels silly at first.

Every day, take three minutes to sit quietly. Focus on all the good in your life. Not just the big good, but the little good like a good cup of coffee or a smile from a neighbor you passed on the way to the car. Every good counts for this.

When you perceive that your world is good, it will be good. I call it being a positivity magnet. Your energy will attract those that are also looking at life for the good rather than the negative. The negative is going to happen, y’all. That’s just a part of life.

It is within your power (hula hoop time) to choose what you focus on. Do you choose to focus on (and attract) negative things and people or do you choose to focus on (and attract) positive things and people?

And when we change our perceptions, we change our reality! Choose to see it. Choose to live it!

What choice are you going to make today? Stay positive, people.

I chose to embrace my own loving heart. I chose to understand that my friend’s new love is growing emotionally. For whatever reason, my expression of love for my friend seems to threaten her. So, while I mourn not seeing him here on Facebook, it will cause him less drama if I don’t post there. I simply can’t not tell him, and you, that I love you.

It feels urgently important to me. As if I don’t have enough time left to say it to you all. Silly, right?

But there it is. My love revolution is starting at home. I will take the higher ground and hold my position. I will take three minutes today to focus on what brings me joy.

Will you?

Seven of Wands, Victoria Regina Tarot, Llewellyn, 2005, OOP

Seek Joy, y’all. Pass it on.

? Let me know so I can get you your Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBook and add you to the seeeekrit Facebook group where we are working on this together.

Sparks, Exhaustion & Goals

Today’s card reminds me what happens when things get lit up. When you put so much energy into something, it can go one of two ways. You are exhausted. OR. You are energized. Everything seems pale and out-of-focus. OR. Everything seems to gain speed snowballing into a juggernaut of intention.

Here is the Seven of Disks from the Mary-El Tarot (Marie L. White, Schiffer Books, 2012). Raw energy at the bottom propels seven disks upward. They send light to the sun above or the sun above sends to them. Hard to say. What I do know is that the color of the flames is telling.

The hotter the flame the paler the color. White-hot heat shimmers in the blue flames sending the disks shooting upward. This card gets me hot. 😀

Sorry. This card excites me.

No, no…that’s still sexual.

Oh what the heck! This is about passion. This is about urges. This is about wanting to sink your teeth into something and not let go.

What has you by the throat right now? What are you so excited about that you shimmer just thinking about it? What sparks you? What galvanizes you?

Y’all know what it is for me, right? This darned workbook+planner that I cannot stop talking about. Yes, I’m an affiliate so I make money from sales. No, I wouldn’t be so over-the-top thrilled with this if it wasn’t truly making a difference in my life. That’s not how I roll. Authenticity isn’t an easy lifestyle, but it’s the only one for me.

I mentioned yesterday about a goal already being hit, right? I wouldn’t have even thought about that without the amazing releasing ceremony.

I know right? How did a releasing ceremony push me into goals for 2013? Weird but true.

That goal was to get a fabulous illustrator for my Fairy Tales Tarot Spreads eBook. You can get the non-illustrated for free by purchasing this workbook+planner via . Then when the illustrated version is released for sale, you can get it for free too. What’s not to love?

Get sparking, y’all.

Seven of Disks, The Mary-el Tarot, Schiffer Books 2012

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on!

Illuminate, Illustrate & Dream

I see this as a call to illuminate my heart more. To bring color and swirls in. Be more decorative. And that does tie into this lovely card from the Rumi Tarot.

Today’s card reminds me that an illuminated heart is a lovely thing to own. It’s an even lovelier thing to share. Not because of the quote on the card, but because of the header on the back of the book that goes with this deck.

What does it mean to you to have an illuminated heart? For me, I read that word in two ways. One is the common “lit up” way but the other way is the idea that illuminating something is to decorate it. The Book of Kells (oooh look! One you can color on your own!) is an illuminated (and illuminating) book for me.

Another of those is this that I’m doing. We’ve just had a discussion about the 100 things we are each choosing. I’ve confessed that I’ve written down about eight. Someone else, who’s done this workbook in the past, shared that hers included fun, fanciful things like eat a purple cake with sprinkles. Her advice was to loosen up a bit–to play some more.

I see this as a call to illuminate my heart more. To bring color and swirls in. Be more decorative. And that does tie into this lovely card from the Rumi Tarot.

Here we are told

the present world is but a dream the sleeper imagines to be real.

Seems a bit chastising in a way, but what if the dream we are having is one where the present world is moving towards joy? What if we all focus on the same dream of good coming out on top? What then?

Wouldn’t that be a lovely reality as well as dream?

Illuminate your heart first. Then watch as the light spreads decoration and hope to the person you are closest to and then from them to the next.

We are strong human beings, y’all. Imagine how fierce and strong we are when we focus on the same thing. Just dream how marvelous that could be.

A whole world with illuminated hearts…

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Join me on my and then friend me here on Facebook so I can get you into the group. We are thrilled to have you join us.

7 of Cups, Guide to the Rumi Tarot, Llewellyn Publications, 2009

Hoops, Gratitudes & Magnets

Y’all, the two things that have literally saved me from being a crazy, neurotic, needs-to-be-saved woman are as follows:

Today’s card reminds me of something my therapist asked me today. Yes, I see a therapist regularly. I find it really helps to have her insight into my life. I’ve seen her for 3 or 4 years now. Highly recommend her as well if you are in Austin. 😀

Any who! I digress. She asked me what I was grateful for this year. I had to laugh when I said:

The stress at my job because I learned how to navigate it.

My relationship with all of its bumps and bounces along the way because it taught me what to value.

My family because I’ve learned what is really important.

And so many other things that might have taken me under just a few years ago.

Y’all, the two things that have literally saved me from being a crazy, neurotic, needs-to-be-saved woman are as follows:

1. I can only control what is in my hula hoop.

2. Seek joy, y’all.

Those two life philosophies turned me around. I’ve learned how to gently release negative people. I’ve become a joy magnet attracting other like-minded folk. I’ve made a difference in my own life. Others have told me I’ve made a difference in theirs as well. That makes me cry. Joyfully.

The 7 of Pentacles is traditionally a card of the gardener. We see someone in a garden or field usually at rest. They are reflecting on the work it took to get them to where they are now.

Take some time. Reflect on your year. What are you grateful for? It doesn’t have to be like mine. This is about you. I would love to know what your gratitudes are.

And as a side note, if you have gotten a copy of , let me know. I’ll add you to the private Facebook group. If you want to be added that is. Let me know. 😀 Don’t know what that is? See my post about it here.

So gratitude. What does it look like to you for 2012?

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

7 of Pentacles, Archeon Tarot Deck, U.S. Games 2005

Psst, I want to do a shout out for Amethyst Mahoney’s Limitless Abundance Breakthrough Session. Have you heard about it?

Candles, Torches & Flames

So I realized that my flame is on all the time. I’m always lighting other candles only sometimes they aren’t candles so much as torches for other angry villagers.

Today’s card is a reminder of a favorite quote. This whole thing today was sparked by my good friend, Jee. Jee’s been on a similar journey to me. Life-changing events brought about by simply focusing on the positive. I mean Jee went from a job worrying every day if not every hour about the next dollar to one with so much potential for growth that it’s astounding. Now. Had my friend focused on the negative, well, I don’t know what could have happened but I do think Jee would be unhappy and possibly unemployed. Instead, because Jee focused on that unicorn that poops rainbows, success!

And today, Jee said, “So I love seeing all the ”thankful” posts in my feed, but I am wondering why y’all cant do that year round from time to time. Dont cram all your thankfullness in to 30 days…there are 335 other days you could be posting positive, fun to read updates. 🙂 I love you all…..and am grateful for all the love you let me share with you! Make your day great!!”

Don’t cram all your thankfulness into 30 days. THis reminded me of that favorite quote of mine.

“A candle loses nothing lighting another candle.” Father James Keller

Look at this gorgeous card from the Sirian Starseed Tarot. She is lit up. She is so passionate about being alive that she has lit other flames just by being herself. What a gift! What a joy! Imagine how many lives she touches this way. Imagine how many you could touch.

I will tell you a story. I was so positive yesterday. I went to work and turned into BITCHZILLA. All because I’d let myself go to work excited about a chili cook-off only to find out it was ALL GONE. The morning crew had left nothing for the afternoon crew other than cornbread and crackers. Seriously.

And I went from Joy to Bitch in about 2 seconds flat. I moaned. I whined. I let EVERYONE know how pissed I was.

Yeah–joy-seeking missile? Not so much. More like shit-spreading back hoe.

UGH!I had a choice. I could have snacked before going to work. I know I have blood sugar issues. I know I get cranky if I don’t eat. So it was totally my responsibility to manage that. Instead, I chose to vent about how selfish the entire world was.

So not pretty, but I do want to keep this real with y’all. I noticed that more of my customers (I work in tech support for the “pays my insurance” job) were crankier too. Hmmm…do you think my energy was doing that? I do!

So I realized that my flame is on all the time. I’m always lighting other candles only sometimes they aren’t candles so much as torches for other angry villagers.

So when I saw Jee’s post today, it reminded me (more like smacked me right between the eyes) that I need to focus on my joy more. Like any athlete, if I stop practicing, stop working, stop seeking, then I run the risk of falling back to that negative self.

Oh hell no! 😀 I am a joy-seeking missile, y’all. I want to light you up and everyone I meet with joy not ugly.

So seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Seven of Flames, The Sirian Starseed Tarot, North Atlantic Books, 2012
(Caution, this is a HUGE deck so shuffling normally is out of the question.)

Uzis, Accessories & Will

And look out the window! The troops are coming. If she can just hold off the slathering horde, she’ll make it.

Today’s card is a reminder that sometimes you have to take the high ground even if you have to use force. This means that you can’t let your detractors drag you down. The force is best applied to your own strength of will unlike this fabulous Seven of Swords.

Of course, if your detractors include a horde of zombie party guests, I guess a high heel to the face could be deemed necessary. I don’t know about you, but I’m wondering where she picked up the neat little Uzi.

Still a girl must accessorize, right?

And look out the window! The troops are coming. If she can just hold off the slathering horde, she’ll make it.

So your thought for today is that when you take the high ground, others will come to your defense. Maintain position and never forget the most important lesson of this card.

Two shots. Straight to the head.

Okay, so maybe not in the real world, but you know what I mean. Be firm. Be direct. Don’t be wishy-washy when the 7 of Swords shows up.

Seek the high ground, y’all. Pass it on.

Grin.

Fine!

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

7 of Swords, The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead with Deck and Instructions, Quirk Books 2012

P. to the S. I can’t recommend this deck highly enough. It’s packaged with an eye to highlight the zombie theme plus it really actually reads very well.

Masks, Authenticity & Strength

Today’s card is one that reminds me it’s hard to be authentic. Being authentic. It’s one of those terms we kick around a lot. I know I do. And then today, I saw this quote.

“Belonging starts with self-acceptance … Believing that you’re enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic.”
— Brené Brown

This is perfect for this 7 of Masks from the Fradella Adventure Tarot. It’s a perennial favorite of mine. He offers up masks as his Cups suit. When I first saw that, I was thrown for a bit. I couldn’t wrap my head around it until I realized the beauty of it. Our emotions can be masks.

Here a figure is choosing which face to wear. The decision to be someone else is something many of us face. How often have you talked about “Today I must be the man in charge” or “I have to go be a soccer mom” or any variation?

Take a moment to ask yourself what masks (or roles) you have in your life. How often are you all of them at once? What would happen if you took corporate legal eagle to the T-ball game?

I think Brene` Brown is right. If this character would choose to just go out as themselves, this matter of choosing who to be that day would melt away. He, and I, must learn to believe that he is enough.

Where do you feel like you are not enough? Where do you feel like you are inadequate to the point of needing to pretend to be someone else?

For today, practice being the most important person in the world–yourself. Allow the world to be blessed with the presence of you–real, authentic, honest. You with your nose that’s too big. You with your stomach that pokes out. You with your child who doesn’t behave beautifully at all times. You with all your insecurities…let them go.

And then tomorrow? Practice this concept again. Yes, some people won’t like you. But you know what?

The authentic you probably doesn’t like them either. And that’s okay. We are not here to hang out with the world. Love the world certainly, but populate your hula hoop neighbors with other authentic people. Leave the masks for those who aren’t strong enough to believe in themselves.

I believe in you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on. Want to show off your own willingness to chase your own bliss? Get yourself a mousepad to remind you. And schedule a reading with me today. I’ll help you examine how to be your most authentic self.

7 of Masks, Fradella Adventure Tarot, U.S. Games, 2003