Sun Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

What would you like to change back and why?

Today’s cards are from US Games’ Dreaming Way Tarot. I really love this deck. It’s quirky with images that often make me turn my head this way and that.

Here are the Sun and the Moon. What I particularly like here is the small child crawling out for a lollipop. She’s bare and free of worry. Her future is bright.

Then we see the same girl (perhaps) more mature. She has learned to cover her body–from shame or peer pressure or even personal taste, we can’t know. She gingerly holds the lobster. Again, this is something she wants, but she has also learned that she has to deal with the consequences of her emotional choices.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon is a fairy tale that always makes me think of a favorite book by Pearl S. Buck. I know…my mind…it’s a weird synaptic journey.

But the book is East Wind: West Wind: The Saga of a Chinese Family (Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck) and is about a very traditional Chinese bride married to a very modern Chinese man. It’s a clash of cultures but more than that, really. It’s about blending. It’s said to be one of Buck’s very best. I’d be torn between that and Imperial Woman. I simply adore Imperial Woman.

But back to the Sun and the Moon. Today I’m asking you to tell me something. What do you think has changed drastically from your child self to your adult self?

What would you like to change back and why?

Journal time! 😀

And if you feel like it, I’d really like to know.

Sun, Moon, Dreaming Way Tarot, U.S. Games [aff]

What Will You Do For 180 Seconds?

The sun burned my eyes on my walk back in. I couldn’t see a thing and nearly walked into a neighbor taking his morning stroll.

Today’s card reminds me to soak it up. This orange tabby understands the value of making time to enjoy the day. The bright daisies next to him (did you know 85% of all orange tabby cats are male?) remind him to find beauty everywhere.

The sun is shining on him. See his shadow on the white post? He’s my reminder to seek joy today. To look for small things like daisies. On my morning walk with the dogs today, I was treated to the high pitched chirp of the female cardinal. I saw her in her feathered suit of brown and red then caught the brilliant flash of her mate as he zipped into a tree near her. A blue jay shouted out from somewhere that he was in the market for luuuurve while a mockingbird bachelor took up residence high on a telephone pole.

Did you know that the bachelor mockingbird will sing nearly non-stop while looking for his partner? Also, he flings himself way up into the air to show off his silver and white and black handsome self. Of course, if you’ve ever been the bedroom window the bachelor chooses to sing outside of, then this may not bring you all the joy it could. LOL.

The sun burned my eyes on my walk back in. I couldn’t see a thing and nearly walked into a neighbor taking his morning stroll. He called a good morning to me knowing I couldn’t see due to the sun in my eyes. Just a neighborly thing to do when the sun is at your back.

Spring is coming. It’s still late winter of course but here in Texas that looks very different from my years in Michigan or in Colorado.

What will bring you joy today? What does late winter look like where you are? Rather than rail at the weather that is, find some joy in it. Allow your heart to open up to joy.

Can you commit to three minutes, just 180 seconds, of seeking joy today?

Some of my loved ones are having such hard times right now. Know that I have you in my heart and love you very much.

And that goes for all of you reading this. I love you. It really is that simple for me in this moment.

Sun, Cat’s Eye Tarot, U.S. Games 2011 (used with permission)

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.

The Cat’s Eye Tarot is a personal favorite of mine that I use in public readings. I recommend this deck.

Sun, Circus & Muscle

Today’s card is a reminder of what you can reach. It also made me giggle because I was thinking of my bucket list event last night.

One of the things Leonie Dawson’s does is has you build a list of things you want to do for 2013. These are not necessarily huge things. But it got me to thinking about my bucket list for my life.

No, I haven’t seen the movie.
Yes, I want to see the movie.

Anyway! One of those bucket list items was to see Cirque Du Soleil. I did that last night. I went solo but sat next to the most charming man. He’s seen CdS many times and told me quite a bit. We were sitting two rows from the floor on the side. So while I may not have seen the full frontal approach, what I saw mesmerized me. I even forgot to clap every now and again.

This show, Saltimbanco, is not one of the huge production numbers that the others seem to be (if I am to believe the advertising). It was far more focused on the acrobatics along with some very silly interludes. There was music. There were fanciful folk who seemed to be truly enjoying their time on stage. I loved it.

I will be going to see “O” based on the suggestion of the gentleman. Oddly, I never got his name. Learned a lot about him…he graduated from high school in the town where I was born. Small world, right?

But check this card out. Do you see why it made me giggle when I pulled it? Other than the whole Sun/Soleil funny.

The dancer in the lower left of course. Her form reminded me of what I saw last night.

That made me think of all the years and years of training each performer must have gone through just to get to the Cirque du Soleil troupe. And then how much they must practice to make it look so easy.

That ties into my philosophy about seeking joy, y’all. It’s not easy, really. Not always. You have to practice it. You have to stay mentally focused on seeking joy.

We are wired to look for trouble and danger. Did you know that? It’s true. It’s part of the survival instinct.

So if you want to change your world, you have to exercise your joy-seeking muscle every day.

Have you gotten your workbook+planner yet? We have started gathering in the seeeekrit Facebook page. We would love for you to join us as well. . It’s not pricey! You can get both for $17.90 or either the business or personal for $9.95. Then you print it off. So if you aren’t into the colors, you can do black and white.

Seek joy, y’all! Work that muscle until you are ready for the big stage. We will call it Hoop du Joy!

Sky Dancer (Sun), Waking the Wild Spirit, OOP

Not convinced? Check out my video review of the personal planner to see if for yourself.

Monsters, Skulls & Happiness

What do you do when some monster is gnawing on your skull? American Tarot Association president offers some tips.

Today’s card invariable makes me laugh. I don’t know if it is the skulls or the two headed monster gnawing on bones while reclining on a blanket. There’s just something so happy about this freaky little card.

Even the skulls look delighted to be contributing to the monster picnic. The bat up in the corner is obviously highly amused as well.

Sometimes it’s a challenge to find joy. Y’all know that I advocate looking for small things to make you happy. They pile up. Once you get in the habit of seeking joy, it sneaks up on you.

I’d love to hear how you’ve found joy lately. What’s helping you stay positive? Share your tips and tricks. Check what others say as well.

Consider today the Professional Joy Seeker’s in-service workshop. what makes you want to hang upside down and laugh like this bat? What keeps your skull grinning even when someone is trying to suck your marrow out?

This is the Sun from the Halloween Tarot from U.S. Games Systems, INC (1997, 2003) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572810343/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1572810343&linkCode=as2&tag=anisoptera-20