three of wands Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

Humor, Fear + Joy

I try. I fail. What piece of me still laughs when I see something bad happen like a kid running to dive into the water but they trip on the pier. I have to admit that…

Today’s card is from my ongoing Tangled Tarot project. As this came to life for me, I could already see the card it would be. With the swoops and swirls, it made me (and others) think of a ship.

Here is the Three of Wands–the quintessential card of wait and see. What you’ve sent out will return but you may not get what you expect. You will need to make sure you have sent out as much good as you expect back.

That’s not always easy in our negativity-driven world. Oh, don’t get me wrong, y’all. There are those who fight for a positive outlook. There are those who are careful not to share mean things–even funny mean things.

I try. I fail. What piece of me still laughs when I see something bad happen like a kid running to dive into the water but they trip on the pier. I have to admit that I’m hard on myself there. I force myself to think about the pain and the embarrassment. I make myself become that person.

Yeah, the whole mile in the moccasins thing.

I don’t think we will slide our pendulum from negativity-based thinking to positivity in day. Maybe not even in a year.

But I believe wholeheartedly that I can gather up a tribe of people who share that belief.

That there can be funny, humorous things that don’t involve mocking someone’s pain. That don’t involve shaming someone. That don’t use religious or racial slams to create a laugh. Here’s a test for you. Take a religious or racial joke. Remove the race and religion from it. Is it still funny? No? Then replace it with your race or your religion. Still not funny? What does that mean to you?

Politics? Yeah, about that…I have to work a lot harder there because I get angry. More than angry, I get scared. And then I lash out in fear.

[Tweet “No, it isn’t okay because others do it too. That’s actually one of the best reasons not to do it.”]

Their level and all that.

So from this Three of Wands energy, I will send out boatloads of positive thinking. I will share funny things that don’t put another person down or call them a name. I will channel my fear into joy. I will remain hopeful.

Your journal prompt today is “What is something I find funny that is actually hurtful? How can I change that?”

Three of Wands, Tangled Tarot, not published, Arwen Lynch

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

And if you are a writer, let plot, write and finish your book.

Sad, Angry Humans

Today’s card reminds me that sometimes the only thing you can do to grow is to turn your back on things and people. Not all people are in our lives to help us grow. Well, maybe that’s not quite true. There are those people who exist to be examples of what not to do. So I guess they are in our lives for that reason.

We all have detractors. We all deal with those who just don’t want us to succeed. Generally that’s because they live in fear, y’all. You have to take just a moment to feel so very sorry for them. How awful it must be to live a life so full of negativity that nothing is shiny unless it’s focused on you. No one is worth a damned unless they are putting you above all others.

Sad, yes.

But if I’m going to be as authentic as possible, it also makes me mad. Mad because I see these people tear down others in order to build themselves up. I don’t want people like that in my world. I don’t want the sad,angry, narcissistic parasites. They suck me dry.

Just like with people who are never happy about anything, these fear-dwellers suck the life out of things.

Don’t suck the life out of things, darlings. Agree to disagree with people you love. Agree that sometimes they are going to tell you that you are being a dirtbag.

My sister did that for me today. And I threw it back in her face.

Oh. Yes. I. Did.

Then I apologized a few hours later.

Why? Because I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d said. Not what she’d said, but what I’d said. It came from a place of fear. I was afraid she was right. I was afraid she’d found a hole in my joyful life.

Then I realized that she had and that it was okay. I’m not perfect. And, thank the Gods, I never will be.

I promise to be as authentic as possible.
I promise to turn my back to those detractors who are fear-dwellers and attention-seekers.
I promise to pay attention when my trusted circle tells me I’m being an ass.
I promise to work at learning to listen and think before I respond from fear.
I promise to focus outward rather than listen to the negativity around me.

This beautiful Three of Staves is from Kris Waldherr’s Goddess Tarot by U.S. Games.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

And are you ready to stop living in fear? Are you ready to let your own creative goddess out? Come join me in an online course. I’m retaking it because it blew my doors open last year. (aff) and so worth it! You can take just the class or the join the full academy. Up to you. I did the full academy because I saw three classes I wanted to take right off the bat. 😀

What Can You Drop?

Today’s card reminds me that sometimes I take on too much. I don’t let others do. I’m the first one with my hand up in the air volunteering. Here is the Three of Tridents (swords) from the Undersea Tarot.

He is swimming off to do who knows what. His hands are full. Even if something came at him, would he be able to defend himself? I honestly don’t think so. He would have to think about which trident to use while trying not to lose the others.

And haven’t I done that! Overloaded on what I wanted to do. Filled up my personal plate with groups and classes and appointments until I have no wiggle room whatsoever. And certainly no me time.

Yesterday was my day off. I had things I had to do that didn’t get done. Why? Well yesterday it was because of physical therapy. I came home in such pain that I relaxed watching TV then went to bed after taking a pain pill. I have readings that I HAVE to do. One of them is very late. But it’s a bad idea to do a reading while under the influence. I endeavor to not do that.

I also had to cancel a lunch date with a beloved friend. The drive out just seemed daunting given the pain. And I really love this friend.

The only thing I managed to do that was on my schedule was Aphrodite’s Kitchen with Anita Perez, Willow Polson, Mar Nale and Christiana Gaudet. That was a hoot, by the way. As soon as I get the archive link, I’ll share.

But back to our merman and his too-full hands. Can you guess what today’s challenge is?

Yeah, that.

For 180 seconds think about all the things you’ve said you will do. Now figure out how many of them could be done by others. Overachievers, relax. 😀

Three of Tridents, Undersea Tarot, U.S. Games 2008 [aff]

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Would You Hex Someone?

Today’s card is from a deck that has taken me some getting used to. This is routinely the most popular deck in many Tarot groups. It reminds me that for my projects to take root and to flourish, I have to put myself into them.

Traditionally the Three of Wands shows a figure watching three ships in a harbor. But Patrick Valenza shows his Deviant Moon character attached literally at the umbilical cord. She contemplates the three growing things with a serious demeanor. I see the fierce, almost grotesque, fish cape as being her emotional protectiveness of these tender plants. The moon lends a breath, a light, a glow? highlighting the intention.

As a witch, I know that what spells I cast, I tie myself in to. It is for that reason that I rarely do bindings etc. If I dislike a person enough to bind them away from myself, the very act of engaging on that energetic level ties me to them. So it’s rare for me to do that type of magic. I prefer the magic of ignoring them–what I think of as Arwen’s Not-So-Amish Shunning. I shut them out.

I’ve learned that will wither the connection faster than any binding or mirror box. I don’t read them. I don’t listen to them. I don’t “run by their Facebook page just to see if they are talking about me.” None of that. Period.

For me, I’d rather put my energy into projects that bring joy and growth to my world.

Simply put….ain’t nobody got time for that. 😀

What about you? Are there people and projects you could be shunning (really shunning not talk about it all the time shunning, lol)? Are there people and projects you could be giving your energy to that will give back?

I’m going to challenge you to take three minutes today. That’s right…180 seconds. Think about someone who drains you. Someone you’ve tried to let go of.

Now let go. Replace that thought with something affirming. Move on, darlings.

What will you let go of today?

Three of Wands, Deviant Moon Tarot, U.S. Games, 2008

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

What Will You Sail?

Today’s card reminds that there is so much to love about Tarot. This is why I enjoy teaching it! I get to help others dive into the cards to find their own meanings.

Here is the Medieval Cat Tarot Cat Tarot with one of my favorite interpretations of the Three of Wands. Classically this card shows someone standing on the shore watching their ship. Is it coming in or going out? Well, that’s in the eye of the reader really.

In this card, though, our intrepid cat is not watching. He is getting ready to launch. He has his boat to set sail. He has his spy glass to watch it as it heads out for parts unknown.

Sometimes we have to do that. Build something as intricate as this cat’s boat and then just let go of it. Send it off to see what will happen.

If you are a writer, you know this all too well. The thing that is harder than writing? Waiting for a response from an editor or an agent or even a beta reader.

What project do you have that you haven’t yet released? I know what mine is. I keep finding all sorts of reasons not to send it out. I fear my ship might sink.

But, like this cat knows, a ship that never sails isn’t a ship after all.

What do you need to let sail?
What will you let go of today?

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.

Three of Wands, Medieval Cat Tarot, U.S. Games

Who Worries You?

Today’s card reminds me of a quote by Kempis. “Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise not blame.” Sometimes I worry that others won’t like me. I worry that they will like me and I won’t live up to the hype. The others really can’t win for losing with an attitude like that. I give them so much power in my life.

Yesterday during a consultation, I asked my client who paid their bills, fed their children, kept a roof of their family’s heads. of course the answer was that my client was in charge of all that. When I asked them why they worried so much about what others cared?

They couldn’t answer me.

I told them, and I’m telling you and me, that until these “others” are responsible for my safety, shelter and sustenance, THEN we should worry about them. I won’t look at myself in the mirror and question myself in their name.

Today’s affirmation:

I live today for me. I put my own hopes and joys first. I do breathe for myself. I set my feet on the ground knowing that I am capable. I breathe confidence in and mirror questions out. I acknowledge how much I have done to this date. I will get more done because I am capable. I am a beautiful human with a loving heart who is loved by beautiful humans. And that is enough. Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Six of Fire, Gaian Tarot, Joanna Powell Colbert

Are You Being Quiet?

Today’s card is a conundrum for me. Traditionally I see this card as a one of waiting for things to happen. Yet here is a woman doing what appears to be yoga. That’s not waiting.

HEY! UNIVERSE! She’s cheating! She’s meditating and doing yoga when she’s supposed to be waiting.

And yes, I do this. Do you? She’s found time and space to do something for herself while waiting for something else to happen. If you have five minutes free, what do you do with it?

What if you used it to just let your mind go quiet for that time? What if you used it to focus on an affirmation? What if you adjusted your rear view while stuck in a traffic jam just so you could tell yourself “I cherish you” or “I am beautiful?”

How about three minutes? Could you do it for 180 seconds?

So I’ve been asking y’all to give me three minutes a day to do one thing. Many of you have commented on these 180 second challenges. Thank you for all your feedback. Yes, I do them too.

Today’s challenge is hard in our busy world. One tip? Acknowledge the stray thoughts that come in. Let them flow. Don’t force yourself. Meditation is different for folks. Some of us like to visualize while others of us can’t see an apple no matter how hard we try. I’m one of the latter.

Don’t judge yourself.

Let yourself simply be in that three minutes. If you need to, repeat over and over “I’m just going to be quiet for 180 seconds” to block out other thoughts.

You don’t even have to do yoga…this time. 😀

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Three of Wands, Cosmic Tarot, US Games

What Are Your Dreams?

But the big dreams? The ones that are so scary I might as well say I am going to run for President? Those dreams? Yeah, those.

Today’s card has so much to love. It’s a very unusual interpretation of this card. Normally you see someone standing waiting on something to happen. But in the Waking The Wild Spirit (Poppy Palin, Llewellyn, 2002) we are offered a different scenario.

The fairy could be born of the sun behind him. He holds a lantern with a candle (makes me think of the Hermit and his lamp). He launches a moth from his finger. A hedgehog waits beneath the mushroom…and is that angel’s cap to the bottom right?

For a card of waiting, there is a lot happening here. I like that for this card. If you follow the numbers, the ace of fire is about the potential of passion while the two is about a passionate partnership. It could be said this is the results of that passion. 😀

He’s come together with someone else to create something magical. Now he must pause for the results.

What about you? It’s nearly the end of February. For those of you working through with me (and it’s not too late!), where are you in your exploration of your Incredible Year? From our Facebook group, I know some of us are feeling a bit overwhelmed. The biggest sticking point seems to be the “100 Things” list.

I admit that I haven’t written down 100 things I want do do this year. And, grin, some of my list has been written down AFTER I have done it. But it is helping me remember that there are things I want to do.

Do you know that these things are not great earth-shattering events? They are small, nurturing things mostly. I think the biggest one on that list is “fly a kite on the beach.” Not going to change the world with that one, am I?

But the big dreams? The ones that are so scary I might as well say I am going to run for President? Those dreams? Yeah, those.

I have written two of those down along with steps to get there. One is already a done deal. I just got the final illustrations from Lisa Hunt and will be adding them to my Fairy Tale Tarot Spreads eBoook. Those of you who got the non-illustrated version will get the new version free. And I’ve made the decision to beef up the verbiage just a bit as well as shuffle a few things around.

What are your dreams? What do you want to do this year?

Want to know what my other dream is? The scary, big one? I want to hear one of three people say, “Seek Joy, Y’all” to an international audience. No, I won’t tell you who they are other than they are all female and very famous.

So what’s holding me back?

All I need to do is write three letters and mail them. Then I have to wait to see what happens.

Of course, while I’m waiting, I’ll be launching another moth into the air because I am not willing to pause this year. It’s too important. I’m creating my incredible year.

Are you? It’s not too late.

Can you commit to 180 seconds today to write down your dreams? You don’t have to show a soul. Just write them down and then list the steps to get there.

Three of Fire, Waking The Wild Spirit, Llewellyn 2002

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on.

Scorpio, Waiting & Forgotten

Well at that time in my life, that certainly wasn’t what I wanted to hear. No way. No how. Get wet? What the hell kind of advice was that?

This card reminds me of something my mama said to me. I was weeping and whining about something I wanted. Something I wanted but wasn’t here yet. I was stuck waiting for it. Mama, a true blue Scorpio, looked me in the eye. What she said to me then I’ve never forgotten.

“Get wet.”

HUH?

“Sometimes if all you are doing is waiting for your ship to come in, you need to get wet.”

Well at that time in my life, that certainly wasn’t what I wanted to hear. No way. No how. Get wet? What the hell kind of advice was that?

Grin. My mother was not the most maternal thing in the world if you are looking for the June Cleaver/Carol Brady mom. Her method was to push you a little further than you thought you could go. Didn’t always work for me but she never failed to remind me that I was loved.

This Three of Wands (Witches Tarot 2012 from Llewellyn) shows a man watching over the harbor. He’s got three wands with him. The Ace of wands was the intent and the potential of his desire. The second wand that made the Two of Wands showed his bringing action to his desire. Now with the third wand in hand, he waits to see if what he worked for will flourish.

In writing, the first thing many of us hear once we say, “I submitted” is “what are you working on now?”

That’s a really important concept because as a writer, if you stop writing, you are not producing. And a non-producing writer is forgotten very easily. Most writers don’t want to be forgotten (insider secret into the mind of the professional writer.)

Really, none of us want to be forgotten, do we? So why not get wet? Why not jump in and swim out to see how things are going? If that’s not possible, try this.

Instead of spending your time waiting, spend it working/creating/doing. Make the next thing happen.

Time’s a’wasting.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

3 of Wands,
Witches Tarot, Llewellyn Publishing 2012

Pick up a copy for yourself.

Roads, Frolics & Weeping

Today’s card reminds me to look to the future. The road I’m on is a winding one so I must always be aware of the curve I’m currently in. I also need to remember the curves I’ve just negotiated. And I must prepare for the ones to come.

I love this Three of Wands from the Crystal Visions Tarot (US Games, 2011). It symbolizes hope to me. Hope that I am on the right path. Hope that I’ve made the right choices. Hope that I’m heading in the right direction.

Today is the first day back from a fabulous vacation filled with frolicking, fuckery and friends in Little Rock. It’s our third year to gather at that hotel so this year there were even more people. I didn’t get to say hello to all of them (which makes me a bit sad.)

I received an award for community spirit and service which made me go all teary-eyed. I didn’t expect it AT ALL. It was an amazing feeling to walk up in front of all my friends to receive that plaque.

So right now, I’m blessed to understand that this road…the one I’m on right now…is the right one. It’s been the right one all along. Even when I was weeping on the side of it wondering why life was passing me by…it’s been the right one.

Get up, darlings. Set your feet in a forward motion. Seek joy on a daily basis. You are on the right path for you at this moment.

Three of Wands, Crystal Visions Tarot, US Games 2011

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!