wands Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

I DO IT MYSELF!

Today’s card is from a deck that I have on order. I haven’t heard yet whether it is in. The lush beauty of the first card I see pulled me in–hard. I am a very visual person. If there is a TV on near me, I check right out of any conversations. I try to position myself with my back to the tube if I’m out at dinner with friends.

And here’s why. As I stare at this card, I see the lions (all four of them), the Daliesque sunflowers, the cat who looks so much like my beloved Carmen, the hint of a peacock on the staff, the rich fabric of her dress and the face of Angeline Jolie staring out at me.

Is it Jolie? I don’t know. She’d make an excellent Queen of Wands though. But this card shows off the stylish side of the active Fire mistress. Odd that I am such a water sign but identify with this queen more than any other.

She is fierce. She is ready to get things done. She is a do-it-herself woman.

Those are pluses as well as minuses really.

That last one…that do-it-herself one? Yeah. That’s why I’m currently on two different medications. One to stop the inflammation and the other to help me sleep while the inflammation is still raging. In a word? I hurt.

Why?

Back to that do-it-herself. I could have easily asked for help moving the dog crate and other things for my house-sitting gig. Did I? No. Why?

Picture a three year old, curly black hair, hands on hips shouting, “I DO IT MYSELF.”

Yeah. Never quite grew out of that.

So now I get to pay for that toddler attitude. 😀

What about you? What is your “DO IT MYSELF” moment? How did you learn to stop and ask?

I’m still working on that one. Getting a bit better, but still…hands on hips!

Queen of Wands, Illuminati Tarot, Llewellyn, 2013[aff]

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

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!

Make ‘Em Laugh! Make ‘Em Laugh!

Today’s card is from the Moon Princess Himiko Tarot. This is an unusually lovely Ace of Wands. This deck is a really mixed bag for me. Only the courts, the aces and the Majors have scenic interpretations. All the rest follow the Marseilles tradition of non-scenic minors. I prefer the scenic.

I woke up laughing this morning. I was remembering a scene from a movie I watched last night. I didn’t watch the whole thing…I just wanted to watch to that particular scene. It’s from the first Kung Fu Panda where Mantis is doing acupuncture on Po. During an intense scene with Tigress, Po suddenly pulls a funny face which totally pisses Tigress off. She’s going to fight him but Mantis interrupts to say what has happened.

It never fails to make me laugh until I cry.

And isn’t that a great feeling? When is the last time you had that in your life? Too long? Well make it happen. Read a book you know will make you laugh. Watch a show that causes you to hoot.

Don’t depend on others for your laughter, darlings. Make it happen for yourself.

Did you know you can watch some old faves for free? Sign up for the 30 day free trial with Amazon Prime today! [aff] If you use that link, you help me. And you cancel after 30. I am a Prime member and love it. I just watched the Avengers last weekend. Didn’t cost me a dime. My Prime membership pays for itself in the free shipping savings. 😀

Now astrologically we have what is called a Grand Water Trine. This is big according to the astrologers I know (and the ones I follow.) I read the write up on Tarot.com. This line really caught my eye.

“If you embrace the positive energy and heightened intuition of this rare planetary alignment, it could lead to emotional breakthroughs!”

Well, heck. I’m in. Are you?

Your 180 second challenge today? Take three minutes to write about what emotional breakthrough you would like to happen.

Oh, darlings? This isn’t about someone else’s emotional breakthrough. It’s about yours so keep it focused on you.

Ace of Wands, Moon Princess Himiko Tarot, OOP

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Those Steps Are Too Hard!

Today’s card reminds me that everything is about perspective. Here we see what looks like a daunting climb up nine wands in the Wild Unknown Tarot. The moon sits all golden and waiting but wow…that’s a long-assed climb up some really pointy sticks.

Or is it? Pull back a bit. Stop focusing on all the stairs. There are so many, aren’t there?

No. There are not. If you are too close, all you see is all the tangles, the problems, the sticking points if you will pardon that pun.

When you pull back a bit, you see it’s a staircase. I will admit that the staircase still seems a bit hard, but you can see clear spaces where you can step. And then look to the next one. Another open spot.

If I focus on each step individually, I can find a way all the way to the top where I can touch that shining, waiting, glorious golden moon.

All I had to do was change my perspective.

What do you have in your life that could use some distance to give you a bit of perspective?

The Wild Unknown Tarot is on sale this month for pre-orders. Might want to jump on this one. It’s a deck that really lives up to the hype it’s been getting in the Tarot world.

Seek perspective, y’all. Don’t let seemingly tangled, hard steps stop you from getting what you want.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

9 of Wands, Wild Unknown Tarot, self-published.

Housecleaning Is The Goal???

Today’s card is a fun version from the Housewives Tarot. It makes me wrinkle my nose and think, “But I don’ wanna do it.” I mean I know there are those that enjoy cleaning house. I’m not one of them. 😀

But what catches my eye in this is not the feather duster, but the background. Do you see it? It may be too small in this picture. The background is a blueprint. You see the 10×15 kitchen, the 10×15 master and more. There’s even landscaping sketched in.

Ah yes, the perfect Ace of Wands reminder. What you do in the here and now should be geared towards what you want in the future.

And what do you want in the future? If your goals are limited to physical things/wants, I challenge you to broaden your search. Realize that your goals need to be less “lose 50 pounds and find a partner” and more “wake up happy every day.”

Because while one is completely doable, the other will make the first an afterthought. Once you can wake up happy every day, you will be on the right track.

Wow, Arwen. You really wake up happy every day?

Hell to the no.

I wake up in pain and wondering if I can call out at work.
I wake up, smack the snooze and go back to sleep.

😀 I’m human.

But I reset my mind. I write a daily affirmation. I hold on to that. Do I lose it? Sure, I do.

But the secret to being a professional joy seeker?

I keep the goal in mind.

I seek joy so I can be the person I believe myself to be.

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.

Ace of Wands, Housewives Tarot, Quirk Books, 2004 [aff]

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.

Arwen Gets Political–Again

Today’s card is in honor of #standwithwendy, #sb5 and the fall of section 3 of DOMA. Many things went right yesterday even as others went wrong. Me? I got fired up, y’all. I’m talking gloves off, finger up, head wagging fired up about a representative here in Texas. But first, let’s talk about the Five of Fire from the Gaian Tarot.

Here we see a man breathing fire. He’s doing it intentionally. He knows how to invigorate those watching. He knows how to put forth a call to action that can’t be missed. He is breathing fire.

In many decks, this card is depicted as the competition card. You will see figures in some field competition with long staves. But Joanna Powell Colbert re-interprets that into this solo man who is so intently focusing his passion.

Now breathing fire in any sense can be dangerous. I was breathing fire last night on my FB page. I was fired up about Wendy Davis’ amazing filibuster but I was incensed over David H. Dewhurst (R. Houston)’s idiocy. Among other things he said on his Twitter feed: “We will not stand for mob-rule politics in TX! The fight for what’s right resumes July 1st. #txlege #specialsession” To which I said, ‘Bring it.’

And I went off, y’all. I posted a picture of myself with “Operation Oh Hell No 2013 Has Commenced” along with pointedly sharp statements. Was I being a positive, joy-seeker then?

Welllllllllllll, that probably depends upon whom you ask. GOP fans would probably think I might want to sit down and shut up. Democrat fans might say the opposite.

But the lesson? Targeted spewing works best. If you must spew, and baby, I had to last night, then choose to do it where you can be supported or at least where you won’t be attacked for your views. Let it out. Don’t keep the heat internal like that.

When’s the last time you needed to let off steam? How did you do it?

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Five of Fire, Gaian Tarot

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