I was tearing through a few boxes from Amazon.com last evening when I discovered a dear friend gifted me with my very own “Joie de Vivre Tarot” deck. The cards feature lovely, joyous creatures resembling Alice In Wonderland fairies dressed in Victorian garb, all in muted pastels, and all with smiles and looking to share the love they clearly feel in their hearts. Even the more “negative” cards feel gentle and open to exploration.

Artist: Paulina Cassidy (artist’s site)
ISBN-10: 1572816627
ISBN-13: 978-1572816626
Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.9 x 1.3 inches

The type of energy the new deck embodies // King of Coins

The figure in this card is a rabbit standing tall in front of his kingdom. He stands with a sunflower staff and holds a blooming flower in his right hand, and a heart is carved into the floor at his feet. A pocket watch dangles from a stuffed waistcoat pocket. Flowers bloom to either side and ripe grapes dangle overhead. He is the master of his world, and comfortable in his leadership role.

With this card in mind, I expect this deck to embody an energy of firm, steadfast control, not too hurried and not prone to rash comments. This will be a comforting deck for me, particularly when I need calming and a well-reasoned response.

The type of questions the new deck is particularly interested in // Six of Swords

Oh my.

I never cared for this card until I saw it in the Tarot of the Sidhe deck, and since then I’ve had a whole new perspective about it. I now see this card as representing moving on… not necessarily from hard situations to better ones, but always moving with the help and support and guidance of our most beloved Guides. Initially the Dreamer Six card in the Sidhe deck surprised me, because I’d never really thought of our experiences that way before. Now I know that our Guides — Angels, if you will — are always with us and always helping, no matter how much or how little we are aware of them. Of course, if we are aware and open to accepting their help, we can only benefit from their wisdom and guidance.

All that said… this card in the Joie de Vivre deck depicts a woman sitting across a swan’s back while it carries her from the shore and into the setting sun. She is transitioning from one phase of life to another. The unknown is certainly scary, but change is integral to our lives and opens us to new experiences. In this reading, the card in this position tells me to depend on this deck when I have questions about change in my life.

Paired with the King of Coin’s slow and methodical energy, it tells me that the advice the deck will offer will help me plan my changes throughout life. Always welcome to this here organization lover!

The emotional tone of the deck // Three of Wands

“Moving on – you better hurry if you expect to keep up with me!”

The figure looks to me like she’s floating away, excited to be moving on to bigger and different opportunities… but her head is turned back around as far as it can go, and she’s looking directly at me with a happy clown-grin and inviting eyes. Three birds fly around her, and I’m drawn to a tiny pumpkin fixed to clips in her hair. It’s a lighthearted touch that tells me she likes to have fun. I’m also drawn to a clock on the ground below her, a reminder that time is of an essence.

Whatever decisions must be made, or opportunities in the works, this deck does not encourage delays. Interesting, combined with the methodical King of Coins as the energy… fiery emotion mixed with organized energy.

What the new deck expects from me // Queen of Coins

Hee hee – how “interesting”!

The figure in this card is an insect of some sorts, with six limbs and a woman’s head. She cradles an orb that reminds me of a spider’s web with a heart decorating the outside. She rests her swollen abdomen on a toadstool while petting a rabbit-hyena companion. She is calm, collected, and secure in her knowledge that all is as it should be.

This position indicates that I am bring a sense of calm and collected rationality to my readings, maintaining my sense of order and remembering that I am the gentle ruler of my own world, no matter what else goes on around me.

Sounds like this is going to be an excellent planning deck for me!

• Amazon info is an affiliate link
• Intro spread from The Tarot Room

No matter if you believe in heaven or hell, angels or ghosts, the power of love or the power of material things… for several thousand years, **TODAY** has been marked as the End of Days.

Duh duh ddddduuuuuuuuhhhhh!!!!

… per the Mayan calendar, that is.

So, whether the sky falls on our heads at noon, or the earth does a jig under our feet as she passes into the next phase of her life; if crazed lunatics in offices around the country try to tell one more person how to be happy, or a pack of rabid rainbow butterflies swarms across Texas in a “Take Back the Environment” demonstration…

… perhaps — juuuuussst perhaps — we could each of us take a moment to kneel down and say a little prayer of thanks for this life. For the air we breathe. For the beautiful sunrise and the precious sunset that means another irreplaceable day has come and gone.

Smile at a stranger.

Pick up a piece of trash instead of step over it.

It’s easy. And if we all say a little prayer today — this glorious October 28th, 2011 — it will be just as simple to do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

It’s okay if you’re out of practice of being grateful for the simple things. Just pull on some kneepads, and say a little prayer.

It gets easier.

Our “homework” for the first class was to summarize the Bible — in three minutes or less! — and to share it with the class the following week. Naturally, this glutton-for-punishment writer perked up at the challenge of writing a log line for such a book.

Three minutes? Pfft! I’ll see your three minutes, and do it in twenty-five words or less, too!

LOG LINE FOR THE BIBLE
— a blueprint for people to learn and model unconditional love towards each other and all of God’s creation, on Earth and in the heavens above

It’s pretty clear to me that the power of the Bible lies within the very person reading it… each unique interpretation fuels our choices and reactions to every situation we’re in.

How would *you* summarize the Bible? And what does that summary say about your personal interpretation of it?

~~~

The above picture brings to mind Matthew 26:52:

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. (NASB version)

There’s so much violence and restriction in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. No wonder people are hesitant these days to associate themselves with an institution. If there was just one lesson to learn, could it be not how to react, but how to act lovingly from the very start?

And every time I hear it I get chills. What a simple prayer — a gentle mantra — to keep in mind as I go about my day.

I was scrounging around on YouTube for an acapella rendering when I stumbled across this acoustic version by Michael Gungor. I hope you find it as amazing as I do!

// 17. The Star

After all is said and done, I can own my own power through being able to move through life’s daily drama. I am stronger than I give myself credit for. By remaining calm, it’s easier to find the eye of the storm and acknowledge that better things are ahead.

Finding the positive within the struggle is something I strive to do, even when it’s perceived as being argumentative. After all, if I’m supposed to be the creator of my own reality, I’d rather create an oasis than a dried up river bed.

Anyone here – if you’d like me to pull a card for you, leave a comment!

~~~

Inspired by Donnaleigh’s 9/20/11 Speed Tarot prompt

“Only your paranoia of falling prevented you from climbing higher.”

I continue to question the Tarot card that appeared in triplicate. Upon waking, I just knew it was the Queen of Pentacles (though the image I recalled made me think she was the solitary woman standing in her garden of the traditional 9 of Pentacles card). It wasn’t until three days later, while I was looking at the traditional Rider-Waite pictures online, that I realized the Two of Wands card most closely matched my dream-memory.

“Each card notes the phases of … your transformation from wife & mother & career woman … to spiritual being.”

I’m afraid that my actions in the dream — climbing only part-way up the mountain, sliding down through the people in the snow (and across my own significator-type card), and then finding myself crawling through a dark library with others trying to stay out of sight — are negative, and indicate my sub-conscious intent to take the easy way out whenever given a choice.

“Unless you … vanquish your fears & doubts … questions & qualms … you quickly will slide back to your comfort zone.”

I know this dream was a teaching tool, but…

What the heck am I supposed to learn?!

Handily enough, one of my favorite sites posted a Dream Interpretation Spread just a couple days later:

Overall Theme of the Dream: 10. Wheel of Fortune

This seems to be a cycle for me: climbing up, moving down; two steps forward, one step back. While progress is made, it’s slow and often painful. However, there’s always hope because opportunities arise to take those next steps forward, even in the middle of personal crises…

“Only you can break the cycle.”

What is Blocking this Message: 5. The Hierophant

Structure and expectations, either from myself, others, society, the church…

“Go question your faith.”

Message of the Dream: 20. Judgement

It’s true, I’ve been my own harshest judge since this dream. I immediately tried to convince myself that I chose to halt my upward progress and instead slide downhill — disrespectful of the personal, intuitive progress I’ve made over the past year — and down into the shadows… that I expect the worst of myself and that I’m a BAD PERSON. This card also represents the end of a cycle — does it have anything to do with the Wheel of Fortune card?

“[God] pulls us forward despite our harsh judgement of ourselves. … Goodness open[s] Souls to producing higher vibrations … to grow & not slide back.”

I’m currently listening to the archived Beyond Worlds Tarot Tribe intensive class on the Judgement card. One of the hosts described this card as representing “the flame you’re afraid to fly into,” or the unveiling of some major issue that has been buried until now. It’s certainly a call to review your life up to this point, to decide how to proceed from here.

Lesson to be Learned: 10 of Cups

Well, isn’t this a pretty special card? *sigh*

Normally it’s one of the best cards to receive in any spread, symbolizing happy hearth and home, reunion with family and loved ones, enjoying all that life has to offer, being fulfilled, yada yada… Could this indicate that happiness will follow only if I release self-judgement and don’t worry about satisfying society’s expectations?

… and then I wonder if this ties in to my theta healing session and the rediscovery of my inner stability, heightened awareness, growing self-confidence… and the days when I slip on back into my shell… so many questions.

Any other thoughts out there?

So many layers of meaning… if only I could nail down a couple of them! Feel free to jump in with your thoughts…

I am standing uphill from a mid-mountain après ski hut, overlooking a small town that reminds me of Park City, UT. Behind me the mountain slope quickly steepens, and I head up on foot (!) for a ski run. The snow on the mountain side is thin and even bare in spots, so the staff is preparing to make more snow for the day’s skiers.

I start up the hill (I don’t notice skis or poles at any point of this dream), and almost immediately a tall, strong young ski guide*** with thick chestnut hair appears to my left. He encourages me to keep climbing by demonstrating the use of his boots which sport some serious silver cleats. He’s digging into the rocky slope — which is now actually almost vertical — with his toes and climbing somehow… it’s as if he’s standing on just the toe cleats that he’s dug into the cliff side. It’s not hard to climb with him. There’s no strain, despite the angle and the rocky terrain.

But then the slope evens out and the snow is much deeper — mounded up as if by plows or shovels. It is pristine, and deserted. I can’t decide which way to go (though I’m still not wearing skis), until I notice a gentle gully-path leading down through the thick snow toward the après ski hut.

As I start to slide down the path, from out of nowhere people appear in my way. Some stand, some kneel in the snow, some are off to the side and and yet others stand in the path itself. I slide through their midst and realize that they’re all making Tarot cards. Sheets of paper are scattered across the snow, and people are cutting cards, coloring, painting, and otherwise decorating the small rectangles. One woman pulls back across the path a moment before I slide into her. Three identical cards depicting a solitary figure in red robes are pressed into the snow where she had just been kneeling, but I slide over them and continue on to the ski hut.

The next thing I remember is being inside the lodge (another building?). I’ve just descended a well-lit staircase and walk towards glass walls through which I can see a basement library. It’s dark and clearly closed to visitors. Someone else is with me (no idea who, but there’s no sense of urgency or any emotion), and we enter the library. Since we’re not supposed to be there, we duck under a row of long tables and bookcases leading through the shadows and into the far end of the room. My eyes finally adjust to the darkness, and I see countless others under the tables — moving, running around, jostling for place, all making their way into the shadows toward the end of the room. Librarians or security guards patrol the room’s perimeter, so we stay hunkered down and make our way with the rest.

Next: my dream interpretation…

~~~

*** The ski guide? Yeah… he’s the same one from my dream about counseling with discarnates. I thought that was pretty nifty, too.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t stop while I fix myself.

Life didn’t stop when I was a teenager and I bent myself into a box of steel expectations, and made a conscious decision to live the way I thought others wanted me to. To act the way I was expected. To say the things others needed to hear.

Lessons Learned

I’ve always felt that the decisions I’ve made along my way – and I’ve had my share of regrettable or downright stupid ones! — led me to this point in my life. I should be thankful for the lessons learned.

And lessons were learned.

I learned that it’s a suicide mission to carry a bowl of hot spaghetti sauce across the living room without using hot pads. I learned to never toss a hard rubber ball up and down in a room with a glass light fixture — or at least not to catch the ball with glass shards raining down. I learned that my big sister loves me no matter what. I learned that when I make my mind up about something, it’s often impossible to change it back.

I learned that it’s more important to take a mid-day nap with my infant daughter than to squeeze in two hours of writing time.

I’ve learned that everyone has something they’re scared to share with others. And everyone thinks they’re the only one who does.

Being true to my Self does not equal “BAD”

I’m still learning that I’m not a bad person. That I have something valuable to share. That I can stand on my own two feet and make my own decisions and defend my opinions. That my history does not define me.

Just like what happened to the old cardboard boxes in our spider-infested workshop when I was growing up, the sides of my box have worn thin at the seams. One edge is pulling away. Tearing down. My pretzel-soul is stretching these days.

My feet have felt their foundation. My legs are stronger. My back is straighter.

My head is lifting enough so that I can see over the side of the worn out box. It’s been dark in here… but the light outside is fresh. Clean. Bright and warm.

Inviting me to stand, rooted firmly and ready to step on out.

Upward.

Not that I ever called myself that at the time, not even when I went through 4 packs a week.

“They’re ultra-light cigarettes.”

“Only when I have a few drinks.”

“Only after work.”

“Only when I’m stressed.”

“Only once the baby’s finally asleep for the night.”

Ultimately it didn’t matter that I wasn’t a two-pack-a-day, chain-lighting, yellow-fingered smoker. A smoker is a smoker is a smoker. It’s never easy to quit, no matter what. Believe me, I’d tried before.

I knew it was unhealthy. My teeth were grimier, but I bought stronger toothpaste. My hair may’ve carried whiffs of smoke, but I just rolled the car windows down for a “quick refresh”. It wasn’t until Halloween night in 2008 when reality kicked in. That was the night I called 911 when my mother-in-law nearly died from a rupturing thoracic aneurysm.

Instantaneous Change

Her close-call sealed my decision. And that was the biggest step:  75% of the way, in an instant.

Sure, in the middle of it, it felt like a measly 5%. Especially on Day Three and I could practically taste the smoke and my fingers twitched for something to hold. The last 25% seems so hard because the behavior is what is in the way. The body wants to quit. The mind agreed to go along with the plan. It’s our habits that pull us back.

So it is with change in any facet of life. That last 25% might just feel like you’re rolling down a dandelion-carpeted hill to a goose-feather bed.

If you live in fairytale land.

More likely it’s as if you’re trudging barefoot uphill on a gravel-paved path while dragging a boulder behind you by an iron chain yoked across your shoulders.

But it’s still the last bit. And the ease of the transition is completely up to us. We either turn on the light or we feel our way in the dark.

Stability in Self Radiates to all Facets of Life

One of the last things Cheryl said to me during my theta healing session was that I knew Joy. Real, true, all-powerful and all-encompassing Joy. At the same time, the overwhelming peace and calm I felt was couched in soft red light every time I closed my eyes.

The next morning during yoga, I gratefully stood in mountain pose and noticed the first beads of sweat swelling on my forehead. My sway was gone. My ankles were strong. I felt connected. For the first time, I could relate to the mountain’s energy and stability. I felt like I’d finally taken root.

Pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

So, getting right down to it, in my dream I’m attending a session with Cheryl (though I’d not yet met her, nor had any clue what “theta healing” really meant):

… This session is in a two-story building, the interior of which is spartan, modern, glass and both aluminum and dark metal trim. Very austere, but I don’t have a bad feeling from it. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable (except the chairs, which are all art nouveau with mismatched backs made of glass and metal angles).

… [I am] directed up a front staircase and [enter from my right] a big conference room with a long polished wood table in the middle.

In reality, Cheryl’s directions to her studio / retreat took me to Seabrook, SC, right outside of Beaufort. I pulled into a small gravel lot between a shingled round house and an aluminum-sided garage. After a few calming breaths, I slid out from my gas-guzzler into the humid summer air tinged with sun-baked pluff mud. A glimpse of sparkling water expanded into a full view of the inlet and marsh across a green lawn.

Ahhh… the taste of tranquility.

The garage-turned-studio entrance opened onto the back lawn, and I let myself in per the directions. A project table covered with boxes of art supplies and stacks of magazines for Cheryl’s soul collage practice is pushed up against the left wall of the room. Wooden block letters across the back wall spelled out “SPIRIT”.

After scanning the corner bookshelves (what can I say – I’m a bibliophile!!), I set my bag down next to one of two chairs draped with blankets and pillows facing each other in the middle of the room, turned around to face the way I’d come in…

The entire right wall [of the conference room] is a window, and we’re on the second floor. Nothing about the outside scene jumps out at me, it’s almost hazy-cloudy like humidity or rain (but it’s sunny out, not dark light).

Sitting at the table are about five people, all scattered around with empty chairs to either side and between them. The closest end of the table is vacant — for the counselor … I sit at the opposite end (the window-wall to my left). … A coffee counter is behind us.

… and recognized my dream from six days earlier.

The entire wall to the right of the entrance framed a panoramic view of the marsh inlet through three glass panes that reached all the way to the ceiling. Another project table (easily seating 6-8 folks) ran the length of the glass wall.

At the far end was a smaller table – maybe half the size of the first two — pushed up against the wall.

The afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows and across the walls shimmered with reflections from the marsh at the lawn’s edge.

The session begins. The atmosphere around the table is one of comfortable friends and/or camaraderie, and I feel fine. Cheryl … sits at the other end and starts the introductions by saying that each person there is accompanied by one or two partnering discarnates who are sitting in the “empty” chairs. … I cannot see or hear them, but it’s apparent that everyone else can, as they go around the table introducing each other and holding one-sided conversations with a lot of smiles and jokes and laughter.

… I scoot out of my chair to get some water at the coffee counter right behind us, and while I’m looking away I hear another comment / introduction in a deeper voice, and I sense a change. When I turn around, all the chairs are now full and I can hear everyone and everything! No one in particular jumps out at me, though I can still picture a man with a **full** head of curly auburn hair sitting at the end of the table near Cheryl.

I … am delighted. How did that happen? What was the “switch” that flipped when I turned away for a moment to get water?

I sense in this dream a promise of how things can be in the future – folks and their Guides/Angels/intuition/what-have-you working together in regular situations, casually interacting with each other, and accepted.

~~~

In case you missed it, these similarities took my breath away:

• aluminum & glass building in which the session took place
• one wall of the room of glass
• white light from outside illuminating the room
• conference table
• to the right of the entrance
• ran parallel to the window
• coffee bar (dream) vs. small project table
• perpendicular to conference table
• Guides surrounding and aiding us, every step of the way?