Six of Shields

Castle of Maidens

listen, people.  Really.  I keep telling you, this isn’t about the scene with Zoot, Dingo and Sir Galahad in  “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”  Sadly.

And although the Arthurian Castle of Maidens story may have led to about the kind of scenes you’d have expected from the Pythons (see above), the real legend − and the meaning of the card − is actually very good, very kind, very positive.   [And completely without spandex, not even of any kind.]  [Sadly.]

Pretty much any reader will tell you that the Six of Shields betokens generosity, charitable acts and material gain.  Some might also indicate that it’s a sign that you will soon reach a position where you feel you can help others.  (Always good things.)

In my readings, I’m often intuitively prompted to take the interpretation a bit farther and in a slightly different direction.  I’m likely to say something like:

Okay. Yo!  Focus for a minute!

Let your inner vision move back and forth in time across your life. 

Something that is yours by right

that was lost or taken from you

will be restored to you in full. 

So today, right now, this moment let yourself attend to what that might be and how it can most happily be brought into being.   

This card can apply to many different aspects of life:

~ the artist who (thinks he) has lost his Muse

~ the investor who (fears she) has lost her basis

~ the manager who (believes he) has lost connection to his artistry

~ the writer who (worries she) has lost her hope of prosperity

It can even imply a return of misappropriated property, a renewal of a sundered relationship, or the reopening of a realm of hopefulness that seemed long gone.

So the important thing to do is − without bludgeoning yourself − scan your life and acknowledge what it is you fear has been lost to you, or what you have in fact lost. Then let yourself understand that TODAY is the day you can renew that connection, revivify that dream, and reconnect with that hope. 

By the way, some readers feel that this card tells us to be attentive to the possibility of helpful intervention by/through positive masculine energy.  So keep an eye out for that.

Know what you would bring back to your life.  Know that this moment is the time when that renewal, that reconnection, that return, can begin.  Go from there!

Bright blessings, joy and light! 

Thought for the Day:  People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.  ~ Audrey Hepburn 

Today’s Weather:  Wiffling banjoboinging meta-analtyics. Carry grains of salt. 

On This Date: 1620 – Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower sight land at Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  [The cost of a summer rental goes up fivefold overnight.]

Four of Swords

Isolt of the White Hands

Goodness.  This is the fourth time this card has shown up since October 7.  Which one of y’all isn’t getting enough rest, enough recuperation, enough time far from the madding crowd? 

[Headline:

Tarot Blogger Blown Out of Window by Draft as Readers Raise Hands Simultaneously.]   

Look into this, then, will ya?  But don’t just make it another item on an overly long to-do list.  Make DIFFERENT choices.

The Four of Swords, then,  is a card of respite and recovery.  It speaks of moving from a stressful environment to a place of safety, calm and comfort.

Some readers find that this card speaks of solitude or hermit’s repose.  Others see it as predicting renewal.

Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, finds such things as healing, gentle soul searching, convalescing and regaining strength and direction in this card.  [And I've been finding a lot of clients the past couple weeks are expressing a feeling of lack of direction.  So Looky Here you guys!]

 To me, the Four of Swords says:

“Now!  Today! [Especially because it's a Sunday!] Make a mini-retreat!  Give yourself time and space to rest, recharge, recuperate.  As Anna-Marie Ferguson also says, this card recommends you leave a stressful, chaotic situation in order to clear the mind and reevaluate plans ~  so you can refine your sense of where you actually want to go!

Please be sure to carve out at least an hour, if not most of the day, to just be at peace, take it easy, do what’s comfortable and healing as you let the river (and pretty much everything else) flow by.  [Me?  Naps.  And avoiding rakes and lawnmowers -- in a good cause!]

Bright blessings, peace, calm and healing!

Quote for the Day:  We experience moments absolutely free from worry. These brief respites are called panic. ~ Cullen Hightower

Today’s Weather: Cloudbursts of asparagus lemon matzoh crumble. Unrest in the cauliflower zone. 

On This Date:  1793 – In Paris, the French Revolutionary government opens the Louvre to the public as a museum.   

The Lovers

The Questing Beast

Saw this card just a couple weeks ago.  We obviously need a reminder.  Especially after an election day. 

We really need to work on joyfulness in our lives. 

So stop reading this, have a coupla mimosas or an Irish coffee or some Fruity Thai pancakes or brownies, or a…

Oh, wait.  That’s for a MUCH different kinda blog.

Anyway, we really need to work on joyfulness in our lives.

This is another card where my interpretation may diverge a tidly, tadly [or rather substantial] bit from that of other readers.  And I’m pretty joyful about it.

Some see the Seven of Cups as recommending opening to visions through contemplation.  [Mustn’t argue with that, ever, unless you’re ready to have the Storm Troopers of Light come after ya.  And gold lamé spacesuits with ruby go-go boots first thing in the morning is more than I can handle.  Even with pancakes.] 

Some readers find the card dictates that the querent (questioner) has a choice to make, and must decide upon one of various options.

 Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, sees this card as betokening – among other things − fantasy, whims or perhaps a bizarre turn of events.  Right up my alley.  [I've decided to rename my office The Bizarre Bazaar.]

I see the Seven of Cups as the card of utter, total complete joy and joyful abandon. 

 There may be some need to stay at least a bit grounded, so you DON’T go completely off into the realm of fantasy in a    ”  ҉      ҉       ҉   Wow, look at all the pretty colors!    ҉    I’ll betcha I can too live on air and rainbows and weird pancakes     ҉      ҉       ҉   !” right on down the primrose path” kinda scenario.

But this is also the card of Fairy Favors, creativity and clear vision around attaining true desires.  (And, as I said to a client in a recent reading, it really does imply that you’re going to do some meaningful work on defining and owning what your TRUE desires in this life actually are!)

And this is still a great, great time to become reacquainted with the Green Fay Friends down the harvest garden way, and re-earn the Fairy Favors they offer.

So go after the joy. Seek it, quest after it, demand it!  And for pity’s sake, at least be sure you can actually define what it is − or what it would be, if you had your druthers − for you.

Let yourself renew your belief in and commitment to your happiness, and be open to the myriad magical ways the universe may have to bring it to you.  Let yourself be open to surprises and miracles in that regard.  And open to a little Fairy Magic today!

Joy!  Joy!  Joy!

And Joy! 

Bright blessings! 

And don’t forget joy!

Quote for the day:  If you think you’re enlightened go spend a week with your family.  ~  Ram Dass

Today’s Weather:  Strange wymblations of the pelicorns over the open range.  Rarebit shielding advisable.  Dodge occasional myths.

On This Date:  1922 – In Egypt, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his men find the entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Strength

Percivale’s Vision

Haven’t seen this card since early July.  It’s always a fortunate card to turn up.  And not a moment too soon!

Obviously, this card betokens its own name: Strength, as well as courage and vitality.  Plus magnanimity − both toward you and emanating from you – [so feel free to send your favorite Tarot reader a beautiful and rare Italian silk almost-anything.  Thank you].  The card can also indicate perhaps the most perfect light touch of luck.   

Really pretty good for a Tuesday!   So TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!  ALL OF IT!!  [Otherwise what are you reading this for?]

Where was I?  [Come to that, Who was I?  Oh yeh...]

The Strength card is one of the most utterly positive cards in the deck.  And it does offer a few useful, specific recommendations.

It is very important that you do not underestimate your physical and emotional strength at this time, or doubt the power and durability of your connection to Universal Life Force – God, Spirit, The Big G, Mr. Dylan, Commissar Cheney or Whatever-You-Name-It. 

In other words, don’t down yourself out or assume less of yourself than you may actually be able to handle.  If opportunities come, REACH!  If challenges come, PUSH BACK!  Don’t just crawl under the bed and hide. 

Believe in your ability to succeed and to attain that which you most desire, particularly in areas of physical healing and achievement and/or emotional connection and healing. 

Draw on your inner strength, which is truly far greater than you give yourself credit for.

Like many of us, you may need to begin investing some ongoing effort toward actually identifying and functionalizing your connection to your inner strength.  Our culture ain’t so good about that, unless you have forced yourself to march to the same “inner drummer” as everybody else.  Get to know your OWN connection to Source, and work with it.  

We have in us the brilliant, beautiful and eternal power of stars.  It’s up to us to find and focus it.

Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, feels this card indicates having the strength and vitality to realize one’s goals, and also ambition tempered with serenity – a gentle strength.  Great energy for an election day! 

When I work with clients, I advise them about an additional level of meaning to this card in this particular deck.  I find this to be the card of the visionary – the individual who can see higher, farther, and deeper than others can. 

Sometimes, even more important, this is the person who can see (distinguish clearly) the trees for the forest and the forest for the trees.  So give yourself credit for being able to see things more clearly, and define things more accurately and truly, than the madding crowd around you. 

Own your ability to be the visionary who can, as Robert F. Kennedy so beautifully put it, “…dream things as they never were, and say why not?”  Or see things as they really are, and say, “Nuh-unh sucker!  We don’t play that way NO MORE!”

Trust in your strength and draw on it.  Manage it well when you must, but draw on it.  Believe in your success.  And let your vision of WHAT CAN BE guide you higher and higher beyond the norm of what has been.

Bright blessings, light, clarity and joy!

Please Vote Today! 

Quote for The Day:

 The IRS decides to audit Grandpa, and summons him to the IRS office. 

The IRS auditor was not surprised when Grandpa showed up with his attorney. 

The auditor said, ‘Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, Which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I’m not sure the IRS finds that believable.’ 

I’m a great gambler, and I can prove it,’ says Grandpa. ‘How about a demonstration?’ 

The auditor thinks for a moment and said, ‘Okay. Go ahead.’ 

Grandpa says, ‘I’ll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye.’ 

The auditor thinks a moment and says, ‘It’s a bet.’ 

Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditor’s jaw drops. 

Grandpa says, ‘Now, I’ll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye..’ 

Now the auditor can tell Grandpa isn’t blind, so he takes the bet.. 

Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye…. The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand,with Grandpa’s attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous. 

‘Want to go double or nothing?’ Grandpa asks ‘I’ll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk,and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between.’ 

The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there’s no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again. 

Grandpa stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can’t make the stream reach the wastebasket on the other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the auditor’s desk. 

The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. 

But Grandpa’s own attorney moans and puts his head in his hands. 

‘Are you okay?’ the auditor asks. 

‘Not really,’ says the attorney. ‘This morning, when Grandpa told me he’d been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here and pee all over your desk and that you’d be happy about it!’ 

Moral: Don’t Mess with Old People!!!  ~  Thanks, Carrie B.!

Today’s Whether:  Gasbags bloviating near and far.   

On This Date:  1883 – American Old West: Self-described “Black Bart the po8″ (poet) gets away with his last stagecoach robbery, but leaves an incriminating clue that eventually leads to his capture.

A Sample of his leavings: 

“I’ve labored long and hard for bread,
For honor, and for riches,
But on my corns too long you’ve tred,
You fine-haired sons of bitches.“  ~ Black Bart, 1877