Five of Swords
Gawain’s Penance
A good card for a Midwest late-February Saturday. And one that turned up just ten days ago, so we obviously need to pay attention.
In the spirit of something resembling candor, I will once again say that my interpretation of this card in readings veers away from that of most readers I know.
When this card shows up for a client, I stand up, climb onto my soapbox, throw things at them and say:
STOP! STOP! STOP turning your life into one long gawd-awful penance.
And stop living as though you have some penance you think you should do, even if doing so seems “justified” according to the sad, warped old belief structures of some bozos who laid their nastiness on ya years ago ~ even if they are/were people very close to you.
Reach out for joy, for beauty, for healing, for the highest and best of your potential.
Constantly rubbing your own nose in the messes of the past will never bring about positive change. It will only keep you from moving upward, and may even keep you stuck exactly where you are, causing you to repeat errors and disappointments of the past. Don’t do that. It’s crazy!
Live! Know that you deserve joy and beauty, but that YOU are the only one who can reach for it. Seek all that is uplifting, and wonderful, and full of Light! Now!
Bright blessings and joy!
Quote for the day: “The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.”
~ Terry Pratchett
Shamanspath's Weblog 
February 21, 2009 at 10:35 am
Hi, Neal,
I know all too well what feeling deserving of penance is about. That energy is starting to feel very old to me (thank goodness).
Today I affirm with gladness: I open myself to joy, beauty, peace and light — now!
Your work has been helping me make the shift from the old energy into the new.
~ Thank you! ~ ~ Blessings, Donna
February 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Hi, Donna.
Thanks!
But…
Please repeat several times:
“MY work has helped me make the shift from the old energy to the new!!”
“MY work has helped me make the shift from the old energy to the new!!”
“MY work has helped me make the shift from the old energy to the new!!”
Blessings,
N
February 21, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Okay. I heard you. I heard you. I heard you.
Ya know, it just occurred to me how important is it to give a response to someone (be it a daughther, friend, client) when they’ve spoken to us.
So often I talk, talk, talk instead of listen and respond. Listening and responding is so validating. Being HEARD is empowering. And a response indicating that we’ve actually BEEN heard is SO empowering.
So, thank you for all your responses. I hope (intend…with the grace and power of God) to be better at listening and responding. (Hmmm…I’m having lunch with one of my daughters this afternoon…a good time to practice.)
~ ~ THANK YOU !!!! ~ ~ dONNA (Sometimes it’s fun to shake things up a little!)