Tag Archives: Hard work

Week 32 – The Message of the Swans Spread (#TarotReading #WheelofChangeTarot #52WeekProject)

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Yesterday, I went for a walk and sat at a gazebo that faces out over the lake.  I noticed two swans enjoying the sunny afternoon.  I have always considered swans to be magical, otherworldly creatures so I had to take a picture.

I’ve taken many pictures of the swans that occupy the lake over the years.  My mother-in-law’s house overlooks a small arm of the lake and the swans are regular visitors along with a heron, ducks, and geese.

I don’t know if these are the same two swans but there have been swans visiting these waters for at least the last 15 years, possibly much longer than that.  So, today, while I was trying to think of what question to focus on for my weekly reading, it occurred to me that I am regularly visited by many different critters.  I decided it might be time to see if they have any messages for me, starting with the swans.

What message do the swans have for me?  8 of Swords, 3 of Wands Rx, 3 of Disks Rx.

8 of Swords, 3 of Wands Rx, 3 of Disks Rx – The Wheel of Change Tarot

The shattered window on the 8 of Swords shows me that I need to actually break that glass. I need to shake things up to force those that should be doing more to fix my brother-in-law’s situation to take action. It feels like I’m an exhibit in the Star Trek episode The Cage. I’m behind glass with people walking past and staring. They comment on how wonderful I am; how devoted caring for my brother-in-law, but no one’s listening to me scream on the other side that I can’t do this anymore! Attempts to break the glass have been futile because their gas lighting me into believing the glass isn’t really broken. It allows them to leave feeling virtuous, but having done nothing to change or help the situation. It’s time to smash that glass; make noise so they understand things can’t remain this way anymore. They must be forced to see this situation more clearly, to see, as symbolized by the window, that it’s broken and I must be released. To hear me shrieking that I’m exhausted and need things to change!

The Three of Wands reversed shows me that expressing and exploring my creative energies is dependent upon shattering that glass; shaking up the status quo. It’s reversed because until I dramatically change the current situation, I’m stuck in stasis. It also reminds me that I can’t, shouldn’t, do this alone. I need to have allies, family and Friends supporting me, advising me, and working with me as I go through this. I need to find ways to nurture and replenish my spark so it doesn’t get extinguished.

The 3 of Disks shows that if I want to dig down to the next layer, and explore uncharted territory, I’m going to need help; it’s going to be a team effort. As it stands right now all the work I’m trying to do is actually benefiting someone else and not me. That needs to change. Otherwise I’m just digging myself a hole from which I can’t be extricated. I think it’s also a reminder that despite the seeming activity on the part of those responsible for resolving the situation with my brother-in-law, a lot of it is futile and pointless action that resolves nothing. It’s another trying to make it look like they’re busy and doing things when they’re actually not. Connecting back with the broken window in the 8 of Swords, they’re comfortable with the status quo because all responsibility falls on me. I have to take steps to make the situation untenable for them as it currently exists.

Despite my tendency to try to be a rugged individualist, this reading points out that’s not going to serve me well right now. I need to break free of that pattern and that tendency; find ways to accept input from others that will help me transform my reality. I’ve been dealing with stuff by myself for too long and it’s wearing on me. The only way to change that is to be willing to ask and accept assistance, suggestions, and support from others that I trust. Thinking about it, I often see the swans together. They’re a collaborative; a partnership. Their message to me is that I need to start creating some collaborations of my own.

During a slight bout of sleeplessness early this morning, I came across this video. I was blown away by how perfectly the imagery in this video suits the message of the 8 of Swords card in this reading

#ChattingwithTarot – 10, Knight + 2 of Pentacles (#WizardsTarot)

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While enjoying a cuppa Harney & Sons Malachi McCormick blend, I had a chat with the Morrigan, my divine guide when she’s in the mood,  Her message today was pretty simple but effective, “If you want that happy ending, to reach that goal of prosperity and abundance, then you need to do the hard work.  Keep seeking ways to improve and move forward, and balance what you need to do with what you want to do.”  Perhaps not the most earth-shattering message but still a useful smack upside the head.

#TarotDaily – The Fool + Chief of Stakes Rx (#SacredBridges)

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TarotHunter’s Salt Rounds:

  1. You are hoping for a new beginning, a new opportunity to change things but you don’t yet have the mastery, knowledge and experience to bring this to fruition. Patience is the key.
  2. Believing in yourself; having faith in your abilities is a wondrous and important component of success but more is usually required for long term success. Learning to harness and focus your creative energies, your divine fire, is necessary too. That’s something only time and experience can offer. So have faith in yourself but do the work needed to acquire the knowledge and experience.
  3. Sometimes mastery and experience can blind us to new paths, ideas and challenges. Every so often we need to jump in with both eyes open and take a risk; to take a deep breath and shout “What the f**k!”.

#TarotDaily – The Fool + Apprentice of Stakes Rx (Sacred Bridges)

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TarotHunter’s Salt Rounds:

  • You’re being deceived, following a fool who has you confused about which end is up. Be cautious and try to regain your footing by finding facts and taking a rational, logical approach. Think to yourself “What would Mr. Spock do?”
  • You claim you want to forge ahead on your own; try something new and daring. Unfortunately you’re not putting in the effort needed to learn new skills and acquire beneficial training. Sounds like a good recipe for failure.
  • Although some people are prodigies and learn new things with no training or experience, most are not. To believe that no experience is necessary for most tasks is irresponsible and foolish. Consider this – would you trust a doctor who didn’t attend medical school or at least possessed some experience as a healer? Putting a Fool in charge may lead to some interesting results but whether they’ll prove positive and beneficial is debatable.

#TarotDaily – 3 of Pentacles + 9 of Cups Rx (Guardian)

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TarotHunter’s Salt Rounds:

  • You see those who have preceded you in life and don’t believe you will succeed; that your wishes will remain unfulfilled. Try to remind yourself that your mindset is as important a piece of this puzzle as your hard work. Changing it can improve your chances of success.
  • You feel like a ghost, as though your efforts are not recognized and rewarded. The only one who can change this is you. If your wish is for success and recognition then look for ways to showcase your skills, knowledge and work ethic. Don’t just do what’s expected, go above and beyond.
  • Are you the one not recognizing the contributions and achievements of others? Perhaps you are letting your own frustrations influence how you work with and acknowledge co-workers and even supervisors. Remember that none of us exist in a vacuum. Seeing how others have contributed to your success is as important as being recognized for your own.

#TarotDaily – 7 of Coins + 5 of Coins (Deirdre)

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TarotHunter’s Silver Bullets:

  • Working hard can produce many benefits but it can also leave you feeling isolated and out in the cold. Working and making money are not the only important things in life.
  • The flip side of that is the unfortunate truth that working hard will not always guarantee financial security. How many hard-working folks have you met that lost job through no fault of their own? Sometimes reality is a bitch and others may need our support.
  • Stop staring down at your own feet! Look around and face reality. Dedication to your job won’t protect you from unemployment. If you lose your job then a network of connections and resources may be what helps you get through it. Make sure you cultivate and nurture these resources before it’s too late.

COTD – 8 of Pentacles/Stones (DruidCraft & Wildwood)

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Skill, hard work, achieving a certain level or competence and mastery in a field – all of these can be seen as aspects of the 8 of Pentacles.  This card reminds me that without practice, hard work and persistence, it is unlikely that we will become truly skilled at anything.  There are folks born with an innate talent – such as singing, a musical ear or athletic ability.  However if they do not practice and hone those skills, they are just wasted potential.  Even when we are born with certain talents, practice allows us to hone and improve those skills.

It occurs to me that the same principle applies to manifesting the future I want.  It is not just going to happen because I want it to happen.  It will take focus, concentration and plain old hard work.  It will involve making mistakes and being willing to continue moving forward despite the setbacks.  It will take believing in myself and my skills even when both inner and outer critics try to undermine my confidence.  I realized as I’m writing this that it’s pretty amazing anyone manages to reach journeyman or master craftsperson status in any field.  Our own inner demons are always so ready to undermine us and knock us down.  Perhaps the true key to becoming a master craftsperson in any field or to manifesting the future you desire is the ability to focus and ignore those damn loud, noisy, persistent inner critics.

I’m reading Ensouling Language right now and it is amazing how things I take for granted in my daily life, such as the ability to focus on small things that give me pleasure and sensing when something doesn’t feel right, are also skills Buhner recommends for someone who wishes to write.  He helped me realize why I enjoy some authors and books and dislike others, even when they’ve been highly praised by various reviewers.  Each person will have their own sense of what feels right.  In order to achieve a level of mastery in any craft, we need to stay true to our own belief in what feels right.  That is much more difficult than it first appears, especially when what we believe feels right flies in the face of popular attitudes.  Bucking the trend and being willing to be an outsider is quite challenging.

So the 8 of Pentacles/Stones is reminding me that a true master at a craft is willing to stay true to her own vision and believe in herself.  She is willing to accept that feeling and living her own truth might make her an outsider to the rest of her community.  And she needs to embrace the hard work and focus that are necessary to help her improve her skills.  Talent may be a gift we are given at birth but mastery and skill in our chosen field are only acquired through persistence, determination and practice.