Today's storytelling.
Stepping into the light.

And from the universal comms team Wamdue Project and "King of my castle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXSyQjppqG0
"Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be the reason why I'm freeing my trapped soul
Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be reason why I'm making examples to you"
The lyrics suggest to me that we are the keeper of our own "Castle" or ourselves in other words and that our soul cannot be trapped by another. The "making examples" line makes me think about disclosure, uncovering truths and discovery.
Let's see how this theme plays out in our cards today...
First card out today is the 7 of swords... hmm that crow is cawing loudly, trying to bring our attention to the figure skulking around in the moonlit sky, he appears to be up to no good. There appears to be trickery and deception afoot.... but to what ends? What is the intent, is all as it seems?
Crows symbolise transformation and change. They are watchful creatures that have a sharp and powerful foresight.
He sees the figure has taken feathers from the nest and he is now cawing like a siren in the night. The moon is illuminating the scene, shedding light on the truth. The picture would have us believe one interpretation of what is taking place.... but is it the truth I wonder?
The light of the full moon is uncovering truths, that before were hidden perhaps?
The moon represents our ‘inner world’, our hidden emotions, desires, our shadow-self, fears/worries and our dreams.
It represents our feelings, our unconscious beliefs, the past and our yin or feminine goddess archetype.
The Moon offers us the ability to feel, learn from the past and creatively unlock and express our essence.
During a Full Moon, the Moon is sitting opposite the Sun, fully illuminated by the light of the Sun. Hence the Moon & Sun are on opposite sides of the zodiac during a Full Moon which can make for a challenging or intense aspect of energy, but also a very potent potential as the Lunar & Solar (yin & yang) are in natural harmonic balance.
Our second card today is the king of pentacles.
Ahh look at the warmth exuded by this king. He is abundant in the true sense of the word. He has lived life and his experience shines through, he has reached a place of being totally comfortable in his own skin. Look at the library, symbolic of wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, education and new doors of opportunity.
Our king wears a comfy green jumper.Green, the colour of life, renewal, nature, and energy, is associated with meanings of growth, harmony, freshness, safety, fertility, and the environment. It is also the colour of the heart chakra.
Beside him sits a wolf.The power of the wolf brings forth instinct, intelligence, appetite for freedom, and awareness of the importance of social connections.
This animal can also symbolise fear of being threatened and lack of trust. When the wolf shows up in our life, we are asked pay close attention to what our intuition is telling us.
Our final card today is the 6 of wands.
Our subject is centre stage and in the spotlight. She holds her arms heavenward and beside her we see a victory wreath, at first I thought it to be made of laurel leaves as is the tradition, but then I was drawn to white berries and the word "Mistletoe" came to mind.
Mistletoe flower essence encourages peace within even during times of transition; it is recommended when we are undergoing big changes in our lives, as it increases resiliency to stress and encourages a calm and steady mind on our journey through life.
Well she's stepped out and stepped up, she is ready to inspire those around her, to become a leader and influencer, whilst her heart may be in her mouth as she takes her place in the spotlight she is embracing the calling to share her truth and be seen and heard.
It feels like it has been some journey to get to this point, yet now is the moment, success at last.
It feels as though we are at a time of asking deep questions, tapping into our innate wisdom and intuition and standing up for our truth, we are being seen and heard.
We are leading our own castle so to speak and perhaps freeing our soul from the fears and worries of the past months.
It's been one heck of a journey, yet success appears to be on the horizon.
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

In today's interview I chat with sound healer Gregg Chapman. We talk about the healing power of sound, the detrimental effects of stress and fear around us in the World right now and how the vibration and resonance of the didge and our own conscious awareness of our personal energy can help us bring about a relaxation response.
Gregg also shares his personal journey of travelling the World, of learning from Aboriginal Tribal Elders, meeting his beautiful wife Gina in Japan and then following her back to the UK and his more recent journey through grief to healing after she sadly passed away a year ago.
Of course Gregg shares a beautiful piece of vibrational healing by playing the didge for us.
For more information about Gregg's work visit:
https://www.greggchapman.com/
Where you can also sign up for his newsletter the "Digeridoings"
Download his latest album "Serenity" here: https://www.greggchapman.com/serenity
Follow him on Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/greggchapmanenergy

Today's Storytelling
Walking on the moon
And from the universal comms team, "Walking on the moon" by The Police.
https://youtu.be/mbv-LcdLY-Y
Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
Interesting lyrics, maybe we are delving into the watery, emotional, intuitive energy of the moon, yet by doing so we are able to take giant steps ahead in our growth and deeper understanding.
Maybe this dreamy state may make us feel that we are wasting our days.... in a daze... and yet illuminating the deeper and darker parts of our collective psyche.... bringing light in the dark we can bring our wounds to the surface to be healed.
Let's see how this shows in our cards.
First out today is 18 The Moon.floating in the watery depths our subject is mesmerised by the light of the moon.

On the land a wolf and a dog howl at the moon. The contrast of the wild and the domesticated.
The untamed and the tamed. The conscious and the unconscious.
A deeply intuitive card, suggests that we can trust our instincts, intuition and perception.
We may be faced with uncertainty, the road ahead unclear.... and yet the more we struggle to gain control the more frustrating it becomes.... if we can surrender and flow with what is, moment by moment, our instinct will support our movement forward.
Our second card today is the queen of swords.
A thought leader, she may appear distant or aloof, this couldn't be further from the truth. She simply keeps her emotions in check. She is proficient at managing her emotional state.... yet her care runs deeper than we might expect.
She takes in the grand vista.... she is thinking ahead, out to the ever changing horizon, with calm determination to create solutions for the greater good.
Our final card is the 7 of cups. All the choices... all the roads that could be ahead. What's true and what's an illusion?
There in lies the challenge..and the opportunity. We may not have all of the information, or the definitive route ahead.... and yet we are urged to make a considered choice.
Time to regroup perhaps ? To ,go back to basics , back to our centre, back to the fundamentals, follow our instincts and intuition yes.... yet avoiding illusion and distraction.

#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Starlight, star bright.

And from the universal comms team we have Coldplay and "A sky full of stars"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDonh28AY3I
'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
'Cause you light up the path
Such a heavenly view
Let's see how this starlight, star bright shows up in our cards today...
First card today is the page of pentacles. Balancing carefully on the earth. What comes to mind here for me today is the fine balance between the needs of mother nature and the material needs of man, along with the balance between the divine masculine and the divine feminine.
It feels like this Page is at a pivot point, or sweet spot, again a reference to that point of balance.
She knows that it's a delicate step she takes into a new beginning.
Behind her we see spruce trees, labelled ‘The Tree of Birth’; their scented evergreen needles signify resilience and strength. This is the reason the tree is also associated with Artemis,the Goddess of the Moon, associated with hunting, nature and protector of women ( or maybe in our case mother earth or the divine feminine), as well as renewal, resilience and resurgence, as these are all qualities she prized above all others.
Spruce signifies a potentially difficult period in our life. Our resilience may have been tested on an emotional and physical level. This is a time of tapping into our inner reserves and not giving up even if we feel tired and worn out. Spruce reminds us of our inner resilience and to not give up now.
Our second card today is the 10 of swords... in the traditional Rider Waite, this is the card that appears with the person laying on the ground, face down with 10 swords in their back.
Not always considered the most cheery of cards, yet as I've said many times before, there are no good or bad cards.
Yes, things may not have worked out how we had planned, or expected and yet there is still hope on the horizon. Whilst these transformational times may be challenging, out of such illumination of the darkness , our resilience, creativity and strength often come to the fore.
The message of this card is to reflect on what we have learned through this period in our history, what will we take forward onto that new horizon?
Our final card for today is the 3 of cups. Ah, I see strength in family, kinship, friendships, community and bonds. If there's something to be learned from this time, this card suggests that it is in the strength, support and resilience we can muster when we come together. This is how we strike a balance or redress a balance that had gone array.
There's a higher spiritual feel to this card and the connections to the stars within it. The message I hear is we are not alone, we are never alone. We can count on our community.... and when I say that it feels vast... not just our immediate community, not just our local community, not even our global community.... I mean beyond that, way beyond that.
I'm urged to say, look up to the stars, not down to your feet!
Perhaps we are thinking too small, perhaps we are being asked to expand our thinking, as our song choice from the universal comms team suggests for us today.
After all as Einstein taught us:
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking ( or being I'd like to add ) we used when we created them".
~ Albert Einstein

#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

In today's episode I chat with Co-founder of MindHarp, Stewart Redpath. We chat all things, music, sound, resonance and healing.
Stewart shares his journey to creating MindHarp and the work he has been doing, in the field of Dementia and with teams in business along with his plans for the future.
For more details visit:
https://mindharp.world
https://music2meeting.com/mindharp-teamtuning

In today's Get a life moment, I am joined by Jon Chambers, co-founder of 8 Billion Trees.
As you will notice, I'm not interviewing him by video, but in the written word.
This is because he is currently in the Amazon! I first came across Jon whilst on YouTube, when I saw the video above, I was so moved by his work that I felt compelled to interview him and bring his message to the World.

And what an inspiration he is !

​Here's the interview:

Jon Chambers formed 8 Billion Trees to combat the climate crisis by offsetting carbon while restoring biodiversity and rebuilding habitats for wildlife. He is motivated and driven by the concept that if humans can destroy the Earth, they can also work to rebuild it as well.

Launching large-scale planting operations in the Amazon Rain forest, forming agreements with government bodies to restore and conserve devastated areas, and utilizing non-profit planting partners to expand their impact, 8 Billion Trees formed a multi-faceted approach with the goal of making an impact not just this month or this year--but one that can withstand the test of time and make a real dent in the deforestation crisis.
​
Who is Jon Chambers: 

​
Troubled by the environmental and ecological crises unfolding around the globe, I hold the belief that a unified effort of ACTIONists is one of the only things powerful enough to reverse the destruction and begin healing our planet. ACTIONists are activists in motion--people who are pressed with the realization that only bold action can reverse the tides and make a lasting positive change for the planet.
What has been your journey to here: Interviewees share/ disclose as much
or as little as they feel comfortable to.

8 Billion Trees was founded with a huge goal, and one that I take very seriously: to plant and conserve 8 billion trees as the Earth's population exceeds 8 billion people.

The belief is that if we can form a strong connection of responsibility with every single person around the world to plant and safeguard just 1 tree, we can create a zeitgeist of environmental respect and love for the planet that can form the basis for a permanent switch in perspective that is powerful enough to change how people treat and care for precious ecosystems and wildlife.

What are you working on now/next?: What is your vision/ aspiration

We are working hard to continue expanding our planting operations in the Amazon Rain forest while launching new planting sites where they are desperately needed--like our new planting initiative in South Australia with the government there to begin restoring habitats destroyed by the horrific wildfires that ravaged the ecosystem there just months ago.

We are also focused on spreading awareness for our program that helps individuals to counter their carbon footprint and even go beyond to become carbon positive.

And finally what is your top tip for life? 

As cheesy as it sounds--be filled with gratitude. At the core of everything our team does--it all comes from a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we have the real capability to make a change. It's what drives us everyday to keep planting and conserving trees and caring for wildlife: we know our actions are making a true difference.

For more information on Jon's work visit:
https://8billiontrees.com/
https://www.facebook.com/8billiontrees/
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

In today's episode I chat with Canadian author, leadership coach and hypnotherapist KG Johnston. We talk about the shift to the way of effortless leadership and just what we can learn from nature's flow in how we live and lead.
More about KG:
K.G. Johnston is a seeker, a big-picture-thinker and a quiet rebel. He loves learning, new experiences and challenging status-quo-thinking when it doesn’t work. He has always had a passion for ideas and people that transform the world and make it a better place. K.G. worked as a consultant and coach in Toronto for transition consulting firms, in addition to maintaining his own clientele.
He helped individuals and organizations flow with change. His first book was an accident waiting to happen. He literally followed a dream and took a long journey West to find it. He got a little lost along the way and couldn’t see the forest for the trees, but they whispered to him, changed him and told him that they had something to share with us.
He came upon a wise mentor who saw something in him and asked him to write a paragraph on his leadership philosophy. To his complete surprise, that one paragraph grew organically into a book. In the process, K.G. discovered that he loved to write.
He now aims to use his writing to touch, challenge and inspire you to see, think and feel anew and is currently working on his second book, along with planning a retreat for leaders to experience the way of effortless leadership first hand.
http://kgjohnston.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Effortle...

Today's storytelling.
Grace.
And from the universal comms team "Blinded by your grace" by Stormzy.
https://youtu.be/HPuj6UISMhs
A beautiful song, well a hymn I guess, with a surprising singer perhaps? A grime star singing such a poignant song is perhaps a little unexpected.
But then grace shows itself in the most unexpected ways, don't you think ?
Let's see how it is represented in our cards today...
First card today is a return of the 6 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions).
A beautiful nostalgia washes through this card, the journey of two lifelong companions is depicted.
The words "loyal and trusted" come to mind.
A feeling of faith in one another, reliability and unending support, no matter what should cross their path.
Our second card today is 14 Temperance.
When I look at the card today I see balance and unending flow. The intertwined and interconnectedness of sun and moon, yin and yang .... it feels that in truth, there is no duality, just an unending graceful flow to oneness... there is no whole without the sum of parts.
All is overseen by an angelic figure, I'm reminded of mind, body and spirit and the trinity.
Our final card today is 0 The Fool. I'm drawn to the seed of life, the 7 over lapping circles a reference to the 7 days of creation.
A new world being created, one that our new born fool is about to step into perhaps.
The turquoise colour of spiritual growth and change seems strong in the card today.
Our fool appears to be taking a huge leap of faith.
I feel a sense of uplifting energy, hope and ....... well grace as I look at this group of cards.
A gentle strength, that no matter what, the new day will dawn and all will be well.
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Believe.
And from the universal comms team "Believe" by Lenny Kravitz
https://youtu.be/spPWnh3JvZ0
As I looked at our cards, I was drawn to the star formation in our second card and the video from our song came to mind. It's a song that reminds me of my close friend and soul sister, Lisa.
I even included it in my book.
The lyrics are beautiful and pretty powerful, altogether apt for our current time.
" I am you and you are me, why's that such a mystery?
If you want it you got to believe.
Who are we?
We're who we are.
Riding on this great big star.
We've got to stand up if we're gonna be free yeah.
If you want it you got it,
You just got to believe,
Believe in yourself
'Cause it's all just a game.
We just want to be loved.
The future's in our present hands, let's reach right in, let's understand"
Let's see how this plays out in our cards ...
First out today is the king of swords (swords representative of the air element and of thought and mind)
Today my eyes are drawn straight to the owl. Owls are as we know nocturnal, their ability to navigate the world in darkness, gives us a clue to their wise medicine.
Owl asks us to see beyond the surface of life and see the tiny details of what's beneath. They help us see what is hidden in the darkness.
The owl looks to the future, never the past. Urging us to move forward in life and focus only on the present and what lies ahead.
The owl gifts us second sight, discernment and great wisdom.
I'm then drawn to bat. Bat symbolises rebirth, illusion, tenacity, and communication.
They have the ability to see through illusions and adapt in life when the timing is right.
With this heightened perception bats cannot be fooled and know that things are not always as they appear.
Bats are often found hanging upside down, a little like the hanged man, seeing the world from a different perspective.
A little like the owl, they have a deep intuition.
It appears that we are being urged to look beyond the surface and to tap into our intuition.
Bat connects us with the flow of our heart and giving out love to the world.
Our second card today is the 3 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
What jumps out at me is the lavender.
The planets that rule lavender are Mercury and Neptune.
Mercury is the messenger in astrology. It is the planet of communication.
Mercury’s action is to take things apart and put them back together again. It is an opportunistic planet, decidedly unemotional and curious.
Neptune is considered a planet of inspiration, dreams, psychic receptivity, illusion and confusion. Neptune rules spirituality and all things subtle.
Lavender is associated with Selene.
Goddess Selene was associated with the Moon, the sky, the night and the light. Many called her “the one who brought light”
She would drive her chariot in the night sky while pulling the moon. She was known for her personification of life's constant changes, although her weakness was her dislike of the moon's ever changing phases
We see three women arm in arm stargazing.
On the back of the first woman is a tattoo of the trinity knot, symbolising eternal, spiritual life and being, or life-death-rebirth.
It seems to be a message of continuous change and the cyclical changes of life that are never ending .... even if they are uncomfortable, it is the way of things.
Our final card today is the 7 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action)
Looking at the card today I'm reminded of a snow globe.
When we think of a snow globe it can innovoke feelings of wonderment, childhood innocence and a perfect scene.
However, as we know, when the globe is shook or disturbed the snow flurries around in a whirl until the globe is placed once again on a firm foundation, this is when the snow settles once more into a tranquil setting.
Perhaps a metaphor for our own globe right now, we are in the midst of the flurries, it is still in the state of being shook up and we cannot yet know when, where and how things we settle once more.
We notice the woman in our card is sitting in a yogic pose, hands in prayer position. Despite the many wands coming toward her, she is in a place of centred calm, despite any storm.
She emanates golden light from her solar plexus, shining her light into the world she is in her own little bubble, not effected by whatever may be happening around her.
She has learned to meditate and be in the present moment no matter what may be unfolding .
So in summary it seems we are urged to see way beyond the mundane and the obvious. We are perhaps being asked to trust and believe in our own inner sat nav, intuition and gut intinct.
Change is the one constant on which we can rely. When we stay in a place of the eternal now, moment by moment we can navigate both the small and the large daily changes more easily .
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

In today's episode I chat with Biohacker and ultra talented musician Dan Sadler. We talk about health, wellness and how you can take great care of your wellbeing.... there's also a real treat at the end with a little live music!
Here's a message from Dan:
Hey I'm Dan Sadler, THE Biohacker!
My mission is natural health and I will change the world one 'Little Yellow Pill' at a time!
Washington State University said “Nrf2 is likely to be the most important health promoting approach in the foreseeable
future. Nrf2 may become the most extraordinary therapeutic and preventative breakthrough
in the history of medicine.”
What is Nrf2???
💛
Join my Biohacking Community:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/theactivatedlife
💛
Learn the science and listen to the experts.
http://www.unlockingyourpotential.com
💛
Get started:
http://www.dansadler.lifevantage.com/uk-en
💛
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/dansadleruk
http://www.facebook.com/iamdansadler
💛
Phone
07856493420

Today's storytelling.
The tide is high
And from the universal comms team a great song by the same name from Blondie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYgrdJ0pWk
The lyrics that jump out at me today:
"The tide is high but I'm holding on"
It feels like it might be quite apt with our cards today... let's see.
First out today is the 4 of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation)
I notice our figure hanging on tightly to her purse, worried that there won't be enough, or that it will be taken away from her. She is using a filter of fear, when in truth she has all that she needs.
The number 4 spiritually is a sign of stability and balance. To reach a point of stability, we need to endure and overcome all the challenges that will present themselves in our life. To do this, we need to trust in our self and the abundant universe.
I notice the scarf wrapped around her head, it appears to be layer upon layer, it feels as though her head is overcrowded with thoughts and this is making her doubt her worth or abundance. Her red dress is symbolic of the base chakra, connected with safety, security and having her basic needs met, it makes me think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Around her hand I notice a string of Greek worry beads, which are commonly believed to have first been used on Mount Athos in northern Greece during medieval times, where strands of beads made of woolen knots were tied on a string and used as an aid to recount prayers.
There is a link to Mother Mary and Mount Athos and as such is known as the “Garden of the Mother of God. Mother Mary is associated with healing, abundance, vision and truth.
Our second card today is the 3 of wands (wands representative of the fire element and of action)
The tide is high, but our figure is holding on, waiting for the wave to come. ( hmm now there's a metaphor if ever I saw one) She's next to the beach, waiting to drive right on in to the sea, yet she's holding back. We can notice this in our news right now, holidays being cancelled and talk of a second wave.
Just when we were ready to take action we are perhaps holding back, not certain if another wave is coming.
There's an anticipatory feeling with this card today, like an energy building, yet we haven't yet put this energy into action.
But hang on... here comes 7 The Chariot. We are about to be fast forwarded, it's quite a ride with the chariot, we are going to be required to merge the energy of opposing energies in a forward momentum.
Perhaps this is depicting the challenging balance of the ongoing pandemic and spikes appearing, whilst driving the economy and life in a forward direction.
It feels like we're being asked to hold the course, keep the focus and harness the energy and ride with the delicate balance facing us.
For some reason the words "Fibre optic" come to mind, as I observe the card, which connects me with the crystal Ulexite which has fiber-optic capabilities.
It is a stone that has metaphysical properties that connect the emotions and the mind, to enable us to see what we are feeling more clearly, it is a strong stone to stimulate the imagination.
Ulexite encourages us to develop the gift of clairvoyance
(clear seeing) and of far-seeing, either far in time, or far in distance, as well as aiding the development of intuition.
It assists us to in picking up on the energy and intentions of others, perhaps allowing us to discern our route ahead.
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Manifesting magic.
And from the universal comms team a personal favourite of mine "strange magic" by ELO.
https://youtu.be/eqxigCmFRng
Let's see what magic unfolds in our cards shall we?
First out today is a quick return of the 2 of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
Today it's the background colours that jump out at me, firstly the violet to the left of the card.
Violet is the colour of imagination and spirituality. It contains the energy and strength of red and the spirituality and integrity of blue.
It combines body and mind and creates a balance between our physical and mental energy. It helps us to find the meaning of life and attain spiritual fulfillment.
Violet governs the crown chakra, at the top of the head, relating to self-knowledge and spiritual awareness. It is the union with our higher self, with spirituality and our higher consciousness.
I'm then drawn to the lime green colour. This colour gives us a wonderful sense of anticipation at all the possibilities and opportunities the world offers.
Allowing us to be perceptive and non judgmental. Lime green inspires us to try new things by initiating change.
The colour then merges into a bright sunny yellow. This relates to the spleen and life energy. It is the colour of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared. It's creative, playful, optimistic and easy-going.
It feels very much a progression through these colour energies in our card to bring connection and balance ,just as we looked at yesterday.
Our second card today is the King of swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought and mind)
The cool ice backdrop of the snow capped mountains in the card jump forward to me today.
The mountain as a symbol is thought to contain divine inspiration, it is the focus of pilgrimages of transcendence and spiritual elevation.
It symbolises constancy, permanence, motionlessness and at it's peak it spiritually signifies the state of absolute consciousness.
Many ancient cultures considered the mountain the “Centre of the World.” It often serves as a cosmic axis linking heaven and earth and providing “order” to the universe.
When we look at the meaning of snow symbolically it gets quite interesting.
Snow consists of separate snowflakes that are actually independent of each other, unlike water which is one unified entity. Although it consists of droplets, each drop joins with another and they become one body of water.
As a metaphor then we can see this as a message of each of us being just like a unique collection of snowflakes, we maybe similar or quite different yet at some level, no matter how we come together we are still separate, when we become more fluid; just like water, we become a greater body of connectedness, we flow together so to speak.
My eyes are then drawn to the ties crossing over the heart of our king. Signifying perhaps that we are at a pivotal moment; a crossroads.
In folk magic and mythology, crossroads represent a location "between the worlds" and as such, a point where we can be the supernatural spirits that we truly are and where magic can truly take place.
Our final card for today is another king, this time the king of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation)
He looks pretty chilled sitting in his beanbag , his wolf by his side.
The wolf totem symbolises a high level of intelligence and a deep connection with our instincts. The meaning of the wolf also resonates with our desire for freedom and independence.
Wolves can function well in a group, or in a 'pack', but can also flourish when they are on their own.
We see in the kings lap he has manifested a large sparkling pentacle. It looks as though it is surrounded by stardust.
He sits in a vast library of books. The library is an important symbol, as it refers to wisdom, being our own wisdom or the human wisdom as a whole.
It could mean that if we are ready to examine our life, we might get access to the universal human wisdom and use it for our benefit now.
So today seems to be a progressive movement forward. By drawing down from our connection to our higher wisdom, we can shift in both our hearts minds to a place of greater oneness and this is where we can manifest true magic.
That's not to say we cannot retain our own sense of self, just as the old saying goes ...
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts".
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Balance and connection.
And from the universal comms team a classic from The Beatles " I wanna hold your hand".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs
"Oh yeah, I'll tell you somethin'
I think you'll understand
When I say that somethin'
I want to hold your hand"
What comes to mind with this straight away is balance and connection. Duality connected into oneness, kind of following on from yesterday's storytelling.
Let's see how this weaves through our cards for today:
First out today is the 2 of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
What I notice today with this card is the rainbow created when the two hands come together. There is even a rainbow bracelet depicted on one of the wrists in the picture.
When the two become one through connection there is a domino effect as the rainbow merges in both directions, there is no separation only a infusion of energy.
When I think of a domino effect it's as though everything is lining up in order for us to make a breakthrough in the areas that we have most needed.
Once in alignment, a domino effect will happens where everything the universe has lined up for us will fall into place one after another.
Rainbows to me symbolise total balance, depicting the range of colours of the chakra system. It also signifies a bridge between heaven and earth. Which also for me has one of my own personal tarot birth cards, The Magician, who's wand points to the heavens and who's finger points to the earth, "As above ,so below" Whatever can be conceived in heaven can be made manifest on the earth... through balance and connection.
We see on one hand ( the right hand) a ring is worn on the middle finger. Because of its central location, the middle finger symbolises balance and responsibility and is associated with Saturn. Since Saturn's metal is lead.
Saturn is stability and calmness, It brings thrift, discipline, patience and seriousness, which can bring dominance, power, and change.Saturn can also represent being stubborn, organised and moving at a slower pace.
Lead is also associated with Saturn. For centuries, alchemists were convinced they could turn lead into gold. It’s associated with fire and melts easily over an open flame. Once burned down, the lead is replaced by a fine yellowish ashy powder, which is why alchemists believed that lead and gold were so intricately connected. Lead is the metal of transformation and resurrection.
Magical uses of lead include rituals that focus on connection with your deepest unconscious self, meditation, and stability and grounding.
On the other hand ( the left hand) we see a ring on the pinky finger. From an astrological or palmistry point of view, the little finger is associated with intelligence and persuasion. It represents Mercury, both the planet and the element.
Mercury is the messenger of the gods in mythology. It is the planet of day to day expression and relationships. Mercury's action is to take things apart and put them back together again.
Because it appears as a living, breathing thing in constant motion, mercury is sometimes associated with the serpent. It’s symbolic not only with the life force itself, but also with the aspects of death and decomposition and rebirth.
Mercury signifies communication and progress, the god Mercury we might remember was a wing footed messenger. As well as mental clarity, higher learning and education, Mercury gives us the ability to be persuasive and convincing.
Our second card today is the 8 of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation).
Today my eye is drawn to the pile of old books and quill pen.
A quill, or a writing pen that is made from the feather of a bird, is a symbol of communication. It is also antiquated and old-fashioned, indicating manners and sensibilities that are a throwback to the past. It is often seen as being graceful and beautiful.
We notice that the feather is white. A white feather represents the crown chakra. It represents wisdom and blessing which are connected with the moon. It represents the celestial realm, angels, heaven, and higher dimensions. It denotes protection, peace, hope, faith, trust, innocence, purity, cleansing, and purification.
We are perhaps asked to reflect back in time so that we may cleanse and purify ready for the future.
Next I'm drawn to the Aloe Vera plant. It is believed that its presence on a spiritual and energetic level cleanses the surrounding environment from negative energy.
There are many shamanic uses for Aloe Vera, namely protection, cleansing rituals, as well as spiritual bathing, It is believed to raise spiritual energy. It has also been called the plant of eternity.
As it is placed next to the old books and quill, it is another suggestion of cleansing and purifying the past in readiness for our onward journey.
I'm then drawn to the bowls of herbs and flowers, in particular the daisy.
Daisies symbolise innocence and purity. This stems from an old Celtic legend.In Norse mythology, the daisy is Freya's sacred flower. Freya is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and as such the daisy came by symbolise childbirth, motherhood, and new beginnings.
As a flower essence daisy helps us to stay centred, grounded and in command when circumstances which are out of our control, or threaten to throw us off balance. This essence helps us to centre in ourself, remain calm and composed, collect our thoughts and then move forward with peace of mind.
Our final card for today is the 2 of pentacles ( another earth element card).
We see our subject balancing the two pentacles, in a constant flow. I've mentioned before that often when I look at this card, it looks as though her skirt is o back to front, as though she is looking backwards.Maybe another suggestion of going back over history to reflect before moving forwards.
I notice that our subject wears two rings on her right hand one on her thumb and one on her forth finger.
In classic mythology the the thumb was believed to be an indicator of character: strong, straight thumbs meant an authoritative personality, while crooked ones were seen as a sign of wickedness or dishonesty.We can see our subject has a straight thumb.
The thumb represents the brain in terms of the body and also thoughts and the mind.
Symbolically, the forth finger or ring finger is associated with Earth's moon, creativity, and beauty, as well as its obvious associations with romantic relationships. The moon's metal is silver.
In astrology, the Moon represents our emotions, our comfort zone, our maternal side and how we express our feelings and vulnerability.
Silver is the metal of emotions, of the psychic mind and of loving as well as healing. It is used to bring patience and perseverance.
Silver is known to enhance the powers of the moon, particularly during the full and new moons. Throughout the world it is identified with the lunar manifestations of the Great Mother or Goddess therefore associating with the yin and feminine energies.
The lunar qualities of Silver brings balance to our life, developing what is good and necessary while diminishing whatever causes us harm or prevents our evolution.
Well we have some very strong themes running though our cards today..... cleansing and clearing the past, being in balance in the present in order that we can make deeper and more meaningful connection with the future.
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Nurturing growth.
And from the universal comms team the first song to be played on radio 1 I think ? (the random stuff I remember) from The Move " flowers in the rain"
https://youtu.be/tBpksplTZlc
Checking out the lyrics I notice the following lines :
"And yellow roses scattered all around
The time was still approaching four
I couldn't stand it anymore
Saw marigolds upon my eiderdown"
"Yellow Rose essence is for when you feel like you’re at a mad hatter’s tea party, when reason and obvious logic has started to blur and emotions become high, intense or over run.
Yellow rose has the ability to bring a sense of solace and calm. Comforting in times of sorrow, worry, sadness, misfortune and distress. She will bring her console as feelings of comfort and cheer to allow space to enjoy life or get through the challenges and confusion around you."
- Linda Perry - Natural Magick
4 a.m in Traditional Chinese Medicine relates to the Lungs.
The emotion the lungs relate to are sadness and grief.
Symptoms of an energetic imbalance in the lungs are feelings of sadness or grief that have not been dealt with.
This can manifest in shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, frequent cold/flu, fever with chills, sore throat, runny nose, headache, allergies, asthma, chest pain, pale complexion, dry skin, depression and crying.
And taken from the Yorkshire flower essences website ...
"Marigold is a component of Yin.
This is the essence for the person who has largely blocked their feminine sensitivity.
Whereas the Aqueous Bracken personality is merely suppressing their sensitivity, the Marigold personality has gone one stage further.
They may vehemently deny and attack any suggestion that there is anything in this universe other than what can be scientifically detected and explained.
The extreme of this characteristic is the professional sceptic who seeks to expose fake healers, mediums, dowsers, etc.
Often these people are inherently sensitive but are afraid to admit it. As Shakespeare put it "Methinks he doth protest too much". They could well find it too threatening to embrace fully the feminine Yin side of their nature.
Marigold is therefore particularly useful for all those who have largely blocked the light from their feminine side. It helps to dissipate the fear of the feminine aspects and gently encourages the growth of positive insight "
Let's see how these messages relate to our cards today..
First card out is the 5 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action)
There appears to be a bit of a battle going on as I look at this card today. Each person trying to get ahead of the other, regardless of the impact and debris they leave behind.
It reminds me of the battles I'm seeing on the news ( I have to admit I don't watch it much) also the polarised viewpoints, in some cases spats and arguments playing out on Facebook over masks, vaccines, covid-19, conspiracy.... the list goes on.
It feels like it's mirrored in our card today (and in the messages above)
It appears to be creating an antagonism, a disharmony and separation.
Just like our card, if the participants were to work together and support one another's journey, then the whole would benefit. ( a balance of yin and yang)
Hmmm .... it feels like it could be all too easy to get caught up in this standoff between viewpoints, causing ongoing disruption and emotional upset.
Our second card is the 7 of pentacles ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation)
We see a young man lovingly nurturing his plant. All the effort this far, in setting the seed, feeding, watering and tending to it has bought forth abundant growth, and yet he can't see the deep roots he is putting down, just his intuition guides him to keep on going, keeping the faith that his loving energy is having an effect. ( there's that yin energy once again)
Our final card today is 20 Judgement. A moment of spiritual awakening. A feeling that every single previous moment has led to this precise point in our history.... this exact moment.
It's time to shift to a whole other level, energy, paradigm.
To rise above the noise of the 5 of wands, to hold the course and belief of the 7 of pentacles, because the moment of judgement has arrived.
It looks a much lighter expression of ourselves as we rise up above the lower squabbles of as some will have heard me say before the " he said, she said... shit"
Maybe it's time to move beyond this duality into oneness ?
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Hanging around.
And from the universal comms team a song from The Stranglers
" Hanging around "
https://youtu.be/d4piHt4jvG4
Let's see what we're hanging around for with our cards today shall we ?
First card out today is the 2 of swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought and mind)
Today I feel our subject is overwhelmed with the conflicting, polarised messages coming into her awareness.
Everywhere she turns there are opposing sides. The mixed messages and information is confusing.
There's a feeling of nothing being clear. And yet she is at a crossroads, decisions to be made 🤔 choices to be taken.
Our second card today is the queen of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) it looks as though she is waist deep in the waters of emotion. She is surrendering to her deep inner knowing and intuition.
Following the confusion of our first card, we now see our subject connecting in with higher guidance,
She also appears to be sending healing and compassion to the world around her.
The red dress she wears signifing her basic instincts and the fundamental need for saftey and security.
In order to facilitate growth and change, it appears that the basal needs have to be attended to first and foremost. The words
" foundation , security and safety " come up very strongly.
Our final card for today is 12 the hanged man.
The green of the card jumps out at me today.
It's the colour of the heart chakra and of healing. Her trousers are the lime green of new will.
Below her the water is a turquoise colour,
Swirling around with runic symbols.
Her vest is a grey colour of stillness or stuckness; dependant on her viewpoint at any given moment.
When looking at this through the eyes of a storyteller, it says to me the of a need for more healing being required, that stillness is required before new will can drive us forward to drive the momentum of the flow below her .
More and more light appears as she watches and waits. What an opportunity to simply surrender and see life from a totally new viewpoint.
Instead of the polarised viewpoints of our first card; with their unease and separation, she can now see not only a bigger picture, but have the potential to tap into a whole new paradigm of understanding.
"Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?"
-Rumi
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Here we go...
Oh and the universal comms team had me movin' and a groovin' with today's tune .... the 1993 hit by Stakka Bo and "Here we go".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNK-cOtxSs
Well these guys were ahead of their time with these lyrics, I wanted to include every line in all honesty, as they are so apt to where we have been and where we might find ourselves again if we don't learn from our experiences.
I would say look up the lyrics and make your own mind up, I will include a few lines here though:
"Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go-go-go with a total dedication
Consume today and leave the rest behind you
Tomorrow's a surprise party buy a ticket or two (two)
Faster livin', faster, live as fast as you're able
Eat the food while it's still hot on the table (table)
Now spend if you can, the greens are burning in your pocket
Everything you don't use will lose its value tomorrow
Consumed too much today, you can always borrow
This paradigm's the best one since the day of creation
Get your gear and shape up, this is the revelation
Shop till you drop has built this civilization
Don't believe what you hear 'bout the next generation
If you go with a lot of toys you'll slip away a happy man
The greens are burning in you pocket, spend it while you can
The moon and the stars they all look down on me and say
There's a correlation between tomorrow and today
Use it in, wear it out, then throw it all away
Go get yourself a new one all you gotta do is pay
Because the more I will get, the more I will own
With a lot of things around me I will never feel alone
I work around the clock just to earn my livin'
And I wanna get, I won't spend my funds on givin', now
I'm acting irresponsible, is that what you say?"
Hmm, what a message of how we have been living life hey?
And could be tempted to charge straight back into, resuming where we left off pre-pandemic.....
Let's see what our cards have to say shall we?
First out today is the 2 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and of action) There she is, still wondering and longing, still imagining and planning, not sure if to stay put or take action.
We see our character longingly looking out on her window onto the world.
Windows are literally the visual bridge between inside and out, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
Windows provide welcome light but also pose a threat by virtue of what the light might expose. Windows bring both light and darkness from the outside.
As human beings we are often drawn to the bright, warm light that shines through windows, possibly representing health, growth, and the courage to change. However, at a deep,unconscious level, we may also fear the light that the windows allow in as they may metaphorically illuminate our deep inner fears.
So will she stay in the cocoon of her comfort zone or will her zest and passion for life edge her to step into the unknown of the opportunities presented beyond her window.... out in the big wide world?
Our second card today suggests the latter, as in steps the 3 of wands, the subsequent card in the suit. So she's made the step, she's picked up that surf board, she was previously just imagining and this is it.... here we go.....she's ready to ride that wave, she see's those opportunities on the horizon just about to manifest..... here we go.... progress.....
Ahhh, right.... and then comes the 3 of swords... ( swords representative of the air element, thoughts, intellect and the mind) Just when we were making progress as well, full of positivity and excitement, this came to up skittle the plans!
I'm not one to swear but I do have the letters "FFS" running through my head lol. (sorry, no offence intended)
Just when we were getting some traction, a bit of a setback comes to light, its not a full stop to progress, just a couple more hurdles come into view.... but hey we are becoming Olympic hurdlers by now aren't we?
"A positive attitude, can turn a storm into a sprinkle".
~Robert M. Hensel
We can weather this storm.To weather every storm of life we must acknowledge that all storms pass. Storms are lessons, the more we face them, the more we become prepared for life and It’s journeys.
"Even paradise sees its share of storms, but in the end, it's still paradise".
~Trevor Driggers
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Let's ride away...

Oh and what a beautifully reminiscent tune from the universal comms team today. I'm a little girl once more as I listen to the TV theme tune "The white horses" by Jacky Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCNbERKvMs
And what dreamy escapism in the the lyrics...
"On white horses let me ride away,
To my world of dreams so far away
Let me run
To the sun.
To a world my heart can understand
It's a gentle warm and wonderland
Far away
Stars away
Where the clouds are made of candy floss
As the day is born.
When the stars are gone
We'll race to meet the dawn
So when I can only see the grey
Of a sad and very lonely day
That’s when I softly sigh
On white horses
Snowy white horses
Let me ride away"
We talked about white horses yesterday too, when white horses are seen, it is often an indication of being spiritually aware. It can symbolise innocence and purity, be a sign of good fortune, or even represent prosperity.
On the other hand, it would be remiss of me not to mention that in Christianity,the first horseman (of the four) rides a white horse (believed to symbolise Christ, goes well with the them of our lovely song perhaps?), the third horseman rode a black horse and represented famine. We'll revisit this a little later in the story.
So let's see how our cards play out today...
First out is the 2 of pentacles ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation).
Blimey, she's busy trying to balance those pentacles today, isn't she?
Her skirt looks like she's popped it on back to front to me, she doesn't know if she's coming or going by the looks of it.
There has been a lot of painstaking work gone into the carving on that beautiful leather bag. The deep orange colour representative of the sacral chakra.
The sacral chakra is the second chakra. It is associated with the emotional body, sensuality, and creativity. Its element is water and as such, its energy is characterised by flow and flexibility, of course the chakra where we hold a fear of change if blocked or over burdened.
The landscape around our figure is grey, perhaps she feels a bit stuck, between her responsibilities and changes she is needing to make as she flows with the changes in the world around her.
Our next card today is 7 The chariot. Well it seems those opposing energies from our first card are now being harnessed and combined in one direction.
Things are moving at a pace, it's going to be one heck of a ride, hold on tight cause we're off... ready or not..... Pah! The universe doesn't let us sit and stagnant in our comfort zone... why, that would be no fun!
We are in the driving seat, but without any steering or brakes.... best get focused on where we're heading and keep an eye on the road ahead.
Now what did I say earlier about white and black horses?
We have duality weaved perfectly within this card, both the potential for feast or famine..... see what I did there?
On a more serious note, it is important now that we create balance, conserve what we have and use it wisely. The phrase "Waste not, want not" pops into my mind.
Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote “The situation on Earth today has been created by unmindful production and unmindful consumption. We consume to forget our worries and our anxieties. But tranquilising ourselves with over-consumption is not the way.”
I think if anything, the pandemic has taught us what truly is of value. It's vitally important now that we remember these lessons. That we don't just jump back onto the motorway of life, forgetting the experience we have had.
Our final card today is the page of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
Ah... I love this dreamer, he's innovative and limitless in his ideas.... just as well as that chariot is moving fast and following new perhaps unexpected, uncharted trajectories.
Just as well that we have this intuitive and sensitive page to spot the synchronistic opportunities available to us. He holds an open heart and mind to what is ahead and what is now possible.
We see two hands coming together in spirit form.... it seems the universe is working behind the scenes, creating magic that as yet we cannot see.
Don't be surprised if pigs start flying ( metaphorically speaking.... well maybe?..)
I guess it's a message to adopt a beginners mind, to hold a sense of curiosity, as magic may be unfolding in every moment.... It's our job is to notice it!
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling
Light at the end of the tunnel.
And from the universal comms team a song from Starlight Express " Light at the end of the tunnel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88EpiFMK2s
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel
The inside might be as black as the night
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel
When the Angel Gabriel blows his magic toot
We saw light at the end of the tunnel (we see the light)"
Archangel Gabriel symbol denotes communication,he assists us in finding ways to communicate with others, especially if there is something which needs to be finalised, discussed or if highly charged emotions are involved.
Interestingly ,Gabriel is the patron saint of messengers, i.e. those who work in broadcasting and telecommunications such as radio and television.
This is a very interesting theme, as I scroll through social media or see mainstream media, there at times, appears to be very polarised debates popping up all around.
Perhaps this is a nudge to shine a light into these areas, to illuminate, discuss and communicate more effectively in order that we may all learn and grow?
Let's see how this threads through our cards today:
First card today is the 10 of pentacles ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestaton)
Look at the happiness and abundance in this card.
And yet in the background I see children playing in a circle, hand in hand and I hear "Ring a Ring a Roses" This is interesting in itself, it has been thought to be about the great plague (black death), other historians have suggested that it is to get around a religious dancing ban, when dancing to music was prohibited.
I have to smile at this really, we have a virus hanging around right now and we've had singing and dancing stopped in bars, nightclubs and at weddings!
Hanging above the scene we see a pentacle depicting a mandala and the tree of life.
The mandala represents the universe. The circular designs symbolises the idea that life is never ending and everything is connected.
The mandala also represents spiritual journey within the individual viewer. So the first level is understanding the unity in cosmos and secondly each individual must find their own place within it.
The tree of life symbol represents our personal development, uniqueness and individual beauty. Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, we too grow stronger, striving for greater knowledge, wisdom and new experiences as we move through life.
In the forefront of the card we see a woman and a man with a small girl between them, they are all smiling with joy.
We also see a Labrador retriever, representing trust, loyalty, empathy, compassion, joy, and playfulness. Dogs accept us just as we are. They bring unconditional love to our life.
I wonder is this reflecting to us, that no matter the situation, we can choose our own feeling of joy and abundance, regardless of the outside influences?
Our second card today is the 5 of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
I hear the song " Starry, Starry night" a song based on Vincent Van Gogh's own internal struggle with life. In the card we see a young woman, eyes and energy downcast, she doesn't see the starry night sky above her or the beautiful palette of colours next to her.
Interestingly, what I notice looking at the card today, is that instead of a dark hole, there is in fact a light at what appears to be the end of a tunnel. Perhaps suggesting that even though it may have been a very difficult time, lighter and brighter times are within reach.
Our final card today is the knight of cups, another water element card.
I'm drawn straight to his winged shoes and his hat today.
To ensure rapid delivery of his messages, Zeus presented Hermes with golden winged sandals as swift as the wind.He also gave the young god a round hat to protect him from rain.
I also notice the letter with a wax seal.
Sealing wax was used to form a bond that was difficult to separate without noticeable tampering.
The colour was significant. Vermilion, the most common colour of wax seals was used on business letters needing a quick reply.
It would suggest that messages and communication will arrive quickly now, so we must ensure that as we started in today's storytelling that our communication must be swift, with the utmost clarity, honesty and respect.
The essence of the ruby red roses he holds is also significant I feel today. This essence connects with the Ruby Red Ray of forgiveness and helps us attune to a higher Consciousness. Its beautiful vibration gently transmutes old pain and sorrow held in the heart chakra leaving love and compassion in its place.
The white horse in the background is an indication of being spiritually aware, symbolising innocence and purity, a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
So our cards seem to take us in full circle today. Abundance of mind and spirit, movement through darkness to receive rapid messages of hope and prosperity to come.
Let's keep our focus on that light at the end of the tunnel!
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling
On top of the World, looking down on creation.

And from the universal comms team The Carpenters and "I'm on the top of the World" ... looking down on creation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDPMmaHWj1I
Looking at the lyrics ...
"Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in 'most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
Everything I want the world to be
Is now comin' true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
Somethin' in the wind has learned my name
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me"
What a description of our new World!
It's a truly heart opening time for us as we step into this new World experience.
Let's see how this plays out in our cards today.
First out is the king of swords ( swords representative of the air element thoughts, mind and intellect)
As soon as I look at the cards the words from another song come to mind,(Lacing in this case) "Zippin' up my boots, going back to my roots" as I write this I'm noticing the dragonfly on the post behind him. Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago, if we think about that for just a moment, whatever has come and gone over 300 million years, the dragonfly has evolved to be here with us today.
No surprise then that the dragonfly symbolises change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realisation.
I wonder, what can we learn from dragonfly today?
The change we are being presented with is to embrace an understanding the deeper meaning of life.
As if we needed any further nudges, bat appears, soaring high in the cool, pure air, another omen of change. Bat urges us to pay attention to the signs around us.
The transition may seem frightening at first, but we are encouraged to let go of our old habits and patterns that no longer serve our higher calling now. They will only hinder our growth going forward.
Bats are also symbols of communication, they are highly sociable with strong family bonds. They are nurturing, highly verbal and are sensitive to those closely connected to them.
Bat appears to teach us how to enhance our level of communication and strengthen our bonds with family and friends.
In the foreground sits a wise owl. The owl represents deep wisdom, good judgment, and knowledge.
The owl is known for its sharp vision and keen observation, it reminds us that we possess insight and intuition, in other words we are urged to see beyond the masks that people wear.
Our second card today is 0The fool. Just look at that energy all converging at that one crystal point.
The energy then connects all of the seeds in the flower of life, suggesting that this is the precise moment of a new energetic era.
The flower of life symbolises creation and reminds us of the unity of everything: we're all built from the same blueprint.... even the dragonfly!
A new awakened beginning, back to the lyrics of our song today "I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation"
Our final card today is the 6 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
We see the timeline of a life before us, it's a card of nostalgia, reminiscing and looking back over our journey.
Memories of times gone by, old friends, fond feelings arise, was life simpler then?
We are in retrograde season, astrologically speaking, so no surprise as we transit into the new world that this card should show up.
Another link to going back to our roots, back to home and hearth and family... did I mention we had a new moon in Cancer yesterday ?
Looking back over our journey to see what we wish to bring with us and what we can now leave behind. Or perhaps, recognising what we had lost and now we may have rediscovered, found or reconnected with once again .... reclaiming the important, the meaningful and letting go of the gloss, the trivial the superficial.... we never needed it really anyway did we?
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

And from the universal comms team a song by Jack Johnson of the same name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhTvifGShw4
And that feeling of sitting, waiting and wishing simply leads me straight into our first card today.
The 2 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action) And we can see she's primed and ready, well in her head at least.
All those juicy opportunities out in the big wide world, it's almost overwhelming, it would be easy to stay in her comfort zone, but that's not where the adventure lies.
She has a choice to make, be the observer or be the adventurer and take action. Imagining and planning are honourable pursuits, but without action they're simply pipe dreams.
In the picture we see a surf board propped up against a camper van.
The camper van represents a direction in life that is focused on necessity and unpredictability. It's our ability to make decisions during a difficult time where we are still sheltered from harsh realities.
The surfboard represents a crutch or support we are using to survive an emotionally turbulent moment. We may be holding a daring attitude about surviving an uncertain moment in our life, or conversely have a casual or fearless attitude about surviving difficulty.
Our second card today is the King of wands ( another fire element card).
This fearless , charismatic king has all of the zest and energy we need to push us out of that there comfort zone. Yes he imagines and then he just cracks on and does, no deliberating with this dude. He isn't afraid to take a risk, the perfect antidote to our deliberation in our first card.
Our final card today is the knight of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feeling and emotions)
A true romantic and a creative soul, excited by the future. Passionate and expressive, he can sometimes be unrealistic with his dreams versus the reality, but we need the dreamers, the poets and the artists of this world and here he is!
He urges us to follow our inspirations and flow with them.
As we look at our trio this morning, it would seem we are being urged to take action on our dreams today, to take the steps to make them manifest, flowing with the juicy opportunities that come into our awareness, instead of just Sitting, Waiting, Wishing. What perfect timing then that we should have the energy of a new moon the guide us!
#Makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Rabbit hole.

And another new song from the universal comms team CamelPhat, Jem Cooke and "Rabbit hole".
https://youtu.be/09vAAk2PzcY
Looking at the lyrics
The line that jumps out is:
"We're going in now deeper down and round we go"
It feels like we might be in for more discoveries...
Let's see what our cards have to show...
First card out today is the 5 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions)
Round and round it goes, down and down it goes.... we see the emotions draining away down into the earth.
She focuses on her losses, missing the gains and abundance right next to her.
No matter what the seeming current reality, the stars are still shinning in the sky, another day will dawn and with it a whole new day of opportunity will arrive.
We see our subject delving deep down into that rabbit hole of dark emotions, discovering new depths of understanding, that previously was hidden . Now, if only she could notice the spark of new opportunities...
Our second card today is 12 The hanged man.
The number 12 is an important number in numerology as it signifies completion.
It's also associated with the star sign Pisces, a spiritual sign that is constantly in touch with the energies of the universe.
If angel number 12 appears, it signifies that it is time for big changes in our life.
Paired with 3 The Empress ( 1+2=3) The hanged man looks like the new born of the empress, still attached by the umbilical chord.
The gestation period has come to an end and the new is being birthed.
The hanged man can only surrender to the process and wait for the birthing process to be complete.
Out of the darkness of the cocooned womb of The Empress, the hanged man sees the light of the world from a whole new, changed perspective.
We see our subject reaching out to take hold of the new opportunity offered by life.
Our final card today is the knight of swords ( swords representative of the air element and action)
Quick out of the blocks the energy of this knight is fast and swift .
The waiting is over and he can't wait to get going, he feels there's no time to waste now.
So it would seem today our cards are suggesting that we've been down that rabbit hole, we've had no choice but to surrender to the process, we may have had a paradigm shift in our perceptions as a result of the experience and now it's time for swift and strategic action.
#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Spark into flame.
And from the universal comms team Alicia Keys and "This girl is on fire"
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
What jumps our at me today are the lines:
Looks like a girl, but she's a flame
She's on top of the world
Let's see how this plays out...
First card today is 3 The Empress.
Wow she looks ready to give birth, how long has she been hanging on, ready to push forward with delivery of a new life?
She is the nurturing mother energy, bringing a pure creative force and limitless new potential.
I notice in the card a move from the yellow of the solar plexus chakra through to the orange of the sacral chakra.
The solar plexus chakra provides a source of personal power and relates to self-esteem, warrior energy, and the power of transformation.
The sacral chakra is associated with the emotional body, sensuality, and creativity.
A little like yesterday's storytelling it feels a little like a move from masculine driving, transformational energy, into feminine nurturing and creative energy.
Our second card today is the knight of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and of action)
Wow what a vibe this card has, spontaneous, high energy, she's drumming so quickly she's creating sparks into a flame.
She's so vibrant, energetic, passionate and fun.
She has such passion and this fuels her creative energy
There's plenty of that orange of the sacral chakra going on in our card.The energy of this chakra allows us to let go, to move, and to feel change and transformation (feel rather than think, heart rather then head) .
It feels like a continuation of flow and movement through from the empress before her.
Our final card today is the two of wands, another fire card and yet more orange.
Now we see the world is external to our subject. The empress has at last given birth to the new world.
Now what ?
As with any new born, after the excited and celebrated arrival, the reality sets in,it's not easy, it can be tiring, it can bring sleepless nights.......but it's worth it!
Now begins the learning as we go, the adjustment to the way life now flows,with it's new routines and new approaches. All of which need to be integrated into our way of being.
Where we had freedom to go where we wanted, when we wanted, before the birthing process, we now have responsibility, we have a new role, this is of course joyful , yet also can feel like we have lost our individual identity, that we have lost our spontaneity.
Ultimately we know that the rewards outweigh any limitations.
It's time to nurture our new World, take our responsibility as a parent seriously and for us to develop a balanced and loving, new creation.
#Makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful

Today's storytelling.
Hands up, baby hands up!
And of course there's only one tune to go with that title from the universal comms team Ottawan and "Hands up, baby hands up!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR2qjvsqNSk
Looking at the lyrics today this stands out:
"Hands up, baby, hands up,
Gimme your heart, gimme, gimme
All your love, all your love"
A heartfelt theme to today's storytelling then perhaps?
Let's see shall we?
Our first card today is the page of pentacles( Pentacles representative of the earth element and of manifestation)
Ah this page has a curious mind and an open heart. Don't be fooled by the sulky teenager act, there is depth and meaning to this page.
We see her standing atop a mountain above the tree tops and yet she wears earthy colours. The perfect combination to bring her lofty ideas into grounded reality.
For the first time I notice the streaks of red from below her foot across the 1970's style rug type mandala.
This red colour signifies strength, independence, self-sufficiency, rootedness, groundedness, a symbol of earth connection, of purpose, of fire. Stimulation of energy, rising,
and physical energy.
Angels associated with the colours in our card are Nathaniel, Uriel, and Sandalphon.
Archangel Nathaniel is the patron saint of lightworkers, and he helps to keep us grounded during meditation and spiritual connection and communication. Nathaniel brings balance, harmony and trust, and can be called upon to help us to connect with the spiritual aspects of ourselves.
Archangel Uriel, angel of wisdom and illumination can help us find inner power. Angel Uriel helps humanity reach the highest level of illumination.
Sandalphon helps to clear karma, reverses past patterns and brings out the hero in each of us and he does all of this while invoking the power of gentleness.
It's time to manifest our destiny. This is our new beginning.
Our second card today is the queen of cups. ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions).
We see our queen with her hands up, asking us to lead with our heart, as she does herself. She is deeply intuitive, emotionally intelligent leader.
As we see her waist deep in water she is in flow with all around her, she can connect at a deeper more meaningful level from a heart centred space. She moves beyond outer trappings and hear's the unsaid, connecting with a deeper knowing and compassion.
When I think about this queen as a leader I think of Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand as an example of this energy of heartfelt leadership.
We see her raising her hands,The lifting of hands is a universal sign of surrender, It's a physical demonstration of the surrender in our heart and mind to a higher power, it signifies freedom, to be raised up and live life to the full.
Our final card for today is the 4 of swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought, mind and itellect)
The first thing that jumps out at me today is of course the heart, it's attached to a string, with what appears to be small pearls attached.
Pearls bring centering and a calming reflection, as well as attune us to the ebb and flow of life. They give purity, promote faith, charity and integrity.Pearls are symbolic of wisdom gained through experience.
She has flowers tattooed on her arm, delicate and colourful, flowers have long been important symbols of natural beauty and life, flower tattoos in general symbolise femininity.
It would seem there is a theme of feminine energy weaved throughout today's cards. Of course we all have both masculine and feminine energy within us.
It feels we are being urged to tap into our heart and into the Divine Feminine energy to lead a way forward. A strength in yealding and surrender, in bending with the breeze, rather than breaking in rigidity.
The Divine Feminine represents the connection to the part of our consciousness responsible for nurture, intuition and empathy, regardless of gender.
It's the aspect of the self associated with creation, intuition, community, sensuality (felt sense rather than thinking sense), and collaboration.
It feels as though we are being asked to flow into a more gentle collaborative way of being, a heartfelt experience of living, rather than jumping back onto any competitive, ever spinning, driven hamster wheel.
“Peace is life. Love is life. No river holds a grudge against a rock in its path. No leaf refuses to blow in the breeze. No plant denies water or sunshine. We, as human beings, have the gift of self-awareness, but this gift quickly turns to self-destruction if we do not learn to use it. We must learn to turn our minds towards the peace and love that we are flowing within at any given moment. This is the key to serenity. This is The Love Mindset.”
― Vironika Tugaleva
#makingadiffernce #lifeisbeautiful

In today's episode I chat with Owen Lewis, Human Rights Advocate, Social Entrepreneur and one of Lincolnshire's 30 under 30.
Owen is a passionate human rights advocate and social entrepreneur identified as one of Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30 Rising Stars by The Lincolnite in 2019. Their work focuses on creating and empowering inclusive communities, building better communication and using our voices to create social change.
Owen has led workshops across Europe focused on gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and race. They have worked in South Sudanese refugee camps and hospitals and works with global environment defenders as part of an international charity.
To learn more about Owen's work visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenlewiscommunications/
or
https://www.3-degrees.uk/our-speakers