Today's storytelling.
Dance, dance, dance, dance ! And what a tuuune for today from the universal comms team... Chic and "Dance, dance, dance". https://youtu.be/OTCv4xJ6mRo Wow what a great vibe to begin with. I wonder how that beat will move us through the cards today ? Let's see shall we ? So our first card today is the 7 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Decisions, decisions ,decisions ... What an array of choices are presented to our chap. What to choose? What's real and what's just wishful thinking? Which choice to make, which direction to take? How to get in flow.... its all a bit like a game of snakes and ladders in truth... thinking we're heading in a direction only to need to change tack at the last minute. A message to tap into our heart and intuition, not to simply be distracted by shiny things, or put off by an apparent challenge, as we navigate the unknown new world. Our second card today is the knight of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action) ... and we're off ... (see the horse in the background), the onward journey is under starters orders.... Time to dance to the beat of our own drum . A memory ( little cosmic fax dropping in there) pops into my mind of a friend who would attend the annual Shamanic Earth Dance . Where she would dance for days until in a trance like reality. An altered state of consciousness.... again a little hint of our current evolutionary experience. What is a shaman I hear you ask.....A shaman is the wise person who acts as an intermediary between the manifest and un-manifest worlds. ( which could be a metaphor for where we find ourselves right now, between the old and the new world ) As Human beings we have the power to shape the world in alignment with spirit, the universe and mother nature. Each of us holds responsibility for consciously bringing spirit and matter together within us. Our job is to aid in the restoration of wholeness and oneness, beginning with ourselves. It's an invitation to the dance of our own beat. Wholeness begins within each of us, first and foremost. Then collectively that beat synchronises together to create an amazingly powerful symphony. Just imagine that for a moment, separation to unity, disconnection to oneness. Our final card today, 14 Temperance, may at first glance seem at odds here today and yet I sense a unusual intense eagerness with this card as it appears. I have a feeling of being at the starting block, ready to begin, energy pulsing, high on anticipation.... and yet there's still that need for balance, temperance and restraint. Our figure is poised ready... waiting.... for..... just.... the .... right...... moment. To summarise, its time to follow our heart and intuition, move through illusion. Begin with moving to the beat of our own drum first. Get in tune with whats true for our own soul and spirit ... then and only then, can we begin to create an orchestral movement.... to play a new collective symphony, that we can play in tune with one another, the world and the whole of nature. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful
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Today's storytelling.
Illumination. And the song this morning from the universal comms team is a classic from Diana Ross " upside down" https://youtu.be/GIAtE6ywgwA I'm smiling at this one, yep we really have had to be turned upside down to receive the illumination haven't we ? So let's see what our cards have to say today. First out the traps today is the knight of swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) Boy, he looks in a rush. There's steam coming off his trainers! He is focused like a laser beam ( or crossbow in his case) The crossbow is generally a symbol of strength, agility, and being a protector, a fighter, or a hunter. Interestingly it slso symbolises guidance, humanity, and hope. He is locked on to reaching his steed (motor bike). As I look at our figure today I get that famous brand's strap line come to mind " just do it". I'm also drawn to his wrist watch ⌚ and another brand comes to mind, Apple. Apple, aside from being a religious symbol,is also an ancient fertility symbol. It represents love, temptation and spiritual growth. The apple also signifies acquiring knowledge. Overhead a large bird flies swiftly ahead. Taking in the greater vantage point . Our second card today is 12 the hanged man. She reaches out to the runic symbols swirling below. Through seeing the world from a different viewpoint she has become enlightened. She is still stuck right now in her grey t-shirt, yet the new will of her lime coloured trousers suggest she is ready to move forward in a completely different way. The green of the heart chakra all around her suggests that she is following her heart ❤. Our final card today is the page of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) His lofty ideas may seem far fetched ( flying pig ) yet they come from an imaginative heart. His life has the potential to move in completely new direction, there's a feeling that anything is possible now. In summary today it feels we are being challenged to do things differently, to follow our heart more, there is hope for joyful period ahead. New trajectories to be taken, new ways of being and doing. Turning everything upside down has given such illumination, I'm reminded of a question often asked by business speaker Brad Burton... " What does this make possible?" #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Temptation. And from the universal comms team, the song of the same name from Heaven 17. https://youtu.be/xWwtMrDX2o8 The lyrics that jump out at me are : "But it's too late to hesitate, we can't keep on living like this. Leave no track, don't look back". I feel a mixture of needing to break free from constraints and yet also a recognition that perhaps the way we were living before could not continue.... that we cannot look back to that . So on to our first card of today 15 The Devil. I know ... people tend not to like him showing up, yet as I've said before there are no good or bad cards. The clue is in the band title of our song today "heaven 17". Our devil once came from heaven, before he fell from grace. ( he basically got a bit above himself , letting his ego get the better of him) The Latin word "lucifer" means "morning star" the name for the planet Venus or, as an adjective,"light-bringing." He shows up to illuminate those little dark corners that may still be lingering within us. He nudges us to delve into those shadows, to shine a spot light and take a look at any remaining unhealthy and unhelpful habits and thinking patterns, so that they can be transmuted and transformed. We can see he holds out his hand to take us on that journey of self exploration. We see a small figure on strings, like a puppet, head held in his hands. I hear the phrase " as above, so below" and yet in this context I take it to mean that what we believe to be our conscious awareness of the world is really driven by our unconscious depths. He comes to shine a light on those dark receses of our mind, so that we may be truly liberated from that which holds us back from moving forward, into a lighter and brighter, future, instead of being tempted by old, out worn patterns . Our second card us the 4 of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation). She is stable and secure in her world. Safe, abundant and provided for . The song 🎵 lyrics " "Smiling at me Nothing but blue skies Do I see. Bluebirds singing a song, nothing but bluebirds all day long. Never saw the sun shining so bright, never saw things going so right." A lighter brighter time really does await us . Our final card today is 12 The hanged man. Wow look at the illumination she has reached having surrendered to the wait. What a gift this time of stillness has granted her. Maybe the world was suddenly turned upside down, but without that, she may never have had that paradigm shift. The new world is almost within her grasp now. She has only a little while longer to hold on. So in summary today, it feels that we are on the continuing journey of our illumination. It's nearly time, its so close now to us being born to the "new, new" to coin a phrase I've heard a lot recently. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Hakuna Matata ( no worries) Ah I have to love the universal comms team today for their song choice. From the film The Lion King, the wonderful, joyful and uplifting " Hakuna Matata" https://youtu.be/nbY_aP-alkw Let's see how this little ditty weaves through our cards today. Our first card out today , sees a quick return of the 8 of swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) It is considered that the number 8 is a symbol of self-confidence, success, inner wisdom and compasion. Other meanings of angel number 8 are decisiveness, self-discipline, efficiency and prosperity. 8 as we know is also the number of strength. So despite the nagging self talk still giving our chap a headache ( or us it a hangover from yesterday's cards perhaps) there is the suggestion that he does in fact have the answers within himself. It seems a leap of faith is required. In truth he really has no worries, aside from those constructed in his mind. Master the mind and change will abound in positive ways. Our next card today is the king of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action) We see this lion of a man. The lion's most common symbolic traits are: majesty, strength, courage and justice. Commonly reffered to as "the KING of the beasts," it is a symbol of Kingly power and might. Wow he holds us in his charismatic gaze. He is the ultimate leader to which we turn. The salamander on his orange, firey t-shirt represents immortality, rebirth, passion, and the ability to withstand flames. The salamander symbol also reminds us that fire is the foundation of this world and that this king represents power and protection. Our final card today is the 3 of wands. Our sufer babe, is ready to ride those waves. She has the energy , the tools and the vision to take action. She reminds me of hot summer days in Cornwall as a child. I would body board with my dad and grandad, they would push me out on my polystyrene body board, bobbing through the waves, then turn me around, catch the next wave and I would go shooting off to shore ... only to repeat the process over and over ! It was such joy. A reminder that all of life is transient.... both the effort and the reward. As we look at the colours in our card, we see violet purples , this governs the Crown Chakra, at the top of the head. Violet relates to self-knowledge spiritual awareness. It is the union with our higher self. We see the pink of the heart chakra, representing compassion, nurturing and love. It relates to unconditional love and understanding, and the giving and receiving of nurturing. And finally underfoot she stands upon a bright orange colour. Orange represents confidence, joy and enthusiasm. A colour that is sociable, creative and fun, orange is self assured, cheerful and independent. It seems our message today really is that of " Hakuna Matata" we have all that we need to withstand and in fact enjoy riding the waves of life. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Slip slidin' away. And from the universal comms team the song of the same name by Paul Simon. https://youtu.be/U7PBjKzaQEw The lyrics that jump out are: "Slip slidin' away Slip slidin' away You know the nearer your destination The more you're slip slidin' away" I guess it could describe the many plans we may have had for this week, being a bank holiday. Maybe there was a holiday destination in the diary, or other plans booked in.... and now it's slipped away. With this in mind, its no surprise that our first card today is the 5 of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions). We see a woman, full of disappointment. Looks like her hopes and plans are sliding away. And yet she seems to be missing the singing bowl just beside her that is abundant, bright and colourful. Maybe this card is reminding us to count our blessings 🙏 rather than our losses. Our second card today is another 5 , this time from the suit of swords (swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) Another figure who looks somewhat despondent. ( blimey what a pair these two make ) Again he's stuck on the same negative tape going around in his head. He doesn't recognise just how far he's come, or the new heights of understanding he has acquired. He certainly hasn't noticed the column of white light that shines down from the heavens. Illumination is there for him. Our final card today is the ace of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action) The person has their eyes closed, thoughts burning inside of their mind. There have been tears shed recently. They were trapped in their thinking patterns .... ( our previous two cards) yet now illumination and inspiration has sparked the seeds of possible action. They realise when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. In summary today, it feels some disappointment may be surfacing. What was maybe planned and looked forward to has been forced to change. We are presented with a choice. We can wallow in loss, or rejoice in our blessings 🙏 today. A reminder of somethingyou may have heard me say before .... what we focus on grows. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Fireworks. And the universal comms team unsurprisingly gave me Katy Perry's song 'Firework' to accompany today's cards. https://youtu.be/QGJuMBdaqIw In the video Katy is seen with fireworks coming out of her chest, similar to our first card funnily enough. Looking at the lyrics, a strong message comes through. "Cause there's a spark in you, you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night Like the Fourth of July 'Cause baby you're a firework, come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky-y-y Baby you're a firework Come on let your colours burst". Seems a seamless link to our first two cards in terms of imagery. So let's see what the cards have to reveal. First one out today, the page of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Look at those sparks igniting from his heart. He can already imagine himself flying across the sky. He holds his left knee, he's comforting any emotional fear or anticipation he might have. We can see his eyes looking up, he is busy constructing thoughts, ideas and inspiration. He is ready to ignite the light within him and shine it bright out in the world. His blue top speaks of communication and self expression. He is trying to remain grounded with his khaki trousers. Yet his dreams lift him to lofty heights. Our second card today is the 8 of pentacles ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation) Wow just look at those colours, its like a box of fireworks just went off ! Despite the electrifying atmosphere our subject is focused . She won't be distracted at this pivotal moment. All her hardwork is about to come to fruition . Like a student about to submit her dissertation, she has emassed so much knowledge and learning and is ready with the last moments of focused attention to pass the test with quite literally, flying colours. Our final card today is 10 The Wheel . I'm drawn to the woman balanced on top of the wheel. She's reached the top of that upward rotation. She has cycled through her karmic lessons and has reached a new understanding of life and her place in the world. Change is inevitable, and the new era dawns. She is ready for whatever comes next. Today we see a building energy, a spark, ready to burst forth. We have done the hard work, it's one last push of focused attention to reach that upward swing and positive trajectory. Have we learnt the lessons ? I hope so. If so.... What does this huge life lesson now make possible? What will change, what will remain the same? A throw of the dice and we may be back to square one..... or we can take that calculated move and reap the life-changing and life enhancing rewards of our labours. It's up to us to use our lessons wisely 🙏 to create a new and better world. Cause there's a spark in us all, we just gotta ignite the light and let it shine. Baby you're a firework ;) #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Love is the answer. And the most beautiful song from the universal comms team, another 1930s song strangely, " Love is the sweetest thing" sung by Al Bowlly accompanied by the Ray Noble orchestra. Ah a song of a bygone era. No thrash metal or grime back then, just simple heartfelt messages of the infinite power of love . https://youtu.be/hUXv0ezazXg Such perfect innocence 😇 The lyrics are so meaningful: Love is the sweetest thing What else on earth could ever bring Such happiness to ev'rything As Love's old story. Love is the strangest thing, no song of birds upon the wing, shall in our hearts more sweetly sing,than Love's old story. Whatever heart may desire, whatever fate may send, this is the tale that never will tire,this is the song without end. Love is the greatest thing,the oldest yet, the latest thing,I only hope that fate may bring Love's story to you. Throughout all time love has always endured. The the best and the worst of times, still Love's story unfolds. What a gorgeous uplifting thought ❤ Love is constant. Interesting that it coincides with my meditation group today as well, where our centering thought for the day is " I allow love to come to my aid". So let's see how this theme weaves through our cards today? Our first card today is 6 The Lovers. An important meaning of angel number 6 is unconditional love, being that it is the key of everything. If we give unconditional love to someone and if we are selfless, then 6 suggests true happiness. Number 6 is also a symbol of deep emotions and compassion. In the card I'm drawn to the two lovers in their embrace, looking deeply into one another's eyes. Our eyes don't lie, they show the truth, no matter what face we put on, in any situation. Eyes are the window to the soul: a phrase that perfectly reflects what we feel when our gaze plunges into another. No need for words, only the depth and the intensity of the human eye, will allow us to take a glimpse into a soul. Between our lovers we see the symbol of the Merkaba, (also spelled Merkabah), it translates literally to light, spirit, body. The merkaba is said to provide protection and transport our consciousness to higher dimensions. Next I notice the orange colour in the card. Orange is the colour of creativity and sexuality. This is the colour of joy, enthusiasm and creativity and promotes a general sense of wellness. Our second card today is the 3 of Cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) The angel number 3 has the energy of kindness, joy, creativity, and imagination. It represents inspiration, creation, manifestation, and growth. It symbolises the interconnectedness of your body, mind, and spirit, and is carefully aligned with the divine energy. We see three women arm in arm, in a friendly embrace. They stand amongst a carpet of lavender. Lavender expresses acknowledgment of Love. Lavender essential oil promotes the opening of the heart and stimulation of the crown chakra, which when stimulated, one is more open to recieving the world and its wonderful gifts it has to offer. The three women look out upon a vast purple sky. The colour of the crown chakra. Purple represents transformation, creativity and spiritual awareness. It is a protective, wise and a royal colour. Purple is associated with intuition and the mystical side of life. When this Chakra is open, we are unprejudiced and quite aware of the world and ourself. Up above them we see the plough. In theosophical traditions it is held that the seven stars of the Pleiades (which look a little like a miniature Plough) focus the spiritual energy of the seven rays of 'Divine Will' from the heart of the galaxy to the seven stars of the Plough, then to Sirius, then to the Sun, and from the Sun to the consciousness of humanity. These stars connect with Polaris, as an indicator of the path of 'Divine Will' to the human heart. The ploughs deep sense of peace transmits to us a knowledge and understanding of our own future path as if looking back at something already completed. Our final card for today is the 10 of Cups. A beautiful 🌈 rainbow of colours flow through this card, in the form of a hammock. The hammock is often seen as a symbol of summer, leisure, relaxation and simple, easy living. Witnessing a rainbow has long been believed to be a promise of good things to come. Rainbows speak directly to our heart and soul, filling us with awe and energies of liquid love. Rainbows bring the promise that the troubles of today will surely come to pass, the rainbow urges us to hold strong in our faith and vision. The rainbow brings fresh beginnings, and new prosperity. The Rainbow is also an extraordinary symbol of following our hearts desire and purpose, to get to the end of the rainbow is a symbol for the celebration of that fulfillment. Again we see two woman in fond embrace as they watch their children playing. It would seem we have a simple message threading throughout our cards today. Love is the vehicle in which we travel to transcend any challenging times we may find ourselves in. No matter the question, love is always the answer. It reminds me of one of my most treasured poems. "Unending love" by Rabindranath Tagore. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Shout, shout , let it all out. Straight away the universal comms team are playing Tears for Fears and " Shout" as I turn the cards today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye7FKc1JQe4 And it feels like some pent up energy needs to be let out. That wouldn't be a surprise as so many people have been home for weeks, it would be no wonder that there may be a need to shout, shout, let it all out. There's a message of expression here, letting out the frustrations and headaches of being home, remote working, home schooling etc. So let's see what our cards have for us... First one out today is 2 The High Priestess. Her introspection with her inner world is allowing her to see her future vision. I'm very drawn to her throat area today. As the throat chakra governs the mouth, tongue, and neck, it relates to communication and our ability to understand and speak our inner truth “purely”. I'm reminded of the Adi mantra.The translation of this healing Throat Chakra mantra is: “I bow to the creative energy of the infinite, I bow to the divine channel of wisdom.” This mantra gives energy to new beginnings and the courage to pursue new paths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuF1hocfHZE Our next card today the 5 of Swords. ( Swords representative of the air element and thought) Blimey, he looks like he's got a corker of a headache right there. That bird on his shoulder makes me think he's not talking to himself so kindly. His inner self talk appears to be causing him stress. If only he could be like the man in the background, arms flung wide, shouting from to the mountain top... Perhaps he needs to shout, shout, let it all out? Reminds me of a post in a wonderful group I'm in , discussing the healing power of the primal scream. Our final card today is the 5 of wands (wands representative of the fire element and action) All that fighting and clamouring to take action. There's a real frenetic energy to this card today. Everyone moving in different directions, no one pulling together. It feels quite disorganised and energetically scattered. Maybe it's showing us that this is the expression of our action if first we don't express our truth, of thoughts and feelings. As though we need to take action from a firm foundation in alignment with our own inner wisdom 🙏 #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Crest of a wave. Blimey the universal comms team have dug deep into the archives today with " Crest of a wave" a song from The gang show of the 1930s I think. https://youtu.be/MYZe6GVa_JI Listening at the lyrics its very apt to where we find ourselves right now. Riding along on the crest of a wave , with the sun up in the sky. And references to eyes being on the horizon. Let's see what our cards have to say about catching that wave ... hmm... just read that back and saw a potential message right there. Having seen reports on the news and social media of people flocking to the coast in the sunshine , I'm wondering if we are setting up to ride a second wave? Or can we catch ourselves in time to be a little more circumspect, with regards to running out there creating a crowd? So onto our first card for today 14 Temperance. Well here's a message for us if ever there was one on the back of the last couple of questions. He shows the careful weighing of the balance. He's a pretty chilled dude... doesn't look like he's in a rush to get to the beach. His stare is intense, he holds us in his gaze, feels like he's holding us accountable. His left leg sits in front of his right. The right signifying moving forward on a physical and practical level. Its held back by his intuitive and feminine based energy. Whilst there is angelic presence in the background, he is quite literally asking us to act with restraint ( temperance). Our second card for today is the 3 of wands (wands representative of the fire element and action) There she is with her surf board, ready to run out onto the beach, into the sea to catch that wave. Her left foot is somewhat tentative, her intuitive senses are keeping her poised from running straight in. She longs to have the fun and excitement of the ride. Feels like she is waiting a while. Just like we are waiting for the results of our efforts and the lessening of restrictions. We need to hold fire ( see what i did there ;) ) before ploughing ahead. Our final card for today is the 4 of swords ( swords representative of the air element and thought) She's snuggled up in her nest. The phrase " home is where the heart is" comes to mind. Her knees are bent ( our shock absorbers in life, where we hold fear) she looks to be resting in the safety and security of her nest. The swords. Shown here as twigs in the nest, seem to be holding her there. Keeping her safe as she remains reclusive from the world. So interesting themes today. Seems we are being called to slow down our desire to be out there in the world. We are being urged to continue to tread gently, not to rush this journey. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Around the 🌎 world I'd no sooner started to turn over Today's cards and the universal comms team were playing Daft Punk "Around the world" at full volume in my head ! OK message received ;) https://youtu.be/LKYPYj2XX80 Let's see how it spins out in our story today . Our first card today is 21 The World. 21 is a symbol of perfection and maturity. It symbolises the divine wisdom: “mirror of eternal light, which pierces and penetrates all grace in its purity”. It is the completion card on the fools journey.The “Fool's journey,” is the complete arch of our psychological experience of our journey through life, it begins with the childlike innocence of someone just coming into the world and ends with wholeness and fulfillment of a person who has well learned life's lessons. She stands within the hoop having reached wholeness. The seed of life behind her and sacred geometry around her. Look at her joy ! She is in a place of balance as she stands on her tiptoes. She has completed one cycle and is now poised to step into the next. Our next card today is the ace of wands (wands representative of the fire element and action) Today I notice the blue tear shaped mark below the left eye of our subject. It's perhaps been an emotional time and yet a new era is dawning, a new flame of inspiration is burning. A vision for the future is taking form. There is such a passion towards these ideas that the net is struggling to hold them before they burst forth into action. Our third card today is the 2 of wands. She is looking out with a longing to be outside in the world, eager to spring into action We see a globe and a camper van, surf board propped up alongside. She's itching to ride the waves. There's a whole world out there and she is passionate about stepping into it. Today our cards suggest perhaps we are on the cusp of our new journey, our new world!That the crest of the wave is building and we have a picture forming in our minds eye of just what an amazing new world awaits us. I get such an exciting energy with our story today. Feels like the shift is starting folks ! #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Flying high. And from the universal comms team an old tune from The Commodores by the same name. https://youtu.be/CW44DeFRKkQ Let's see how this flies by then today ! Its all Swords today and the air element ( flying high in air ), the realms of thought, the mind and intellect. We begin with the Queen. Ice cool on her mountain top, purveying her kingdom. She contemplates and ponders. She holds tight to that sword of truth, she's not afraid to cut through the bull shit and get to the facts. She's not ready to move forward until she has considered all of the data and information at hand. She holds wise counsel, her emotions are held behind bars, she will make decisions by her head not her heart. Our second card today sees a return of the 10 of swords . Taking those first tentative steps into the unknown after a period of crisis. The landscape appears a little barren and a period of recuperation is required in order to rebuild. Our final card today is the King of swords. He's made it to the lofty heights, he is wise now to the truth of his situation, having travelled the journey. He knows there are still many mountains to climb yet he rests a while to smell the flowers. He has three spirit animals accompanying him. Owl, bat and raven. The owl spirit animal represents the deep connection that we share with wisdom, good judgment and knowledge. Like the owl, which is known for its sharp vision and keen observation, we are reminded that we also possess insight and intuition. The appearance of the owl also signifies change or transition. The bat spirit animal is the night's guardian, just like the owl spirit animal. It lurks in the dark with senses on high alert. When the bat totem makes its presence felt in our life, it means that we have to prepare for major changes and transitions. The raven spirit animal is a reflection of the universe's mystical ways and is a true reflection of the family of bird spirit animals. When our life is blessed with raven symbolism, it just signifies that we have a strong and mysterious force surrounding us. All in all today, it signifies we are not only deep in contemplation and thought about what comes next, but we require evidence to back up our intuitive insight. There are major changes to be integrated into our way of living, rebuilding and starting from scratch comes to mind. Good news is we are spirituality guided and protected as we move forward to the new world. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
What ya waiting for? And our musical accompaniment with the same lyrics, comes from George Ezra and "Blame it on me" . https://youtu.be/H4ifSrE8iSg Let's see how this soundtrack plays out for us today hey ? So we see a return of the 9 of Wands in our first card (wands representative of the fire element and action). She looks to be weighing us up today. Checking out our motives, our intent, our energy. She's no "shop egg" as my dad would have said. The phrase, "You're no shop egg" indicates that she is checking if somebody or something is genuine. It's believed to originate from when grocers used to put porcelain eggs in their shop window to indicate that they not just sell eggs but they sell perfect eggs; obviously man made 'eggs' are more agreeable to the eye and nose, than real eggs that have been sat in the window for 5 days. I've no idea if that's true of course, but I'm sure you follow the meaning. She appears to be shining a light on the situation with discernment. Are those wands a barrier to progression or a fence to keep safe boundaries I wonder ? Perhaps we are being asked to "question everything". To use our own internal guidance system to determine our next move. An interesting link between the title today of "what ya waiting for" and George's song "blame it on me". Hmm....Where does responsibility lay for the next phase, as we loosen the boundaries to our safety ? Our second card today is the 4 of Cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Boy doesn't she look fed up, bored and disillusioned? There's a can't be bothered energy about her. We see an abundant crop and tree in full folage behind her , she seems unaware or lacking the insight and vision to see it. To her left we see the red of safety and security. And yet she is being offered a beautiful signing bowl containing a rainbow of colours. Rainbows are often seen after a rainstorm when the sun breaks through the clouds. This provides us with a very powerful and important message. Good and beautiful things often follow the darkest storms. Through her frustration she is missing the opportunity being presented to her. Perhaps she asks us to replace our own frustration with fascination. Can we uncover our own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ? Or will we simply blame our life experience on our situation, the government, the world , the virus .... missing the gift of enlightenment? Our final card today is 14 Temperance. Number 14 is a number of balance, harmony, temperance and prudence. It also relates to self-initiation, unity, justice and independence and signifies enthusiasm coupled with determination. See the angels wings behind the guy? This is Archangel Michael. Archangel Michael is the angel for protection He is supported in finding the balance between protection and progress. He is patient, he uses his wisdom to walk the middle ground. No extreme actions, he takes a steady and considered route forward. So it would seem today we are asked to be considered about our next steps, on one hand to progress and on the other hand to keep safe. To not allow frustration to cause us to act rashly. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Magic moments And a song to match from the universal comms team today https://youtu.be/ZZ_hWTuSYSk Let's see what magic moments await us in our cards hey ? Our first card today is 18 The Moon. The number 18 symbolises independence, humanitarian work, and creating things which last. This number is also a symbol of care for the humankind. The Moon couples with 9 The Hermit. Both cards ask us to delve deeper into our inner world . We see the duality of black and white, light and dark. Every story has two sides... or maybe 3 ... let me explain , the seen, the unseen and the truth. The moon is a card of illusion and the shadows. Yet if we can let the light of the silvery moon illuminate our deepest depths, our hidden fears and bring the unconscious into our conscious awareness, growth and change is inevitable. Our second card today is 1 The Magician. The Magician is the card of manifestation. He represents the development of one's first sense of conscious awareness. In this regard, he has become aware of his own, unique sense of self. The number 1 relates to new beginnings. This number is a symbol of a new fresh start in life. Number 1 is also as a symbol of motivation, self-leadership and intuition. Having dispelled illusion and fear, we can now manifest a magical new world. The magician appears as us today as the ultimate alchemist. Whilst physical alchemy is concerned with altering and transforming the properties within matter, this is a matter of spiritual alchemy concerned with freeing our spiritual self, trapped within us by the unrefined parts of ourself (e.g. our fears and limiting personal beliefs.) Our final card today is the 5 of Wands (wands representative of the fire element and action). Look at those men and woman all clamouring to get to the flame. I wonder if they were to work more collaboratively perhaps they would all succeed more quickly and with a more beneficial outcome. They seem to be in competition with one another , or at least unaware of the power of collective effort. Their individual ambitions are driving unhelpful behaviours. The wands have the potential to support all of their progression and yet they risk the whole framework collapsing by their lack or attention and care for one another. They all wear white tops of innocence, showing their lack of wisdom. They make up for their lack on knowledge with passion, yet unless it is focused in mutual support and benefit, it will simply repress any future successful outcome. Overall it would seem we are at a magical moment in our lives. There is a need to raise both individual and collective consciousness. To challenge our illusions and overcome our deepest fears. We are perhaps leaving behind the singular paradigm of "I" , to be replaced with that of "we". #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Upside down. And a wonderful track from Jack Johnson accompanies today's cards. Funny just watching the video, it even looks like the hanged man in our spread. https://youtu.be/dqUdI4AIDF0 The lyrics "This world keeps spinning and with each new day I can feel a change in everything" Along with "I want to turn the whole thing upside down I'll find the things they say just can't be found, I'll share this love I find with everyone. We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs I don't want this feeling to go away"jump out at me. They seem apt to what is unfolding in our current situation. What we are now valuing and what we don't want to loose as we move into a new world. Funnily enough, in total synchronicity my world is spinning... with vertigo symptoms... blimey, these cards are playing out a bit too literally for me today ! So let's see what they have to say. First one out today is the Knight of Swords (swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) Wow this knight is quick out of the blocks! I'm drawn to the soles of his trainers, which are covered with what appears to be Binary code. Binary code is omnipresent in computer technology, and some people may still remember it from their maths lessons. This code represents complex things with only two states. Maybe this knight is processing complex data ( complex thoughts) The omnipresent aspect, makes me think of a higher energy and plan at play ( think the film the matrix). There's a real feeling of rushing ahead, trying to keep focus. As though time is running out , there's pressure to charge ahead. Ahead we see a motorcycle. The motorcycle represents speed, or the need for speed, taking fast actions, efforts, success, achievements and competition. There's grey clouds over head and a large black raven is flying ahead. Grey clouds represent challenging times or difficulties that we may be going through in our life. Since a cloud exists up in the sky and far above reach, it represents the higher self. A cloud is a symbol of our conscience. The raven symbolises our intelligence and our ability to learn quickly. We use what we learn to figure out solutions to our problems. The raven totem signifies mystery, divination and the attraction to the magical or mystical ways to solve the complexity of life. It would appear that we are being asked to take action in alignment with both our higher self's advice and our own conscience when it comes to how and when we step out into the world 🌎. Our second card today is 12 The hanged man. Everything has been turned on its head it seems. We have been made to pause, to surrender to the stillness. In this new perspective of the World we are gaining enlightenment and illumination. The Hanged Man, as I've mentioned before couples with The Empress ( The mother) The Hanged Man appears to be attached to the mother; just like the unborn child to the umbilical chord. As the unborn moves downward in readiness for the birthing process, there is first a pause. The woman in the card wears a grey vest and lime trousers. Grey may indicate many incarnations, therefore it signifies that the soul about to be birthed is an old soul. Lime green symbolises possibilities, perception and anticipation. We see many runic symbols spinning around below. They could be translated as through this difficult or thorny time, mankind is experiencing a hidden plan, one that is unfolding to bring us the gift of enlightenment. Our final card today sees a swift return of 7 The Chariot. Today the sheer speed is what catches my attention . Along with the crossing of the veil of light and dark energy. The background of orange and purple hues, bring to mind both spiritual and physical energy propelling us ever faster forward. We cannot stop the momentum, this divine plan is in motion and beyond our control. We can however, choose our response. The red curtain jumps out at me at this point. The red curtain acts as a medium, a Demiurge (a being responsible for the creation of the universe)of sorts between the real, material world and the spiritual world. The red curtain denotes the place halfway between both worlds where anything can happen and where there is no influence of time. So on reflection today, a deep and meaningful expression of this time in our collective experience. We can choose our responses, we are asked to follow our higher self's guidance, we can consult with our conscience, yet ultimately a higher plan is at play that we can only surrender to. This it would appear is a part of humanity's evolutionary process. A rebirth of our world 🌎. We are playing witness to what will be a monumental shift in our way of being. A moment of enlightenment. Blimey .... a pretty hefty message today. No wonder my world is spinning! #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Rollin', rollin',rollin' I love it when the universal comms team give me a song that makes me smile, today was no exception. A song reminding me of Harry, my daughters great grandfather on her dad's side. His party trick was singing this song whilst playing the spoons and banging his head with a tea tray! Of course I'm talking about the theme tune from "Rawhide". https://youtu.be/AKC8pSFg1Vw A nudge perhaps for us to keep edging our way forward through our current pandemic landscape. Let's see how the theme plays out within our cards today... Our first card today is 7 The Chariot. We see a gypsy style wagon being pulled at speed by two horses, one black and one white. The Celts believed the Black Horse was a symbol meaning death or endings and challenging forces. It represented the strength of maturity to handle what life brings. The black horse was a messenger of esoteric knowledge. He was a keeper of secrets and mysteries. Maybe signifying that we are still navigating an unknown road. In some cultures, white horses stand for the balance of wisdom and power. In others, like Christianity, the white horse is a symbol of death(or endings). How apt as we try to juggle this delicate balance between staying at home and emerging into the World. The horse is a universal symbol of freedom without restraint, because riding a horse made people feel they could free themselves from their own bindings. Thus demonstrating the extremes that could be interpreted from the governmental shift in it's messaging to the public. We can see that the young man has no reigns by which to direct the horses, he is shirtless and shows his muscular torso. Perhaps showing strength, or conversely showing vulnerability. He is focused ahead, his willpower and determination keeping him on track in an ever moving and changing scenario. Our second card today is the 10 of Swords ( swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) The woman in the card looks out onto a desert landscape, alone but for the birds that fly above her head. Her shoulders are exposed, perhaps signifying old burdens that she carries. Her dress is dulled , she has lost some of her zest and passion and yet is still resilient in the face of a barren scene. Our final card for today is 0 The Fool, a quick turnaround for this archetype from yesterday. Today I notice the faint snowy topped mountains in the distance. A journey to new heights and wisdom awaits this dreamy girl. She is at the point of taking the leap, she looks to be in a trance, buoyed by her call to newness, to adventure and the beginning of a new chapter. Overall today a message perhaps of keeping moving forwards, tentively.... yet ever forwards. It's a gentle balance that calls us all to use our wisdom and resilience, to keep moving forwards, stepping carefully and conservatively into the new World. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Embarking on the new. And our song from the universal comms team is " New life" by Depeche Mode. https://youtu.be/ZFnEhwmpjXI Our first card today is the 9 of wands (wands representative of the fire element and action) Number 9 is the number of Universal love, eternity, faith, Universal Spiritual Laws and the concept of karma. It represents spiritual enlightenment, spiritual awakening and service to humanity. It is the number of lightworking and lightworkers. The purpose of a 'Lightworker' is to wake up the people that inhabit this beautiful planet and connect them with their true Divine spirit. A lightworker's role is to teach oneness and close the separation gap that occurs when people forget that they are spiritual beings having a physical experience and not the other way around. In the card we see a young woman behind a barrier of wands. Her face is defiant , she is determined in her mission, now barriers can hold her back from her cause. She is pushing forward to reach her goal. Our second card today is 0 The Fool. Its time to take the leap of faith. Knowing that we are protected and spiritually guided. See how she holds an amethyst in her outstretched hand? Amethyst is a natural tranquiliser, it relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety. It alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity. Amethyst activates spiritual awareness, opens intuition and enhances psychic abilities. The seed of life below marks a new beginning, a new chapter. There maybe innocence and niaevity, yet this is a returned fool , embarking on the next journey, so brings a level of acquired knowledge and wisdom, despite the leap being into a new level of the unknown. Its a new level of growth and change. Our final card today is the Ace of Wands. ( another fire element card packed with action) New ideas and inspiration are contained in this card. We see the limitations of these new thoughts with a net. Nets indicate confinement and often are reflective of anxiety and of being unsure about your own life. Maybe our recent experiences are now limiting our creative thought, or are holding us back from taking action on our internal desires? It would seem we have a determination to move forward... yet we are also ruminating over taking the necessary steps perhaps? What do you think? #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Waiting for the world to change. Quite an apt song title this morning from the universal comms team. Not one I know at all to be fair. John Mayer's "waiting for the world to change". https://youtu.be/oBIxScJ5rlY I think we may all be waiting for that, in truth. So let's see what unfolds from our storytelling today. Let's begin with our first card today, the King of Wands (wands representative of the fire element and action) He has a real presence about him this king doesn't he? The strength of a lion, the adaptability and resilience of the salamander. He can withstand the heat of any situation. He appears casually confident in his own power. He is a natural born leader, he has charisma in abundance. He is ready to take action with true entrepreneurial style. Its as though he's looking straight into our soul as he asks, are you ready ? Our second card today is another wand, this time the 2. The woman looks longingly out of her window, she's dreaming of traveling the world 🌎 she wants to be set free to travel without limit. The call to adventure is almost screaming.... and yet she waits, poised and planned to make her move. Our third card today is the Ace of Cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Wow look at that cup... its overflowing with love. That energy is flowing out into the whole universe. A wave and frequency of heartfelt energy is beaming outward. It has no bounds of time or space. The blue of the woman's vest top is significant of the throat Chakra. The throat chakra is the energy center located in the neck, which governs speech, writing, and creative expression. We are be asked to lovingly speak our truth, because of important messages that we need to express, either verbally or in written form. We’re encouraged to speak our truth to ourself and others. To admit our true feelings as well as any revelations we’ve had. To maybe keep a journal of these ideas, thoughts, and inspirations. In summary today it would seem we are on the cusp of the new World. We are in the final planning stage of preparation for the first step into the unknown adventure. We are called to share our heartfelt ideas and intentions of how the new World must be . We cannot resume the way of the old World. Values and beliefs about work and life have changed. Connection to one another has changed. The World has changed. It is down to each of us now to express how that change should be manifest. To have dialogue about how to make that change positive, meaningful, soulful and transformative for our next chapter of evolution. I see so many changes ahead in what we deem to be important. What we once believed to be impossible; stuck in our old paradigm we have proved to be possible (working remotely, home schooling, virtual meetings to name but a few). I feel major transformation of the way we live and work is afoot. Through the trials and tribulations, the losses and the hardships, the huge sacrifices that have been bought to bare.... please let's not waste this once in a lifetime opportunity for a better way of being. 🙏 "If you're always looking back at what you've lost, you'll never discover the treasure that lies just up ahead". J.E.B. Spredemann #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Mr tambourine man. https://youtu.be/gYLKlgalHMs I love this old tune. I've just been singing along ... of course it's a song written by Bob Dylan and released in 1965, way before I was even born. Personally I really love this version by The Byrds. It's fundamentally a song about escapism; maybe escape from challenging , difficult or painful situations in life perhaps? Let's see how this threads through in our cards for today. Our first to appear today is the Page of Cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) We can see that this young man has a wild imagination, as he makes such fantastical images in his mind's eye. What a beautiful dreamer he is, he can escape into his creative storytelling where even pigs might fly! "When pigs fly" is an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition. So is our page over ambitious with his daydreaming ? Well, the pig is often viewed as a laid back animal. It does not easily attack or become angered, but chooses to enjoy life. It symbolises prosperity, wealth and abundance. So maybe our page isn't so full of folly after all. As we can witness he has the support of heartfelt spiritual guidance. He allows himself to be led by his own heart's song, the energy of which radiates out from him. His abundance and warmth is a joy to behold. Our second card today is the 4 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action). Ah time for celebration 🍾 We see a festival scene, revellers swaying to the music 🎶 tambourine in hand as they dance to their own beat. Historically the tambourine was used for a variety of different reasons including: praise, joy, gladness, rejoicing, triumph, singing, warfare, victory, and celebration. It is also known as tof Miriam – literally “drum of Miriam,” a reference to the role that the sister of Moses and Aaron played in leading the Israelites in a celebratory song thanking God for splitting the Red Sea to get them out of Egypt. Tambourines originated in Mesopotamia, Middle East, India, Greece and Rome and were mainly used in religious contexts. The tambourine combines a large amount of symbolic meaning.First it is a drum and drums are used to invoke spiritual experience. It also has bells which have their own symbolic meaning. The shape is of the Egg. Put simply a tambourine when played like a drum, is symbolically and literally a means for achieving out of body experiences in the Egg. In the background we see a bell tent or yurt type structure. The yurt symbolises the cosmos and the unity of the universe. Nomads who live in such structures, don't detach themselves from nature and the world surrounding them. There appears to be a thread unfolding of accessing a higher level of consciousness. Of rising above the material and physical constraints and tribulations of our life experience. To transcend what we may label as limitations, to be at one with the universe, to be in flow. As we see in our biblical reference about the tambourine and the parting of the seas, or in our dreamy page and his flying pig 🐖 .... we are encouraged to go meta on our current thinking. Going meta is an NLP term which means stepping outside or further away from the situation, seeing something as if we are a fly on the wall. Above or beyond in greek. Our final card today is the 9 of Cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Wow look at that explosion of bright light and energy. The treasure chest of abundance and the gold all around. The colour gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance, this colour is linked to masculine energy and the power of the sun. Optimistic and positive, gold adds richness and warmth to everything with which it is associated, it illuminates and enhances other things around it. At the uppermost level, this is a colour which is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul. Its as though our Page of cups has realised his dreams, our festival revellers have reached a higher plane of consciousness and we as a collective feel an abundance in this illumination. Wow... is this perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel? #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Abracadabra. Well the universal comms team have got me stumped with today's song choice. As ever I'll trust the magical process ( see what I did there) and see what comes ! https://youtu.be/7QyoRzZrF00 So our first card for today is 21 The World 🌎 the completion of the fools journey. 21 is a symbol of perfection and maturity. It symbolises the divine wisdom: “mirror of eternal light, which pierces and penetrates all grace in its purity”. This number appears in relation to something extremely important. Angel number 21 is a sign of advancement and success. Angel number 21 is all about unity, fulfillment, and happiness. We have reached new levels of consciousness. 2+1= 3 The Empress, we reach the point of a new creation. In the card we see a woman looking up to the heavens, she appears to be joyful. She is dressed in a dress of many colours, as though she has walked through the rainbow 🌈 A rainbow is a sign of blessing for our ventures. It is a powerful sign and it can be seen as a message from the Universe that you we are headed in the right direction. Much like the biblical meaning or symbolism, it signifies and end to difficulty and despair. She balances within a hoop, on the tips of her toes on her right foot. She treads lightly. Behind her is the seed of life and she is surrounded by sacred geometry. The Seed of Life is a universal symbol of creation. Found at the heart of the ancient pattern, the Flower of Life, there is an entire cosmology of consciousness encoded into this singular geometric seed. The Flower of Life is said to represent the divine, mathematical order in all of life. Metatron’s Cube featured in the card, is also said to symbolise the creation of life itself. So it would seem The World appears today as we tread everso gently back into a new life outside. ( quite timely here in the UK hey?) In contrast our second card today is 9 The Hermit. Who urges us to 'go within' to seek our own counsel. Hmmm how interesting! So we are told we can go outside for unlimited exercise, some folk are encouraged to go back to work and yet here's The Hermit suggesting otherwise. Maybe the young woman in the card holding her arms around her knees in protective stance, is an aspect of ourselves? Despite the slight easing of restrictions in our life, we are not yet ready to emerge from our cocoon.... this butterfly 🦋 isn't quite ready to fly perhaps? Certainly it would seem it's a moment of personal reflection, consideration and contemplation, before making any radical changes. Ultimately, I guess that's true, despite any external validation, it is the internal validation that is the only truth. Our final card for today sees a quick reappearance of the Knight of Cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Ahh the romance of a picnic on the beach ⛱ Now there's a thought. The circus 🎪 horse in the background making it appear all the more magical. Horse symbolism speaks of freedom. It possesses an unbridled desire for freedom because of its naturally wild and powerful spirit, it always wants to break free. Another horse meaning is journey... I don't know about you, the slightest glimpse of sunshine and I'm betting the dash for the coast will be monumental. And yet..... The Hermit is still calling "The magic resides inside" No abracadabra has cast a magical spell just yet. The World signifies the end of one long journey, that leads to the beginning of another ... with The Fool. Now I for one love the energy of The Fool , yet I am also very aware of his folly, niaevity and at times as the name would suggest.... foolishness. Or in other words....as the universal comms team give me yet another song.... with the wise words of Ricky Nelson "Fools rush in" https://youtu.be/oqiOBp4ITlM #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling
Love is all I bring The title of today's storytelling comes from the lyrics of an obscure 70s song given to me by the universal comms team. "Uptown top ranking" , by Althea and Donna, was a hit in 1977 when I was just 9 years old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joh37lrvf-s The line that jumped out was "Love is all I bring ", a reminder that no matter what the question, Love is always the answer. Which brings us to our first card today the knight of cups. ( Cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) What jumps out at me today is the thin veil of energy and the red roses. The red rose brings the energy to encompass love and compassion to see the beauty that is within and around us. Helping us stay centered and heart spaced through change. By giving us the confidence and ability to let go of anything that isn't for our highest good. The red roses bring manifestation, abundance and insight. It gives us the ability to transform negative emotions to positive. It allows us to trust, to love, to forgive. It allows us to release tension, trauma and feelings of doubt. It appears we are receiving many messages from our higher self, universe and our ancestors today. A message of love, both for ourselves and others. Our second card today is the 4 of Pentacles ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation) What stands out for me today is the woman clutching her purse to her chest. As though all of her earthly belongings are contained inside. She holds it against her solar plexus chakra. The solar plexus is our power centre between the lower and upper energy centres. It is the seat of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. I'm urged to say that it is not our physical possessions, nor our earthly wealth that give us our sense of stability, but our strength of character and heart ❤. Our final card today is the Queen of cups ( cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) In the card we see this queen waist deep in the seas of emotion. An arch of water rises above her and her arms and face are tilted towards the heavens. She appears in total surrender to her surroundings. She is deeply in tune with the universe. The turquoise colour surrounding her signifying a time of deep spiritual growth and change. Her dress of orangey red showing she is safe and open to the newness of this transition. We can also see a slight violet hue upon her left . She is spiritually guided through her intuitive senses right now. So today is a message of love and hope through a time of transformation. What we may have given great importance to in the past is falling away and new values are replacing old out worn ones. Perhaps we are reminded that life is like a river.... we can flow with it and relax, or we can try with all our might to swim against it and simply exhaust every last drop of energy. Today then is perhaps also a message of surrender . "Surrender is faith that the power of Love can accomplish anything even when you cannot forsee the outcome". - Deepak Chopra. Today's storytelling.
Wheels within wheels Interesting that the universal comms team should give me the title of a song I've never heard before. On listening it is quite a beautiful melody. Whilst the lyrics may not make sense at the moment to the storytelling (of course that may unfold) there is an overall feeling of "opening the heart" that threads through them. https://youtu.be/KgoPPYVNa2w So into our first card for today, the 8 of pentacles is back ( pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation) Interestingly today it holds a completely new meaning in our story. I feel a pull back to the past, reminiscing over history, looking back over our journey, all that we have lived, learned, loved and experienced. The old feather quill pen and candle bring thoughts of Dickens and tales of Scrooge. The most dominant metaphors in "A Christmas Carol" are the three spirits who visit Scrooge. "The Ghost of Christmas Past" is a personification of memory. In order for Scrooge to grow as a human being, he must remember his past and learn both positive and negative lessons from it. The light that shines from this ghost's head symbolises the "illumination" which can come from reflecting on one's past. "The Ghost of Christmas Present" is a personification of generosity. This ghost symbolises generosity, which for Dickens is at the heart not only of Christmas but also of a truly human life. The ghost stands for generosity not only of material goods, but especially of spirit. "The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come" is a personification of the relentless march of time towards both a fixed and an unfixed end. Resembling traditional depictions of the Grim Reaper, this Ghost may be seen as symbolising death, the common lot of all human beings. When Scrooge asks to erase the writing on his own headstone, however, he is not asking for immortality; rather, he is asking that his life before his inevitable death be of a different quality than it would be otherwise. Its stern presence warns that time waits for no one; should you wish to change your life, do so today. The fact that your life will end is fixed; the meaning that your life will have had is up to you. Wow,pretty deep stuff this morning! Next we are looking at the ever turning wheel of life,10 The Wheel . Today I'm very much drawn to the dice around the neck of the woman in the card. Dice represents the part fate plays in our lives, but only in the sense that it appears to be chance to us because we do not understand or ever see the entire plan of the great universal work going on behind the scenes. The two colours of the dice are to remind us that the universe was constructed around the idea of two contrasting forces, the black destructive forces and the white creative forces. White is predominant on a traditional dice because the objective of the great work of the universe is ultimately one of creation, but one cannot create unless one destroys the old, as such destruction is a key part of the process. Our final card today is the 2 of wands ( wands representative of the fire element and action) Today I'm drawn to the globe of the 🌎 world. The globe appears in atlases and astronomical handbooks. It is the symbol of the emperor and the fool, the scholar and the idiot. All archetypes we can embody as human beings on our journey through life. The image of the globe can symbolise the salvation of mankind and also its undoing. The globe we see in the card is of course a representation of our earth(as we know the earth element is representative of manifestation) It also depicts the micro of the macro. Maybe a reminder that every small act we choose as individuals is reflected in the collective consciousness of the whole of humanity. Our plans for the future are laden with wonderful opportunities if we can learn the lessons of the past and of the present that we are currently being gifted from this life changing experience. What we create of our future is in each of our hands. "Nature needs your care. Animals need your attention. People need your light. The world needs your love. There are five kinds of love: veritable love for God, your parents, your life partner, your friends, and the most difficult of all, your neighbour. How can you make a difference in the world? Help one person at a time. Matshona Dhliwayo #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Sledgehammer Well a really obscure one from the universal comms team, Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" I have no idea how this one is going to pan out ! Let's see ... Our first card today is the 9 of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation) Today as I look at the card the word "hedge witch" comes to mind. Although there are a lot of different definitions of what a hedge witch is and does, for the most part, they work with herbal magic, as well as an emphasis on a deep understanding and connection with nature. A hedge witch might perform healing and shamanic actions, or perhaps work with the changing seasons. Hedge witchcraft involves deep study of plants and the natural world. The term hedge witch is an homage to the wise women of old, who often lived on the outskirts of villages, beyond the hedge, so to speak. The midwives, the herbalists and the healers. Hedge witches typically find magical intent in routine, day to day activities. They uncover the miraculous in the mundane. Showing gratitude in the smallest of gifts from mother nature. The hedge witch of old usually practiced alone and lived magically day to day, simple acts like brewing a pot of tea or sweeping the floor were infused with magical ideas and intentions. I guess those activities we could so easily overlook and take foregranted. Simple acts of magic conducted with loving intent. Perhaps most importantly, the hedge witch learned her practices from older family members or mentors, honed her skills through years of practice, trial, and error. This is a very interesting thread today. So much synchronicity to a conversation I had with a friend this morning, we were relating to his friend talking about their frustration of being at home, not going about their usual work. They had been using their time on tending to their allotment and yet hadnt realised the value in that action. They hadn't appreciated the true worth in planting and cultivating the earth, bringing fresh produce to the table in order to nurture and sustain the family. I wonder, is this a reminder that maybe we have become too far removed from honouring such gifts. It strikes me ( oh... there it is .... like a Sledgehammer) that we have forgotten we are a part of nature, with its turn of the seasons and its natural ebb and flow. That in these days of being at home; perhaps for the first time in a longtime, we have heard the dawn chorus.... I mean really heard it and basked in its glory. Maybe we have spent time baking or creating with our children, passing on age old knowledge that had gotten lost in a void of our busy hamster wheel of exsistance. Perhaps we've taken more walks, noticing more... the shifting of the seasons in the folage of the trees and the budding and blossoming of the hedgerows. I don't know about you, I've seen far more photos on social media of gardens, waterways, wildflowers and countryside recently. Perhaps the peace and magic we are discovering in this quiet time of unfolding transition is the gift 🎁 that without the Sledgehammer of our current scenario could have never been uncovered and rediscovered. Our second card of the day is the 2 of swords. ( Swords representative of the air element and of thought and intellect) What jumps out from the card today is actually the crossroads. We see a woman blindfolded, her vision of what lies ahead unclear. The black crows are screeching at her, perhaps representing the inner dialogue and chatter in her mind. It appears her thoughts are overpowering her ability to see clearly. Perhaps she appears today to show us that it is normal to feel fear and doubt when we have no vision of how things will move forward. It can be confusing, overwhelming and even alarming. And yet out of this time of uncertainty and difficulty we can focus on moving to lighter times. Our 3rd card today is the 3 of pentacles ( another earthy manifestation card) We see collaboration, communication, community and creation in this card. Everyone having a part to play and the collective consciousness of the group towards a shared outcome. We in some ways are back to the story of the hedge witch.... skills and knowledge passed on within communities, crafting something together ❤, each bringing their unique skills and talents to manifest something for the benefit of the greater good. So there we have it... perhaps this has been our "Sledgehammer" moment, our wake up call. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling.
Tales of the unexpected Well what a strange blast from the past the universal comms team have picked for us this morning! Hands ✋ up , who remembers The tales of the unexpected? The series, written by Roald Dahl, ran from 1979 through to 1988. The opening theme featured tarot cards of the major arcana, giving them a most sinister vibe (which is still trying to be shook off even today, truth be told ) well I might as well shine a light on it hey ? Illumination bring clarity of sight and all that. https://youtu.be/r0itlB23fFY I wonder how it will relate to today's storytelling? Let's find out shall we ? Our first card today is the knight of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Gotta love the knight of cups, he's the dreamer, a poet and a true romantic, full of wonder, creativity and beautiful notions of life and the world. As with most creative souls he wears his heart on his sleeve, he falls in love with life head first, over and over. He is, so easily distracted though ;). He truly is all hearts and flowers 💐, high ideals and to him life is a journey and adventure to be fully felt and experienced. Notice the wings on his heels .... he's not the most grounded of folk in reality . He can be carried away on a whim and loose sight of the practicalities of life.... but hey don't knock it... “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ―Harriet Tubman We see that he holds a bouquet of deep red roses. Red roses magnify unconditional love, promote a gentle strength and inspires us to nurture and care for ourselves and others. As we soften our heart and offer compassion to ourself, it will naturally be returned to us. In the background we see his white horse, this most commonly represents power and stamina.The horse also speaks about freedom. It possesses an unbridled desire for freedom because of its naturally wild and powerful spirit and it always wants to break free. Another horse meaning is journey. Perhaps he is asking us to stay grounded in our dreams of the future. We cannot yet give flight to our fancy. Romance our ideas, for sure, yet hold fast to our current cause. Our second card today is 5 The Hierophant. The number 5 is commonly referred to as the number of humanity. Human beings have five fingers, five toes, five appendages (if the head is included), five senses, and five major systems of the body. The number 5 is noted for independence, versatility, rebellion, and a daring nature. Interestingly, today I'm drawn to the very long and steep staircase. Its a long way to journey to reach the light . We see that huge mandala filling the pink heavens ,in Jungian psychology a mandala is a symbol representing the dreamer's search for completeness and self-unity. Our hippy Hierophant is sitting in a meditative pose , his expression almost euphoric, as he communes with his higher mind, and universal consciousness. He sits in contemplation of the meaning of life. He seeks enlightenment. Again he appears; whilst sitting firmly on the earth, to be somewhat ungrounded in his environment. Our final card is 16 The Tower. The number 16 denotes one who seeks wisdom in the attempt to learn enough to both teach and help others. This number analyses the self to grasp wisdom. 16 brings a knack for research and the realisation that it is important to appreciate both the spiritual and analytical parts of oneself. 1+6 = 7 The Chariot. We have willpower, but not always the reigns to direct life in the way we want it to be. This coupled with the sudden and unexpected lightening strike of The Tower may make us feel that our very foundations have been rocked. Couple that with the dreamy Knight of cups , the transcendental hippy Hierophant... and we really do have Tales of the unexpected. And yet the unexpected also brings complete liberation... which is what our knight was flirting with all along and our hippy Hierophant seeking in his quest for deeper meaning and enlightenment. Our transformation may not be the way we planned it, it may not be the journey or route we may have imagined, yet in truth, it serves our purpose in the most unexpected and unchartered way. "If you so choose, even the unexpected setbacks can bring new and positive possibilities. If you so choose, you can find value and fulfillment in every circumstance".- Ralph Marston. #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling .
Upside down. A little late on the storytelling today, regardless of it being a Sunday, its been a pretty busy day. The universal comms team were quick to respond to the cards with a classic Diana Ross tune "Upside down" https://youtu.be/4GtyMeEcPPE I don't know about you, I'm doing well to work out what day of the week it is in truth, everything is a bit upside down on that front 😀 So onto our first card today the 9 of cups (cups representative of the water element , feelings and emotions) The number 9 is revered in Hinduism and considered a complete, perfected and divine number because it represents the end of a cycle. In Norse mythology, the universe is divided into nine worlds which are all connected by the world tree Yggdrasil. In Norse mythology as well, the number nine is associated with Odin, as that is how many days he hung from the world tree Yggdrasil before attaining knowledge of the runes. Yggdrasil is the tree of life, and it is an eternal green Ash tree; the branches stretch out over all of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, and extend up and above the heavens. The Ash Tree brings illumination.Humorous and Light-Hearted, a tree of many parts, strong and worthy outside and quicksilver light within. We see a woman jumping for joy , a treasure trove of abundance behind her. She is illuminated by a bright golden light. Such a feeling of uplifting energy comes with this card. Our second card today is a quick return of the 8 of pentacles (pentacles representative of the earth element and manifestation) Today I notice the feeling of busy energy around the card, regardless of the woman sitting, it feels that there has previously been a level of overwhelming work that had to be done and sorted out. There appears to be an amount of procrastination ( by choice) going on ( how differently a card can appear hey?) Instead of getting on with what needs to be done she is instead taking time to meditate and focusing on the candle, she doesn't even look at the papers piling up ! Our final card for today is 12 The hanged man. 1+2= 3 so this card is paired with The Empress. The hanged man is suspended, almost like the umbilical cord ... still connected to The Empress awaiting new birth. In this pause the woman in our card has found enlightenment, she sees the world from a different angle. We see runic symbols swirling below her. When we consider our story today, the world 🌎 has indeed been turned upside down. We have come to the end of a cycle, the way things were, bought to an abrupt end. From this most upending experience, among the challenge we have also rediscovered treasures we had long since forgotten. Our busy hamster 🐹 wheel existence has been replaced with an amount of stillness and deep reflection. Our surrender has been enforced, no struggle can force our rebirth to quicken. It is in this surrender that we become truly enlightened to how the new world 🌎 can and must be. I was sent the following video here on Facebook. It seems appropriate to today's post to share it with you. https://www.facebook.com/826415330774102/posts/2904759752939639/?sfnsn=scwspwa&extid=NWt5iRIjyDzzdrrn&d=w&vh=e #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful Today's storytelling. I'm so excited As I was shuffling the cards , before I'd even picked any from the pack, the universal comms team were playing The Pointer Sisters " I'm so excited" in my head. I did remind them this is a family show... lol https://youtu.be/rQqwG_rQx7A I do feel an air of excitement this morning though to be fair. The sun is out; that's always uplifting , I just watched a live on Facebook from my friend Gregg in Spain, who is now allowed out yay! He was at the sea's edge and the waves were lapping in the background. Another friend posted a card in our WhatsApp group saying it looked like light at the end of the tunnel.... repeating messages of uplifting hope. So onto to today's first card, the page of wands.(wands representative of the fire element and action) Wow look at the energy being whipped up in this card. Such momentum being built. The words "free-spirited" comes to mind, which was how I felt the energy of my friend in Spain from his video. There's certainly a spark of a new beginning held within this card. We see a salamander print on her trousers The salamander meaning brings to focus the power of vision and opportunities. It symbolises transition and the ability to face challenges and flourish in adversity. The meaning of the salamander promises change and enlightenment.The scene is awash with golden yellow and we can see a flash of turquoise high above. The colour gold is the colour of success, achievement and triumph. At the uppermost level, this is a colour which is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul.The colour turquoise is associated with meanings of refreshing, calming energy, it brings wisdom, serenity, wholeness and creativity. This colour brings emotional balance, spiritual grounding, joy, enhanced intuition and spiritual growth. Our second card today is the 6 of cups (cups representative of the water element and of feelings and emotions) Angel number 6 is all about finding balance in our life, It's a sign that we are outwardly focused to the detriment of our internal, spiritual life.This could also mean that we need to focus on our domestic life in a literal way, including our home, spouse or children. The 6 of cups is traditionally seen as a very nostalgic card. Looking back to the past ( sometimes with rose tinted glasses ) as we can see the card is awash with this rose tint. Deep rose pink brings happiness and thankfulness. It symbolises gratitude, grace, joy and loyalty. Loyalty is also mirrored in the Labrador we see developing from puppy to grown dog.Labrador retrievers represent trust, loyalty, empathy, compassion, joy, and playfulness.They accept us as we are. They bring unconditional love to our life. Memories and people from the past may enter our awareness with the 6 of cups, it can also allow our inner child to surface along with a vision of our future self.A timeline stretching from infinity to infinity , what a reassuring thought .... that this is a small snapshot in our ongoing journey of existence. Our final card today is 18 The Moon.Number 18 is symbol of life.In the Hebrew system of the numerical value of words, the Hebrew word for life (chai) has the value of 18. This makes 18 a favorable number as it indicates hopes for the future.The number is often associated with the moon, the moon being a symbol of mystery and intuition, as we see in our card.In more traditional tarot decks the moon is shown dripping tears.The symbols of the card indicate that the material is trying to destroy the spiritual. The moon couples with The Hermit. Both asking us to delve deep into our inner world. To move through illusion to illumination (which arrives in the next major arcana archetype 19 The Sun) So overall today we see a message of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. There is perhaps a little more introspection to come first .... and then a brighter future is on the horizon. "The future is much brighter than the past. You just have to find the light switch". Debasish Mridha #makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful |
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