March 2021 storytelling - Hold me gently

March Storytelling - Hold me gently.

And from the universal comms team a song of the same name, that's a new one on me from 1974, "Hold me gently" by Dana Gillespie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg0b3L7e2dk

Whilst I can't find the lyrics on line, listening on You tube, it gives the feeling that no matter what we have collectively and individually gone through over these past months, despite perhaps feeling bruised and battered, we could all do with being held gently.

I have to say, looking at the cards, it's not just us humans who need to be held gently, so does our economy, our livelihoods and also mother Earth herself maybe.

As I reflect back, it's coming up a year since we really started to realise the magnitude of this time in history that we are living through. This time last year I was nearing the end of a retreat to Cornwall, little did I know at the time that the year ahead would be.... well, quite so unusual.

So, having taken a moment to reflect back, let's look forward and see what the potential energy of March may hold for us.

Our first card out this month is the Ace of Pentacles, Pentacles being the Earth element and manifestation into the physical realm. Also often associated with coins, wealth and abundance.

We see two cupped hands full of fertile soil. Soil represents the entire natural world, since without soil there is no food and without food there is no life, no trees, no forests. So soil represents life on earth.

We see a single pentacle (mandala in this instance) being gently held, roots straying down through the fingers of both hands and the shoots of new growth can be seen sprouting into life. A spring like feeling of the first shoots of the newness appearing. This is the seed of a new beginning. Full of potential, full of abundant hope. It takes gentle nurture to hold this new seedling, yet with tender care it can blossom into a cornucopia of abundance.

This golden mandala is the symbol of radiant energy. At it's centre we see an aqua coloured pentacle, aqua symbolises inner peace and serenity. It's a sign that we are strengthening our relationship with the universe and the World around us, whilst also achieving spiritual awareness. Aqua speaks about being on the right path and focusing on the depth of our emotions and our mental clarity.

Our second card is the 7 of Cups, Cups representative of the water element and of feeling and emotions. When I look at this card it really does make me smile, off the back of gently charting our course quite literally to the new birth of of life and World as we know it of the first card, the 7 of Cups follows swiftly, reminding us to use our discernment, not to be taken on the folly of illusion. We may feel like a kid in a sweet shop, all the choices and options we may have ahead of us, I'm especially drawn to the seaside depicted in our card, all of that pent up desire to go on holiday comes to mind! I'm not about to say it's wishful thinking, it does feel though, that we may be trying to make choices and decisions without all of the facts.... always a bit tricky.

It's a bit like that magic trick with cups and balls, as the magician moves them around, you have to try and guess which cup hides the ball..... of course there's always a little magical slight of hand, the question is which will we choose?

In the card we see the snakes and ladders, a reference maybe that if we make sudden unfocused choices now we may find ourselves sliding back down the snakes instead of climbing up the ladders.

We see the man in the card wearing an indigo blue T-shirt, indigo represents our deepest thoughts and spiritual wisdom. Indigo is the colour of the brow or third-eye chakra, also known as Ajna. This chakra is our link to the universal unconsciousness. When this energy centre is open and energy flows freely it aids in clear sight, intuition, integrity and lessens any feelings of despair.

In the picture we see a bat wing, bats often represent death in the sense of letting go of the old and bringing in the new. They are symbols of transition, of initiation and the start of a new beginning.

The illusionary castle in the card reminds us not to make plans that have very little chance of happening. The discarded mask is interesting, does it remind us to see things as they truly are, instead of the dreamy falsehood.... or perhaps it's a literal reference to the illusion that the masks will be coming off soon ?

Our final card for the month is the 4 of Wands, Wands representing the fire element and action. We see a celebration taking place, souls gathering together for a common goal. Kindred spirits dancing to their own tune. This marks some sort of milestone.... well quite literally March was the first time we stayed at home you may recall. We have come a long way on this journey. I'm urged to ask.... What have you learned?

One of the women holds a tambourine aloft. Historically the tambourine was used for a variety of different reasons including: praise, joy, rejoicing, triumph, singing victory and warfare.

She knew they would dance again. She knew someday, somewhere they would have reason to celebrate. She wanted to be ready when the invitation came to celebrate. She trusted the universe, that there would be reason to dance, that the music would play once again. And so she didn’t forget her tambourine.
Her friend wears a lime green top. Spiritually, the colour lime green is associated with creative inspiration and gives the go-ahead to start a new creative project.

We see a red thread around the wrist of one of the women. Throughout history and cultures, the red thread (or the red string) has been worn as a representation of protection, faith, good luck, strength and connection. While some cultures have slightly different views regarding the red thread, they are similar in that they view this red string as a powerful tool.

Many people use it as a symbol and as a reminder that they are not alone; a symbol that they are loved, supported and safe; a prompt to stay positive while staring down the face of what appears to be adversity.

Themes for March:
* Nurturing the seeds of a new beginning
* Use our discernment, avoid folly or illusion
* Tap into our intuitive sense of what is true and what is illusion
* Let go of the old, in order that the new can be born
* Connection with like minded souls
* Reflect on our learnings
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#makingadifference #lifeisbeautiful