tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181647541486661062024-03-12T20:16:05.471-07:00Jeff's Journey 1111My journey of personal growth out of the pain of my divorce and into me. Views are mine, unless otherwise cited.Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-36737345026393389292022-06-24T12:43:00.000-07:002022-06-24T12:43:08.502-07:00Too Hasty?<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my previous post where I ranted about not needing people.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f1fc076e-7fff-7bed-f46c-d73908f38d4e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was ranting about those not already in my circle and probably won’t be. Or shouldn’t.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, on my morning walks, I have encountered some very nice people.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgty9Cj6OvGGesIoNAgr5eO_LlQ07geWHoXLwvYIWtVpfSwd8rJoqCUrQ6OtoMUkrIpX0DqufMNQ9a_ekH0D1DnN72BeMgURyJHR6jUoSgyX3o6kxC17FvU54UWx2Hi59gONpcLgXvxZh4bCA8e_Zub1us0FanWeY-VHqzRydoPNM4KjcFZnKp1v76A/s3088/81C7DC62-4782-4687-B1A8-F2A0FD81EC93.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgty9Cj6OvGGesIoNAgr5eO_LlQ07geWHoXLwvYIWtVpfSwd8rJoqCUrQ6OtoMUkrIpX0DqufMNQ9a_ekH0D1DnN72BeMgURyJHR6jUoSgyX3o6kxC17FvU54UWx2Hi59gONpcLgXvxZh4bCA8e_Zub1us0FanWeY-VHqzRydoPNM4KjcFZnKp1v76A/w150-h200/81C7DC62-4782-4687-B1A8-F2A0FD81EC93.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out for my walk</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me begin by saying I leave my home with a mask on. It’s become customary, a force of habit. In the cooler months, it keeps my face warm. In the warmer months, I do end up taking it off when I don't see anyone on the block where I’m walking. And partially because it’s getting a bit stuffy under there. But, when I see someone coming, I do put it back on and if possible and safe, I still step into the street to keep my social distancing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, no one bullies me about my choices. I see a variety of people both with and without masks. No one says anything to anyone.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I enjoy saying hello to the people I meet on my way; the gardeners, the street maintenance people, the sanitation workers in their big green trucks, others out for their walks. It’s just a simple greeting; a wave, a nod, a “good morning”, a “have a nice day.” Occasionally, there is a bit more, like “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” and then a brief exchange, “I’m well, thanks.” Or it may be about the weather, like when I saw an elderly woman raking leaves from her yard in the early morning on a day when it was forecast to be 104 in my area. “It’s a good thing you're getting this done early,” I said. “Yes, it is,” she replied. I reminded her to stay hydrated, though I usually end with something like “Stay healthy” or “Have a good one” and continue on my way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I enjoy these brief exchanges and have even met some regulars.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s the young man who walks his boxer, Louie, and an older gentleman who walks Lucy, the young beagle. There’s Bella of unknown breed though I suspect some Pit Bull in there somewhere. She sits in her yard most mornings and greets the people walking by. One day, a man in the yard told me she was a very sweet dog and would lick me to death and that she loves to greet the kids walking to or from the school up the block. And she is very sweet. So, when I walk by and she’s in the yard, she makes a beeline for the fence, tail wagging, sticks her snout through and I stop and greet her and give her some scratches and ear rubs. Occasionally, her owner is out there and we wave and say hello.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR9bcGre5eJckgIP85IaKupcFvHoXeUljAcK0axekHz8OHMF6i7AG55Ivtsgp7mqM5MmaRxF3eXUaQcnQf6mQXYa-mbcBFJ4ZCQoM9vEa9H_FoLLJKw4bBZ0H1mS2Ez7W7VznqmG1eCVV7J16fASsf5UzhpUCYP9qhSxSNAKkmBXv8AwAHAmCcfLjLw/s4032/712D6205-A8B5-41CD-8A5D-EE4A141CCE72.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR9bcGre5eJckgIP85IaKupcFvHoXeUljAcK0axekHz8OHMF6i7AG55Ivtsgp7mqM5MmaRxF3eXUaQcnQf6mQXYa-mbcBFJ4ZCQoM9vEa9H_FoLLJKw4bBZ0H1mS2Ez7W7VznqmG1eCVV7J16fASsf5UzhpUCYP9qhSxSNAKkmBXv8AwAHAmCcfLjLw/w182-h243/712D6205-A8B5-41CD-8A5D-EE4A141CCE72.heic" width="182" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monastery</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I miss the school bus drivers now that school is out. I’d wave and if they were outside their bus, I’d thank them for bringing the kids to the school. I hope they are enjoying their well-deserved summer break or getting to work summer school for some additional money.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've encountered a South Asian family with two young children. It's taken them a while, but now they all smile and wave when they see me coming.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On one walk, a couple of years ago, I discovered a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery in my neighborhood. A few times, I have seen some of the monks tending their garden. I greet them with prayer hands and a slight bow. They return the gesture, though often a one-handed greeting as they are often holding a garden tool in the other.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyu3O9eeiI-4QpYIlMd3tqtk44C1GjSNLPQv6Eujm6gmc_zAVzUNIumAuxmHWGq3m4wndjnjv0qyTEfXW2JWkbvJeOgPwRIjw0muZbXNuRLuPOkHEhXBIX4PonfV1r-Zyws9wHcdZ_PMX1cl49138JT4YdpbMowgPF25Zuf6KmMy5pp2ka2G-yt6S1A/s4032/8555FD29-3151-4D38-A4BC-5839F1FED1FC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyu3O9eeiI-4QpYIlMd3tqtk44C1GjSNLPQv6Eujm6gmc_zAVzUNIumAuxmHWGq3m4wndjnjv0qyTEfXW2JWkbvJeOgPwRIjw0muZbXNuRLuPOkHEhXBIX4PonfV1r-Zyws9wHcdZ_PMX1cl49138JT4YdpbMowgPF25Zuf6KmMy5pp2ka2G-yt6S1A/w200-h150/8555FD29-3151-4D38-A4BC-5839F1FED1FC.heic" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other side of the monastery</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RC0S63Lu0TXedN2WXgXSBp58aWWAvEK0XYADjB0rgrqmhXxeb-fCky7Z_SCtWHWfd-gdraYSqm1tvP8iCtE73m9ivNrS82R6yFhL4nNA2HdDYEwbjSf4QQOJgTVpqE2r9_zFIHJJaf8kAKK4U2_dyTvg2R97b1_3o81hjJDAKPS9lXkFKIc0dqKtNQ/s4032/D408EC88-C31F-4D2C-871D-AA4759068315.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RC0S63Lu0TXedN2WXgXSBp58aWWAvEK0XYADjB0rgrqmhXxeb-fCky7Z_SCtWHWfd-gdraYSqm1tvP8iCtE73m9ivNrS82R6yFhL4nNA2HdDYEwbjSf4QQOJgTVpqE2r9_zFIHJJaf8kAKK4U2_dyTvg2R97b1_3o81hjJDAKPS9lXkFKIc0dqKtNQ/w188-h251/D408EC88-C31F-4D2C-871D-AA4759068315.heic" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lions guarding the main doors</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also like checking in (metaphorically) with those people who I encountered before. One man was walking a very young puppy, (Chocolate lab, if I remember) while carrying his young son in a baby carrier on his chest. A few months later, the baby was in a stroller, and the puppy was not so small. Then there was the Armenian couple (I only know that because they were flying an Armenian flag on their house during the recent conflict with Azerbaijan.) who was doing some home remodeling and I was watching the piles of materials slowly growing smaller. An elderly gentleman was digging out some roots one time when I walked by a few weeks ago. We chatted and he said he was getting some help for the more stubborn ones. A couple of days ago, he was now working on his sprinkler system as I guess he got those roots taken care of. I reminded him to stay cool and hydrated as it was going to be a scorcher. There is a man I’ve seen a few times in the company of what I believe to be a healthcare worker as her scrubs gave her away. Oh, and he had a walker and a brace on one of his legs. He seems to be making progress as I’ve seen him about, still with his walker and brace but unaccompanied by his health aide. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I’d walk in the evening in the warmer weather when it would stay lighter later, I recognized some regulars then, too, mostly couples out for their evening constitutional.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The one set of regulars I’m not too keen on running into are the dog alarms who need to alert the whole neighborhood I’m in the area. Some houses I can avoid on my walk, others I can’t. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a very interesting set of “regulars” I encounter from time to time. Crows. A while back I began taking some raw peanuts with me to drop when I saw some crows or squirrels. I’ve been doing this for a while on various routes of my walks and sometimes I’ve seen crows fly either to trees, lampposts or the phone wires overhead and they watch me. I take some peanuts out, show them to the crows then drop them on the ground and walk away. A few steps later, I turn and see if they’ve seen them. Most times they have. Sometimes, it’s a couple, other times it’s a flock. It’s not easy telling one crow from another, so it might be the same few, or a different flock each time.</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2VEt7ReHIX2eubEpjSqYfKFBvkLRRJfVPETfdlUBDwAmWXKaVDZ9Dbfzp8oRei9SAoFDjs96B8zqMx0RVbdN-52gNIsJud3IoPIa6XFr3ZrOvktggVbOa14GxNvaJBC0m4yh9rspjjeqVTsl3f4fEr3HnztjVhnLZsprXC4nkR6wtpE9LfujTUe_jQ/s1324/7BBF1811-740A-455A-882C-5428E2CED304_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1324" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2VEt7ReHIX2eubEpjSqYfKFBvkLRRJfVPETfdlUBDwAmWXKaVDZ9Dbfzp8oRei9SAoFDjs96B8zqMx0RVbdN-52gNIsJud3IoPIa6XFr3ZrOvktggVbOa14GxNvaJBC0m4yh9rspjjeqVTsl3f4fEr3HnztjVhnLZsprXC4nkR6wtpE9LfujTUe_jQ/w244-h154/7BBF1811-740A-455A-882C-5428E2CED304_1_201_a.heic" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crows</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsSAyZ1FM3H5liRtHa0abEK_Z29k7yYpFtDrJLFFK4uPCDE82MYt5aj8uJhksl1n8sEt3yl-DQKh5WEkddhAvwps3z1MyvBjJGvrVPWAoNP2H9ohbmton0qAY_C7r7NTecRsBXGvMECaQCO5X5Po8rAvTCaTt4vo0zOZXMv0_DQATk6Hdnm7ADHHc-g/s1312/92480295-F190-4B82-868A-F7E6D9BC9245_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1312" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsSAyZ1FM3H5liRtHa0abEK_Z29k7yYpFtDrJLFFK4uPCDE82MYt5aj8uJhksl1n8sEt3yl-DQKh5WEkddhAvwps3z1MyvBjJGvrVPWAoNP2H9ohbmton0qAY_C7r7NTecRsBXGvMECaQCO5X5Po8rAvTCaTt4vo0zOZXMv0_DQATk6Hdnm7ADHHc-g/s320/92480295-F190-4B82-868A-F7E6D9BC9245_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More crows!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV-8vQfodcBRE_8kHFOdOMFqGLTUsUMv_vUSQS3uoyooOjvsf7UpYTyTqFdAhY1gTsslK2NO3QpEYVnK5pkM-j526Y9ekomRjc9CEMhqwiDChJmdWhwNQmxXN-NFEMi7wjkJGriGrjZ8ygudBkKDLsixL99HuAdJ4Mt4CG7XKrf-fica7XTcr4-_f2Q/s916/CBA8AADE-D24D-49C6-8EE0-F07BB2CE0D23_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="916" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV-8vQfodcBRE_8kHFOdOMFqGLTUsUMv_vUSQS3uoyooOjvsf7UpYTyTqFdAhY1gTsslK2NO3QpEYVnK5pkM-j526Y9ekomRjc9CEMhqwiDChJmdWhwNQmxXN-NFEMi7wjkJGriGrjZ8ygudBkKDLsixL99HuAdJ4Mt4CG7XKrf-fica7XTcr4-_f2Q/w273-h228/CBA8AADE-D24D-49C6-8EE0-F07BB2CE0D23_1_201_a.jpeg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crows, again</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s these friendly encounters with people and the crows that I enjoy. I just don’t like setting off the dog alarms.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Ballam.</div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-21939929608330002982022-05-21T18:43:00.000-07:002022-05-21T18:43:58.660-07:00People. Who Needs People?<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m really getting tired of people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tired, annoyed, frustrated and every other synonym I can think of. Even angry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps someone can explain to me why it is necessary for others to be in someone else’s business? Or up in their face?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently went to buy some groceries. Here in LA County, the mandatory mask restrictions were lifted on indoor shopping, though masks are still highly encouraged. I still wear one when shopping indoors. In the store, the majority of customers and clerks were wearing one with a few of each going without. In the store, all was calm. Yet, upon leaving, I was harassed in the parking lot. “Nice job wearing a mask!” or some such utterance by a guy who was maskless.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My knee-jerk reaction was simply “Thank you.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, once home and groceries put away, I ruminated on why did the little f**ker have to say anything at all? What damn business of his was it anyway why I still chose to wear my mask?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since then, I have even envisioned a few scenarios where I approach him (or the next one) and ask in the most congenial tone possible, “How does my wearing a mask affect you </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personally?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I imagine the rest of the conversation going something like this:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harasser: “You don’t have to wear your mask.”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: “I know. And how are you affected by my choosing to do so?”</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYejI7PfAq0ebHKSK-hJvZ4he2gvAMBJNb4XlACoFmquykUw_QuMY4nxiJj95jJIbwgDq880JXzgRSGpW5ZfttvsReLqjARVIdjOxhabSF2K7qjqeBWMVkNIjtDXduCzpIeXbb161dbZ09R3OKZebliBbEqqm8tBYPz97MYkAfyUzEJu5XtDyF0a1inA/s800/keep%20calm%20face.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYejI7PfAq0ebHKSK-hJvZ4he2gvAMBJNb4XlACoFmquykUw_QuMY4nxiJj95jJIbwgDq880JXzgRSGpW5ZfttvsReLqjARVIdjOxhabSF2K7qjqeBWMVkNIjtDXduCzpIeXbb161dbZ09R3OKZebliBbEqqm8tBYPz97MYkAfyUzEJu5XtDyF0a1inA/w150-h200/keep%20calm%20face.png" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">keepcalmandposters.com</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b1b2829-7fff-af44-c420-cb962520492f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">H: “I just wanted to tell you that you don’t need to.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: “I repeat. I know I don’t have to. Now answer my question. How are you </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personally</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> affected by my wearing a mask? Why does it bother </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that I do?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether the harasser ever realizes that they are not personally affected by my wearing a mask, I have yet to figure out. This fantasy confrontation never seems to get that far. Yet, should I ever feel brave enough to ask them, I can only hope to plant a little seed in their little pea brain. </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because, in the first place it only affects them by preventing them from getting ill should someone </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">else </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">be sick with <i>any</i> respiratory ailment; cold, flu, or gods forbid, the dreaded COVID.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">And in the second place, it's my business. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a person who, once I've made up my mind about something, it is </span></span><u style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">MY</u> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">business</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and no one else's and I'm not likely to be swayed. This applies to all my choices from my spirituality, my political decisions, my choice of romantic partners and whether I choose to have one or not, my choice of diet, whether I choose to boycott certain businesses or not. I've done my research, made my decision and the case is now closed. Period. Full stop. End of story. And I don't want to hear your story.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My overall point is why do they need to be in other people’s faces anyway? The number of people confronting others over their continued mask use is staggering. On airplanes, in shopping centers, and even in schools.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My friend's middle school age son was harassed-bullied, rather-by some students for wearing his mask. Mask shaming begins young, evidently.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">And lately, it’s not just about masks.</span></p></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b1b2829-7fff-af44-c420-cb962520492f"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A recent news article, or video posted to social media, I can’t recall where I saw it, showed a woman shouting homophobic slurs at a gay couple on an airplane. In 2022? She claimed that Elon Musk, an avowed free-speech absolutist who’s trying to buy Twitter and will allegedly allow all manner of speech-including <i>verified</i> disinformation-has given her the right to speak her mind whenever, wherever and to whomever she chooses. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or what about those protesters who stand in front of an abortion clinic, harassing the women who are entering the building. Why is it their business what those women choose to do with their body? I mean they have a right to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">peacefully</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> protest, yet they don’t have a right to harass someone who’s making a very painful decision. In my opinion, the decision lies with the woman and her doctor. I do feel the father should have some say in it, but I can recognize that some women might not feel that way.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And one further question for those pro-life protestors? Are they prepared to adopt the surrendered babies or just leave them to the state and then complain about the cost of their care in the system?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could always ask myself, prior to engagement, is "Is this individual intellectually, mentally and emotionally competent to comprehend my point of view?" Probably not.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAVlQWuAg5vd2JlY5JZJxSKp-aujn3kOQW2Kx4WdDP8PWKd3rZi8HEkr6HrgenQxez_EEh5oPvHoYQwWvMH3iJP8txBDqH2WyHH7Gg7P6XQtEKLzHZPNgHwF4Z965mxYO9j4BIN3yRMtgXVqw80fiDC6USRQWz0C2xkI0FSRdICY44GI9RoN51IpHbg/s922/argue%20with%20idiots.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="922" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAVlQWuAg5vd2JlY5JZJxSKp-aujn3kOQW2Kx4WdDP8PWKd3rZi8HEkr6HrgenQxez_EEh5oPvHoYQwWvMH3iJP8txBDqH2WyHH7Gg7P6XQtEKLzHZPNgHwF4Z965mxYO9j4BIN3yRMtgXVqw80fiDC6USRQWz0C2xkI0FSRdICY44GI9RoN51IpHbg/w200-h189/argue%20with%20idiots.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Credit: Quotemaster.org<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best overall approach for me, as I said in a prior post, is non-attachment, non-confrontational. When I’m harassed, the best approach is a non-engagement, a don't-feed-their-ego approach. This should be very easy for me as I didn't engage or react when I was bullied at school by being called "queer", "faggot", or "gay boy". So why is now different?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe I'm just tired of it from all those years ago and am being triggered. Again.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess I should let it all go once at home.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's not very easy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oVvu_O0kYrQl-tmN1GUjuNdiP1qIMtlTV5lWSYK0TttCayxy6dDDEhxHLm9-A3suoOuCET7EWUQZH8H9CNtpn7GvvytLC1zFEHvJC78SHkKxLuzvSpJ41XS8P8Zv2_GyrP-DKzxTGHn3GYsf1-jgj3lV92MneE6cljUj-vIRhMqlMLw6GYwF98Xckw/s1066/pagan%20serenity%20prayer.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1066" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oVvu_O0kYrQl-tmN1GUjuNdiP1qIMtlTV5lWSYK0TttCayxy6dDDEhxHLm9-A3suoOuCET7EWUQZH8H9CNtpn7GvvytLC1zFEHvJC78SHkKxLuzvSpJ41XS8P8Zv2_GyrP-DKzxTGHn3GYsf1-jgj3lV92MneE6cljUj-vIRhMqlMLw6GYwF98Xckw/w320-h243/pagan%20serenity%20prayer.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit to ramblingsoftheclaury.com</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-5062742596845472962022-04-20T18:50:00.000-07:002022-04-20T18:50:27.166-07:00My Latest Rabbit Hole<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know I’ve neglected posting here but the motivation to do much of anything has been a casualty of both the pandemic and the political landscape here in the US. I hope to get back to posting more regularly.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1451de5a-7fff-b4c9-29b9-a7b8a3d12b6d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone recently suggested to me that I’d find love again. While it was a nice sentiment and the person meant well, it didn’t truly resonate with me. In fact, it felt downright alien to me and I couldn’t figure out why.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think I’ve mentioned once or twice before in this blog that I have a slight tendency to overthink. So naturally, I fixated on the sentiment and why it didn’t seem to resonate.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It eventually hit me; it wasn’t the sentiment itself, but the word </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">find.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, like Alice, I went down the rabbit hole. What was it about the word </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">find</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that seemed to irk me?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNzPEuLkxge1DwJunOvIa4ihD-w_pMpDopR1DJeadAweeRntZxKM6fwMestSXDbrKCtesMGxFJ9vD7tFZSVJFgkl05frnmpVMw6afrwA2U2GCuYLUHom-_dsmVq_NLhcKch5SzGRIi_lyvQzIadBCn15-ckVF2JN7Jw6W4e2Ai-sjNU5EkDUXUs-WmQ/s5760/louis-moncouyoux-o_5mdSjp5IE-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNzPEuLkxge1DwJunOvIa4ihD-w_pMpDopR1DJeadAweeRntZxKM6fwMestSXDbrKCtesMGxFJ9vD7tFZSVJFgkl05frnmpVMw6afrwA2U2GCuYLUHom-_dsmVq_NLhcKch5SzGRIi_lyvQzIadBCn15-ckVF2JN7Jw6W4e2Ai-sjNU5EkDUXUs-WmQ/s320/louis-moncouyoux-o_5mdSjp5IE-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@louis_moncouyoux?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Louis Moncouyoux</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/rabbit-hole?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">find</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> implies </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">searching</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">searching</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> implies there’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">something lost.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So, if you are searching for something you lost, that implies a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you wouldn’t be searching for it unless you <i>needed</i> it and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">suggests <i>desperation,</i> a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">weakness, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> dependency.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (We need food and water otherwise we’d grow weak and eventually die.) While it’s true, I did lose a relationship when my partner of nearly 16 years suddenly decided he wanted out, I also gained a greater sense of self. So, I lost </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but gained </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">myself</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Score one for me. So, do I see a relationship as a sign of weakness? Or is it the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of one that’s a weakness?</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, yes, <i>find</i> can also imply a <i>chance encounter</i>, like when I <i>find</i> money on the ground or <i>stumble upon</i> something as in the times I've <i>stumbled upon </i>crow feathers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When this person said this to me, I definitely wasn't <i>searching</i> for love, nor did I have any hope of <i>stumbling upon a chance encounter</i> with some nice guy in a market or the like. Basically, I'd given up.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s been eleven years of singleness, or is it singlehood? Singledom? Regardless, I’ve been independent for a while now. Quite independent. Yeah, I don’t need a relationship. I can handle things on my own. After all, I’ve been doing it for eleven years now. I’ve handled many home repair jobs on my own, from landscaping to some remodeling and redecorating. I mean I hired someone to do most of it, but still. I did it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I saw something that kicked my overthinking into hyperdrive; a meme that suggested that being too independent for a relationship was actually a trauma response.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI6VbjaRJm7oXqt7-ciAuOpspEkU61uX4S4_jH_ZXNic5MKeiGJ5CUM8-lYy8uhvK6Ku_IGi8NYtutZm8nIfbzYYufVi1Cw7PcFIj2pvnPaSS8V7ehyIL2mHODVjDnmu0yASjPcXUV5boMXvQQhXZIJ52tRPHZv1bwwy96t8If_WxQZRH8QTZG0UGUA/s225/too%20independent.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI6VbjaRJm7oXqt7-ciAuOpspEkU61uX4S4_jH_ZXNic5MKeiGJ5CUM8-lYy8uhvK6Ku_IGi8NYtutZm8nIfbzYYufVi1Cw7PcFIj2pvnPaSS8V7ehyIL2mHODVjDnmu0yASjPcXUV5boMXvQQhXZIJ52tRPHZv1bwwy96t8If_WxQZRH8QTZG0UGUA/s16000/too%20independent.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trauma? What trauma response? I haven’t suffered any trauma other than shattering my finger when I was six years old. But, what would that have to do with being too independent for a relationship?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Could the divorce be the trauma? No, I was past that. After all, I had dated a bit afterwards. But, nothing ever came of any of them. There was the nice guy I met barely four months after the divorce where a misunderstanding and some miscommunication caused us to go our separate ways. Then there were the illiterate guys on the apps who seemed to want just one thing which I wasn’t prepared to offer which I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clearly</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stated in my profile-NO HOOKUPS. So, I deleted my accounts on the apps, never looked back and decided I was done with relationships because I was exhausted from searching to find The One as well as from trying to explain myself. I was tired of the disappointments, the games, the seeming lies, the illiteracy, of being ghosted. Wait, I may be on to something here.<br /></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During all this, I also began to explore my more spiritual side and focused on my own growth as a spiritual being. At one point, I explored the basics of Buddhism and there was one principle that seemed to resonate with me; non-attachment.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Non-attachment is the practice of accepting the fact that nothing is permanent. We could lose everything in one fell swoop. Any natural disaster could destroy a house and all the material items within. We could suffer a financial loss from losing a job or due to overpriced and underinsured medical bills as a result of a major illness or accident. A relationship could suddenly end, like when my husband emailed he wanted out or when my first partner passed away. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hMaxcLOBchW3bh9B64hf884ZdUDohYXo20E0D9bFmy5scuFmT99pEHIwtY6h6pXpCQWkcFs1cjMzQl3lfefXXmdzNL1SDho9WFG55fvLXMledBmRGxCxtujjcCeSP2GVvIcEo8eiAzJqMFmkV9HrY4RLkz05LzFflu7sNIaDyauQbO8U0k17pIdEiA/s300/root%20of%20suffering.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hMaxcLOBchW3bh9B64hf884ZdUDohYXo20E0D9bFmy5scuFmT99pEHIwtY6h6pXpCQWkcFs1cjMzQl3lfefXXmdzNL1SDho9WFG55fvLXMledBmRGxCxtujjcCeSP2GVvIcEo8eiAzJqMFmkV9HrY4RLkz05LzFflu7sNIaDyauQbO8U0k17pIdEiA/w272-h152/root%20of%20suffering.jpeg" width="272" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddha said the root of our suffering is our attachment to an outcome, to our material possessions, to our relationships.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to non-attachment, I also like to practice not having expectations from anyone or for anything because when you expect something from someone, you set yourself up for being potentially disappointed. Neither of these practices is easy and I have slipped up on numerous occasions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway…</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the thought of me possibly hiding behind being too independent to need a relationship conflicting with the aim of not being attached to the idea of having another relationship, I found myself living a tarot card; the Two of Swords.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The message of the Two of Swords is one of facing conflicting thoughts, choices or decisions and being asked to decide while keeping emotions at bay, to look at the situations logically.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, my dilemma is this: am I avoiding finding love because I’ve been traumatized or have I truly detached from the idea of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">needing</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a relationship?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the answer boils down to this: would I feel comfortable being vulnerable with another man? I would like to think I would. I know I am capable of taking care of myself and my house. So, I don’t </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> anyone to take care of me. But, having someone there, <i>just in case, </i>would be reassuring. I can entertain myself with the books and DVDs in my collections. Yet, watching a movie together could be relaxing. But, it also includes the suggestion of at least being open to the potential of entering a relationship. I would like to think that if I met someone who truly knocked my socks off and could accept my eccentricities, I'd entertain the idea of exploring a relationship with him.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there would be some practical issues as well. But, those are for another day.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right now, I just have to decide on a Sword.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Id4pWycjLoVlRMmy7K3PMELkPTU1U3svKb5lW0RoPAUmmJ11PhAnSwyQimkC_c1fNtB-w69uDAH-lA9CYWuY20d33jNbL3bqglgs4O76kFy1_4My0TFQI_mQKgPoloDIThN2r2LYbIh__NjVsKE1Tlg2p-OKbMfrDHgPl2SBWA4vqTj6Lya874nvbA/s520/radiant%202S.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Id4pWycjLoVlRMmy7K3PMELkPTU1U3svKb5lW0RoPAUmmJ11PhAnSwyQimkC_c1fNtB-w69uDAH-lA9CYWuY20d33jNbL3bqglgs4O76kFy1_4My0TFQI_mQKgPoloDIThN2r2LYbIh__NjVsKE1Tlg2p-OKbMfrDHgPl2SBWA4vqTj6Lya874nvbA/w116-h200/radiant%202S.jpeg" width="116" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though something tells me there just might be a third sword.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZVGgY5Yxo8v31HkvHBIyRJ3Ng2yLwP0gbELsf6FwjHQG0YsoKkUV907gVE1q0XuQ5-BwKVFGTJzGpWTiPwzwcx8LgRroXtzqRDKdiWA_sOmmmSXd6ObK3VtGjAkOkWlHu8CilWAXywkuHnLcyhkkzUKwh5tQPWfEtqk1rj5HSVRrajHWrIlYqAYAJQ/s295/radiant%203S.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZVGgY5Yxo8v31HkvHBIyRJ3Ng2yLwP0gbELsf6FwjHQG0YsoKkUV907gVE1q0XuQ5-BwKVFGTJzGpWTiPwzwcx8LgRroXtzqRDKdiWA_sOmmmSXd6ObK3VtGjAkOkWlHu8CilWAXywkuHnLcyhkkzUKwh5tQPWfEtqk1rj5HSVRrajHWrIlYqAYAJQ/w116-h200/radiant%203S.jpeg" width="116" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of Swords<br />Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regardless of any lingering </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">past </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">trauma or being truly detached from the <i>need</i> of a relationship, what do I truly <i>want?</i><i><br /></i></span></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-63308191705395205692022-01-17T15:56:00.000-08:002022-01-17T15:56:27.089-08:00 Three Wands at the End<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">December has given way to January and that means two things; a new month and a new year and those two things mean two other things; a check-in with my New Year reading for 2021 for December and a New Year reading for 2022. The latter will be forthcoming, so stay tuned.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7783331-7fff-e2f3-3980-189302b82469"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZUBRyoSm4VTfhOcVstFULejJbI0ju3gw7RmcR8IMsgz4BhU-B0NIQYxVaUT06P86awHp9cjvtvDmZFHBJWMJDxfJwoNk-_ZBaGbJijjSSeBAnnHs_l1jp5qrjSvbTDfv3cpscVtovhCHxUTTTF3v3w0DPHH5LvLRISEa7GkSxknL3oUW7-G2d7d4o9w=s695" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="414" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZUBRyoSm4VTfhOcVstFULejJbI0ju3gw7RmcR8IMsgz4BhU-B0NIQYxVaUT06P86awHp9cjvtvDmZFHBJWMJDxfJwoNk-_ZBaGbJijjSSeBAnnHs_l1jp5qrjSvbTDfv3cpscVtovhCHxUTTTF3v3w0DPHH5LvLRISEa7GkSxknL3oUW7-G2d7d4o9w=w119-h200" width="119" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith<br />(C)2003 US Games, Inc.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My card for December 2021 was the Three of Wands Reversed. In the traditional deck, we see a man standing on a cliff overlooking a body of water, a bay or an ocean. (Why it’s painted yellow, who knows? Unless it’s supposed to reflect the sunrise or sunset…?) He is dressed somewhat nicely suggesting he’s a merchant. He’s also watching some ships in the water. Are they his? Or is he just admiring the view? If they are his ships, are they sailing out on some adventure to acquire more merchandise or are they returning home filled with goods and trinkets for him to sell? Either way, this card is about anticipation of future events. Plans are needed for whichever scenario turns out to be true. The main message of this card is planning for the future, anticipating possible success, exploring new </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">options and seeing the bigger picture. However, as this card came out reversed, it would suggest something other than that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grimalkin Tarot </span>by MJ Cullinane, a young cat stares across the desert, wondering what adventure awaits. What lies on the other side of the mountains? Is it time to go explore and see what’s over there? </p></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiggozSebGVxO0pdPC362zjmvy86K3X7M4dqmQWPUN6FpkItLyewki2SvXTCkOOUbPPr7HCAnyIm0mxXbUoQ3VfeXbUQX304cdFy7WjvcECOcNmPU7gq_99ycbZPXocttykvYyPji27O_tEFfBKymMedD1Mx3n6VJJvejU9koFhBz1P_HUisFxQdN-oVA=w150-h200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Grimalkin Tarot, </i><br />(C)2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>Reversed, the card would suggest I’m not as focused on the future as I ought to be; holding myself back from exploring new adventures. On the other hand, a reversed card can indicate an overindulgence of the message. In this case, I might be overly focused on the future to the point of not being in the present moment.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it’s nice to have some eye on the future, focusing too much can create anxiety when things don’t turn out as expected.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, which was it? It’s hard not to think of the future in the month of December. After all, we’re facing a new year and new hopes, dreams and aspirations. For the country, for the planet, for ourselves.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe I had no hopes for all of the above. This has been a couple of unusual years with the pandemic and the political divisions in the US. Maybe the card was suggesting I should focus more on the moment than the future due to the current situations and not to hold out too much hope for any quick fixes. In other words, be more concerned with the short term rather than the long term. And maybe even the immediate term over the short term.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">December is also a hard month for me and has been generally for the last several years. I tend to turn inward and keep more to myself than I had before. Maybe it’s due to the weather? The less light? Seasonal affective disorder? The holidays? All of the above?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, regardless, December is over and it’s time to move on.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And into my reading for 2022 with a new deck I treated myself to. This should be interesting.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My first card with this deck is Justice Reversed.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxGb8C8rrqt-ten4T97Hgq-_i8igGXjT5fGwCKb3cdBhCVSF2d51NEs_izhL2PduGiB7BaCKm4uAfvNSVaFvemPuV3gW88OcP6AIjnqoUlRXUmxI5AFkbGmmiold6KuNnO8MfSCaFVt1i9D6TyC83_yDkxtwjsbolfjtWkK9inAGkaFJPpalvfbGyBMw=w149-h199" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="149" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Runic Tarot </i><br />(C)2021 Jack Sephiroth et al, Lo Scarabeo</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" style="text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">For more information on MJ Cullinane and her decks, please click here.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><p></p>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-32506420847276019102021-12-19T13:54:00.000-08:002021-12-19T13:54:04.292-08:00Swords and a Waterfall<p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7EqlOj6JQ7TmU_SSilplFFUZ4_ksRxB7r-2xL9A1SdrhnDdQ_Oki5nvu8PpVftlD35sS1H2t7YXoTX1bzziPXFz-JpaOezEItb92F-JrtPZNYYBjmtRSx3odDc3SF_05NtU3TqG_1yGEHEubzXz9kRBuAsfmG9dCrp5Cr47ZkRRm8nyFR087WPmr-yg=s295" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7EqlOj6JQ7TmU_SSilplFFUZ4_ksRxB7r-2xL9A1SdrhnDdQ_Oki5nvu8PpVftlD35sS1H2t7YXoTX1bzziPXFz-JpaOezEItb92F-JrtPZNYYBjmtRSx3odDc3SF_05NtU3TqG_1yGEHEubzXz9kRBuAsfmG9dCrp5Cr47ZkRRm8nyFR087WPmr-yg=w116-h200" width="116" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant RWS deck<br />(c)2003, US Games, Inc</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div>November has given way to December and it's time to check in with my New Year Reading for 2021 which now seems so long ago. The reading, not 2021. My card for November was the 8 of Swords Reversed. </div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>The 8 of Swords in the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck shows a blindfolded woman bound from her upper arms to her hips/thighs with what appears to be cloth. She is surrounded by eight swords in a quasi-semicircle. She is attempting to move past the swords but is struggling to do so. If the entire suit of Swords represents the domain of our thoughts and other mental activities-thinking, reasoning, seeking clarity and understanding, learning, and communication-then the individual swords represent individual thoughts, beliefs or ideas.</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-8e51aad6-7fff-7195-416f-5e9b730c923e"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is keeping her in place?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Her own thoughts. She can’t move forward because she’s caught in her own thoughts. She’s either overthinking a situation and can’t see her way clearly out of it or she’s stuck thinking self-defeating thoughts; “I will never figure this out”, “I’ll never master this subject”, etc. Or something along those lines.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGA_BUZTCLFnjUCEwa-7WZTfznmt8s-90sCoWmBWXmeu86kG7U1K2arOOOboIm7RQGDZ6RvFYrtVvYWy0iwjgHDqwERns0m3METTewEdnEFeFtC3NtD4jiTOER6UgGYchq9P10-DmeN0VbcHMji6uSrByaD9pJ34H2WonyqpoMRxIDE_897OMOpVOMrw=s2048" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGA_BUZTCLFnjUCEwa-7WZTfznmt8s-90sCoWmBWXmeu86kG7U1K2arOOOboIm7RQGDZ6RvFYrtVvYWy0iwjgHDqwERns0m3METTewEdnEFeFtC3NtD4jiTOER6UgGYchq9P10-DmeN0VbcHMji6uSrByaD9pJ34H2WonyqpoMRxIDE_897OMOpVOMrw=w150-h200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grimalkin Tarot, <br />(c)2020, MJ Cullinane</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Grimalkin Tarot,</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by MJ Cullinane, we see a cat staring at a waterfall attempting to get past it. Or at least thinking of a plan to get beyond it. But the young feline is probably thinking, “I'm a cat, I’m not supposed to like water.” However, there appears to be a concentrated look on the cat’s face as if it’s determined to make it across.</span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, the card is reversed in my reading. If we look back at the RWS card, turning it upside down would suggest that the swords could fall out. After all, they’re only stuck in by the points. Reversed, this card suggests one would be freeing themselves from paralyzing thoughts; moving past these self-defeating beliefs.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going into November, I did feel very stuck, unable to free myself from what felt like a mental prison. I am tired of hearing people claim personal or religious liberties regarding various mandates. What about the greater good for all? We are in the middle of a global pandemic. We’ve had health related issues before, though none that have hit the US with such a deadly impact.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Except for one.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HIV/AIDS</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having lived through and survived that one, I’m tired of people complaining about their liberties when no one seemed to be concerned over the liberties of the mostly gay men who were initially being affected by that pandemic.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could go on, but this is about my month.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have also been feeling the need for some direction in my life since retirement. I’ve tried finding a part-time job, but that never panned out. I’ve considered volunteering, but unsure of where to volunteer. A pet shelter would be nice, but I’d want to rescue a cat or two. Or several. And my budget is already stretched nearly to breaking with the recent remodel. Being somewhat empathic, plus with the pandemic hanging over our shoulders, I avoid crowds in droves. Or try to, at least. So, volunteering with a large group of people is not in my cards. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought of joining a couple of Meet-Ups but I lose interest after a while when the discussion topics no longer appeal to me. Or the host decides to close the group.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I hope this helps explain why I felt stuck at the beginning of November.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, something began to shift.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While the events around me haven’t changed, the pandemic is still around with a new variant even. I’ve decided to let those who truly need a job apply for those jobs that are available (plus there’s the whole avoiding crowds issue, as well). I’ve also decided that if any new Meet-Ups do sound intriguing, I’ll explore them and just let what happens, happen. I’ll keep my eyes open for any volunteer options that won’t tug at my heart strings or budget and that may involve only a small group of people.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, I know of at least a couple of swords I'll still need to work around.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first one represents my opinion of those who don't take this pandemic seriously and see the mandates as an infringement on <i>their</i> rights to liberty and personal choice. But, what about <i>my</i> right not to be sickened by someone else? Do I not matter? What about the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?" I guess that only applies when convenient. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another sword I'll need to work through is the one about the current state of the US; the polarization over the politics, the racism, the rights of the marginalized, and women's rights to choose appropriate health care. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being somewhat empathic, these two swords have left me with an overwhelming sense of negative energy which is weighing heavy on me and keeping me behind the waterfall. And therefore, not trusting others enough to socialize more. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, it seems that some of the swords did appear to shift, letting me get past the waterfall. I'll have to really work on those other two. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, at least take steps towards them.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder what the Three of Wands brings me in December. Though, in my reading it, too, was reversed.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hmmm...</span></span></p><div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-czILWzTJsSdWpeFhjJT28IknfuRb--rUX8BnDGnC425GdWUmToLp5aCQa8jEXw1o8EqrHsKh8wxWxMzQ1SsoeeC02EhGXZhaQutXti7CIxBwoEcNbP8kYFw8iBdZfoxWsPkM1GiUVMCJMfcioxHsUd1FonctK72FzSVR_R8kf1aN1yZtPExXpGcr7A=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-czILWzTJsSdWpeFhjJT28IknfuRb--rUX8BnDGnC425GdWUmToLp5aCQa8jEXw1o8EqrHsKh8wxWxMzQ1SsoeeC02EhGXZhaQutXti7CIxBwoEcNbP8kYFw8iBdZfoxWsPkM1GiUVMCJMfcioxHsUd1FonctK72FzSVR_R8kf1aN1yZtPExXpGcr7A=w150-h200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(c)2020, MJ Cullinane</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more information on MJ and all of her decks, please click here.</span></a><br /></div></span></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-61426277408474223062021-11-15T19:26:00.000-08:002021-11-15T19:26:24.727-08:00The Grimalkin<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UumdWb3czdA/YYwoQLfL2mI/AAAAAAAAHuM/Zn8AK23aj0sTy5r-ZD71U9ux2qnOZ5NjACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/johannes-plenio-RwHv7LgeC7s-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UumdWb3czdA/YYwoQLfL2mI/AAAAAAAAHuM/Zn8AK23aj0sTy5r-ZD71U9ux2qnOZ5NjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/johannes-plenio-RwHv7LgeC7s-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@jplenio?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Johannes Plenio</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/fall?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, October has given way to November and it's time to check in with my New Year's Reading and this post will be somewhat different than the rest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One reason for the difference is the card itself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">For 2021, I used <i>The Grimalkin Tarot</i> by MJ Cullinane. And the card I pulled was the Grimalkin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, this is not a card found in the traditional Rider Waite Smith deck. Ms. Cullinane felt inspired to create two additional cards for this deck and the Grimalkin is one of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">But first, what exactly is a Grimalkin?</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yv8Py-Rdx8/YYraVmsARVI/AAAAAAAAHt4/4XHXS17mOvIalIdgB-vU5FuM-7h9VZCMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C4BFA2F4-4C4E-4A07-B4B7-84C3EE69CE54.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yv8Py-Rdx8/YYraVmsARVI/AAAAAAAAHt4/4XHXS17mOvIalIdgB-vU5FuM-7h9VZCMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/C4BFA2F4-4C4E-4A07-B4B7-84C3EE69CE54.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin, The Grimalkin Tarot <br />(C)2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="docs-internal-guid-d0d7a2b1-7fff-3109-d086-81e991fa6db5"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Wikipedia, a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grimalkin</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (also called a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">greymalkin</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) is an archaic term for a cat. It stems from "grey" (the color) plus "malkin", an archaic term with several meanings; a low class woman, a weakling, a mop, or a name deriving from a form of a pet name of the female name Maud. Scottish legend also references the grimalkin as a fairy cat that dwells in the highlands. Women tried as witches in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries were often accused of having a familiar, frequently a grimalkin, thus associating cats with the devil and witchcraft.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ms. Cullinane describes the energy of this card as that of healing, since many of the women who were tried as witches were actually midwives and well practiced in the herbal healing arts. She suggests that when the Grimalkin appears in a reading, it’s suggesting a need of healing, taking the time to go inward and learn to trust oneself, one’s intuition, as suggested by the bat, and one’s spirit. The snow in the card suggests finding a peaceful time to aid in some much needed introspection. The owl suggests magic and renewal while the fox suggests solitude to focus on problem solving.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did find October to be a difficult month. And, yes, I probably should have called on the Grimalkin more frequently, spending more time nurturing myself and trusting my inner voice. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had finished the remodel which then freed up my mind to continue its wandering as I had nothing more to occupy my attention and a great deal of my time. I was still haunted by the ghosts of past conversations from months ago I feel I should have had even if I knew </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">at that time </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">they'd wouldn't change a thing. I fell into a spiral of downward thinking, not knowing who or what to believe or even what I wanted any longer.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also began to lack basic motivation, yet finished all my projects I had, even those not associated with the remodel. I stuck to my morning routine and walking regimen but felt myself falling off my pace but still kept pushing myself to achieve the goals I'd set.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to the downward spiral of thought, it seems I also fell into a rut doing the same things every day. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, October is finally over and they say the only way from here is up.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">November brings the 8 of Swords, but reversed. Hmmmmm</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuT0xULxuEM/YYra4FMo3zI/AAAAAAAAHuA/mS0xyoEDbF0qNash454mWIj60zB3CDhQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1D149805-F73B-4D2C-92A1-A22DB27922B8.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuT0xULxuEM/YYra4FMo3zI/AAAAAAAAHuA/mS0xyoEDbF0qNash454mWIj60zB3CDhQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/1D149805-F73B-4D2C-92A1-A22DB27922B8.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 8 of Swords, The Grimalkin Tarot<br />(C)2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/">For more information on MJ Cullinane and her various decks, please click here.</a><br /></div><p></p>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-40058551738701377212021-11-03T13:45:00.000-07:002021-11-03T13:45:24.961-07:00A Stranger's Fear<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had a strange, unsettling experience the other day.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-154903f7-7fff-4420-b47b-ebde2b586388"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was payday and I needed to buy groceries.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I approached the door to one of the stores I frequent, I encountered an elderly woman also entering. I stepped to the side and gestured to let her enter first. She smiled and thanked me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFEVbT6InA0/YX7z6uyjHgI/AAAAAAAAHs0/WCxYWDP34w8D9X7QIn9kCCZ6qyFR8O_HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1100/shalwar.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFEVbT6InA0/YX7z6uyjHgI/AAAAAAAAHs0/WCxYWDP34w8D9X7QIn9kCCZ6qyFR8O_HgCLcBGAsYHQ/w146-h200/shalwar.jpeg" width="146" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was wearing something similar,<br />just not so elegant.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She had short curly salt and pepper hair with a tad more salt than pepper. She was short and leaning on a cart for support. Her facial features and clothing had a foreign appearance which reminded me of other south Asian women I’ve seen. As we meandered through the store each doing our own shopping, our paths criss-crossed a couple of times. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our next-to-last encounter is what prompted this post.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was looking for something in the dairy section. I had my cart close to me and the cooler because to my right was a stocking cart for the dairy section making the aisle somewhat narrow. I felt a tap of something on my hip and turned around to find the woman looking at me with sheer fear in her eyes. “I’m so sorry!” she said. “It was an accident! I didn’t mean to!” She had bumped me with her cart.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kO9NUuNokf4/YX70QpoRMDI/AAAAAAAAHtA/NhFTpwlkqswJ29yMLWqFVPIasIY4GZwsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/fear.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="155" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kO9NUuNokf4/YX70QpoRMDI/AAAAAAAAHtA/NhFTpwlkqswJ29yMLWqFVPIasIY4GZwsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w155-h155/fear.jpeg" width="155" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The terror in her eyes and her face told me a lot more. She was terrified of my potential reaction.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These days, with people so prone to overreacting, I understood where she might be coming from, especially if she were an immigrant, as I suspected, as well as being a senior citizen as seniors are seen as being vulnerable. Especially senior women.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My empathy took over. It was merely a tap in a crowded grocery aisle. I wasn’t in pain. I didn’t fall. I did what I could to alleviate her fears, telling her that everything was okay. I wasn’t angry, hurt or anything. It wasn’t her fault. I even gently placed my hand on her shoulder in (hopefully) a reassuring and respectful way. Then I wished her a nice day and moved on.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our paths crossed one final time at the check out. I hoped to catch her eye to smile once more, hopefully to continue to reassure her, but wasn’t able to. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think I was more upset that she perceived she might be accused of something, that I might blow this out of proportion. Yet, she drew on her background and the past experiences she carries with her and spontaneously reacted. I can’t fault her for that. It also bothers me that whatever she's experienced in the past drove her to react as she did. Also, she didn’t know me and how I might perceive this incident even after our prior meeting at the front door. After all, people can be so litigious.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope her day was a good one after that.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ll work on letting my own emotions settle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, l</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">ike these waves, it may take some time.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_XeSuE7tYE/YYHBm_cVPRI/AAAAAAAAHtQ/pCZ2P0SwHG0Or2klbpOk6RJW5LlhgLj3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Catalina%2BTrip%2B096.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_XeSuE7tYE/YYHBm_cVPRI/AAAAAAAAHtQ/pCZ2P0SwHG0Or2klbpOk6RJW5LlhgLj3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Catalina%2BTrip%2B096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catalina Island, Pacific Side<br />Photo courtesy Jeffrey Ballam</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-4405379747300598122021-09-05T13:33:00.000-07:002021-09-05T13:33:13.774-07:00Pages, Swords and Pointed Lessons<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s that time again; a new month and time to check in with my reading for this year. The Page of Swords was my card for August. </span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c3b7e4fb-7fff-e70c-5036-8e902a666459"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve mentioned a few times, Swords is the suit that represents our mind and whatever goes on up there; logic, thought, understanding, truths, communication, etc.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVj_eoLAvjE/YS7mf3O5s-I/AAAAAAAAHqU/j68jT6a7Nq4mreS7TDLJ6AA2bYgK46yMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s294/Page%2Bof%2BS.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVj_eoLAvjE/YS7mf3O5s-I/AAAAAAAAHqU/j68jT6a7Nq4mreS7TDLJ6AA2bYgK46yMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/Page%2Bof%2BS.jpeg" width="116" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rider Waite Smith Tarot<br />Public Domain</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Pages are part of a subset of Tarot cards collectively referred to as the Court Cards. Within the Court, we have four ranks; Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings. Each rank represents an age range and with age comes life experience which in turn brings more mature wisdom. Therefore, Pages are the least wise while the Kings and Queens are the most wise. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Page of Swords is learning to identify their truths, how to reason, to determine fact from fiction and also how to express their ideas and perhaps even when to hold back from expressing them. Being young, the Page is still eager to learn and therefore can likely make some mistakes along the way. If the entire suit represents the mind and all the activity that goes on in our heads, then the sword itself represents the individual thought. </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the <i>Rider Waite Smith Tarot</i>, we see the young Page posing as if ready to swing his sword. So, this would suggest the Page is ready to cut through to the heart of the matter or say what is on their mind.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In the <i>Grimalkin Tarot</i>, by MJ Cullinane, which I used for this year's reading, we see a kitten discovering the power of its voice. It's calling out for someone to listen, to pay attention to it. The swallows represent making swift decisions, the dove represents a pure heart and integrity. So, the Page of Swords is learning to speak with a pure heart and integrity.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IU1S-4JFv90/YS7mT5w5pfI/AAAAAAAAHqQ/9UbDOfzRBpUuBT_dlDxxZHkUzIWR9FckgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5EEE40D0-D4AC-45BA-8BD7-1281A59F09CC.heic" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IU1S-4JFv90/YS7mT5w5pfI/AAAAAAAAHqQ/9UbDOfzRBpUuBT_dlDxxZHkUzIWR9FckgCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/5EEE40D0-D4AC-45BA-8BD7-1281A59F09CC.heic" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Grimalkin Tarot<br />(C) 2020 MJ Cullinane</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I truly felt the energy of the Page this month.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t believe we are post-pandemic nor even close, but with things beginning to open up, I stepped way out of my pandemic-induced comfort zone this past month. I mean I stepped waaaaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone. I stepped so far out of it, I ended up 1,960 miles away.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">I visited my mother. In Georgia. Rural Georgia.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I must say, my mother and I are close. Even if our politics are different. She was the only member of my family who initially stood by me when I came out to them. She has been supportive of me and my partners. She cried when my first partner died saying she felt like she’d lost a son-in-law. She was a long distance shoulder to cry on when my second partner divorced me. So, just visiting her doesn’t trigger any anxiety. Or, it hadn’t in the past. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is where stress and anxiety have begun to creep into my visits. It’s about <i>how</i> we express our differences. She has always suggested we should not mention or discuss them so as not to start an argument.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easier said than done.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It had been two years since my last visit, mostly due to the pandemic and travel restrictions; plus, my own travel anxiety. I am somewhat empathic and avoid crowds. It’s hard to avoid crowds in an airport let alone in an airplane. The more I open up to my spiritual Self, the more anxious I tend to get around crowds. Unfortunately, the airlines frown against burning sage on the plane itself. So, </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do a few ritual exercises before I know that I have to face a crowd and</span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I carry both an amethyst and either obsidian or onyx crystal with me which help, if only for something tactile to hold. Shielding myself with golden light to keep the bad vibes away also helps.</span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They say that to see how spiritually progressed you are, spend time with your blood family. Then you can see how far along your journey you have come. Or how much further you have to go. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last couple of visits, she’s been expressing her views more frequently; on climate change, on the presidents-mostly the Democratic ones, on the Democratic Party, on Charter Schools, the Tarot cards. </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be fair, she does admit that she's been disappointed in the Republican Party for some time and has left it, but</span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she still holds conservative views. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This trip I vowed not to react. Even internally. At her age, will she change? Will she even listen to me if only to attempt to understand my point of view and not what she thinks my point of view is? In the past, I’d react and we’d end up shouting at each other and my blood pressure would rise. I mean it’s already higher when I’m there since I'm not in the secure comfort of my home and sanctuary. So, why should I aggravate it any further?</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3PzCY1IkiM/YS_ymQ-19uI/AAAAAAAAHqw/ducr5Bc2x78x-VmL0d9VaSfy5cutOMkLACLcBGAsYHQ/s2777/E68226A2-B867-4FE1-9BA3-0A3E5BF77398.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2777" height="163" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3PzCY1IkiM/YS_ymQ-19uI/AAAAAAAAHqw/ducr5Bc2x78x-VmL0d9VaSfy5cutOMkLACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h163/E68226A2-B867-4FE1-9BA3-0A3E5BF77398.heic" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my mother's balcony</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On my path, I’ve come to accept that we all have our own views depending on where we come from. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. I accept you where you are. Therefore, I accept her where she is.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On my first full day there, it started and I’m not sure what started it. She likes to crochet and buys her supplies at Michaels, JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby wherever she can find the yarn on sale. She began at some point about how she knew how I felt about Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A but by boycotting them we are hurting the franchise owner and not necessarily the company which she then took this argument back to the 2010 BP boycott over the huge pipeline break and subsequent massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and how the small stations were driven out of business due to the boycott. She also threw in the transgender bathroom issue at Target stores but still shops there. Then, she finished with “I know we’re going to disagree.”</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, we’ll just have to disagree.”</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was my response. My only response. And <i>that</i> was the Page of Swords’ lesson: </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Learn to speak your truths when and where possible, necessary and beneficial.”</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Would challenging her and trying to get her to see my point of view do any good? No. Again, we probably would have ended up in a shouting match and then angry and/or hurt. Would even expressing my point of view have done any good? Probably not.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, now back home, I begin to wonder why I didn’t ask why she felt the need to even express her point of view knowing I had an opposing viewpoint? In my head, I see myself saying to her, “Is there a point to this discussion?” or "Why are you bringing this up?" Maybe she felt the need to justify why she shops at places she knows I disapprove of, perhaps seeking my approval of her. Yet, I still wonder if I had asked that question at least, what would have come of it? </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As August has moved on, it is apparent the Page has sheathed their sword. I wish I could, too.<br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On to September and the 9 of Pentacles Reversed. Uh oh.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzXyv1Ji4QM/YS_x34H6bEI/AAAAAAAAHqo/VsZRKD_2huIj6jn_NWWANNJvtbh1FgK5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/329BAF3E-388E-4000-94C7-FC82484D3AC1_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzXyv1Ji4QM/YS_x34H6bEI/AAAAAAAAHqo/VsZRKD_2huIj6jn_NWWANNJvtbh1FgK5ACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/329BAF3E-388E-4000-94C7-FC82484D3AC1_1_201_a.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 9 of Pentacles,<br />The Grimalkin Tarot, (C) 2020<br />MJ Cullinane<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">For more information on MJ Cullinane, her Tarot and Oracle Decks, please click here.</a><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-86357663529865476812021-08-09T14:28:00.000-07:002021-08-09T14:28:30.881-07:00The Emperor's New Role<div class="separator"></div><div class="separator"></div><div class="separator"></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This has been quite a busy, hectic and frustrating month and it’s just the 8th day as I write this. What more is to come? That may explain why I’m a bit late in getting to this post about my card for last month. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXpchvUdnhg/YRB3vSl3yNI/AAAAAAAAHoA/Csof3GUppL0iR6UoS4mj7jr1hwdS8mvGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w117-h200/RWS_Tarot_04_Emperor.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="117" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My card for July was the Emperor Reversed. In thinking of the archetype of an emperor, he is responsible for the running of his empire. As an authority figure, he sets the law and order, sees to appropriate discipline, makes sure people are doing their jobs and delegates his authority where and when appropriate. In the traditional card we see him sitting on his throne, yet still dressed in armor apparently ready to do battle at any moment. The rams’ heads on his throne are connected to Aries, one of the fire signs of the zodiac. Aries is known for impulsive actions. The Emperor is also associated with the number four, a number denoting stability. Even though tripods are somewhat stable with their three legs, chairs are more stable with four.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">In an upright position, he would bring any or all of those above energies to a reading suggesting it’s time to take action, get the ball rolling and generally take charge of the situation at hand. In other words, it's time to assume authority. Yet, in a reversed position, he would suggest the opposite might be what’s going on. There might be a lack of direction, a lack of responsibility or accountability in current situation. Or possibly, there could be a great sense of instability with the situation at hand. He could even suggest an energy of someone more dictatorial, abusive of their power. </span></p></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Grimalkin Tarot, by MJ Cullinane, we see a fiery orange cat with a white "beard" staring right at us, almost with a look of “Why aren’t you doing what needs to be done?” Cats can be so demanding and before any haters hate on me, I am definitely a cat person. I think this cat’s determined look adds a bit to this particular Emperor’s energy in calling me out for not getting things done. We also see two rams in this card again reminding us of the connection to Aries’ energy of rushing in perhaps a bit too soon to fully see what the situation fully entailed.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P0Y_c71KiQo/YRB4VBUovtI/AAAAAAAAHoc/rFzzwBEbyKYaoMZSkacmk2oSeH95Ld4sACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/A6B797FC-A384-448E-B782-7F2457688986_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P0Y_c71KiQo/YRB4VBUovtI/AAAAAAAAHoc/rFzzwBEbyKYaoMZSkacmk2oSeH95Ld4sACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/A6B797FC-A384-448E-B782-7F2457688986_1_201_a.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, as I look back at July, there was nothing I could do with the situation that predominated the month. I had paid for laminate flooring to be installed in my house. That was back in May when I was tapping into the energy of the 7 of Cups, confronted with many choices or options. There are plethoras of choices when it comes to flooring and other home remodeling options. The materials took almost a month to arrive and then another week just to schedule an installation date and this took place in June under the influence of the King of Wands’ energy which also likes to get things done. He’s more Leo than Aries making him a bit more calculated than impulsive but still a take charge kind of guy. But, the first available installation date was towards the end of July. In the meantime, everything had to be inside my home and not in the garage in order to acclimate to the temperature of my house. As I was placed on a waitlist, I moved it all inside immediately. For nearly a month, I lived with everything from the upstairs rooms in boxes plus four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two closets, one hallway and a stairway’s worth of flooring materials in my living room.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NICwPuSgj4/YRB4jBWeFDI/AAAAAAAAHog/-uVj2HJUpjQJhSql_h7f60cxims1lJaMACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/2289B7BF-8743-431A-9298-41422943749B.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crikey!</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And yet, there was nothing I could do to hurry up time. Yes, there was disorder in my house and life and with this back-to-back fire energies from the King of Wands to the Emperor Reversed, it's no wonder I was losing patience. But, my hands were tied, so to speak. Perhaps the Emperor Reversed was signaling a desire to take charge and get things done, but accepting that I could not. Not a typical meaning for the Emperor Reversed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sY8ZZZi0n7c/YRB4BqZTHGI/AAAAAAAAHoI/8yOYFU7N2wolF6nSibLVV0mWismE3PogwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/095490D9-2AD2-41A0-BFD2-CAA9F6B8FC0C.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bedroom</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sY8ZZZi0n7c/YRB4BqZTHGI/AAAAAAAAHoI/8yOYFU7N2wolF6nSibLVV0mWismE3PogwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/095490D9-2AD2-41A0-BFD2-CAA9F6B8FC0C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The appointed day arrived and the crew showed up exactly on time. I was anticipating a five day job given all the rooms and a staircase. Yet, this crew of two men and an occasional third finished in three even putting in a twelve hour day on the final one! I was ecstatic. I am very pleased with the results and have finally put things back in their places and made a few small changes as well.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY9wiRKn3GE/YRB4Bv3FkLI/AAAAAAAAHoM/1qD48hg9eKE257TUlWGTarGaTWqpgsOZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/D4E00AA9-32C0-4BA5-929B-B3240D55547C.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Office</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY9wiRKn3GE/YRB4Bv3FkLI/AAAAAAAAHoM/1qD48hg9eKE257TUlWGTarGaTWqpgsOZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D4E00AA9-32C0-4BA5-929B-B3240D55547C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now on to the rest of August and a frisky, all-knowing Page of Swords. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZuAuCPw1M8/YRB4VMLy5wI/AAAAAAAAHoY/MsFkTOngpGgNh9yG54Hr5-Heni4rXH97gCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/5EEE40D0-D4AC-45BA-8BD7-1281A59F09CC.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZuAuCPw1M8/YRB4VMLy5wI/AAAAAAAAHoY/MsFkTOngpGgNh9yG54Hr5-Heni4rXH97gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5EEE40D0-D4AC-45BA-8BD7-1281A59F09CC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">May the gods help me. Especially, next week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">For information on MJ Cullinane and her tarot decks, click here.</a><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-51690704100353912752021-07-16T14:49:00.000-07:002021-07-16T14:49:29.174-07:00The King and I in June<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re halfway into July and I haven’t posted about my New Year Reading and the card for June. This procrastination has been hanging around for quite a while. June’s card was the King of Wands and when I drew it, I was intrigued as to what the cards were suggesting, because the Queen of Wands would be my card in April. If I remember correctly, I didn’t quite live up to her energy then. I don’t feel I stepped into the King’s shoes this month either.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkkLKM--jaI/YPDEusmySAI/AAAAAAAAHlc/MsETcDJbXSYMJ4AGTSLu_iYw-3Q_SG2KgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/776B9DC1-C1F5-4F27-8E90-EB207CE2677D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkkLKM--jaI/YPDEusmySAI/AAAAAAAAHlc/MsETcDJbXSYMJ4AGTSLu_iYw-3Q_SG2KgCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/776B9DC1-C1F5-4F27-8E90-EB207CE2677D.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-42637f42-7fff-cb2e-63d7-7c33c10852f2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wands is the suit of fire, meaning quick and decisive action. It is that fire inside us that pushes our ambition, drive, motivation and passion. In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, the King is seated on his throne staring off to the left, perhaps a bit upset, concentrating on something that seems to have caught his attention. He appears to be leaning slightly forward and is left hand is pulled back, as if readying to help him stand and spring into action. We see evidence of fire energy all throughout this card from the color of his hair and robe to the flame-like points on his crown. There are salamanders on his cloak and on the tapestry behind him and one on the ground near his feet. Salamanders have long been associated with fire energy as quite a few species are bright orange in color. Also, there are two lions on the tapestry representing Leo, one of the astrological signs associated also with fire energy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The King is quite motivated and goal oriented. He is active and is driven to succeed. He thinks on his feet using his life experiences to make his spontaneous decisions. Nothing stops him from succeeding at his goal. He is a creative thinker. He is also quite charismatic and uses his charm to get those around him to help him succeed. Yet, he doesn’t do this in an egotistical way but he sees his success as the success of his team. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Queen is also very goal oriented and conveys the energy of a woman who is working in a male-dominated goal-oriented atmosphere. She feels that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">simply because of her gender,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she has to work twice as hard </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">as the King does in order </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">to prove herself and to be taken seriously so, she is more driven to succeed than the King.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another big difference between the King and Queen also has to do with their respective genders. This may come off as sexist, but it describes the different energies as it relates to masculine and feminine </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">energies. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The King, representing masculine energy, is more in his head and sees his opportunities analytically. He reacts to changes rationally where the Queen, being of feminine energy, is more emotional, or intuitive. She reacts from her heart or intuition.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ourbUqi1Uow/YPDFDzgO03I/AAAAAAAAHlo/b2KU8Trc25Arx7eVhidtfMQtUzKPgN2CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C39DB85A-336C-40B4-A732-A1B648B8F7D6.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ourbUqi1Uow/YPDFDzgO03I/AAAAAAAAHlo/b2KU8Trc25Arx7eVhidtfMQtUzKPgN2CwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/C39DB85A-336C-40B4-A732-A1B648B8F7D6.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot, (c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />In the Grimalkin Tarot, by MJ Cullinane, we see an orange tabby sitting on a throne with what appears to be a lion’s head in the armrest. There is also a salamander by the cat, climbing onto the throne. The cat is reaching for a wand with a bird perched on it, seeming to take action to catch the bird. This is a cat wanting to spring into action. The sun in the upper corner is the ruling astrological element for Leo as well as a source of fire.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m in the middle of a home remodeling project that seems to be taking its sweet time, like molasses trying to flow downhill in January in the Arctic. Maybe having my house in disarray since mid-May has been the reason for my procrastination or even a mild depression, let alone full-blown frustration. While I do have a date for the project to begin, it has taken a while to get that date. There was a delay in shipping for one of the components. Once that component arrived, I had to wait for someone to schedule the delivery date. Then, when it was all finally delivered, I waited and waited for the installers to call. Ultimately, I went to the store where I had purchased the materials, spoke with the woman who scheduled the delivery with me who then called the installers with me in the store. A day later, I had a date which was a month away. So, the materials have been sitting in my living room since then as they have to acclimate to the temperature of the house.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the meantime, I was purchasing the materials and doing some of the prep work for the third project because my goal is to get these projects done as I want my house back to normal.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe in retrospect, I did slip the King's shoes on for a bit if even to try to take charge of the situation and get this project going. But, even the King of Wands has to realize and adjust to those elements even he can’t control like shipping delays or installers with full calendars. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August should be interesting; I drew the Emperor Reversed. My first reversed card of this year.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBIIeam2cAM/YPDFD10iD5I/AAAAAAAAHlk/eg-kMKtjlDcHdUGU-CLSddb2bxM-MDiMACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/A6B797FC-A384-448E-B782-7F2457688986_1_201_a.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot, (c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">To find out more about MJ Cullinane and her decks, click here</a><br /></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-40672390672329112192021-06-03T14:47:00.000-07:002021-06-03T14:47:37.970-07:00Cups, Cups, Cups and a Few Gallons<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWxpL4SR8Dg/YLVo1APSvaI/AAAAAAAAHiA/gZAx4x65Yu0JoSxKHprymFg-p8LNEHfkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s295/radiant%2B7C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWxpL4SR8Dg/YLVo1APSvaI/AAAAAAAAHiA/gZAx4x65Yu0JoSxKHprymFg-p8LNEHfkwCLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/radiant%2B7C.jpeg" width="116" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A new month heralds a post regarding my New Year Reading for 2021 and my card for May was the 7 of Cups. In the traditional card, we see a figure in silhouette looking at seven chalices each containing an object all floating on a cloud. There is some discussion among tarot readers as to what the various figures in the individual cups represent, which I won’t go into detail here. Collectively, I see the items as things we wish, long or dream for such as wealth, a home, success, companionship, etc. This card also suggests having many, or too many, choices or options available. Yet, the cloud suggests that the choices aren’t clear. Perhaps some, or all, of the choices are simply an illusion. They may not be there after all or they may not be what they seem.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e6891f6-7fff-66d0-3296-b19a9394a23c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cups is the suit of our emotions and covers areas like feelings, intuition, our relationships and connections with others. With this card showing multiple choices, maybe even illusory ones, the overall meaning this card suggests is that of being emotionally overwhelmed with the many options potentially available.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For my New Year Reading, I used the <i>Grimalkin Tarot</i>, by MJ Cullinane, and in the 7 of cups in this deck, we see a cat staring dreamily into space, thinking of all the things a cat would dream, wish or lust for-beginning with the fish and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">going clockwise</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">; food, water, a home, warmth, love, exercise, and peace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gdABlLBd94/YLVpQm9ZLVI/AAAAAAAAHiI/RaU4nU9XQckz0FryajYhUdzSidExphrFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4878877C-72FD-4998-8CE9-D9D97F3E4449.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gdABlLBd94/YLVpQm9ZLVI/AAAAAAAAHiI/RaU4nU9XQckz0FryajYhUdzSidExphrFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/4878877C-72FD-4998-8CE9-D9D97F3E4449.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grimalkin Tarot (c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes the tarot can refer to major parts of our life, like career or relationships. Other times, it can address the more mundane, quotidian aspects of life. And this has been one of those more mundane, but overwhelming times. For me. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve mentioned that I have begun some home remodeling projects. The first project, replacing the countertops, was finished last month and this month opened with my finalizing and paying for the choices I made for the second one, new flooring. While I wait for the flooring project to begin, I am anticipating the third project.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Painting the bathrooms.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sure you can see where I’m going regarding choices and options. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mqxrre4HD7k/YLVn4Dg3VKI/AAAAAAAAHhw/birDDljE4aM4Es5C1vtGU67JKbofilPLACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Behr-paint-colors-on-display.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="800" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mqxrre4HD7k/YLVn4Dg3VKI/AAAAAAAAHhw/birDDljE4aM4Es5C1vtGU67JKbofilPLACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h204/Behr-paint-colors-on-display.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many colors...I mean, choices or options</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are three in my house, or more precisely two and a half. All of which now have new granite countertops. All countertops have multiple colors in the granite and I first need to decide which of the colors to pull out, then where to put that color; on the wall, the trim or the accent. Two of the bathrooms have the same granite yet their layout is different which offers different options for painting. The vanity in the half-bath sits in a little alcove offering the option of painting the wall above the sink a separate color as an accent wall. The guest bath is more open suggesting the walls should all be the same color, though that option isn’t set in granite. But, which wall to single out is difficult. The colors of the countertops in these two rooms are white with various shades of gray and a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">literal</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sprinkling of red. But, the amount of red is so small, at least in the half-bath, this suggests the possibility of a more monochromatic room. Hmmm, sounds intriguing. Even more options.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fNeUpepstM/YLVoOKyHsyI/AAAAAAAAHh4/_iM57u8kIG89Ua7cr0PIHss_t_mlNSruACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/204E3A68-0A04-46BB-A989-58B03BB6CC15.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fNeUpepstM/YLVoOKyHsyI/AAAAAAAAHh4/_iM57u8kIG89Ua7cr0PIHss_t_mlNSruACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/204E3A68-0A04-46BB-A989-58B03BB6CC15.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many browns!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My own bathroom countertop has a multitude of colors offering many more options. There are multiple shades and tones of brown, there is some black and a red with some brownish and purplish undertones. The sinks here also sit in an alcove-like setting offering an accent wall option. Then there is the commode room, or as I sometimes refer to it, the throne room. I might as well paint it too. Do I use the same colors? And if I do, should I use them in the same way, meaning the walls, the trim and the accent colors are the same in both rooms? Or do I mix it up? Decisions, decisions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I’ve decided on the colors in the granite I want to highlight, I need to find the paint color which is the closest match to that particular part of the countertop. The shades and tones of paint can be so subtly different especially with the lighting, both natural and electric. The red is giving me fits, so I could just forget it and go in a very different, yet complementary direction. So many options.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plus, I still have to shop for mirrors for all three bathrooms. Should they all be different to fit the room or the same to make it easy on my nerves and budget?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This month isn’t turning out to have 7 cups, but 7000!!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June brings the King of Wands...what will he bring, I wonder?</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsPeuZj_o_M/YLVqZaCZzEI/AAAAAAAAHiQ/pE5yBfA4v_ciHL53znqdXaaKq8oP86lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s367/Radian%2BKW.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="215" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsPeuZj_o_M/YLVqZaCZzEI/AAAAAAAAHiQ/pE5yBfA4v_ciHL53znqdXaaKq8oP86lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w117-h200/Radian%2BKW.jpeg" width="117" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">For information on MJ Cullinane and her decks, click here.</a><br /></span></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-50404810988012575092021-05-11T17:18:00.000-07:002021-05-11T17:18:09.426-07:00The Queen of April<p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Queen of Wands was the Card for April in my New Year reading and it's time to see how she influenced me.</span></span></p><p>Or, how I used her.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42n4wbTYcGg/YJkFBl6_8KI/AAAAAAAAHeo/H6lsP8YYyAs7_XpQIQxgyDB5kf7fkAMoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s294/queen%2Bwands.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wands is the suit of our ambition, drive, passion and creativity. It’s connected to fire energy which gives us the steam to push ahead with our goals, our dreams, our ambitions.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42n4wbTYcGg/YJkFBl6_8KI/AAAAAAAAHeo/H6lsP8YYyAs7_XpQIQxgyDB5kf7fkAMoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/queen%2Bwands.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="116" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><p></p><p></p><p></p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the traditional card, we see a red headed woman seated on a throne. Yet, she is not seated in a manner befitting a queen, with her knees and ankles together. Her pose suggests she is ready to jump into action to pursue her ambitions. She is dressed in a yellow tunic, holding a sunflower in her left hand and a wand in her right. Three sunflowers also adorn the tapestry behind her throne. There are two orange lions rampant between the sunflowers. Yellow and orange are the colors of the sun and fire suggesting the heat and passion of the suit as well as fire energy.</span></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Grimalkin deck, by MJ Cullinane, we see a beautiful orange colored cat standing on a throne, gazing fixedly off into the distance as is the queen in the traditional card. She obviously spies something. We also see a bright sun and a few sunflowers as well as a couple of flames reminding us of the energies of the suit. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCSQ1PhSI_s/YJnvU5JkkOI/AAAAAAAAHfI/14E7xbMEW1AMjKfYohTmow0hC3eT9lhBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3CBB0CFA-C43E-4ABE-AADE-05002C6B9740.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCSQ1PhSI_s/YJnvU5JkkOI/AAAAAAAAHfI/14E7xbMEW1AMjKfYohTmow0hC3eT9lhBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/3CBB0CFA-C43E-4ABE-AADE-05002C6B9740.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(C) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><p></p><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With all this passion and fire energy, the Queen of Wands is one passionate woman. She is a woman driven to succeed. Nothing, or no one, stands in her way when she sets her mind to achieve something. She is adventurous, bold and daring. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past month was a most lackluster month. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The lethargy that overcame me was so heavy, it was all I could do to take my walks in the mornings. I think I’d fallen into a pandemic depression.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I kept waiting for the Queen of Wands to show up, for some creative spark, some passion to drive me forward. But, I could not find her. I did decide to get my first vaccination and took the closest appointment location near me, but I don’t think it was the Queen’s energy that pushed me into making the decision.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, I did finally decide to do something I’d been contemplating for years; begin some major home projects. So, I strolled, masked and sanitized, into Home Depot to begin the process of new flooring for my upstairs rooms and some new countertops in the kitchen and three bathrooms. The carpeting was still the original from when I bought the house in 2003 and had seen some much better days. I wasn’t ready to tackle a complete kitchen remodel but was definitely in need of some new countertops which were </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">also </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">the original white tile but now with some </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">cracks and broken tiles in the kitchen. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">The appliances were in decent shape and I believe if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Unless, it’s time to sell the house. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">The salespersons in each department were very helpful, patient with all my questions and quite knowledgeable of their products and procedures. I was going to start with the flooring and then move to the countertops after. I set up the appointment for the flooring measurements and was given a worksheet to sketch my counters and get my preliminary measurements for the estimate. Upon returning to the store with the countertop measurements, one of the granite patterns I wanted was on sale, but only for the next week. Needless to say, I decided to reverse my plan and the flooring would wait.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The process was seamless and went without a hitch. Someone came out to take the official </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">measurements</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and sketch the plan. He suggested that I should have new sinks on hand in case the existing ones were damaged upon removal. So, I traipsed back to Home Depot and selected five sinks. I found my way to the stone works store to select the actual slabs that would become my new countertops. Now to wait for the installation.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The receptionist in the main office of the installers tried to tell me it would be a one day job, but I didn’t believe her. I mean, one kitchen, and three bathrooms in one day? Puhleeease. I knew it would be two and then one more day for the plumbers to show up and reconnect my new sinks. The crews, both the installers and plumbers, were dedicated workers and did excellent work. The old countertops were demolished and the new ones were installed in two days and the plumbers showed up the next day and connected all five sinks within about three hours.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the flooring, which is almost ready to go, I ran into some more challenges. I now know what a stair nose is. I had planned to put laminate in the upstairs rooms (4 bedrooms and their closets, two bathrooms, and a linen closet) but to carpet the stairs to eliminate possible slippage. Well, as I was putting laminate on the top landing, it needed a stair nose to finish the connection between the riser and the landing. It seemed every color of laminate I was considering did not have the matching stair nose. I’d take a few samples home, find one I liked, go back to the store and have the salesperson make the adjustment in the preliminary quote. We’d make the call to pay for it, only to discover, it had no matching stair nose. The salesperson suggested I could buy a very plain stair nose and try to find a matching, or comparable, stain. Somehow, that sounded easier than I felt it would be. After my third or fourth try and by now I even knew how to search for stair noses, I thought I’d found the one only to find out that by the time I went in to make the purchase, there were no more matching stair noses. But, I took it all in stride. What more could I do? </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZMcVmRY3Ag/YJkFWqsCHOI/AAAAAAAAHew/ztzm43TlQpcdwhzqt824TnKoxxHiEzAwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FBDEF9DC-9893-4E40-8F7A-A43E44590897.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZMcVmRY3Ag/YJkFWqsCHOI/AAAAAAAAHew/ztzm43TlQpcdwhzqt824TnKoxxHiEzAwACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h199/FBDEF9DC-9893-4E40-8F7A-A43E44590897.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Stair Nose</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I then figured it out, I was going about this the wrong way. I looked for available stair noses, then would go back to the store and get the samples that appealed to me. Lo and behold, the eighth time was the charm. As of this writing, the materials are being ordered, I’m packing everything in my upstairs (alone, because of COVID restrictions and all my friends are back at work anyway) and am aiming for an end of May deadline which is not fixed in granite. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess the Queen’s energy was what I needed to light my fire to get these projects going, to kick my ambition into gear. I’m ecstatic with how the counters turned out. I still have some work to do in the bathrooms; prep the walls for painting, deciding on the colors, shopping for new mirrors and then hanging them. </span></span>Maybe the Queen's energy was there all along waiting for me to seize it. <i>Carpe Regina!</i></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I learned a lot about myself in this process. I can only control my reaction to situations that don’t go according to plan. And quite a lot didn’t go to plan. I had wanted a different color of granite than what I ended up with, but it was no longer available and hadn’t been for quite some time. I am quite happy with what I did end up with. I learned not to take the receptionist’s word for how long a job will take. I’ll see how this holds up once the flooring begins. I also learned that sometimes what we think we want might not be the best in the long run. I also learned to be more like water and less like rock. It’s best to go with the flow in the beginning because the water will eventually erode the rock away. Besides, going with the flow is better on the blood pressure.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">On to May and the Seven of Cups. It already seems appropriate.</span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVxm1WJvvWs/YJkH-FhapwI/AAAAAAAAHfA/E7t0kOGMd-wWtG0YZG9n66oaGes_AIr2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s295/radiant%2B7C.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVxm1WJvvWs/YJkH-FhapwI/AAAAAAAAHfA/E7t0kOGMd-wWtG0YZG9n66oaGes_AIr2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/radiant%2B7C.jpeg" width="116" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more info on MJ Cullinane and her decks, please click here<br /></span></a><br /></div></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-89699668642277992232021-04-21T17:26:00.000-07:002021-04-21T17:26:10.926-07:00The Ace of March<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to check in with my New Year Reading for March albeit a bit late. I drew the Ace of Swords for March.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ce15d033-7fff-66d1-e67a-9d6d93cf056f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ugh. But, also not so ugh.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve mentioned at least once or twice before, Swords is the suit of the mind and covers thoughts, logic, reasoning, intellect, truth and communication. All that mental stuff. Swords are a bit pointy and sharp which therefore can, and often do, inflict pain. Mental pain. But, no pain, no gain. In this case, no mental pain, no mental gain.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-StPCCa4PdvI/YH3gPbCm5HI/AAAAAAAAHc8/z6Suew-aKDQnMP0TZSwJcPUGmMEW56wFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s293/ace%2Bof%2BSwords%2BRad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="172" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-StPCCa4PdvI/YH3gPbCm5HI/AAAAAAAAHc8/z6Suew-aKDQnMP0TZSwJcPUGmMEW56wFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w118-h200/ace%2Bof%2BSwords%2BRad.jpeg" width="118" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is why Swords is not the most welcome suit to appear in a reading. Especially, when they appear <i>en masse.</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aces are the beginning of the story of their suit. They are like</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> seed being planted, an opportunity for growth in the realm of their suit. So, the Ace of Swords would be an opportunity for mental expansion; i.e., more learning, better communication, for finding out the truth or gaining some clarity, or it could be a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">n opportunity to cut through the crap and see things for what (or who) they truly are. This could refer to an external situation or an internal one. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, the Ace is only the opportunity; the energy is there. We see that in the traditional card with the Sword being offered by a giant hand emanating from a cloud. The cloud symbolizes that which we cannot see. I view the cloud as Life, the Universe, Spirit, or even God. One only has to seize the opportunity being offered. When a server offers appetizers at a banquet, it’s up to us to decide if we want that particular item or would rather wait for some other perhaps tastier hor d'oeuvre. Yet, sometimes opportunities pass us by. And we may miss out on that last appetizer we spotted earlier because we thought there'd be some left when we were ready. But, alas, we missed out.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96xrbKdvSMg/YH3f-wWURkI/AAAAAAAAHcw/F3CugCeS4cI49bcQHsocPWz6PKQmF9m3gCLcBGAsYHQ/25B448E7-FD7C-49F6-91D8-06AF1CC2D5C8_1_105_c.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96xrbKdvSMg/YH3f-wWURkI/AAAAAAAAHcw/F3CugCeS4cI49bcQHsocPWz6PKQmF9m3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/25B448E7-FD7C-49F6-91D8-06AF1CC2D5C8_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, carpe opportunitatem. And I carpe'd as best I could.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Ace of Swords from the Grimalkin Tarot by MJ Cullinane, which I used for this year’s reading, we see a cat poised on the hilt of a sword. This cat is clearly focused, ready to pounce on the birds above securing its destiny as a predator, a skilled hunter. Seeing itself for who it is.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I don’t see myself as a skilled hunter, let alone an unskilled one, I did seize my opportunity to cut through some crap and focus on some inner truths. I also took a risk, stood up and spoke my truths in a couple of places. Yes, it did cause some mental pain to do so. But, it did eventually clear the air. Or some of the mental clutter, at least. Even though I feel I could have seized a bit more of the Ace's energy, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do feel what I did seize gave me some more focus on my life. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, every little bit helps.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baby steps.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now to keep the momentum going, remain focused and move on into the rest of April and greet the lovely Queen of Wands. <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UMT9ZzPXJTE/YH3gAJGIC8I/AAAAAAAAHc0/2hCaP96z5E82fII3iHeUtobvkIMDC8JHQCLcBGAsYHQ/3CBB0CFA-C43E-4ABE-AADE-05002C6B9740_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UMT9ZzPXJTE/YH3gAJGIC8I/AAAAAAAAHc0/2hCaP96z5E82fII3iHeUtobvkIMDC8JHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/3CBB0CFA-C43E-4ABE-AADE-05002C6B9740_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot,<br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/">For information on MJ Cullinane, her tarot and oracle decks, click here.</a></span></div><div><br /></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-88375085396690119122021-04-07T19:36:00.000-07:002021-04-07T19:36:25.420-07:00The Birds <span id="docs-internal-guid-dbb2c000-7fff-80c1-0d4a-fc707a3cd6d2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like many of us, I have a pretty set morning routine. And an evening one, too. But, for this post I want to focus a bit more on my morning one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I’m out of bed, gone downstairs and have my morning tea paraphernalia ready, I do my morning meditations and light their corresponding candles. Then, I check my vitals, take my morning meds, do my journaling, and finally, like Mary Poppins, I feed my birds. But unlike her, I don’t sing. In fact, the only way I can carry a tune is by transporting sheet music. The routine isn’t always in this order, but it’s close enough. Once all that is done, I pour my first cup of tea, grab a little bite of something to eat as to not necessarily have my meds on an empty stomach. Then I gird myself for a brief glimpse of the news. Too much news can trigger my anxiety and raise my blood pressure, so I limit my intake. Sounds like a pretty boring or typical routine, I know. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JFQpxwHu524/YGurutEa6VI/AAAAAAAAHbw/zeOBv6JSZHklzFMBD3_GOnmD6mCrZihFwCLcBGAsYHQ/2913DE21-C6EE-48EF-995F-88929F9B031D_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JFQpxwHu524/YGurutEa6VI/AAAAAAAAHbw/zeOBv6JSZHklzFMBD3_GOnmD6mCrZihFwCLcBGAsYHQ/2913DE21-C6EE-48EF-995F-88929F9B031D_1_105_c.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The breakfast crowd on a slow day</td></tr></tbody></table>My favorite part of my morning is watching my birds. Well, they aren’t mine, as they are wild, but I feel they are mine as I feed them and they seem to know my house as they are often waiting for me on those extremely rare mornings when I sleep in. Fortunately, they’ve scattered enough seeds on the ground that they find something to eat until I fill their dishes. Yes, dishes, plural. Plant saucers, actually.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two dishes get a finch mix, one dish gets a mixture of raw peanuts and sunflower seeds, and the last one gets both sunflower and safflower seeds. By the early afternoon, all the dishes are pretty empty because the lunch crowd polishes off what the breakfast rush left behind.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-keo58sTEHHw/YGjpGSJa-YI/AAAAAAAAHbI/hIAupnuW6vE6gEipwwMjTIt1S6MZbh5LACLcBGAsYHQ/1B15026B-C96D-4687-9B71-648D6A480225_1_105_c.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-keo58sTEHHw/YGjpGSJa-YI/AAAAAAAAHbI/hIAupnuW6vE6gEipwwMjTIt1S6MZbh5LACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/1B15026B-C96D-4687-9B71-648D6A480225_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finches in the bath</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I get a variety of neighborhood birds; a couple of species of Sparrows, House Finches, Doves-both Mourning and Collared, California Scrub Jays, and on rare occasions, a Mockingbird, some California Towhees, and a Black Phoebe have dropped in. I think these last three are more insectivores as they don’t approach the dishes. Hummingbirds do visit as well, but get their sustenance from some of the flowers I have and some Goldfinches have begun using my fountain as a water source and birdbath. I haven’t seen the Golds at the feeding dishes, so I’m not sure what and where they are eating.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two squirrels have also found my home and are regular visitors.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The doves, sparrows and finches go for the finch mix and safflower seeds, while the jays prefer the peanuts, as do the squirrels, but both also like the sunflower seeds. The jays and the squirrels seem to have some sort of an understanding about who gets to eat before whom. Bucky, the first squirrel to discover my yard is usually an early arrival, though the jays sometimes beat him to it. On those mornings when they don’t, they will patiently wait while he decides what to do with his peanut; either eat it then and there or bury it somewhere in my yard. I think he eats it then and there to keep the jays away. “More for me!” he must be thinking.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I find fun is observing their behaviors. The doves, sparrows and finches just walk around the table and in the dishes, occasionally nudging at someone to get out of the way. The squirrels and jays will get the peanuts and sometimes eat them at the table, on the fence, in one of the trees or bury them in the yard. I’ve noticed up to four jays at one time and even among them, they have a pecking order. While one jay is in the dish, any other jay is waiting their turn, perched either on the back of a chair, a branch in one of the trees or on the top of the umbrella, sometimes there will be a jay in all three places when there are four vying for some peanuts.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it’s been interesting watching their feeding behaviors, I’ve made some other interesting observations. I can easily tell the sparrows from the finches and can identify the males from the females in the same species due to different coloring, aka sexual dichromatism. But, how to tell the female sparrow from the female finch as both are a dusty brown color? In reality, it only matters to the males of their own species, but enquiring minds also want to know. Thank goodness for Google, I can now tell them apart. I am also reasonably sure that Bucky is a male squirrel, as is Junior, the second squirrel to wander into my yard. Again, thanks to Google.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sexing the doves was a bit harder as the genders don’t have different coloring. Well, obvious different coloring. It turns out the males have a very pale light blue crown on the top of their head. They are also slightly larger than the females, but just slightly. I’m still working on telling the jays apart.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of male and female doves, their courting behaviors are hysterical. It appears only the males coo. I’ve begun to suspect it’s when they are ‘in the mood’ so to speak. He bobs his head and if the female shows no interest, the male will get a little more persistent and chase her a bit hoping to wear her down. He keeps cooing and sometimes hops after her like a little rabbit. It’s so funny to see a dove hopping. Bounce, bounce, bounce.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WQlDSXuLLI8/YGjoyCwYHrI/AAAAAAAAHbA/FRs3MEGYCo8MbN6fVk1fhpFpA8_WQFEdQCLcBGAsYHQ/90D6E98E-3DDC-4557-8070-398739C6EDDE_1_105_c.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WQlDSXuLLI8/YGjoyCwYHrI/AAAAAAAAHbA/FRs3MEGYCo8MbN6fVk1fhpFpA8_WQFEdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/90D6E98E-3DDC-4557-8070-398739C6EDDE_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The collared doves</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The collared doves are much larger than the mourning ones and a much lighter color. So far, I’ve only seen one pair with one slightly larger than the other leading me to believe that was the male. Lo and behold, once I looked up to see the larger one mounting the smaller one right on the back of one of my chairs. I asked them if they would mind getting a room, but they ignored me and finished their deed. I hope I get to be godfather to any chicks that hatch. The female, or the one on the bottom, disappeared for a couple of days after that, so I began to worry. But, she turned up shortly after. Maybe she was nestbuilding.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jkodDz6GVrE/YGj-Yx07eGI/AAAAAAAAHbg/5jaEexYfnqQdbV7_6GvGJMLnh7okVrmJwCLcBGAsYHQ/61F2B6DE-A7CC-4336-B0EA-2FA0C3622CAF_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jkodDz6GVrE/YGj-Yx07eGI/AAAAAAAAHbg/5jaEexYfnqQdbV7_6GvGJMLnh7okVrmJwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/61F2B6DE-A7CC-4336-B0EA-2FA0C3622CAF_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucky</td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bucky and Junior, the two squirrels, have their own issues. I suspect Junior is younger as his tail isn’t as bushy nor is his body as big as Bucky’s. But, I think Junior is nearly full grown. Oh, the squirrel squabbles these two get into when Bucky sees Junior going after the peanuts. Bucky chases Junior all over my yard and into the neighbor’s warning him all the way.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m also beginning to learn some of the birds' calls. There is the gentle chirping of the sparrows and finches that greets me in the morning hours. But every once in a while things get a bit raucous and it’s either a sparrow spat or a finch fight. Though what they could be spatting or fighting over, who knows? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is one other visitor I haven’t shared and is responsible for much of the bird splat I get on my windows. That is Cooper, the local Cooper’s Hawk. Coop likes to swing by for some breakfast, too and to the best of my knowledge hasn’t been too successful in my yard. So far. Though I have seen quite a few feathers on the ground but those could also be due to the feral cats in the area who also use my yard as a hunting ground as well as a litter box. When Coop swings by checking out the menu, all the birds hurriedly scatter and some hit my windows. Once, Cooper and Bucky seemed to be having an issue over who had the right of way at the top of the fence. I knew Bucky could push Junior around, but Cooper? Turns out Cooper had been lucky and had a dove or a pigeon on the fence and wasn’t interested in squirrel for breakfast. At least, that morning. Whew, Bucky, that was brave of you! And a close call.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8tGFBelTes/YGjpgWKUO7I/AAAAAAAAHbQ/zSonx7_wzJI2kPp02QE_62dcTx_oO722QCLcBGAsYHQ/504DF7E4-40EF-4437-A198-59879F200607_1_105_c.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8tGFBelTes/YGjpgWKUO7I/AAAAAAAAHbQ/zSonx7_wzJI2kPp02QE_62dcTx_oO722QCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/504DF7E4-40EF-4437-A198-59879F200607_1_105_c.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coop</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, that I’ve retired and the pandemic has kept me at home, I’ve begun noticing what happens in my yard. The more attention I pay to what goes on around me and study the different details, the more I learn. With the help of Google, at times. Perhaps, that can be a lesson for all of us. Slow down and notice what goes on around you. You may be surprised at what you see.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, if I can only find out who is digging the holes all over my yard at night.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, I do have a theory. <br /></span></p></span><p></p>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-59077754921461652442021-03-10T12:47:00.001-08:002021-03-10T12:47:57.268-08:00A Knight in February<p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akK8USE9iKU/YEa96d4mGyI/AAAAAAAAHYU/MG0A9ksHrDINaaHNLEik9XhtuTZFaytNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s293/radiant%2Bknight%2BS.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="172" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akK8USE9iKU/YEa96d4mGyI/AAAAAAAAHYU/MG0A9ksHrDINaaHNLEik9XhtuTZFaytNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w117-h200/radiant%2Bknight%2BS.jpeg" width="117" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Knight of Swords<br />Radiant RWS Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, we’re into a new month and it’s that time. Time to check in with my New Year's Reading.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-10862f41-7fff-11cf-4277-4adc6a8708f7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My card for February was the Knight of Swords. I have a love/hate relationship with Swords. It is the suit of the mind and covers thinking, reasoning, logic, truths, and communication. As we all know, the truth can be painful, just like a sharp, pointy sword. But, often we need to hear the truth in order to let go of what no longer serves us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or, conversely, we need to express our truths to others, no matter how painful it may be.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The knights of a tarot deck can be a bit tricky to read. They represent the age of an idealistic young adult; those who are setting off on their life journey after doing all their studying and learning as it relates to the theme of their suit. This age can either be a bit still tentative in their self-expression or don’t know their limits and be too forward as it relates back to their theme.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Knight of Swords represents a young adult full of fresh perspectives, ideas and thoughts with grand desires to express them. This Knight also believes that their truths are correct after all the learning and studying this Knight has done. This Knight can have difficulty accepting others’ opinions as also true. The Knight of Swords is often too quick to speak, failing to take into consideration what effect their words might have on the listener; therefore often coming off as brash or rude. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All four knights in the traditional Rider Waite Smith tarot deck are on horseback as all good knights usually are. Each horse is in a different pose suggesting speed. This Knight’s horse is at full gallop, suggesting this Knight moves quickly and directly to express their ideas; often, without consideration for the outcome or consequences. There’s that youthful exuberance. Or inexperience.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TbqtUmlxrbY/YEa-G4H9k1I/AAAAAAAAHYY/1WtnOVcKxMw-BZmjSB-_AE-WT7bG06mVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BA2EB627-CF0E-4221-B315-381E640148A0.heic" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TbqtUmlxrbY/YEa-G4H9k1I/AAAAAAAAHYY/1WtnOVcKxMw-BZmjSB-_AE-WT7bG06mVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/BA2EB627-CF0E-4221-B315-381E640148A0.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Knight of Swords<br />Grimalkin Tarot, (c) 2020<br />MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the deck I used for this year’s reading, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Grimalkin Tarot,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by MJ Cullinane, we see a cat leaping out of a tree after a bird. This cat is so focused on the bird that it has not taken into consideration what might happen to the horse once the cat lands on or near it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In life we sometimes get so focused on what we are thinking or saying, we don’t take possible consequences into consideration. We can also get so caught up in our own thoughts and ideas that any other perspectives are seen as wrong. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had an opportunity to teach my study group. Teaching is also part of the suit of Swords as it involves communication, ideas and learning. All of which are part of teaching. One person communicates their ideas for others to learn them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was teaching some exercises on using the Tarot to heal our Chakras. Our Chakras are energy centers in our body through which our life force energy flows. They can become blocked and therefore cause some emotional upset. There are a few different ideas and perspectives on them and how to heal them, so I knew I had to be cautious and just teach what I had learned and respect any other differing opinions. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words, I had to rein in my inner Knight of Swords.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In prior posts, I have discussed my issues with others' opinions regarding politics, the pandemic, what is safe and what isn't, as well as my personal approach to life; especially as I try to live for the greater good of all. Here is where my inner Knight of Swords would brandish his sword and try and drive his point home often without success as the others were operating in their own world and point of view. </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All in all, I felt the class was a success and was grateful for the Knight to show up alerting me to the energy I’d be needing in February. Now to keep this energy going more often.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On to March and another Sword.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtc9kccIx8M/YEa-G7BxmmI/AAAAAAAAHYc/0egsC-3-mak88dRBVs6amdxTDwZyCsFPACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/25B448E7-FD7C-49F6-91D8-06AF1CC2D5C8.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtc9kccIx8M/YEa-G7BxmmI/AAAAAAAAHYc/0egsC-3-mak88dRBVs6amdxTDwZyCsFPACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/25B448E7-FD7C-49F6-91D8-06AF1CC2D5C8.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ace of Swords<br />Grimalkin Tarot, (c) 2020<br />MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><br /><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">For more information on MJ and her decks, please click here.</a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-8367848594779207342021-02-07T14:41:00.001-08:002021-02-07T14:41:38.715-08:00Temperance in January<p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-al_gmkE43cI/YBdPxDTbvuI/AAAAAAAAHUk/l43EgFmKICgni80leLTw7TAZGEB08uTcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/janus.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-al_gmkE43cI/YBdPxDTbvuI/AAAAAAAAHUk/l43EgFmKICgni80leLTw7TAZGEB08uTcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/janus.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">January was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. As such, he is depicted with two faces; one facing backward, the other forward. Perhaps this is why we often reflect back at the year ending as we also look forward in anticipation of the new year just beginning. What changes can we make to improve ourselves in the new year?</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7b06db6-7fff-f4be-b35a-ee954d42cb64"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I pulled the cards for my New Year Reading, I wasn’t surprised to see Temperance show up. To start off the New Year with a major card suggests it’s going to be a strong opening month.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc_c7IarzM8/YBdP6SwzkGI/AAAAAAAAHUo/WIMYbkG1oaE_iL_zeQI8mRlaJ2bJtcfZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s302/radiant%2Btemperance.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="167" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc_c7IarzM8/YBdP6SwzkGI/AAAAAAAAHUo/WIMYbkG1oaE_iL_zeQI8mRlaJ2bJtcfZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w178-h320/radiant%2Btemperance.jpeg" width="178" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temperance,<br />Radiant RWS Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the traditional Rider Waite Smith card we see an angel standing with one foot on land and one foot in water while pouring water from one chalice into another. The positions of the feet suggest an attempt to remain grounded while in touch with emotions, symbolized by the water. I can also picture the angel pouring the water back and forth between the two chalices; from one into the other and back again, almost like a mixologist would do to find the perfect balance of ingredients for a cocktail. We also see a road leading from the water to a crown symbolizing our ego in the distance, suggesting that as we travel this path of balancing our emotions and groundedness, it will lead us to a greater sense of self. </span><p></p></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And that is the message of Temperance-balance yourself between two extremes; emotions and groundedness, strengthen yourself but don’t be either a bully or a pushover, find the middle of the road of the extremes.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I used another artist/tarot reader’s deck this year for my reading, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Grimalkin Tarot</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by MJ Cullinane. She themed this deck around cats. <i>(For more information on MJ and her decks, click the link below.)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In her interpretation of Temperance, we see a cat walking a narrow ledge across a stream of water. One side of the stream is calm and then flows over the ledge down into some turbulent waters below, while some fish are leaping over the ledge into the calmer waters, all in front of the cat. Yet, the cat remains focused on crossing to the other side, not letting the fish distract it. Understanding that chaos and darkness are as much a part of life as calmness and light is key to finding balance. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding and maintaining that balance will lead us to a path towards a solution. Yet, we can only find that path in moments of calm inspiration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6lyjYErZ4w/YBh1FEhdTrI/AAAAAAAAHVw/awWO4vrRhsAtFBKX9q2smUWBhj9wATBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6A7DDE5A-9DD1-4120-A4B6-7700765627A1.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6lyjYErZ4w/YBh1FEhdTrI/AAAAAAAAHVw/awWO4vrRhsAtFBKX9q2smUWBhj9wATBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/6A7DDE5A-9DD1-4120-A4B6-7700765627A1.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot <br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I found this card to fit January for a number of reasons.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here in the US we are transitioning into a new Administration from the turbulent waters of the prior one into seemingly calmer waters of the new one. It still is early in this Administration and we are headed into uncharted waters with our first biracial, female Vice-President. I am sure there are some citizens of this country who might like to leap into these uncharted waters and stir things up to test her. As a country, we must remain focused on the goal of remaining united, however difficult that might be at this time and not let those leaping fish disturb these new waters.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, this was </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reading, not hers. Or the country’s.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I found myself very frustrated and anxious earlier this month. Yet, I tried to remain calm, grounded and balanced. I kept focusing on what I could do to remain in the present moment and not get caught up in what was going on around me where I had no control.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I had to keep my eyes on that goal. I had to get to the other side. In this case, it was past Inauguration Day. I needed to see that transfer of power and needed to see it happen peacefully.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also had to maintain balance surrounding this pandemic and those who choose to still ignore what health officials continually remind us of:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wear a mask, and wear it correctly-over your nose </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mouth;</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Practice social distancing-six feet (2 Meters) apart;</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stop getting together with people outside your household;</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stay home as much as possible-except for essential business.</span></span></p></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With four newer, mutant, potentially more contagious strains of this virus running around (one was found each in Britain, South Africa, Brazil and California-though the latter is not as widespread-yet), I feel we are not out of the woods, nor will be for quite some time, as this is where we are with the common flu virus-new strains are constantly mutating to avoid vaccines. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet, I can only manage myself. I am prepared to wear a mask the rest of my life, if needed. With all these new variants appearing, I just may have to.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6mxRv3Qbto/YBgDCC0nhBI/AAAAAAAAHVU/gZh-mGcfgT8QTQH2U-8LZEu6WRP2ekVWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/noah-buscher---kD6McW60I-unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6mxRv3Qbto/YBgDCC0nhBI/AAAAAAAAHVU/gZh-mGcfgT8QTQH2U-8LZEu6WRP2ekVWACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h133/noah-buscher---kD6McW60I-unsplash.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@noahbuscher?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Noah Buscher</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/drowning?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also found myself drowning in my own thoughts. Particularly over prickly conversations I anticipate having at some point in the future. When, exactly? I don’t know. Would I even have them? Would I need to? Yet, there they were formulating in my head, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">just in case</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I needed to have them. They were also formulating in various formats so I could be prepared for any scenario that might occur. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my training to be a teacher, we were trained, drilled and reminded </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ad nauseum </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to anticipate </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the questions our students might ask as we prepared lesson plans. Yet, invariably a student would ask a question I hadn’t anticipated. (And I don’t mean “Can I use the restroom?” Or other such questions. I always anticipated those.) So, this may be where my anticipating these conversations comes from.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These pre-conversations were galavanting around in my head, especially when I found myself in down time or in those pesky moments when I am trying to get to sleep or those hazy moments of not being fully awake in the morning; those semi-hypnotic moments were we drift in and out of a dream-state. During these times, I would focus more on my body and its contact with the bedclothes. Could I feel the sheet against my foot or my arm? Could I feel the weight of my hand as it lies upon my chest? What about the weight of the blanket, sheet and bedspread combined? But, maintaining this focus isn’t very easy when you continually awaken between 2:00 and 4:00 AM, daily.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrkgnzR0uxU/YB2-ku1XuuI/AAAAAAAAHWY/s3QzLKR2Wo0ZVe1HajBEoJzCBvwVbdPvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/57E89DDA-0D54-4080-851E-7F6020B64305.heic" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrkgnzR0uxU/YB2-ku1XuuI/AAAAAAAAHWY/s3QzLKR2Wo0ZVe1HajBEoJzCBvwVbdPvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/57E89DDA-0D54-4080-851E-7F6020B64305.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Urban Crow Oracle<br />(c) 2020 MJ Cullinane</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her <i>Urban Crow Oracle</i> deck, MJ Cullinane refers to these types of conversations as </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘ghosts’</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, as these are conversations we wanted to have or feel we should have had in the past yet still haunt us. But, how can a conversation we feel we </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to have in the future be a ghost? Maybe they’re just a premonition, or a pesky poltergeist? </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think here is also where I need to invoke Temperance. I need to be aware that I may have to have these poltergeister-ish conversations, yet remain unsure of how they’ll go. There will be unexpected turns, comments I hadn’t anticipated and I’ll just have to deal with them at that time. Just like in teaching.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll have to be okay with that.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And keep my eyes focused on the goal.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maintaining balance.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6SidAaHazU/YBdR0SfjJqI/AAAAAAAAHU4/x23u58ThgSMg1N5DubX1LndHM5HNCWDWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/photoholgic-c1EbdHnxMdk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6SidAaHazU/YBdR0SfjJqI/AAAAAAAAHU4/x23u58ThgSMg1N5DubX1LndHM5HNCWDWwCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/photoholgic-c1EbdHnxMdk-unsplash.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@photoholgic?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Photoholgic</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/balance-scales?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/">For information on MJ Cullinane, her decks and her art, please click here</a><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-26029047718586497302021-01-24T14:26:00.001-08:002021-01-24T14:26:56.991-08:00Check Boxes<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m breaking one of my personal cardinal rules with this post.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-32067810-7fff-c7e1-c9b9-0707fb28e578"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7ZNxbRlDMU/YAtRmXORyvI/AAAAAAAAHTc/UqqkWvP395UpSrcXlkLvvRFjbC5-9vpwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/political%2Bdiscussion.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7ZNxbRlDMU/YAtRmXORyvI/AAAAAAAAHTc/UqqkWvP395UpSrcXlkLvvRFjbC5-9vpwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/political%2Bdiscussion.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clipartmag.com</td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m going political. Sort of.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve always felt political (and religious) views are personal as they invite discourse which often leads to heated discussions which in turn escalates into arguments and often disenfranchises families and friends. Someone once close to me voiced his opinion on same-sex marriage and we no longer speak. He also threw in his opinion of other aspects of gay rights, how we ‘behaved’ and some other political donkey manure and I was only too glad to walk away and respect my blood pressure.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past week has been monumental for the United States for a number of reasons. First of all, the departing of a tumultuous, difficult, and fascist president. Yes, I’m being too kind. I could go on but then I’d digress from my point which I guess I already am.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, here goes my political rant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m tired of hearing one particular word.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve heard it a lot lately. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To the point where I might scream. Well, only if I hear it in this particular context. After all, it is an important word.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word is </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I keep hearing it, and have been hearing it, with respect to Vice-President Kamala Harris.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kc3AOidNE3Q/YAtQQN1t2lI/AAAAAAAAHTE/-Uo4BCBAdl4HS3xeS3ZcYCc703sEceqMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s586/440px-Kamala_Harris_official_photo_%2528cropped2%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kc3AOidNE3Q/YAtQQN1t2lI/AAAAAAAAHTE/-Uo4BCBAdl4HS3xeS3ZcYCc703sEceqMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/440px-Kamala_Harris_official_photo_%2528cropped2%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vice-President<br />Kamala Harris<br /><i>(Public Domain)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want it to be clearly understood that I respect her, I am very elated she was asked to run and that Joe Biden and she won and were safely inaugurated this week. (Can one be very elated? Are there levels of elatedness?)</span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also respect Joe Biden for recognizing the need for selecting a woman of color as his running mate. It is about damn time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, I tire of hearing that she is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first.<br /></span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woman</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">African-American</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">African-American Woman</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asian</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South-Asian</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">child of direct immigrants</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many other </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">firsts</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can we attribute to her? Imagine if she were Jewish and Lesbian.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also want to be clearly understood that I believe this moment is long overdue in this country. I applaud her victory. I recognize her achievements and what this means to other children of color and to other young girls.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also recognize that we must honor these </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> achievements. Without recognizing these trailblazers there is no hope for future generations of marginalized people, especially the children.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was growing up, not yet struggling with my identity, gay men were often depicted in the media as sad, lonely, sociopaths, pedophiles, women-haters, overtly effeminate, a victim or suicidal. Or promiscuous. When I began to confront myself, those images were already etched in my subconscious. Those were very depressing impressions of what I was </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">supposed</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be if I were truly gay. First impressions can be lasting. They can be quite damaging as well, especially if you don’t see yourself fitting any one of those portrayals.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve also been hearing the word or remembering hearing it attributed to many other people:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ilhan Omar (D-MN) one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US House of Representatives</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US House of Representatives</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barney Frank (D-MA) the first openly gay man elected to the US House of Representatives</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harvey Milk, first openly gay man to be elected to the San Fransisco Board of Supervisors and first openly gay elected official in the State of California</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alex Padilla (D-CA) the first Latino Senator from California</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) first openly lesbian elected to the US House of Representatives and later to the US Senate and first woman elected from Wisconsin to either chamber of Congress</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Danica Roem, first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature, the Virginia General Assembly.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could go on...</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hbKmFWTkQs/YAtQQchqc8I/AAAAAAAAHTI/8kv0Y5NBNAQ5KLDDDNHpJfbFJSKS2YC_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1198/Shirley_Chisholm.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="804" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hbKmFWTkQs/YAtQQchqc8I/AAAAAAAAHTI/8kv0Y5NBNAQ5KLDDDNHpJfbFJSKS2YC_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/Shirley_Chisholm.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley Chisholm<br /><i>(Public Domain)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While recognizing these firsts as milestones, as historic, as important, we must also recognize they will fade from our memories.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two come to mind. The first is Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress, representing New York’s 12th District in the House of Representatives from 1969-1983. She also became the first African-American candidate to run for a major political party’s presidential nomination and the first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. If it hadn’t been for Ms. Chisholm’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Kamala Harris might not have had her </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hdcsdf0kyw/YAtS32wZSEI/AAAAAAAAHTw/6np3WpHLyXEL9O29LPiYXM3wHl4hieCJACLcBGAsYHQ/s575/440px-Charles_Curtis-portrait.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="440" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hdcsdf0kyw/YAtS32wZSEI/AAAAAAAAHTw/6np3WpHLyXEL9O29LPiYXM3wHl4hieCJACLcBGAsYHQ/w153-h200/440px-Charles_Curtis-portrait.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Curtis<br /><i>(Public Domain)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This second one didn’t spring to mind, but was the result of some research after reading that Ms. Harris isn’t the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">person of color to occupy the Vice-Presidency. She is the second. The honor of being </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> falls to Charles Curtis, Vice-President (1929-1933) under Herbert Hoover, which puts him a bit before my time. Mr. Curtis was born in 1860 in the then-Kansas Territory. As a member of the Kaw Nation due to his mother’s membership, he is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">highest</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ranking person with Native American ancestry to hold an elected office. Other Native Americans had held elected office prior and many after Mr. Curtis. Mr. Curtis’ father was of European ancestry, making him also the first biracial person to serve as Vice-President.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the election of Ms. Harris and her inauguration falling just after the Martin Luther King holiday here in the United States, some lines from his famous “I Have A Dream” speech are echoing in my head:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I, too, have a dream. I have a dream that one day we will stop checking off boxes to see how many </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">firsts </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we can check off when a non-white cisgender heterosexual male accomplishes something.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we can simply applaud their achievement.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That day is coming.</span></p><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGiuoGUQz_w/YAtSSOFmMkI/AAAAAAAAHTo/BAio2rapyYsz1BgGFgsP196XAUMWga6fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/kikki-starr-FQQO4iQTXYY-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGiuoGUQz_w/YAtSSOFmMkI/AAAAAAAAHTo/BAio2rapyYsz1BgGFgsP196XAUMWga6fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/kikki-starr-FQQO4iQTXYY-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@kikki_s?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Kikki Starr</a><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/new-day?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Photos of Ms. Chisholm and Mr. Curtis via <i>https://commons.wikipedia.org</i></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-44295713371282351632021-01-18T13:55:00.000-08:002021-01-18T13:55:47.208-08:00Trees<p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_dOsUtk224/YADfSXWm7XI/AAAAAAAAHSA/SBZAovYrMsIpCemeuHvLF1-fCoV4DhiwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6C356DE2-82CF-49ED-8185-4AA92EF73B25.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_dOsUtk224/YADfSXWm7XI/AAAAAAAAHSA/SBZAovYrMsIpCemeuHvLF1-fCoV4DhiwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w295-h221/6C356DE2-82CF-49ED-8185-4AA92EF73B25.heic" width="295" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several years ago I made a New Year’s Resolution not to make any resolutions. They are difficult to keep much past the first week, let alone the first month. Well, for me anyway. Yes, I know it has to do with making them attainable, incremental, and not to punish yourself for slipping up. As my Weight Watchers leader would say quite frequently, “You don’t total the car for simply denting the fender.” </span><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-83961a0d-7fff-25f1-2646-030d8f0189a4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead, I simply try to live better. With the emphasis on </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">try</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. That includes nutrition, exercise, weight management, etc. All the big ones. I don’t smoke and rarely have alcohol, so those don’t count.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I’ve added a new one, being mindful or being present.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve said before, I have hypertension and that can complicate things with Covid-19 and other health related issues. So, I try to keep myself as grounded and centered as I can to avoid raising my blood pressure. It’s not easy these days.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnDf-P2KGFc/YADfFWdmZQI/AAAAAAAAHRw/jsJOGPkDzYIVil9qELgCgrpLE0YhohS_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/26DA62FB-3959-440D-8360-E5F59B16CAF1.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnDf-P2KGFc/YADfFWdmZQI/AAAAAAAAHRw/jsJOGPkDzYIVil9qELgCgrpLE0YhohS_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/26DA62FB-3959-440D-8360-E5F59B16CAF1.heic" /></a></div>I think I’ve posted before that on my morning walks, I listen to my favorite music and focus on the lyrics. I have a mental sing-along in my head. I’d hate to scare any other walkers with my singing voice as the only way I can carry a tune is by transporting sheet music. Lately, I’ve discovered audiobooks, but being a visual person, I still prefer to read a book before I listen to it. So, I listen to some old favorites. I just completed a </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> marathon, books 3-7. I haven’t downloaded the first two yet.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, one thing I have also noticed lately, is that I’ve been focusing more on the trees in my neighborhood as they seem to be calling out to me. I wondered what they could be saying. Besides, it keeps my attention on them instead of the troubling thoughts galloping around in my head.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find myself entranced by the simple elegance of a naked tree. We get to see that part of the tree we take for granted; the branches. We forget they’re there when the tree is in leaf. Now, we can see the network of branches within the canopy, months before invisible to our eyes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shedding of the leaves also reminds me of the invisible support we all have. Just as the branches support the leaves of the tree, we have a support system we sometimes take for granted. For some, it is their network of family and friends. For others, it consists of their higher power, their intuition, the Universe/Spirit/God plus their network of family and friends.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TM5wmssDzjU/YADfGQI6ddI/AAAAAAAAHR0/Cvr22l385NUN7SP62DYxv21rfze4GzDWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/A7286C54-4550-49A6-BBA9-7245655662CE.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TM5wmssDzjU/YADfGQI6ddI/AAAAAAAAHR0/Cvr22l385NUN7SP62DYxv21rfze4GzDWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A7286C54-4550-49A6-BBA9-7245655662CE.heic" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To see a tree standing there in all its uncovered beauty is to see a miracle of nature. We don’t get to see what the tree is truly doing deep inside. It has shed what it no longer needs in order to prepare for the new.</span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can we do that? Often we purge what we don’t need in the material sense, yet turn around and acquire more. But, can we purge ourselves of the memories we no longer need? Can we rid ourselves of the triggers that set off those painful emotions? Can we control the thoughts that trespass in our heads creating scenarios that might not exist, therefore adding to our anxiety and/or depression?</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBMBfQ1huHs/YADfFHQv39I/AAAAAAAAHRs/ES25uvhFG3M81A78s0sivqvQAPzsOCYIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/14582A51-CB0E-4A10-8C15-472D88691887_1_201_a.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBMBfQ1huHs/YADfFHQv39I/AAAAAAAAHRs/ES25uvhFG3M81A78s0sivqvQAPzsOCYIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/14582A51-CB0E-4A10-8C15-472D88691887_1_201_a.heic" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I turn around and see the evergreens; the pines, the cypress, the ficus and assorted palms so prominent here in my neighborhood. They stand tall, often above the rest. Proudly grounded, deeply rooted in the earth, yet swaying in the breeze, their greenness helping them stand out against the blue sky and their naked cousins.</span><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">On today’s walk, what truly struck me was the juxtaposition of the deciduous with the evergreens. One so vulnerable and exposed, shedding the old to prepare for the new and the other deeply grounded in remaining true to its nature.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That has become my newest quasi-resolution:</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">try my best </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to shed what no longer serves me, to prepare for the new while remaining true to my nature. And standing tall.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All thanks to the trees.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess they were talking to me.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems I was listening.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmP9T9CWpSY/YADfHtqJm4I/AAAAAAAAHR8/bgtaSxOMhl0-sK93lM4gAiP0SN5X2C7vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B9B2E6AE-7EBF-49F4-A416-BB3D2EC496BA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmP9T9CWpSY/YADfHtqJm4I/AAAAAAAAHR8/bgtaSxOMhl0-sK93lM4gAiP0SN5X2C7vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B9B2E6AE-7EBF-49F4-A416-BB3D2EC496BA.heic" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All photos courtesy of Jeff Ballam.</span></div></div></div></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-20465066904180153822021-01-11T12:28:00.000-08:002021-01-11T12:28:36.653-08:002021<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVsuVIQqwo/X_vQil15UeI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/LMXfhDo8Hnw40Eqr6uaUJ6qQtY3NUyckACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E4CC1B4D-01C0-4C2E-B054-DBC688815907_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVsuVIQqwo/X_vQil15UeI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/LMXfhDo8Hnw40Eqr6uaUJ6qQtY3NUyckACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E4CC1B4D-01C0-4C2E-B054-DBC688815907_1_201_a.heic" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grimalkin Tarot<br />(c) 2020, MJ Cullinane<br />Photo by Jeff Ballam</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Continuing my newest tradition of drawing a New Year’s Reading giving me a glimpse into the year dawning on me, I sat down on January 1 to pull some cards. For this reading, I decided to use one of my newest decks, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Grimalkin Tarot</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by MJ Cullinane. <br /></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5be1deb2-7fff-23b0-acfb-3e918cfbbc67"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(For information on this and other decks by MJ Cullinane, click on the link below.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Glancing initially, I see only four major cards out of thirteen total, suggesting this year will focus more on more minor energies, rather than a lot of deeper lessons. I see only four reversed cards suggesting that most energies will be directed outward rather than internally. Six of the nine minors are Yang energy also suggesting more of an external, active, expressive year. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January brings me Temperance, a Major. To begin a year with a Major card suggests the year will start off with a bang, a bigger lesson. In the card, we see a cat walking on a narrow ledge with calm water on one side flowing over the ledge into a waterfall, while fish are swimming upstream. This would suggest I need to walk a narrow path between a calmer side and a more chaotic, turbulent side; keeping balance between two very different sides.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">February brings the Knight of Swords, an energy of going forth with my own ideas, expressing my truths. We see a cat in mid-lunge, focused on his quarry, the crow. How will the horse react? This Knight can have a tendency to be too focused, a tad harsh in expressing his thoughts and ideas. I may need to watch myself as I express my thoughts and opinions, making sure not to cause an upset.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March’s card is the Ace of Swords. What opportunity is presented for me for me to expand my mind? What learning opportunity is presenting itself to me? What truths are presenting themselves to me? Will I send or receive a message of some kind? What stand must I take?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In April, I greet the Queen of Wands-an energy of going forth to pursue my passion, a new adventure or to seek to accomplish a goal close to my heart. She is also a team player, as long as you agree to play by the same rules. Will I be working with someone? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May brings the Seven of Cups, where we see the cat dreaming of what it wants or needs. Dare I dream of something big or realize that what I see or feel is merely an illusion? Or am I to take this energy and expand my vision?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The King of Wands comes in June and adds an interesting element. The Queen and King of Wands are both about pursuing goals, passions, or adventures; yet, they come from differing points of view. Both are driven, both can be charming and use their charms to achieve their success. The Queen suggests a more emotional approach, suggesting a bit more passion in her approach and therefore, more drive. She is a woman seeking success in a man’s world, wanting to be taken seriously. The King brings the energy of a driven man, someone who sets his sights on what he wants or needs and strives to achieve it. His approach is more logical since men are more analytical. He thinks on his feet. As these two sandwich the Seven of Cups, perhaps the Queen sets the plan in motion in April, the dream becomes more realized or evident in May, and the King takes it further in June. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July brings the first reversed card, the Emperor. This card’s energy is about order, discipline and structure. He keeps people on task. Yet, reversed this could indicate I am faltering a bit to complete the goals set by the Queen’s energy and need to be reminded of my need to keep on task, perhaps by developing some more structure.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Page of Swords enters in August. Some new ideas are present and there is an eagerness to learn them. The Page may even encounter some problems from the Emperor Reversed in July and set out to correct them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nine of Pentacles Reversed appears in September. The first month I sense some negative energy, though not overtly so. The cat in the card sits comfortably in a garden, content in his surroundings. Perhaps this is the first month where some discomfort sets in. Will there be some financial discomfort in September?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">October brings a special card for this deck only, the Grimalkin. This card brings the ancestral energy of women, the ancient healers. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grimalkin is an archaic term for a cat and cats were often seen as companions, or familiars, for women-especially women associated with the healing arts, later to be considered 'witchcraft.' </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps, I will need some healing. Or, will</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I perform some? Other energies here are solitude, letting go, walking my own path. I find this card's appearance quite intriguing as it also connects with the Hermit's energy. As I posted before, the Hermit is about introspection, walking one's own path, and is my soul card. We often think of a hermit as a man, usually elderly and an elderly, single woman as a crone. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gn7EavLkJUw/X_xMzehMu-I/AAAAAAAAHRc/TpeeP4J-U6ouwge8UVbfFYAuorqRe-ygACLcBGAsYHQ/s328/crone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="250" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gn7EavLkJUw/X_xMzehMu-I/AAAAAAAAHRc/TpeeP4J-U6ouwge8UVbfFYAuorqRe-ygACLcBGAsYHQ/w194-h254/crone.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="background-color: #0a0a0a; border: 0px; color: #d8d8cd; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cailleach Beure</em><span style="background-color: #0a0a0a; color: #d8d8cd; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 14px;">. Public domain.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November and December both bring reversed cards. The Eight of Swords Reversed shows a cat trying to get past a waterfall. Cats are wary of water and this one seems determined to get past the water. What is holding it back? Its own thoughts, its own perceptions. Reversed, this card suggests letting go of my own thoughts that hold me back. I’m no longer restraining myself. Or the energy will be there for me to act upon it. The Three of Wands shows a cat looking off into the distance, wondering what is over yonder? Perhaps, it will be best to keep my focus on the present rather than the future, which being on the cusp of a new year is often the tradition of December; what will the new year hold? Nope, keep your focus closer to home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I add a thirteenth card for a theme. I try to use its energy throughout the year to boost the other cards. This year the card is Death. When I turned the card over, I was excited. This is not a literal card, yet metaphoric; archetypal.It’s about letting things die in one’s life, shedding the toxic. It can also be about transformation. I often think of a caterpillar when the Death card comes up. The caterpillar dissolves itself completely in order to transform into the butterfly. This will be a year of transformation for me, a lot of growth. Which is interesting. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Numerologically, this is a year of 5. 2021=2 + 0+ 2 + 1=5. And 5 is the number associated with change. Change is simply change. Our reaction to it is what makes it positive or negative. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year I will be looking at how I can release the toxic energies in each month as I work through the energies of that month's card. For example, what toxicities can I release to help me maintain the balance of Temperance? I find this card quite appropriate for January as we inaugurate a new president.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The energies are quite opposing this time. I have to find the balance within.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All in all, I like this reading.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It feels good.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://crowtarotshop.com/" target="_blank">For more information on decks by MJ Cullinane, click here.</a><br /></span></div></span>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-40521933080488844962021-01-07T16:19:00.000-08:002021-01-07T16:19:29.810-08:00Swords, Reflections and Mulan<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />The legendary sword, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excalibur</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, revealed the one true king destined to rule Camelot.<br /></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-823e3783-7fff-0b44-eed1-e7d53d064fae"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a scene in Disney’s animated movie </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mulan </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where she glimpses her reflection in her father’s sword. Earlier in the movie, she begins to question who she truly is and whether she can live up to what is expected of her.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-7F6rRNUrs/X_d6Qeks1OI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/c69xEaX1K9EMDM2XhdPyVCkyRqxYrr90ACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/mulan%2Bsword%2B.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-7F6rRNUrs/X_d6Qeks1OI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/c69xEaX1K9EMDM2XhdPyVCkyRqxYrr90ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mulan%2Bsword%2B.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, we made it into January, and that means a new month. And yes, a new year, too. But, that also means I need to check in with my card for December and maybe even review the year as a whole. I’m not sure I want to do that last part.</span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My card for December was the Ace of Swords Reversed. As I’ve said for the last couple of months, Swords is the suit of the mind and that covers whatever goes on upstairs; thoughts, reasoning, clarity, understanding, communication, yada yada yada.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aces offer an opportunity to seize the energy of the suit and proceed forward. I think of it like this; if I’m at a party and a server walks by with a tray of appetizers or I see a tray of them on a table, it’s up to me to decide if I want to take it or not. The Ace of Swords represents an opportunity for me to seek clarity and understanding or to expand my mind. As this is a reading for me, it could be an opportunity to understand myself a bit better. I mean the energy is there whether I seize it or not. It could even be thrust upon me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, this card is reversed. I read single cards as energy directed more inward, towards the seeker, in this case-me. So, yes, this month brought me some clarity about myself. As Swords can be, and often are, a bit pointy, some of the truths were a bit difficult to face. Others offered clarity.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCTFKEVjGGQ/X_d8tZVyMtI/AAAAAAAAHQk/SkrXB82bgE0ymeoLLLPrZLePFrjEzIk6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6CF37590-4FA4-4BFC-A772-661151302F86.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCTFKEVjGGQ/X_d8tZVyMtI/AAAAAAAAHQk/SkrXB82bgE0ymeoLLLPrZLePFrjEzIk6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/6CF37590-4FA4-4BFC-A772-661151302F86.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace of Swords, Bianco Nero Tarot<br />Marco Proietto (c) 2018, US Games</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through this pandemic, I connected a bit more with my neighbors. I’ve always had a good relationship with the family across from me and a more congenial one with the family next to me to the north side. My neighbors on the south side would wave but we weren’t that communicative and no problems truly arose between us. However, I did have to have some work done on my ficus tree which hangs over the fence into their yard. I alerted them to the date the work would be done and asked if they could leave their gate unlocked so the crew could clean up after they were finished. The woman who answered the door was agreeable to the idea and appreciative of my letting her know. A few weeks later, she approached me and asked to exchange telephone numbers and suggested we could contact each other should there be a need. I’d already done this with the other two families.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanksgiving arrived and my neighbors to the north very kindly asked me if I’d like a plate of food. I thanked them and said I’d already eaten. They made the same offer over Christmas Eve and Day, making sure they asked early enough to bring it over. They felt badly I had no one to celebrate with.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mother expressed concern over my being alone here in Los Angeles facing the worst yet of this pandemic. We are now in the stages where Europe and New York were at the beginning of the pandemic. Patients are being treated in gift shops, hallways, and other locations around the hospitals.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both my neighbors and my mother made references to me being alone. I don’t feel alone, I feel self-reliant. Does that mean I won’t ask for help if needed? No, I’ll ask. It does mean I can depend on my neighbors. And they on me. I am very appreciative of their concern.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, what about the public at large? Can I depend on them? Trust them? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was first single, I remember asking a gay friend of mine about dating and protocols regarding safe sex. After all, I’d been off the dating market for nearly 16 years while married. I asked, “What if the guy says he’s HIV negative?” My friend’s answer; “Use condoms anyway.” “So, I should assume he’s not telling me the truth?” He had no reply. That said a lot. That began a serious trust issue I have around dating.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That trust issue has been amplified with this pandemic. We are only as safe as our ‘bubble’ or ‘pod’, as I’ve heard it called. This is the circle of family and friends we associate with. We just don’t know where they’ve been, who else enters their bubble or who they may have come in contact with, therefore increasing the potential of exposing others. Can we take just their word?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A very diligent family here in Los Angeles did come down with the virus. They practiced all the protocols; masking when out, one person did the shopping, hardly left their house, took neighborhood walks, sanitized everything, and washed their hands frequently. Yet, they still contracted the virus. The contact tracing revealed that their teenage son went out for a walk alone, snuck over to his girlfriend’s less-diligent house and apparently brought it home to his own family. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--APfh9qAfNY/X_d6Qe54KFI/AAAAAAAAHQU/NZN5pwF15DkOOpbHht8gFBRnpOPkkeZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/restaurant%2Bgreenhouse.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--APfh9qAfNY/X_d6Qe54KFI/AAAAAAAAHQU/NZN5pwF15DkOOpbHht8gFBRnpOPkkeZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/restaurant%2Bgreenhouse.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find myself having trust issues with others. I don’t know who else is entering others’ bubbles. Not everyone is as diligent as I am. I also don’t understand how people can eat at restaurants, even outdoors. Social distancing is suggested to be six feet apart allowing for a potential cross breeze. Yet, most outdoor tables I’ve seen aren’t six feet across nor six feet apart. Several outdoor dining areas I’ve seen have put up tarps </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">around the sides</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of their dining area. This has now prevented any chance of a cross-breeze to catch any viral particles. I recall seeing a picture of a restaurant in Amsterdam which erected mini-greenhouses, fitting them with tables and chairs. This allowed for some diners to enjoy their meal “outside” while protected from other diners. The privacy and intimacy of the concept is great, especially since they are by the water. Yet, you’d best hope your companion isn’t a- or pre-symptomatic. </span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I sound paranoid. I admit it. Perhaps this is one of the more painful truths the Ace of Swords revealed to me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, what actually is the difference between being diligent and paranoid?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t want to get sick nor potentially infect anyone else. I have hypertension which is an underlying factor possibly making the disease and recovery worse for me. Plus, I don’t want to add to the stress and strain of our broken and beleaguered healthcare system. While putting others (especially, our medical personnel) first, I am also managing my health.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another painful realization that came home is that I have become so accustomed to my solitude (even my pre-pandemic solitude) that the very </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">idea</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of being around someone for more than a few </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hours</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> begins to trigger my anxiety. This will complicate any potential relationship.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have also discovered I am someone who has a hard time with people who don’t see or believe what I do. I covered this point in a previous post. I see things for the greater good of all and so should everyone else. After all, we are all on this planet </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">together.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Mulan saw herself in her father’s sword, the Ace of Swords Reversed allowed me a glimpse into myself. I am someone who:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has a good heart;</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has trust issues around dating;</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has trust issues around people who don’t see things for the greater good of all;</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has difficulty expressing his opinions and accepting others’ differing ones;</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has difficulty letting his independence down enough to possibly let someone in.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her song </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Reflections”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Mulan wonders when her reflection-which she first sees in a trough of water and later in some shiny gravestones before seeing it in the sword-will reflect who she is deep inside.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve been exploring a more spiritual path and discovering some intuitive abilities/gifts, I am also wondering when will my reflection show me who I am deep inside so I can learn to trust and better accept that aspect of myself? And eventually, myself as a whole?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I may not fully identify with her song; I mean, I’m not trying to be the perfect bride nor daughter, but the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">essence</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the song resonates very deeply with me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1_BtlAw4trg" width="320" youtube-src-id="1_BtlAw4trg"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What part in this world am I meant to play? I may not play the role my family expected; I’m sure they didn’t anticipate my coming out as gay, nor developing a stronger sense of intuition, let alone reading tarot cards. If I were truly to be myself, I may not break their hearts, but will they understand? And why am I coming into this aspect of my life at my age?</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">One last thing about the suit of Swords. As they represent mental activity, they can also suggest overthinking. Since the last three cards of this year’s reading were all Swords, I plead guilty.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s hope my reading for 2021 is better and the year is better, too.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve already pulled the cards for next year. It feels good...Stay tuned.</span></p></span></div></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-70990538948993249482020-12-15T12:54:00.000-08:002020-12-15T12:54:38.236-08:00Four More Swords<p></p>We're in the home stretch of this tumultuous year which also means I'm checking in with my penultimate card in my reading for this year.<p></p><div>November's card was the Four of Swords.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FyL4RjElA4/X9Qy13WeBDI/AAAAAAAAHOE/O7dLSQtWhWAZIP_zhMd0R0ZsyusKjq_sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s302/radiant%2B4S.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="167" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FyL4RjElA4/X9Qy13WeBDI/AAAAAAAAHOE/O7dLSQtWhWAZIP_zhMd0R0ZsyusKjq_sgCLcBGAsYHQ/w111-h200/radiant%2B4S.jpeg" width="111" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Swords is the suit of the mind and covers our thoughts, ideas, clarity, learning, communication, etc. Basically, it represents anything that goes on up in our head. When an abundance of Swords cards show up in a reading, my first reaction is that there is a lot of mental activity going on and most likely, overthinking or that some truths will be revealed. Needless to say, it is not the best suit to show up <i>en masse</i>. But, while it may carry some negative and difficult energies, every cloud has a silver lining, every storm shall pass, and all the rest of the <i>growth-from-adversity</i> cliches you can think of. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, while the suit itself can be difficult, not every individual card is. I view the Four as one of the nicer cards in the suit. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRNiMOXysbo/X9Qy84hpmgI/AAAAAAAAHOI/nG55EfUem9MGLqfR3Ngtq6Hd1xIxdYuRACLcBGAsYHQ/s295/radiant%2B3S.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRNiMOXysbo/X9Qy84hpmgI/AAAAAAAAHOI/nG55EfUem9MGLqfR3Ngtq6Hd1xIxdYuRACLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/radiant%2B3S.jpeg" width="116" /></a></div>We see a man in armor in repose. Admittedly, it looks like it may be an effigy, but most descriptions of the card state it is not. He is merely resting, albeit in an apparent mausoleum as suggested by the stained glass window. Tarot card meanings build from the preceding card and lead into the following one. The Three of Swords shows a heart pierced by three swords and the Five shows someone holding three swords and two more lying on the ground. Two figures are walking away, seemingly defeated. The main character appears to be smirking or gloating. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Three of Swords depicts emotional pain; I mean what other meaning could it be with a heart pierced by three swords, pouring rain and some very dark clouds? The Five suggests a situation with a winner and loser; apparently after a confrontation of some kind. The main character's expression suggests he won, most likely underhandedly. With the Four coming between the two, it suggests resting after the storm to gather strength for the upcoming confrontation. The battle may be over, but not the war. Aside from the possible morbidity of resting in a mausoleum, what more quiet place could one find in order to gather some thoughts before the next battle? Perhaps withdrawing within oneself would be an alternative.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAy0lN2z8H4/X9QzCECKsiI/AAAAAAAAHOM/ASHngr0DAZAnAJ3q0fHw8N4vuE6z0DPsACLcBGAsYHQ/s903/radiant%2B5S.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="547" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAy0lN2z8H4/X9QzCECKsiI/AAAAAAAAHOM/ASHngr0DAZAnAJ3q0fHw8N4vuE6z0DPsACLcBGAsYHQ/w121-h200/radiant%2B5S.jpg" width="121" /></a></div></div><div>Sometimes a card will appear in order to suggest what the seeker should do-some advice, if you will; use the energy of the card as a way to navigate the situation at hand.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I think I should have done that instead of thinking this would be a calming, restful month.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the Four of Swords' energy and the High Priestess as the central card and energy of the whole year, that's what I should have done. Instead, I did quite the opposite. My mind went into overdrive. I was overanalyzing quite a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found myself overanalyzing the direction of my life. Where is it headed? It seemed to be heading in a direction prior to the pandemic. Can it, or even should it, head in the same direction post-pandemic, whenever we emerge from it? Should I change directions? </div><div><br /></div><div>I was thinking of my finances which have turned a corner in a more positive direction and how I can maintain that positive momentum.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found myself looking at my connections to others in light of differences of opinions on both the political climate and pandemic situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was this last point that really hit home. I think I've covered that in a couple of recent posts. Yet, as the situation gets worse, I can't seem to shake it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still found myself to be somewhat judgmental of those who don't see the pandemic as seriously as I do-especially government officials who think it's' not their job to enforce a public health emergency. I am doing my best to help keep myself and others healthy in order to not overwhelm the hospitals or further exhaust our doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, and straining our beleaguered healthcare system, as fucked up as it already is, pushing it to its breaking point. And if I'm doing my best, why isn't everyone else? Do they not even care about others? And if they aren't seeing what I am seeing, doing what I am doing, and reading what I am reading (from epidemiologists and virologists, no less-not only the mainstream media) then they are rejecting me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I went there. </div><div><br /></div><div>And from there I went into my own personal mausoleum and withdrew even further from society. How much further can one go when one can't leave one's own house except for <i>essential</i> needs? One withdraws more from social media, I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just couldn't take all the negativity. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I know we all need to make a living. But, let's not get so caught up in making a living that we forget to have a life even given the difficulties that we're experiencing now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I understand one other thing as well. We all want and need a healthy economy. I agree. It would be great. But, economies do recover. Eventually. In time. Too slow for some, I know. Yes, we live in an age of instant gratification. And we don't like change. But, we did eventually recover from the Great Depression and the Great Recession. Both times. Even if it did take years.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, what if there are not enough healthy producers making or providing enough goods or services? What if there were no consumers healthy enough to spend money? How much longer will it take for the economy to recover?? Seriously.</div><div><br /></div><div>A healthy economy ultimately depends on a healthy population for both the supply and demand.</div><div><br /></div><div>Period.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, maybe the Four of Swords was suggesting I take a break from social media to gather and analyze my thoughts so I can then let them go. Hanging on to this judgmental attitude isn't healthy, mentally or physically.</div><div><br /></div><div>December should be interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Ace of Swords...reversed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i1s0XHBJOPc/X9Q0kPftHII/AAAAAAAAHOg/TtenwqhRiacA3ya2dZSRYHmNyfKxxDDUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s301/radiant%2BAceS.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="167" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i1s0XHBJOPc/X9Q0kPftHII/AAAAAAAAHOg/TtenwqhRiacA3ya2dZSRYHmNyfKxxDDUgCLcBGAsYHQ/w111-h200/radiant%2BAceS.jpeg" width="111" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>All card images are taken from the Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot, (C) 2015, US Games, Inc.</i></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-18490858576380427312020-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:002020-11-30T13:25:17.670-08:00Uranus, Mercury, Chakras and Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I find myself somewhat overwhelmed, maybe even disoriented, at the moment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>When I began opening up to a more spiritual path a few years ago, I started reading quite a bit on spiritual topics and joined a few spiritual discussion groups, to the point now where I am so confused I’m not sure what it means to be spiritual or what I believe any longer, except that I do believe in something; I'm just not sure how to define or describe it. I tend to just use the word <i>“Universe.”</i> Not in the sense of the vastness of the galaxy-type universe but in the sense of the energy that surrounds, fills and connects every member of the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms as well as the spiritual planes. And this confusion, doubt, questioning has been happening for the last couple of years. At least. </div><div><br /></div><div>Recently, when I read my astrology report and saw that Saturn and Venus were causing some turmoil in my life, I also discovered that Uranus and Mercury were also. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIpI5TLVM-o/X8MIGKTf4lI/AAAAAAAAHLo/zk-iafRrLdcEL7LuX--N_5xyueJ43REEACLcBGAsYHQ/s279/uranus%2Bplanet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIpI5TLVM-o/X8MIGKTf4lI/AAAAAAAAHLo/zk-iafRrLdcEL7LuX--N_5xyueJ43REEACLcBGAsYHQ/w129-h200/uranus%2Bplanet.jpeg" width="129" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Uranus is the odd ball planet in the solar system. There’s at least one in every bunch, right? It’s the only planet named after a Greek god, not a Roman one. It’s the only planet whose rotation is perpendicular to its orbit. All the other planets, except Venus, rotate in an east to west direction and move forward in the same direction. Think of it like this: stand still, point to the east, now start turning counterclockwise while simultaneously walking eastward. Venus rotates clockwise while orbiting to the east like the rest of the planets. Uranus rotates in a west to east direction like Venus, but due to the unusual tilt of it, Uranus rotates on its side. It's like pivoting on your stomach while moving eastward. At least we’re all headed in the same direction. This also means Uranus doesn’t have a north or south pole, but east and west poles. Confusing, huh? I guess we can say Uranus is the maverick, the black sheep of the family. No wonder this is the modern ruling planet of Aquarius, the rebel, the free-thinker of the Zodiac. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now Mercury is another story. Mercury was the messenger of the gods. He traveled to them to deliver messages and quickly so as not to anger them. Astrologically, Mercury is the planet that governs communication because of the messaging thing. It also covers thinking, learning, rationality and reasoning. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, what are these two doing to mess with me? Currently, Uranus is at a right angle to the spot where Mercury was when I was born. Astrologically, this right angle relationship is called a square and is considered to be a challenging relationship or “aspect.” Yet, we often learn more from our challenges than the easier moments. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KORTbt_f-s/X8MIGP18GII/AAAAAAAAHLw/8VQyOK5SPFkOv4Q-bp6x-Fjgbwk-FiguACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/merc%2Bplanet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KORTbt_f-s/X8MIGP18GII/AAAAAAAAHLw/8VQyOK5SPFkOv4Q-bp6x-Fjgbwk-FiguACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h112/merc%2Bplanet.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div>What does this aspect mean? </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, if Mercury is the planet of rational thought and Uranus is the radical, the one who goes his own way, right there we see the clash. Rational vs. Radical Thought. Questioning all that I read or hear. Examining my own beliefs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yup, I’ve been questioning <i>everything</i>! </div><div><br /></div><div>Except the pandemic. It’s hard to dispute facts. Though people try. </div><div><br /></div><div>As an Aquarian, I do think outside the box. I see the larger picture for the greater good of humanity. But, I can be a bit analytical, too logical at times. So, when the facts are there, I embrace them wholeheartedly, even if they are a bit out there. It’s the logic behind them that I see. But, where I can’t find the logic is with all things religious or spiritual, it’s harder to buy into. Yet, I still feel called to this path even if there are no clear answers. Or logic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or consistency. </div><div><br /></div><div>One person will express their opinion and another will post theirs which is either contradictory or just slightly different. I realize that within the religious and spiritual communities there are no “experts.” Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many divisions within each religion. Take Christianity for example. First, we had the Catholics, then the Protestants later broke off during the Reformation and later the Mormons started their church. While I’m not fully aware of any divisions within the Catholic Church, the number of different divisions within the Protestant side of the coin boggles the mind; Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Baptist, to name a few. Even within those groups there are sub- and sub-sub- groups. I am aware of a couple of different branches from the Mormon tree. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even Buddhism has its own different schools of thought as well, since various branches formed as Buddhism spread throughout Asia and then the world. Even those have changed over time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yoga and the Tarot, as well, have different schools thought. I know they’re not religions but this still fits my narrative. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know I’ve been a bit vague here; let me try and explain where this affects me a bit further. I’ve been intrigued by the chakra system and working with life’s energies. Even here, there are a few beliefs over exactly how many chakras there are.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to the ancient beliefs of India, the chakras are energy centers located along the spine running from the base to the top of the head. It is believed that if our energy is flowing smoothly through the chakras then all is well. It is also believed that should the chakras become blocked or overactive then we’d be out of balance and either under- or over-productive. Most agree there are seven main chakras along the spine and few suggest one or two above the crown of the head and one below the feet. Some even suggest there are a few minor ones located around the body, as in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lately, I’ve been hearing the term <i>Age of Aquarius</i> being bandied about. Yet, I recall hearing something about it back in the late 1960’s after the production of the musical <i>Hair.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkrxt-TJzE/X8LrMDv2_-I/AAAAAAAAHLM/ik8XAj97GmAOoNhG9PdzT0L1z3XNSx1DACLcBGAsYHQ/s664/HAiROffset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="509" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkrxt-TJzE/X8LrMDv2_-I/AAAAAAAAHLM/ik8XAj97GmAOoNhG9PdzT0L1z3XNSx1DACLcBGAsYHQ/w153-h200/HAiROffset.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Hair</i> tells the story of a tribe of young adults fully engulfed in the hippie counterculture of the time and fighting their conservative parents and society over things like conscription, the Vietnam War, sexuality, illicit drugs and hair. The depiction of these topics in the musical caused a lot of controversy. As did the use of rock music in a Broadway musical. Sacrilege! </div><div><br /></div><div>The musical opens with the song, <i>Aquarius</i>, and the line <i>This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, if 1968 was the dawning of the Age of Aquarius back then, how can it be dawning now? Has it dawned and set? Is it dawning again? What exactly is the Age of Aquarius?</div><div><br /></div><div>According to the songwriters, it is a period of: </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Harmony and understanding </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sympathy and trust abounding </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No more falsehoods or derisions </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Golden living dreams of visions </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mystic crystal revelation </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And the mind's true liberation </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Astrologers can’t even agree on when it is (or was) so maybe the songwriters took license with the opening lines: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When the moon is in the Seventh House </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And Jupiter aligns with Mars </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Then peace will guide the planets </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And love will steer the stars </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius </i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">James Rado / Gerome Ragni / Galt Mac Dermot </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC </span></div><div><br /></div><div>According to astrologers, the moon is in the seventh house for a short two hour period every day, and Jupiter aligns with Mars multiple times a year since astrologers have a few different ways of defining alignment; conjunction, opposition, and square to name a few. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ideals of the Age of Aquarius (according to the song at least) seemed to fit in with the hippie counterculture, and the civil rights, Women’s Lib, and gay rights movements of the times. Yet, it didn’t seem to stick, did it? We are still fighting for civil rights for non-white minorities, women still don’t get equal pay for equal work, and LGBTQ people are still being fired or killed for their identity. </div><div><br /></div><div>With so many different opinions/schools of thought in the various areas of my life; <i>which </i>Tarot school is right, how does one <i>know exactly</i> how many chakras there are, and <i>exactly</i> what is the Age of Aquarius and when it was/is/will be, what does one believe? Where does one put their faith? Their trust? Their hope? And these are not the only areas I'm questioning, but I didn't want to write a doctoral thesis on my confusion.</div><div><br /></div><div>My belief is that it has to be in the Self. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And with whatever resonates with me. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then emotionally detach from those who believe otherwise for they, too, are operating with what resonates with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Detachment is never easy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Therein lie my struggles. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, when Uranus and Mercury finally move on from each other in April 2021, maybe then I’ll move into a better place.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHrBHy0nBwU/X8OHUHfPTsI/AAAAAAAAHMU/oL-0Sxqic-UhbNmjrguLTUbNr6iGGPBowCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Chakras-Destination-Deluxe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHrBHy0nBwU/X8OHUHfPTsI/AAAAAAAAHMU/oL-0Sxqic-UhbNmjrguLTUbNr6iGGPBowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Chakras-Destination-Deluxe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Perhaps, I'll achieve my own harmony and understanding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-29011829895028188662020-11-11T13:18:00.000-08:002020-11-11T13:18:11.626-08:00October's Queen<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgaUkDW_IAc/X6nko8aSsyI/AAAAAAAAHJk/yEzXlLCbBFcMIy5IGTHkbsJreKwMCHjywCLcBGAsYHQ/s356/radiant%2BQueen%2Bof%2BSwords.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgaUkDW_IAc/X6nko8aSsyI/AAAAAAAAHJk/yEzXlLCbBFcMIy5IGTHkbsJreKwMCHjywCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/radiant%2BQueen%2Bof%2BSwords.jpg" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We’ve now moved into November, meaning 2020 is drawing nearer to a close. Plus, it means a new month which signals a check in with my New Year reading for October.</p><div>My card was the lovely Queen of Swords. Well, some people don’t think she’s that lovely. Swords is the suit of the mind and all that goes on up there. It’s also connected to Air energy and like the air itself, our mind is never completely still. Thoughts come and go like gentle breezes on a spring day or those powerful Santa Ana winds common to Southern California.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Even when we, or at least I, meditate thoughts will creep in and pull us away from our meditation. Or try to, at least. But, I digress from Her Majesty.
</div><div><br /></div><div>As I mentioned in a previous post, she is the Queen of her Mind. Any kind of mental expansion falls under her domain. So, she rules thought, ideas, clarity, understanding and honesty. Where honesty falls, truth can’t be far behind and we all know that the truth can hurt.
</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GglEAI_LtRw/X6sQMQK2hlI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/zVC45mI3PPkbG8ur1LBw59i0ixpHINVdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/The-truth-Dumbledore-sighed-It-is-a-8901.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="640" height="158" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GglEAI_LtRw/X6sQMQK2hlI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/zVC45mI3PPkbG8ur1LBw59i0ixpHINVdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h158/The-truth-Dumbledore-sighed-It-is-a-8901.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Just like a sword.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore both must be handled with care.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe the Queen of Swords is a bit better at it than her husband, the King. She, in my opinion and readings, can bring a bit of balance and a touch of feminine intuition or emotion into the situation to soften the sting, being a bit more diplomatic. Therefore, she would be a good counselor. Unless, she’s reversed.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Which she is here.
</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUG5yj1KilM/X6nkfgTip5I/AAAAAAAAHJg/5VgS3rMs_zkysS0B3faCFTYeNC01eNiqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CF0A6DE1-7F00-445B-9F5B-B050ADEB6C91_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUG5yj1KilM/X6nkfgTip5I/AAAAAAAAHJg/5VgS3rMs_zkysS0B3faCFTYeNC01eNiqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/CF0A6DE1-7F00-445B-9F5B-B050ADEB6C91_1_201_a.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bianco Nero Tarot, Marco Proietto<br />(c)2018 US Games</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>I read reversed single cards as energy directed inward to the seeker, in this case, that would be me.
</div><div><br /></div><div>This indeed has been a rough month in terms of facing some deep inner truths about myself and the world at large, rougher than I had imagined. I previously covered some of this in my post on Saturn and Venus, only to discover that Uranus and Mercury are having another intense moment or year which could lead (and probably will) to another post.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure if anyone is aware but we were having an election here in the United States. Watching myself react to the news and all the dis- and misinformation being spread around, both about the election and the Coronavirus, led me to seriously consider abandoning all social media (which I pretty much had anyway). Seeing and hearing of people blatantly disregard the protocols for managing the virus has caused me to seriously consider fully embracing my Hermit soul and withdraw even more from society.
</div><div><br /></div><div>But, what would that truly accomplish?
</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing more than a deepening distrust of people which had already been underway and somewhat underscored by Saturn and Venus.
</div><div><br /></div><div>And in reality isn’t very healthy.
</div><div><br /></div><div>But, I can only do what’s right for me, retreat when I need and explore when I feel like it.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I will continue my daily walks (weather permitting-which really isn’t a problem in Southern California.) I will continue with my morning meditations and Qi Gong practices with some occasional yoga thrown in.
</div><div><br /></div><div>These last months of 2020 will be challenging for me, at least on a mental level, as the last three cards are all Swords. Many people shudder when Swords appear as they are connected to our thoughts. We all know that thoughts can be dangerous as they can lead to overthinking which often causes us to create dramatic scenarios in our minds or leads us down paths we shouldn’t be following therefore creating anxiety or depression. I don’t feel all Swords cards are to be feared, in fact the truth shouldn’t be, as painful as it might be.
</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact the card for November is one of my favorite cards of the suit.
</div><div><br /></div><div>The Four.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Let’s see how this plays out. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnzjB8A47gc/X6nk9yyMzDI/AAAAAAAAHJw/A12nvddpPJkK1o4js-HFSAjwnqkVDjQ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s302/radiant%2B4S.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="167" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnzjB8A47gc/X6nk9yyMzDI/AAAAAAAAHJw/A12nvddpPJkK1o4js-HFSAjwnqkVDjQ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w111-h200/radiant%2B4S.jpeg" width="111" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Rider Waite Smith Tarot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p></p>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-65875049653079600792020-10-25T16:54:00.000-07:002020-10-25T16:54:10.919-07:00Me, My Shadow and the Hermit<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
<div>A while back I wrote about the King of Swords, a card I use as a significator in a tarot reading. The energies/qualities of the King are very much aligned with the personality traits of Aquarius, my astrological sun sign. So, when he appears in a reading, I pay close attention to where he is and how he interacts with the other cards to see how it might affect me.<br />
</div><div><br /></div><div>There’s another card in the deck I identify with, but in a different way; the Hermit.
</div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFmpBCxJRjY/X44XC8x_cvI/AAAAAAAAHHI/KtUkVpNvhTkxwh8s_dcrTCq6NeJpsKQjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1976/hermit.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFmpBCxJRjY/X44XC8x_cvI/AAAAAAAAHHI/KtUkVpNvhTkxwh8s_dcrTCq6NeJpsKQjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w121-h200/hermit.jpg" width="121" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>When we think of a hermit, we usually picture an old man who lives alone on a mountainside somewhere isolated by choice from society and seeking inner wisdom. He sees beyond the trappings of society on both a material and spiritual level. Therefore, he is also sought out by others seeking his wisdom regarding the problems in their own lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we look at the Hermit in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck-the “standard” deck by which other contemporary decks take their inspiration-we see an old man in gray robes with a staff and lantern walking along the top of a mountain. His is a simple card, uncluttered with other details, emphasizing his aloneness and simplicity of life. The staff helps him maintain balance and the lantern lights his way in the darkness while simultaneously lighting the way <span style="font-style: italic;">to</span> him for anyone who seeks his guidance.
</div><div><br /></div><div>When I first began my tarot studies almost three years ago, I took a short six-week class from another reader. In the first session, we studied the Major Arcana, one of the two principal groups in the deck. The Hermit falls in this group. The King of Swords falls in the Minor Arcana, the other principal group of cards. It was during this class, I first encountered my connection to the Hermit.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Using a strategy from Mary K. Greer’s book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Who Are You in the Tarot?,</span> (c)2011, Weiser Books, the instructor had us take our complete birthdate and add those numbers together. For example: 1958+02+11=1971. Then we added those individual digits; 1+9+7+1=18. If that sum was less than 23, we took the corresponding numbered card as our personality card which for me, is the Moon. We then added those digits to get a single digit number which would represent our soul card, in my case 1+8=9, the Hermit. So, the Hermit came to represent my soul.
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZZcx1tvfJo/X44XUNmumWI/AAAAAAAAHHY/jnTZ-7zzdXk24DGvQNQCrMrGGfqlUr1pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s294/moon.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZZcx1tvfJo/X44XUNmumWI/AAAAAAAAHHY/jnTZ-7zzdXk24DGvQNQCrMrGGfqlUr1pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/moon.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table><div><i>(If the sum of the four digits was greater than or equal to 23, we just added both digits to get a single number, or if the four digit total equaled a single digit number, then the card in question represented both the personality and the soul of that individual.) </i></div><div><br /></div><div>But this is about me.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I felt the Hermit fit me on that deeper level; someone on a path of deep introspection, pulling away from society as he finds his values are somewhat different than the mainstream, someone seeking answers yet also willing to teach others.
</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z37nODRIgI8/X44XOSwqdgI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/uTzKs70FfCof0y0MqpwIvdL_x2vrPZnnACLcBGAsYHQ/s302/radiant%2Bwheel.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="167" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z37nODRIgI8/X44XOSwqdgI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/uTzKs70FfCof0y0MqpwIvdL_x2vrPZnnACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/radiant%2Bwheel.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radiant Tarot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>My second encounter with the Hermit was also on that same day. As we were studying just the Major Arcana that first session, the instructor had us take out only the Major cards from the deck, shuffle them and pull three to represent our life path. The first card I drew was the Hermit! I guess we’re linked now.
</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For the record, the second and third cards were the Wheel of Fortune and the High Priestess, suggesting that the path of the Hermit is part of my life’s destiny and I will find my Higher Self in the subconscious and assist others as well, like a High Priest(ess) would.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I recently read the book, <i>Tarot for Troubled Times</i> by Shaheen Miro and Theresa Reed, (c)2019, Weiser Books. While these are indeed troubling times, the intent of this book is to help people confront their Shadow self. The authors describe our Shadow as the place where we lock away our fears and insecurities, our monsters and our demons; where we feel lost, abandoned and confused. They also go on to say we are only capable of healing our past and overcoming those fears by confronting our Shadow head on. The purpose of this book was to learn to use the tarot as a means to that end.
</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msLSTdlHt50/X44XJ0FrQBI/AAAAAAAAHHM/1EiuRJjgakcZhQPA47_Wes6NTU4ag1xBACLcBGAsYHQ/s294/high%2Bpriestess.jpeg" style="clear: right; display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="171" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msLSTdlHt50/X44XJ0FrQBI/AAAAAAAAHHM/1EiuRJjgakcZhQPA47_Wes6NTU4ag1xBACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/high%2Bpriestess.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rider-Waite-Smith<br />Tarot</td></tr></tbody></table>The authors recommend using the cards of the Major Arcana as archetypes to begin to confront our Shadow. Each Major Arcana card carries a message in its energy and using this energy and message can help assist anyone interested in facing their Shadow. Their suggested method of determining an archetype to begin working with was using the birthdate, which resulted in the Hermit for me. <i>Quelle surprise!</i> They go on to state we might not connect with the suggested archetype; therefore, we can choose any other archetype to work with if we choose, or even work with a couple at a time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For every archetype, they offer specific ideas for working with each one; an affirmation, the positive aspects to strive for, the Shadow aspects to be aware of and confront, and suggested actions to take. For the Hermit, these are their suggestions:
</div><ul><li>Affirmation:”I honor my need for introspection."
</li><li>Positive aspects: wise, in touch with inner wisdom, introspection;
</li><li>Shadow aspects: cannot be alone, out of touch with inner guidance, dependent on a guru, fearful of others, not learning from mistakes;
</li><li>Actions: Learn as much as possible about current events-seek knowledge, teach what you know.</li></ul><div>I do see this as an appropriate archetype for me to work with in beginning to face my Shadow. I will say I love the affirmation and feel that I already embody some of the positive aspects of the Hermit. Yet, I see areas in my life where I could use some more inner guidance. I don’t see myself dependent on a guru nor am I fearful of others, at least not on a superficial level, some deeper fear of others might suggest another archetype to work with. Perhaps there are some mistakes I haven’t quite learned from, yet. I have never been much into politics as I feel it’s a personal choice and decision. Plus, I don’t <strike>argue</strike> discuss well. I think I addressed this in another post. Current events might be a bit easier, but again, with controversial topics, it becomes difficult. I try to employ a Buddhist teaching or two: what works for you, may not work for me and vice versa; and a non-attachment policy is hard to maintain. Especially when I believe I’m right and my views/opinions serve the greater good for all humanity and the planet and yours don't. Or, at least I don't see that they do. I guess I do have some work to do, though not all of the work I feel I need to do may fall under the archetype of the Hermit.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, I feel he is a good place for me to start.
</div><div><br /></div><div>At the least, he could remind the King of Swords when to sheathe his Sword of Truth.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fYYnc-vu1E/X5IB9Ie93NI/AAAAAAAAHIU/B_Gs_vcp7O4uyOwjCXsLBwCe2YwaZk_ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s360/radiant%2BKing%2BSwords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="208" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fYYnc-vu1E/X5IB9Ie93NI/AAAAAAAAHIU/B_Gs_vcp7O4uyOwjCXsLBwCe2YwaZk_ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h200/radiant%2BKing%2BSwords.jpg" width="116" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">King of Swords,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Radiant Tarot</div></div>
Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918164754148666106.post-57110737250482895582020-10-11T17:07:00.000-07:002020-10-11T17:07:57.877-07:00Saturn Conjunct Venus<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9GwNspSzo8/X3-PmmL7D0I/AAAAAAAAHFk/c7ILmIM9sBkpPrZs6ana0isI8i_BFrDogCLcBGAsYHQ/s260/Dark%2Bshadows%2Blogo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9GwNspSzo8/X3-PmmL7D0I/AAAAAAAAHFk/c7ILmIM9sBkpPrZs6ana0isI8i_BFrDogCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h149/Dark%2Bshadows%2Blogo.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>As a teenager, I was interested in the odd, even that which bordered on the occult. The developing science around Extra Sensory Perception, or ESP, captured my attention. I devoured stories of the unusual, the odd, the bizarre. I’d studied a bit of astrology back then, but focused mainly on the meaning of the sun signs. I read <i>Dracula</i> by Bram Stoker and looooooved it. I was captivated by the '60s Gothic Soap Opera <i>Dark Shadows</i> and still enjoy it to this day. The old Universal Monster films were some of my favorites.<p></p><p>Yes, I was odd. </p><!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
<div>With my current interest in the Tarot and the astrological connection with the cards, I’ve broadened my studies of astrology. While I have an understanding of the sun signs and a beginning understanding of the ascendant and moon signs, I’m just beginning to study the other components that make up the whole of astrology: charts, planets, houses, aspects and transits-both current and natal.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn’t sure how all this could come together and what it could, or would, mean until I read a short astrological forecast report from Astro.com. I had input some basic data, then downloaded the report simply for the kicks and giggles of it. Or was it something else that prompted me to read it? </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FsMA5xjVHJk/X3-NxclobwI/AAAAAAAAHFM/nGnyymlXpl00jLc5VwrmaHtC3fw0RHTCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/stsci-h-p1943a-f-2076x1484.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="2048" height="143" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FsMA5xjVHJk/X3-NxclobwI/AAAAAAAAHFM/nGnyymlXpl00jLc5VwrmaHtC3fw0RHTCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h143/stsci-h-p1943a-f-2076x1484.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c)NASA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>According to this report, Saturn is conjunct my natal Venus. Sounds kinky…but what does that mean?
</div><div><br /></div><div>What this means is that Saturn, the planet, is currently crossing a point in the sky where Venus was at the moment of my birth.
</div><div><br /></div><div>But, let’s examine the energies of these two heavenly bodies before we get into what their entanglement means for me.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-bvYMqBOs/X3-NxPcdHfI/AAAAAAAAHFI/dafDp_uu5qElDjszKVcMJvZ4wNqtjNkjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1560/El_nacimiento_de_Venus_por_Sandro_Botticelli-db5b9bd26ad145dda7aa4773c12e3e71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1560" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-bvYMqBOs/X3-NxPcdHfI/AAAAAAAAHFI/dafDp_uu5qElDjszKVcMJvZ4wNqtjNkjACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/El_nacimiento_de_Venus_por_Sandro_Botticelli-db5b9bd26ad145dda7aa4773c12e3e71.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thoughtco.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>Venus, like the goddess, stands for all things relationship oriented; how we interact with others and approach love. She also likes the finer things in life and can be a bit materialistic, so she also looks over our money and our approach to it.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Saturn, the god, is believed to be the father of Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Juno, Ceres and Vesta. Like a father providing structure to his family, the planet Saturn is about restrictions, structure, constrictions and likes to remind us of our boundaries, limitations and commitments.
</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aufwDfe7vWk/X3-NwzwWJaI/AAAAAAAAHFE/r-n_JbE1iVYkc4Uyxq9eoZtqNEVHbagfACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/Saturn-413x700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="413" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aufwDfe7vWk/X3-NwzwWJaI/AAAAAAAAHFE/r-n_JbE1iVYkc4Uyxq9eoZtqNEVHbagfACLcBGAsYHQ/w118-h200/Saturn-413x700.jpg" width="118" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mygodpictures.com <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>These two will be dancing together through my life until January 2021.
</div><div><br /></div><div>So what does this mean for me?
</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, since Saturn is about limitations, boundaries and structure and Venus is about relationships and money, I’ll be a bit more introspective and evaluating both areas. I’ll be reviewing those relationships in my life and reflecting on the limitations and boundaries within them I’ll need to strengthen. I should also be looking at structure in my relationships: what do I need from them? Do they meet my needs? Maybe any relationship no longer serving my greater good could even get the old heave-ho. In short, I’ll be facing some harsh realizations. Very harsh realizations about relationships and money.
</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUxnkxk9Kik/X3-Nw8_xsJI/AAAAAAAAHFA/iN7aZUCZZVEi7yjCKCySGUK-UjbxyR4fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/planet%2Bvenus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUxnkxk9Kik/X3-Nw8_xsJI/AAAAAAAAHFA/iN7aZUCZZVEi7yjCKCySGUK-UjbxyR4fwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h112/planet%2Bvenus.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c)NASA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I find this very interesting as I’ve kind of been in this frame of mind already and looking at my connections to others and seeing who, if any, I should begin to weed out or attempt to strengthen my bond with by setting limitations and boundaries. What makes this even more intriguing to me is that these two planets first met up back in March of this year and that's about when I’d begun seriously looking at my finances and what extraneous spending needs to be whittled down. Just last month I began to refinance my mortgage which is giving me a fresh look at my budget and overall financial situation. Taking the intrigue factor one step further is the fact I hadn't even thought about refinancing until I had to take care of some other bank business and the Customer Service Representative noticed I had my mortgage with them and that current interest rates were lower than what I was already paying. One thing lead to another and the loan will be finalized this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fact that I was already in this frame of mind when I read this report startled me. Is it more than a coincidence?? Or are the planetary energies truly influencing me?
</div><div><br /></div><div>And that was only the first paragraph of the report. I wonder what the other planets have in store for me?</div><div><br /></div><div>Inquiring minds want to know.</div>Jeff Ballamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270705233790693187noreply@blogger.com0