Intuitive Tuesday -- Page of Coins

Every Tuesday I select one card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for you?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week." I selected the Page of Coins from the Legacy of Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

Pages typically indicate change or a new message coming your way or perhaps a young person. Coins (Pentacles) have to do with the material world, money, business, training and education.

If it is a young person (either based on chronological age, mental and/or emotional development), it can be a studious, conscientious youth, one who is willing to learn, someone who is innocent and curious and possibly childish or child-like.

In selecting this card today, use your intuition as you read the following descriptions to determine what the meaning is for you.

If the Page of Coins indicates a change or message, you may have some news coming about your finances, your career or a new project. It is something that you will be excited about, even if a bit intimidated.

When new things appear, there are people who initially say NO and others who say YES and welcome change. Which do you tend to be?

The Page of Coins invites you to welcome new opportunities with an open mind. It doesn't mean you have to accept the offer or idea, but embrace the idea with optimism...at least initially.

What are the possibilities here? FEEL your way through this instead of getting trapped in your thoughts. If you feel excitement, relish it. Sink into the sweetness of possibilities. You can apply logic later.

If you open your heart to the idea and don't feel excitement, listen to the important messages that are there for you as well. Your emotions serve as guides to help keep you on your path...as long as you stop to listen and feel.

If the Page of Coins symbolizes a person, the person that comes to mind may be a student or apprentice, someone who is open to and excited about learning. Pages tend to be young (in age and/or attitude) and the Coin aspects indicate someone who is practical, methodical and dutiful.

As you read the descriptions above, which one feels right for you today? Your own intuition is your best guide.

A personal example...

This card has both meanings for me. This evening I complete my Yoga Teacher Training by doing my SOLO 75-minute class for my fellow students to demonstrate what I have learned. Because I am SO new to teaching, I AM the Page of Coins.

Over the past three months, I have spent a lot of time reading, studying, creating sequences and practicing teaching yoga classes. I'm excited to pass this last "test" and begin to teach students!!

In addition, this past week my three teenage sons went back to school. My oldest, James, is a freshman, which means he is in HIGH SCHOOL. The other night I knocked on his bedroom door and found him studying! I didn't even have to remind him. He just did it! My Page of Coins is growing up!

What messages does the Page of Coins have for you today?

Approach your day with an open heart and mind as you welcome the Page of Coins energy into your life.

Perfect Moment Monday -- Very Thoughtful

Each week I participate in Perfect Moment Monday, sponsored by the blog, WeeblesWobblog.com. According to Weebles, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect Moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between." And so, here is a Perfect Moment for this week.

The end of this week marks the two year anniversary of the death of my ex-husband, M, the father of our three sons. Although it may not sound like a great way to start a Perfect Moment Monday post, please read on because Perfect Moments can happen anytime, even in the face of grief.

A couple of weeks ago, the boys were invited to Grandpa J's house (my ex's father) to have a barbecue. Even though there have been some rough spots (being the EX-daughter-in-law), I am finding a new relationship with the people who I once considered my family.

I feel it's good for the boys to connect back with M's family. As my sister would describe it, it's as though the boys are "returning to the well." It's part of who they are and reminds them of their dad...with good shared memories, common genetics, etc.

When they returned home that evening, they each carried a pillow that Grandpa J's girlfriend, Toni, had made for them. One son turns 15 next weekend and the twins are 13 1/2, so they are NOT into stuffed animals or cuddly things...at all. But that evening they were literally hugging these pillows.

You see, Toni had used some of their dad's Carhartt t-shirts, the brand he liked, and made this very special gift for each of the boys.

Each pillow is unique and personal. One has a New York Yankee's patch above the Carhartt pocket, one has a CSU patch, and the last has a cowboy boot...all things associated with their father and what he loved in his life.

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing there may be one additional pillow for the boys' cousin who is just a year younger than the twins...and I have a sneaking suspicion that his patch may be The Broncos, because M absolutely LOVED the Broncos...a HUGE fan!  

As I saw the boys with their pillows, I caught glimpses of their father in each of their faces. M's energy and spirit was with us that evening (as I'm sure he is around the boys quite often, watching them grow into wonderful young men).

I was extremely touched by Toni's thoughtfulness towards the boys and toward his entire family, to honor the memory of the boys' father.

It was a Perfect Moment!

If you'd like to check out more Perfect Moment Mondays go to Weebles Wobblog by clicking here.

Intuitive Tuesday -- Eight of Wands (Reversed) and a BONUS card

Every Tuesday I select one card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for you?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week." I selected the Eight of Wands (Reversed) from the Legacy of Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

I selected this card just a couple of months ago. You can check it out by clicking here.

Some of the key meanings for the Eight of Wands (Reversed) include:

The Eight of Wands (reversed) can indicate anything from further delays to things feeling really chaotic. If you are feeling overwhelmed, be sure not to get caught up in the energy of being busy so much that you waste precious time or delay decisions.

It's not time to force things -- and I think you can feel when things are being forced -- but it's also not a time to dilly-dally. If you start to get stuck in the Eight of Wands Reversed energy (feeling delays or squandering energy), go with your gut, pick the path that feels best and move forward.

This is a perfect card for me this week as I send my kids back to school. The past two weeks seemed like chaos as we prepared for the first day of school -- buying school supplies, clothes, getting appointments taken care of, etc.

I have been getting tons done and I've been busy, but I also feel as though I've gotten nothing done. Perhaps it's a case of mixing up my priorities (what needs to be done vs. what I THINK needs to be done).

Since I recently selected the Eight of Wands (Reversed), I pulled another card today (intuitive BONUS) from the Messages of Life deck by Mario Duguay. This card is called, "Truth."

These cards are so beautiful and have deep, meaningful messages accompanying the artwork.You can click here to check it out or go to your local (metaphysical) bookstore.

The message on the Truth card is:

The truth is found within me. 
I listen to this Divine force that comes from my inner self. 
When I put aside my controlling mind,
I discover all the answers I am looking for. 
I am in harmony with myself and I welcome the love of God, the Power that will guide me towards my fullest shining radiance.

Although these two cards seem to have opposite meanings (Eight of Wands = Chaos, and "Truth" = finding stillness and truth within oneself), they actually have a very powerful message for me today: When things feel most chaotic is when it is most important to listen to my truth.

It is probably when I least want to slow down and tune in, that it is the most important that I do. Maybe it's that way for you too...

If I am to measure my life on the scale of chaos to truth, I have a feeling what is most important is how I perceive where I am...and not so much what is happening at the time.

In my Yoga Teacher Training, we have been studying Baron Baptiste's "Eight Universal Principles of Stepping Up to the Edge" from his book Journey Into Power. I outlined all eight principles in this post. The one that comes to mind today is:

We are the sum total of our reactions -- Things happen in life and it is our reaction to those things that creates how we experience our lives. Our quest is to widen the gap between the stimulus and the response so we are not reacting to life, but responding to it instead (page 40).

So, when the next "chaotic" event happens in my life, instead of reacting, I'll find my Truth first...and then respond. Isn't that the lesson for today's cards?

As for you...on a scale from Chaos to Truth, what is your perception of where you are? Is it time to slow down and tune in?

Perfect Moment Monday -- Brushing Reminder

Each week I participate in Perfect Moment Monday, sponsored by the blog, WeeblesWobblog.com. According to Weebles, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect Moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between." And so, here is a Perfect Moment for this week.

I renamed last Thursday, "Tooth-day" after taking my three sons each to an orthodontist appointment (we must be some of their favorite clients) and then one of them to the dentist for a filling.

With school starting the following week, I wanted to get as many appointments in as possible. It's so much easier than having to get them out of school during the school year for an appointment.

I was amazed and horrified at the orthodontist's appointment when two of my kids hadn't brushed their teeth...not even at the conveniently available "brushing station" at the orthodontist's office.

One of the boys (not mentioning any names) had had a couple of sleepovers in a row and had not brushed for several days. First I gave him a brief lecture and then listened to the dental hygienist give him a lecture and a demonstration.

My kids tease me about being fanatical about my teeth -- which started the year that I had decided to faithfully floss my teeth EVERY day for a full year. OK. So that is a bit fanatical, but my gums appreciated it.

So you could imagine how embarrassed I was listening to the boys confess, "No. I didn't brush today (or yesterday or the day before)."

The next day as I bravely entered the twins' bathroom (teenage boys) to put some towels away, I noticed written on the mirror, in BIG letters, the word, "BRUSH."

I guess that is one way to remember.

As I smiled at their teenage-ness, I realized that it was a Perfect Moment!

If you'd like to check out more Perfect Moment Mondays go to Weebles Wobblog by clicking here. 

Intuitive Tuesday -- Two of Cups

Every Tuesday I select one card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for you?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week." I selected the Two of Cups from the Legacy of Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

Twos symbolize union, balance, choice and partnership, while Cups symbolize emotions and feelings.

Marchetti's Two of Cups card is absolutely beautiful and may be the Minor Arcana's (aces through tens in the tarot deck) equivalent of last week's card, The Lovers.

Realizing that these two cards came up in a row may indicate that there are some great things happening or in one of your relationships.

In Marchetti's Two of Cups, you see two hands swirled around each other (swirling like the energy between two lovers), with a reflection of the man and the woman from The Lovers card in the chalices. 

The Two of Cups indicates a loving relationship, emotional partnership, kindred spirits, balanced partnership, joy, pleasure, romance and a happy union. It's no wonder I smiled when I selected this card today.

Here are a couple of interpretations for the Two of Cups if you are single, in a relationship or not interested in relationships at all right now...

If you are single and looking for a relationship, this card indicates that  it may be just around the corner.

When I was single and was having a tough time finding that someone special, one of my friends suggested that I create a list to the universe explaining exactly what I wanted in my ideal mate...and so I did.

My list was in one of my journals, which got tucked away as I moved onto my next journal. Two years later...after I met my DH, Tom, I was cleaning out my closet and came across that journal. Amazingly enough, Tom met every request on my fairly extensive list. Amazing...

Why not try making a list for your ideal mate? And if you've already create a list, why not review and update the list, re-activating your request to the universe?
 
If you are in a relationship, perhaps it's time to appreciate your partner and/or revisit the love and infatuation you felt when you first met.

I've found that one of the best ways to remember those feelings is to tell the story of how you met your special someone. How do you tell "your" love story?

Today...tell someone how you and your partner met (even if you are telling the story to your partner), and see how you feel as you recall your chance meeting, the feeling you had when you first looked at each other or realized that you felt something special. Where did you meet? What did you do on your first date? What other memories do you have of that special time?

Here's the story of how I met my sweet hubby:

My friend, Meridee (who is the woman who taught me to read tarot cards), had predicted a new job for me AND said, "You will be in a relationship space by the holidays."

"Highly unlikely," I thought.

She also described what this man would look like, including his build, the color of his eyes, and his astrological sign.

Less than two months later, I started my new job at the Chamber of Commerce.

Less than two weeks after that, one of my fellow staff members told me that a man who was in a meeting at the Chamber had noticed me at the front desk.

Less than two weeks later, I met that man for lunch, just five days before he was deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit.

We saw each other a few more times before he left the states (he was at a training facility that was four hours out of town). After he left, we corresponded every day via Instant Message. 

While he was gone, I found the list of traits for my perfect mate, and he was everything on the list. I also found my journal entry noting Meridee's predictions...and again, he was everything on the list (including physical traits and his astrological sign). Weird...and very cool!

If you want to hear the rest of our anniversary story, click here.

I LOVE to tell my story because I think it is extremely romantic. :)

With today's Two of Cups energy, have fun creating your "ideal mate list" and remember to be creative and specific. If you are placing your "order," you may as well ask for what you really want.

Or if you are telling the story of how you met your special someone, rekindle the emotions of your first meeting and embrace the emotional fullness of the Two of Cups energy.

And...if you're just not into relationships right now (and you've read this far), know that the Two of Cups is a card of happiness, harmony, and good rapport between you and your world (family, friends, romantic relationships, work, etc.).

As you can see, drawing the Two of Cups has several positive meanings.

Tapping into your intuitive voice, what does the Two of Cups mean for you?

Perfect Moment Monday -- New York Style

Me and the boys walking to Times Square

Each week I participate in Perfect Moment Monday, sponsored by the blog, WeeblesWobblog.com. According to Weebles, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect Moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between." And so, here is a Perfect Moment for this week.

I recently attended BlogHer 2010 in New York City (which was very cool) AND my family got to come with me.

BlogHer is a blogging conference where hundreds of bloggers meet to share best practices, learn new strategies and techniques, and meet old friends face-to-face, sometimes for the first time.

I visited The Big Apple in 1993 (and even toured the observation deck in one of the Twin Towers), but my DH, Tom, and the boys had never been there.

We had reservations at one of the YMCA facilities, but after two nights we found that being split into two rooms with uncomfortably hard twin beds, the community bathrooms (which reminded me of my college dormitory -- except for messier and smaller), and the pool being unavailable most of the time, prompted us to see what else was available (within a certain price range).

For less than $20 per night additional, we found a nice hotel that had a room that would fit all five of us, a pool on the penthouse floor, and was still centrally located. Checking out of the Y and into the hotel was a Perfect Moment in and of itself.

In fact, the week was FULL of Perfect Moments. Here are just a few:

Looking Up at the Empire State Building

• When my sister, Lavender Luz (aka Lori Holden), and I registered for the conference, we were greeted by a poster that featured her blog, Weebles Wobblog, as one of the top ten Must Read Mom Bloggers in Parenting Magazine. Sitting on the counter were advanced copies of the magazine that included Luz's photo and a post she had written specifically for the magazine. Wow!
• Seeing my family enjoy the big city was a collection of Perfect Moments. Learning how to navigate the subway system was an adventure. We had several very nice New Yorkers stop to help us out. We saw interesting people in the subway system and figured out how to get everywhere we wanted to go in the city (without taking a cab).
• We enjoyed several attractions including the Empire State Building, a city bus tour, a ferry tour that took us near the Statue of Liberty, Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and several nights of Sushi (among other great attractions and delicious dining). 
• My hubby and I ran in Central Park (beautiful) and along the Hudson River shore trail. Even though it was very hot and humid, it was great running in the city, not to mention the benefits of running at sea level!
• The SURPRISE of the trip was getting tickets for the NY Yankees vs. Red Sox game. You see, our sons LOVE the Yankees. My sister's family members (who were also in NY), are die-hard Red Sox fans. The Not So Perfect Moment (for the boys) was that the Red Sox won that game, but they got to see a great night of baseball (and the Yankees won the next two games of the series).
  

The entire week was full of Perfect Moments...so much so that it was hard to capture them all.

Me and Whoopie at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

And best of all...no matter how much fun we had...it was also GREAT to come home.

Our New York trip was Perfect all the way around!

If you'd like to check out more Perfect Moment Mondays go to Weebles Wobblog by clicking here.

Intuitive Tuesday -- The Lovers

Every Tuesday I select one card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for you?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week." I selected The Lovers from the Legacy of Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

The Lovers card is a Major Arcana card, which can indicate a more spiritual, life lesson. It typically symbolizes either love and partnership or a choice between two alternatives.

When referring to love, the Lovers card indicates love, sharing, trust between two people, a partnership, harmony, relationships, or a union of opposites.

If indicating a choice between alternatives, you may be presented with two divergent paths, or may be sensing duality in your life or possibly being put to the test or feeling temptation. In this case, the Lovers could indicate that you are facing a crucial life decision and must decide which path to follow.

A third meaning may be a combination of the two -- love and decision, which might be deciding between being in or getting into a relationship (romantic, friendship, business, etc.) or getting out of it.

I have a feeling that as you read the various meanings for this card, you have a pretty good idea what it means for you. Explore your intuitive thoughts to see what's here for you.

I get a hit that this may have to do with indecision. So many of my life coaching and tarot clients come in struggling with a decision that they are facing.

If this is where you find yourself, I urge you to sit with the decision. Feel the "useful tension" as you stand in the space of not knowing. If you've been beating yourself up to make a decision, relax and decide not to decide -- at least for now.

I'm not encouraging you to let this feeling of limbo continue indefinitely, but sometimes when we feel pressure to decide, it can turn into a logical decision instead of an intuitive one.

In your self-imposed limbo state, perhaps ask for directions and guidance from the universe as you allow the answers to come to you. You can ask for information to come to you in songs, messages on billboards, or simply by opening your mind and heart through meditation.

Even if you feel pressure to make a choice...ask for guidance and be patient as the answers come. You may find that as you take small intuitive steps forward, the next best step is easier to see. This will hopefully create less pressure and more movement.

And then, move forward intuitively, knowing that you don't have to decide the whole enchilada, only the first/next step. Then listen again and take another step (repeat as necessary).

Perfect Moment Monday -- Friendly Rivalries

Each week I participate in Perfect Moment Monday, sponsored by the blog, WeeblesWobblog.com. According to Weebles, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect Moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between." And so, here is a Perfect Moment for this week.

One great blessing in my life is having great neighbors. We couldn't have selected a better family to live next door.

• We have three teenage boys...and so do they.

• We have no daughters...and neither do they.

• We have good, strong family values...and so do they.

I warmly refer to them as our extended family, our "village."

We get along with each other on almost everything...except one very important topic -- college sports.

You see, my hubby, Tom, is a graduate of Michigan State University. Our neighbor, Steve, is a Michigan alum.

We each have a flagpole on our properties, which most times during the year proudly display the American flag.

But on certain occasions (depending on which sports season it is), one or the other (or both) flagpoles have one of the school flags flying high.

Steve's sign.

Tom's "addition" to the sign.

Steve's "addition" to the "addition"

Steve just returned from a trip to Michigan with his family and came home with some Michigan Memorobilia.

After driving 22 hours straight, getting less than seven hours of sleep, Steve got up to hang a Michigan sign on the fence that greets people onto our property.

Of course, my husband loved/hated the sign.

Minutes after Tom got home, Steve brought over a t-shirt in the MSU Spartan colors that says, "Beat the Wolverines." Steve has a similar shirt that says something about the Spartans.

This morning I heard Tom busy doing something in the kitchen. As he walked out the door, he held in his hand a cardboard sign that said, "Go Green! Go White" (MSU Spartan colors!).

He proceeded to sneak over to the neighbor's fence and cover up the Michigan sign.

Very sneaky!  I'm sure Steve will have NO idea where it came from.

The kicker...this fall Michigan plays MSU in football and the deal is that whichever team wins, the neighbor who was rooting for the losing team has to hang the rival's flag for a full week.

So, even if you don't follow Michigan and MSU, you may know who won the game, simply by driving by our houses.

In the words of my husband..."GAME ON!"

I smiled because it reminded me of how lucky we are to have great neighbors!

Perfect...


If you'd like to check out more Perfect Moment Mondays go to Weebles Wobblog by clicking here.

Intuitive Tuesday -- King of Cups

Every Tuesday I select one card and give you my interpretation of it. See how it applies to your life and ask, "What messages are here for you?"

As I shuffled the cards to select this week's Intuitive Tuesday tarot card, I said, "Tell me what messages I need to bring to my readers this week." I selected the King of Cups from the Legacy of Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

The King of Cups is a Court Card (like the Jack, Queen and King in a regular deck of cards).

Tarot Court Cards can have several meanings including -- a feeling or description of a situation; a person in your life; or a characteristic that you have.

If today's card points to a feeling or description of a situation, the King of Cups is a card of being compassionate, kind, loving, generous, wise and kind. 

If the card describes a trait that you have or someone in your life has, it is a person who is nurturing, diplomatic, loving, successful, compassionate, protective, caring, a good friend or lover.
When I pull this card, most often it refers to my DH, Tom, or my father. Remember that Cups symbolize emotions and feelings, so this is a person who is strong, loving and nurturing, and is unafraid to show emotions.

If you'd like more information on the King of Cups, click here.
 
Selecting the King of Cups reminds me of something I am learning in my Yoga Teacher Training. In addition to exploring the asanas (poses), I find that I'm equally interested in the philosophy behind yoga. This aspect of yoga is quite spiritual to me and complements my other spiritual and religious beliefs.

We recently had a guest lecture on the eight limbs of yoga. One of the limbs is the Yamas (or universal morality/principles) of which there are five:

• Ahimsa -- Compassion for all living things
• Satya -- Commitment to truthfulness
• Asteya -- Non-stealing
• Brahmacharya -- Sense control
• Aparigraha -- Neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth (non-greediness)

Ahimsa means to not injure or show cruelty to any person or creature in any way . It also means kindness, friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things.

As I pulled today's King of Cups, it was a gentle reminder to find compassion for people, creatures, things and situations in my life. I consider myself a compassionate person, but perhaps this is inviting me to go above and beyond my normal level of compassion and possibly go out of my way to be loving and kind.

I'm curious. What does this card mean for you today?

Perfect Moment Monday -- Outdoor Concert Magic

View from my seat at the Carrie Rodriguez concert. CLOSE

Each week I participate in Perfect Moment Monday, sponsored by the blog, WeeblesWobblog.com. According to Weebles, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect Moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between." And so, here is a Perfect Moment for this week.

Think about listening to an extremely talented musician with a beautiful voice with the Colorado Monument and a beautiful sunset in the background. Add in a very sweet hubby, one teenage son, and some really great friends and you have the makings for a Perfect Moment Monday post.

Earlier this year, I got to see Carrie Rodriguez perform as the opening act for Los Lonely Boys. She was AWESOME!

When I heard that she was part of this summer's Riverfront Commission's outdoor concert series, I was delighted!

The weather was beautiful, our friends set up our chairs on the lawn about 15 rows from the front of the stage. And, because we know (important) people who know (important) people, we even got to meet Carrie and her band backstage.

Me and my friends Loralie and Daun. GREAT FRIENDS. GOOD TIMES!

My son, Bryce, Carrie Rodriguez and me BACKSTAGE before the concert! TOO COOL!

My sweet DH, Tom and I. I LOVE THIS MAN!

 Sunset during concert to the right of the stage. FABULOUS!

View just left of the stage. BEAUTIFUL!

It was a full four hours of Perfect Moments!

If you'd like to check out more Perfect Moment Mondays go to Weebles Wobblog by clicking here.