Building from the Ground Up

This week I'll be using the Sacred Sites Tarot, created by Massimiliano Filadoro and illustrated by Federico Penco.  Today's card is the Nine of Pentacles:

Timbuktu - Mali, Africa

On the edge of the Sahara, where the Niger River flows northward into the southern edge of the desert, lies Timbuktu.  It was a natural meeting place for travelers and traders, "where the camel meets the canoe."  Over time it became a prosperous city of merchants and scholars, and by the 12th century, it had three universities.  By the 14th century, the legend of Timbuktu as a rich cultural center had spread throughout the world - amazing, since it started out only as a spot where a well had been dug.  This card reminds me that from perseverance, discipline and hard work, great things can grow.  With the right attitude, even something simple can be carved into something worthwhile and wonderful.

     The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Mana Cards: The Power of Hawaiian Wisdom, created by Catherine Becker and illustrated by Doya Nardin.  This morning's card is "Ho'oponopono:"

Ho 'Oponopono ("to set right") is a ritual to restore harmonious relationships that involves a mediator leading the discussion among the participants.  Truthfulness, a sincere attitude to right wrongs, and a willingness to listen intently is necessary.  Whether I am trying to build a business or a relationship, honest and non-judgmental communication between me and another is essential, and will hopefully eliminate assumptions or misunderstandings that can be damaging.