Friend, Not Faultfinder

From the Gaian Tarot, the Four of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, Freya:

To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.

– Robert Morley 

It's no wonder we're not always nice to people - we "do unto others" just as we treat ourselves. The companion book states that the Four of Cups/Water is about replenishing our emotional reserves - a big bar of chocolate or a box from Amazon won't cut it. Indulging in those things might offer brief pleasure but that lacks the same quality and benefit as joy. Connection with others, creative outlets, and the marvels of nature are some possible alternatives. Freya invites us to love and reconnect with our bodies. It might seem like this is easier for younger folks, who aren't dealing with wrinkles and the aches and pains of aging, yet they also focus on every flaw. However, it is our bodies that allow us to hug others, to craft and construct, and enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. Our bodies need us to be a friend, not a faultfinder.

Two Vehicles

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert (now published by Schiffer). I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are the Chariot and Freya:

Lose your mind and come to your senses.

~Fritz Perls

This Chariot is a canoe, paddled by a serious fellow intent on his getting to his destination. The eagle offers the medicine of fierce attention, the salmon tenacity, and the black and white orcas balance and harmony. His self-discipline and focus allow him to avoid emotional triggers and physical distractions, keeping him headed in the direction he desires. While such concentration is laudable, he might heed the message of the orcas and spend some time in his body instead of just in his head. The mind needs the vehicle of the body, and Freya (Norse goddess of beauty, passion and fertility) suggests we appreciate it and pay attention its wisdom too. 

Before Closing...

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Goddesses and Sirens, 'Freya:'

          This King has his Knight and Queen to get projects up and running, but he is the Closer - the one who can bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. There will be challenges that cause his people to feel overwhelmed or tedious tasks which create boredom; he knows how to keep enthusiasm high so that the goal isn't abandoned. Freya, the Norse goddess of power and beauty, has been assigned the keyword 'irresistibility.' She's got something to teach this King - the power of one's sincere attention, one of the most compelling and alluring traits of all. One of my neighbors, a family with three kids and a fourth on the way, decided to sell their house and move to a larger one. The first prospective buyer was ready to close the deal, but he kept telling them about all the walls he was going to tear out. This wasn't just a house to them, but a home, but he didn't understand that. He was too eager to start ripping out and rebuilding. Needless to say, they didn't sell to him but to someone else who they felt could feel the love that had been in that house for many years. They grieved leaving this haven and needed someone to understand. Connection involves communion; it's more than a business transaction.

Simply Irresistible

From the Morgan-Greer Tarot, the Six of Cups:

What is the past but what we choose to remember? ~ Amy Tan

For some reason this particular card made me think of looking through a box of old photographs, and all the feelings that come up as a result.  Some I see and think, "Those were some good times," and feel grateful.  Others photos remind me of a pain or hurt, and I experience that same feeling all over again.  Then there are those (like the one of me in a bikini) that make me long for what I had and lost.  Memories can trigger all kinds of emotions; today I choose to focus on those that bring me gratitude rather than regret or anguish.

     From the Goddesses and Sirens Oracle this morning comes "Freya / Irresistibility:"

The keyword for this goddess made me laugh out loud.  At my age, I have a hard time thinking of myself as sexy and irresistible.  But the authors make a point to say that the Norse goddess Freya has something else going for her besides her sensuality that makes her attractive to others - her optimistic confidence.  Combined with the tarot card above, my lesson here is that the past doesn't have to predict the present or the future of my life.  I have the power to make new choices and change my behavior.  My decision to act with Freya's poise and assurance could boost my mood as well as my outlook.