Newly Defined

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Fool; from the Nature Mandala Cards, Radiance:

I will define my life not by fear, loss, or scarcity but by potential. 

― Saeed Jones

Open-minded, full of eagerness and excitement, this young woman walks off the cliff with confidence as she enters a new phase in life. How do we begin a new venture this way? Jones (quote above) writes that his single mom wrote 'determinations' on notecards, with an explanation of why she was so determined, and placed them by her altar. He writes, "More than the goals she’d write down, the act of summoning her determination with clear eyes and at full volume is what I continue to cherish and honor." What a warrior's spirit! Yet it also helps if we surround ourselves with people who shine with cheerfulness and hope, as the Radiance card implies. When we experience hard falls and encounter obstacles, we'll need an injection of their optimistic practicality. 

Choice and Effect

From the Somnia Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Spirits of Nature Oracle, Diamond (Radiance):

The hardest choices in life aren't between what's right and what's wrong but between what's right and what's best. ― Jamie Ford

There are times when we feel we don't have any options, and there are times when we are spoiled for choice. The latter can be just as challenging, especially when others are pressuring us, when we are under the influence of our emotions, or when we prefer an easier quicker path rather than a longer, more demanding one. It may be helpful to ask ourselves if our visions of the future are based in reality or fantasy. The Diamond card suggests that people also radiate a particular energy, whether warm and positive or manipulative and negative. Since we often want other's input regarding a major decision, it is important to ask those who will be honest with us and who hold no hidden agendas. As Sarah Dessen wrote, "The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the potential to affect your life, even who you are... "