Protective Gardener

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Empress; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Trouble:

          The Empress' star-like earring and a phrase from the booklet ('pregnant with possibilities') seems a callback to yesterday's card, the Star. While she holds the emotional reins in her marriage, the pentacle she wears testifies to her concern with all things earthly and creative as well. Like the soil beneath her, she provides a safe haven for things to awaken and develop. I'm impressed that a mockingbird (a bird well known for aggressively defending his winter food supply) offers her a berry. Even he knows which side of his bread is buttered. Don't forget to feed this nurturing, creative side, he reminds me. The Trouble card shows an apple with a beetle and worm on it. Beside it sits a hickory nut; unlike the fruit, its hard shell protects what is tender inside. It is easy to become so absorbed in whatever my 'garden' is growing, I forget to keep an eye out for the pests who would destroy it. Often it is not the outer challenges that can ruin all that is good, but the destructive thoughts and negative emotions I allow to wander unattended in my head. The nut's hard shell represents my awareness that can prevent a small bug from growing into a large bear.

Life Happens (Often at Inconvenient Times)

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Six of Pentacles:

In tarot, the number five generally deals with challenges while the number six indicates a return to balance and stability.  This man has experienced loss of health or wealth in the recent past, but now finds himself restored physically and financially.  The crescent moon above his head is a sign of cycles; he well understands how easy it is to "have it all" and then suddenly lose it.  Sometimes these changes come as a consequence of impulsive or extravagant actions, but other times they fall under the category of "life happens."  With the fickleness of fate foremost in his mind, he reaches out his arms to the universe, willing to lend a hand to anyone who is currently going through challenges.  The people he gives encouragement and help to may one day return the favor - to him or someone else.

     From the L'Oeil de Lotus this morning comes "Trouble:"

The insect and worm on the apple will soon turn something good into something rotten.  The deck's booklet emphasizes the need to take action now to keep what is troublesome from turning into a major problem and headache.  When stress has already settled in, it's easy to neglect or ignore a minor problem.  But the scrubbing noise that the car's brakes make or that nagging toothache is not going to magically go away.  Even if it's not a good time to deal with it, do it anyway.