Single Card Reading 8 July 2015--Ten of Cups (upright)

Happy Wednesday to everyone! My deck surprised me with a nice little card today that I am ecstatic to share with you all!

I drew one of the most marvelous well-meaning cards I believe the tarot deck has to offer--the Ten of Cups! Now, if we were to think of the numbers one through ten as different parts of life's story, one would be the beginning of the story (much like The Fool in the Major Arcana), and ten would be the happy ending, when everything finally works itself out (much like The World). Usually the completion of any cycle is marked by enlightenment, leading to a more fulfilling life as a result. The ten card can mean completion of goals, ideals, spiritual accomplishment, or any triumph during the story the cards tell us.

Unlike what this card might allude, my day hasn't been all that stupendous. Today was somewhat stressful for me (at least it began that way) with an argument between my mother and I. My little sister received some disturbing news that could very well change her college experience for the worst. My father and mother are both crazy worried about her as a result. All of this does bother me, yes. But I've done my time.

The college life is not my battle to face anymore . . . I have my life at Fort Lee, Virginia to look forward to, a new apartment to live in, and a whole life just waiting for me to start living it. I often think out of my entire family, only I have found peace and joy in my life at present. And sometimes that is just how life happens sometimes; in no way do I feel guilty or unhappy because of my victories in life so far. I just have to be aware that I can help my family out with their issues by being positive and not feeding the negative environment around me.

I have found that even my religious quarrel I have with myself every now and then has slowly passed on, taking with it any new fears I might have had about moving forward with my development. This card makes me feel fearless, that all my time in conflict with myself and in conflict with others have been in order for me to enjoy this single moment. I look forward to my day a little more than I did earlier this morning.

Hearkening back to what I spoke about yesterday, for every heavily developed issue with a lot of conflict has to have its resolution in the end, much like what this card offers. In addition, the tougher the conflict might seem, the better that individual is for suffering through it. I have no doubt this card is a reference not only to me and my accomplishments, but a future result of my family's hardship which I look forward to in eagerness.

As you may see, everything in this card alludes to positivity, joy, posterity and harmony on several levels, particularly through the symbolism. Two individuals that share life's gift of love grasp each other in a loving and caring gesture. They appear to have everything a couple could ever want--kids happily playing with each other, a small house in the distance to provide comfortable living, and fertile land to live on with an abundance of trees and a flowing river that steadily travels through the land before them. This particular river is not unusually strong, in turmoil, or experiencing any dramatic friction like a rock or tree limb. This represents the harmonic flowing of emotion between each member of the joyous family (since water typically represents the subconsciousness or deep emotion). In the sky hangs a rainbow which bears the ten cups.

Rainbows are symbols saturated with spiritual, emotional and physical meanings. These marvelous creations have been used to show heavenly approval or compliance with current events, much like after the great flood there was a rainbow to demonstrate God's promise to man in the Christian religion. Also, rainbows are said to house gold in the Celtic tradition, particularly the Irish. When everything is emotionally correct with the world, a tell tale symbol would be a rainbow, often at the end of movies or books when an emotional resolution is met and any conflict resolved.

With all this great symbolism to allude to a positive lifestyle, this card seems to be the greatest message that the recipient has a lot to be thankful for. Take time out of your day and recognize all that you have achieved in this life. Not only have you achieved in the past and are constantly moving forward in the present, but the future is bound to be good and well-lived. You are marked and protected by a great force that deems you to be proper and ready for blessing.

And receive your blessings with open arms! Not only have you worked hard to get here, but your effort is being realized in the boons bestowed upon you. Thank the people that have loved you and supported you during your entire journey. Reflect on those you want to reconnect with, the bonds of life that have made you spiritually and emotionally strong. And don't forget to pat yourself on the back for all you have done for yourself--as much as your family and friends might have helped you, it wasn't their help that made you succeed, but the undeniable courage and determination in your heart that has made you the spark in night you prove to be. Keep up the good work!

Single Card Reading 7 July 2015--Five of Swords (reversed)

Happy Tuesday everyone! I'm back in town from my motor home trip and have decidedly sat down among the scent of books and quiet of hardworking people at the library. Here, there exists a nostalgic place full of warmth and new experiences, hearkening back to a day and age where I was a little girl simply checking out books to read from the children's section. I felt drawn to this place since the day I got my first library card, and have had fond memories of it ever since.

How apt to do a card reading here amidst all the friendly thoughts and experiences that are housed in these ancient walls.

In the spirit of nostalgia, my deck revealed a card to me that has been blogged about already before (I know, 78 cards and this deck is already revisiting cards before I even draw 20 distinct cards to blog about). This card brings me back to the first couple of posts I have done on this blog--I have drawn the five of cards, once again reversed. This airy card has once more drawn towards me again, bringing me news about what exactly I must be experiencing for yet another time.

At the time I drew this card in June, I was in the middle of finals week in college, probably the most emotionally stressful time of my college career--not only did I have petitions to worry about for classes I previously had taken, but I also needed to pass the classes I was already in to graduate. And believe me when I say I needed to graduate. This was probably the most stressful time of my life.

As discussed previously, this card in reverse means that currently there is something experiencing conflict in my life, and this could be anything from a spiritual, emotional, physical, social conflict or an obstacle that has arisen to prolong struggle.

I had all this happen to me approximately more than a month ago. And then the struggle ended. What happened?

Thankfully, I passed my classes, got a pretty high GPA, graduated, and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Do I lose sleep over graduating college anymore? Do I agonize over my petitions being approved? Do I despair at having to see my apartment in shambles? No, thank goodness no! Its ended, and though I might have thought otherwise at the time, memories of panic and despair over graduation have no longer haunted me. And what a blessing! With the end of my problems, thus ends my panic, sorrow, depression and anxiety. I was able to overcome my obstacles and trials by graduating from college with all my petitions approved and all my classes passed. All the loose ends had been securely tied.

Since this usually happens with most conflict in people's lives, the whole cycle of stress, anxiety, triumph, and then relief seems to be the same for all forms of strife, wouldn't it be logical to eliminate all the pain in this situation and skip straight to the end result of relief?

I leave my readers to answer this for themselves--I don't believe that there is a 100% correct answer to that question. But I am more than happy to share my perspective on this if anyone needs more understanding.

The best thought stimulus is initiated when a thoughtful question is followed by another provoking question. If we were to think of this issue on a larger scale, wouldn't human life be better without pain at all? Forget only ridding the human population of worry and anxiety, what about getting rid of pain altogether? All sorrow, despair, anger, loneliness, struggle, stress, heartbreak, disappointment seems to only serve negative purposes in day to day life. Would we not be better without them?

Wrong! At least in my opinion. Even empty emotions like worry and stress can have purpose in human life. If I didn't get stressed out and worried about my classes I might have not put as much work into studying for my classes, or even studied at all (you procrastinators know what I am taking about more than anyone else).

Conflicts are very helpful in life because of how they develop us as human beings. Maybe it might not feel as good to be in the middle of serious struggle because during that moment of stress it is hard to understand the overwhelmingly positive effects, and healthy and mindful analysis in the heat of the moment takes understanding and patience at a very mature level. But afterwards, when all the drama is over, the benefits received are obvious.

Because I studied so hard I passed my finals and graduated. Since I called and contacted the petitions board regularly I was able to get my petitions approved relatively fast. But beyond the extremely evident results of my work, I also demonstrated a much more capable ability to work hard for what I want. I was able to buckle down and achieve because of my anxiety. I pushed myself to accomplish everything I needed to, and it whetted my appetite to succeed in future endeavors related to this. I also received a huge confidence boost, and was able to look at people I thought were better than me straight in the eye with resolve and soaring self-esteem. I was strong, and I for once in my life was aware of it.

So I understand much more about this card as a result of my past exposure to it--it doesn't only warn against ending a conflict by confronting the problem headfirst or calling quits and taking necessary actions towards ultimate happiness and stability. Whether it is an apology, a consolation, compassion, or in my case determined resolve, the end result of all the sacrifice demanded to end this conflict will grant me benefits and boons that outweigh what I had in my reserves already. I will always be better for it.

And I am sure this pain and exhaustion with conflict has been felt by readers near and far--I imagine some people might be in the heat of a heavily stressful and highly demanding battle right now. Regardless of what it is that is proving to be an obstacle in your life, it is time for you to seize the day, take charge, show mercy, and live to the best of your heart's capability. Enjoy life, even the downs, and take what you can from the experiences the world has to show you to. Good luck!