DAILY DRAW: Page of Cups

I had to smile when I picked this card today because it has such a young, innocent, exploratory quality to it. A very nice energy. I think it's a great start to our weekend. The Page of Cups depicted here is from the Vanessa tarot.

I love the cute cartoon image on this card. The dialogue is almost palpable. The little girl is looking down at the fish and says, "Hi." The fish says, "Hey, how you doing." There's a very open, sweet energy there ... getting to know someone, taking those first steps, beginning a relationship. They're starting a conversation. They're getting to know each other. It always feels a little awkward when you first get to know someone. You're not sure if they'll like you, they're not sure if you'll like them, but there's a willingness on both parts to give it a try. With the tiles in the background, it also looks like they're at a swimming pool, which is very appropriate, since the suit of Cups is associated with water. Diving in. They're about to dive into something.

The suit of Cups is all about emotions. Water flows, it changes course, it's malleable ... but it also has a life of its own and no matter how much you try to control it, in the end its intrinsic nature will always win out. Emotions are an exciting realm, but they can also feel quite scary and dangerous at times.

The Page represents someone young ... either someone chronologically young or young in spirit. He or she is someone who is enthusiastic, curious, very sensitive and maybe a little naive and vulnerable. This person may be inexperienced in terms of love and emotion and have a difficult time handling their feelings. They may get easily overwhelmed or frightened but they're still curious enough to venture out there to get the experience. They are eager to learn more. Think of the baby who's just learning to walk. They take a step or two, fall down, cry for a few seconds, then get up and try again. That's this Page in a nutshell.

This card is tuning us in to this part of ourselves today. No matter how old or experienced we are, there is always a part of us that feels a little scared when we're venturing into new emotional territory. You may find yourself feeling a little vulnerable or uncertain of your feelings today. Maybe there's someone in your life who makes you feel off balance or afraid. Be gentle with yourself and think of yourself as that innocent little child whose feelings need protecting. Get out there and experience life and love ... but make sure your inner parent is keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings and is ready to act in case those feelings are in danger.

DAILY DRAW: Strength (reversed)

The Strength card is all about emotional maturity. It's about being able to handle "the beast within" ... emotions that seem difficult to handle and hard to control. Sometimes our feelings seem like they overwhelm us and get the better of us. Strength is the part of ourselves that is able to calm down, take a step back, and realize that what is going on inside of us is entirely up to us. Your life can be in turmoil and feel like it's out of control due to outside events, but if you can connect with a sense of inner calm, inner peace, nothing can faze you ... no matter how chaotic things may seem on the exterior.

This card was reversed today which indicates we may have some challenges in this area today. Are you feeling like your life is out of your control ... that the people or situations in your life just aren't cooperating with you or even causing you pain?

Remember that you always have a choice. You can allow outside circumstances to overwhelm you and make you feel like you are a pawn in a game of chess, or you can be like the woman in the card ... calmly reaching down and taking control of the situation with a perfect understanding and acceptance of all that is. She knows that no matter what happens to us on the outside, nothing can affect our sense of self unless we allow it.

Many of us believe that unless we have certain things, such as a beautiful home, lots of money, the "perfect" partner, etc., we cannot be happy, and we can drive ourselves crazy desperately trying to attain the things that we THINK are going to make us feel calm, grounded, centred, at peace, and satisifed. The truth is, you are all you need. That's what the Strength card is all about. You are the centre and creator of your own experience.

If you are feeling overwhelmed today, take some time today to be alone and reflect on these things. Never forget how powerful you are.

DAILY DRAW: Four of Pentacles

Sometimes the world can seem like a very threatening, scary place. A lot of people deal with that by closing themselves off from the world and clinging to what they have as a way of feeling secure. This is what the man in the Four of Pentacles is doing. A lot of people think of this as the "miser" card, but I don't see it that way at all. I see the man in this card as simply being afraid of what others might possibly do to or steal from him.

In the background, we see a city with its high towers, bustling commerce, and crowded humanity. He has managed to amass a few pentacles there (Pentacles represent earthly matters like money, home, health, and security) and he has gotten out of there with his pentacles intact and he is making sure he doesn't lose them.

The Four of Pentacles is all about security. Do you feel secure? Or not? If so, why not? Is there some kind of actual threat to your personal security going on?

I can't help but think of my daughter as I write this. Most kids started back to school this week and my daughter has just embarked on her first year of high school. She is not taking well to it. For the past few days, I have been busy trying to reassure her that it will get better, that I totally understand her feelings of alienation and intimidation feeling like a mere speck in a crowd of 900 total strangers. I didn't like high school either. But times have changed. There is so much more pressure on kids these days to be a certain way and look a certain way. Add academic pressure to that and you have major overload.

Sometimes retreating and taking comfort in the familiarity of what we have is a good thing. Who can survive in a chaotic atmosphere for very long? We all need to make sure that we feel safe and comfortable in order to function at our best. But we need to make sure we don't cut ourselves off from the world entirely because this will only stifle our growth.

Are you clinging too tightly to what you have? Afraid to step out of your comfort zone? Are any fears you have realistic or more a product of your own mind? That's what the Four of Pentacles is asking.

DAILY DRAW: The Devil, reversed

The Devil is one scary-looking dude. In this card he appears like the nightmarish figure we all heard about as children with horns, hooves, and giant bat wings. A man and a woman (the masculine and feminine aspects of ourselves) are both tethered to him. But you'll notice that the chains around their necks are loose and dangling. It's an attachment of their own making. They could slip out of those chains if they wanted to, but they either believe they're powerless to do so or are simply too caught up in their own addictions, illusions, and feelings of helplessness.

The Devil is all about illusion. It's about indulging the weakest parts of ourselves and believing that we have no choice in the matter. It often represents addiction, feeling like we can't overcome our driving need for certain substances, whether it be alcohol, food, drugs, negative behaviours. Very often it represents sex and feeling like we can't control our basest desires, and hating ourselves for them. You know the phrase, "The Devil made me do it"? Basically, we feel like something else has control of us and we can't fight it no matter how hard we try.

This is all illusion. We all have the ultimate say in our lives. We can either slam down the gavel like the staunchest judge, say "enough is enough" and leave those chains behind ... or we can choose to believe that we are weak and terribly flawed human beings who deserve to be in bondage.

The good news is .... this card was reversed today which indicates the change has begun. We are well aware of our triggers, addictions, and false beliefs and we have begun to take control and change them. The lightbulb has gone off in our heads: we don't have to live like this anymore. We may not be out of the woods yet .... there is still some work to be done ... but the departure from those destructive negative beliefs has begun. Give yourself a pat on the back for recognizing what no longer serves you.

DAILY DRAW: Five of Wands, reversed

The image in the Five of Wands is pretty clear: there's a lot of confusion going on. Everyone is at cross purposes. Some people see the men in the card as simply engaging in some kind of sport, a friendly game. Others see it more as disorganization, miscommunication, disharmony. Everyone has their own agenda and is not paying attention to the other people involved.

This card came up reversed (upside down) today which means that the energy is blocked or emphasized. It could mean that if there's some kind of miscommunication or misunderstanding going on in your life, it has the potential to get worse. Make sure that your own words and actions are clear but don't be surprised if you find that others aren't as straightforward as you are or play as nicely as you do. Don't let it get to you. Take a deep breath and remember that YOU are in charge of how you feel. No one else can throw you off or upset you unless you allow it.