Busy Tarot Cards

In honor of a busy spring-time, here’s a quick look at some tarot cards that seem especially 'busy' to me. Some are a little easier to deal with than others.

2 of Disks – Feel like you’re juggling work and more work? Get the rhythm down and you’ll be just fine.

3 of Disks – You’re doing great and important people are noticing. Keep it up!

6 of Swords – The plan is in motion. It’s not just a thought anymore, it’s a commitment.

7 of Wands – Who knows what or who’s coming at you next but it might be best to keep your strength up and stay on high ground.

8 of Disks – Take it step by step and don’t give up. It might be dull, but your hard work will pay off.

8 of Wands - When things finally do start moving, they move fast.

10 of Wands – Too many responsibilities! Put something down before you burn out.

#17 – The Star – Hope and optimism get the best results when you do a little watering. Have a drink and spend some time tending the garden.

Judgment and the Stimulus Package

I pulled a card just now to ask how the US stimulus package is likely to affect the economy. The card I got was #20 – Judgment.

People rise naked and pale from their coffins, reaching up towards a trumpeting angel. The angel is colorful, focused and bearing a red cross.

Could it possibly mean the economy will soon rise from the dead? That relief is alive and real and directed at average families? Maybe.

If nothing else, this card points to both our extreme vulnerability and the enormity of our hope. It suggests the end of a long phase, one that’s left us worn out and yearning for divine intervention.

And what of judgment itself? There’s nothing light about the word or this card. All our economic structures and how we participate in them are being judged. The bigger karma is at work here. No person or institution is above review, or for that matter, beyond redemption.

However it turns out, one thing is sure. Things are going to be different than they have been. It's probably best to get ready now and determine how you want to recreate your piece of the world. There’s no holding onto the past. You might as well prepare to leap forward instead.

I really hope this stimulus package manages to do what it's meant to. Certainly, it will be judged.

What It Takes to Win a Grammy

While watching the Grammies tonight I was tempted to pull cards to see who would win the top awards. Then I thought, what‘s the point – by the time I figure out who’s all nominated, the results will have been aired.

Instead, I decided to ask a potentially more useful question – what does it take to win (or even be nominated) for a Grammy, Juno, Oscar or other esteemed industry award?

The card I pulled was the 10 of Wands. No surprise really. It takes an extremely determined spirit and a lot of hard work. Look at the guy carrying all those budding wands. He might be struggling but there’s no way he’s going to put down that load willingly. Each stick represents something he cares passionately about and he’s going to do his absolute best to carry them all as far as he can.

Sure, financial backing and a giant dose of luck come in handy when you’re playing in the big leagues. But you don’t even get a chance to play if you haven’t put in the blood and sweat necessary to get that far.

I’m reminded of the idea that it takes at least 10,000 hours dedicated to your craft before you become a master. I think this might be true in all fields. Though it’s possible to be really good at something relatively quickly, it takes a devoted, ongoing, almost fanatic effort to be truly excellent at anything.

No one on that stage tonight started yesterday. Every one of them, even the apparent one-hit wonders, has put their heart and soul into their craft for a long time. Let’s say congratulations to all of them. Bravo!

And for all the other artists still carrying their loads with no one applauding - have strength and keep going! Whether you ever win a Grammy or not, it doesn’t matter at all. Truly mastering your passion is an award far more profound than public accolades can ever be.

Getting Busy with the Prince of Swords

With so much to do these days it’s been hard to find time to write. It seems that since Mercury went direct, I’ve suddenly become swamped with tasks needing immediate attention. I kind of miss the slower pace of the retrograde. It wasn't nearly so hectic.

While I was trudging through the snow this morning, wondering how everything could possible get done, I started thinking about the Thoth Prince of Swords.

In the image, the Prince is riding a crystal chariot. He’s dynamic, directed and being drawn forward by three tiny self-replicas. And doesn’t it look like he’s moving over ice just like I was?

I certainly wished I had a chariot to take me through that arctic weather today, and if only I had three little helper clones. They could do the laundry, pick up some groceries, maybe catch up on emails, tweet. Could I get them to do some bookkeeping?

Though the intelligent delegation of tasks might be one of the messages, this card isn’t really about having somebody else do your work for you. It’s about gaining control and focusing your energy to most effectively pursue your goals. It’s about mental clarity and an emergent sense of authority.

This card reminds us to look clearly at what we need to accomplish, stripping away what’s excess and getting down to our fundamental ideas. We’re asked to be sharp, definite and not waste time letting our minds run this way and that.

I think the Prince was sending me a message this morning. And I’m pretty sure he was right – focus, accomplish, and move on to what’s next. That’s all I need to do to get everything done. It’s pretty straightforward.

But about this cold . . . . .