Big change - what now?

You guys, I've deactivated my Facebook account! It's not the first time I've done it. A hiatus from Facebook for me usually lasts about a year. Then when I go back on, slowly but surely, I spend more and more time on there until I realise it's taking up nearly all my free time, and so I deactivate. I deleted the account once and stayed off for a couple of years. I might do that this time, too.

Thought I'd do a read about it:

What am I leaving behind (or what do I think I've left behind)?
What am I really leaving behind?
What are the three choices ahead of me, my 'points of power'?

(Spread was found here. Sorry, I don't know anything about this site; stumbled upon by googling 'spread for a big change.')

Tarot de St Croix, Lisa de St Croix, Devera 2013

By deactivating my Facebook account I 'think' I've left behind Ace of Wands -- a source of inspiration, a place where I can make a difference. I was all into political stories and memes and petitions and so on, there. In addition to my kitten videos.

But what I'm really leaving behind is the Emperor -- Good lord, could I really have been 'working for the man' by using Facebook? I guess I was, really. I mean, I know Facebook saves everything about me, and alarming connections are made, like if I browse an item on Amazon or elsewhere, ads for it turn up on my FB feed or in the sidebars. There are even scarier ways Facebook (and Google, but one thing at a time, people) control and track us, that I don't even know about. So that's what I'm really leaving behind.

Now, what are my power points? Six of Swords, Four of Wands and Queen of Cups. Just for kicks, I'll string together the interpretation suggested in the Tarot de St Croix LWB:

I'm led 'out of the dark dungeons of my mind' and find my power through 'creating ritual and space' where I 'accept the flow of all emotions.' Once again I have a powerful card about capturing living water. I also like that the LWB describes it as 'flow'. Actually, these are the exact reasons I wanted to free up time by leaving FB.

Another thing I like about these power cards is how they are all facing to the left -- in opposition to the Emperor, who seems to be trying to point them toward the right. F*** you, Emperor! Not only are we going the opposite direction, we're ready to crash right into you in a clash of wills -- or fight for our souls, perhaps! We are gonna do what we want without your input. (Also -- see how the wand is pointing in the same direction the power cards are going? I thought I was going that way but I wasn't!)

That's 'now what'!

For TABI members. I've got some decks for sale on the forum here: CLICK. 

Lenormand Well-Being Spread

Another well-being spread from Chloe McCracken at Inner Whispers. (You can get the document free at Inner Whispers: Welcoming Wellness in 2017).

The heart of the matter is Rider, a card that to me means exercise and athleticism. Well, it's been a long time since I had either of those!

Things I've been dealing with: finding the solution to my blockages to exercise and fitness, and drinking more water for overall good health.

Current situation: Birds + Rider + Tree. Many messages about health. True. I have been thinking quite a lot about wellness in the new year. Tis the season! Using Chloe's health meanings, it pretty much looks walking is the way to go right now.

Past situation: Key + Mice + Clover. Motivation came from nervous fear. That's true. I was afraid to skip workouts because I was afraid if I missed a few I'd just never work out again. I was correct in this. Using Chloe's health meanings, I was lucky I managed to get enough nutrients and trace minerals. Possibly true. I was eating a very strict vegan diet.

Future situation: Fish + Snake + Mountain. Blocked by financial concerns. Oh great. I do not want to even follow that thread any further! If we use Chloe's health interpretations, it is saying I won't recognise the block created by not drinking enough water.

How is my physical reality affecting my well-being? Clover + Tree + Mountain. My luck in enjoying relatively good health is creating complacency so that I don't notice the low-level lack of wellness that leads to some of my small chronic complaints and general reluctance to move.

How are my thoughts affecting my well-being? I think I have it all figured out and just need to do it. This is probably holding me back from looking at who and where I am right now. I have talked about this a lot as being the key. I also hold onto the thought that there's plenty of time, thus I am more or less stuck.

Advised action to bring forward momentum: Birds + Mice + Rider + Snake + Tree. Stress and anxiety eat away at forward momentum and lead to an ill woman. Well, I guess that's a hint not to let stress and anxiety cause me to be an ill woman. In other words, be motivated by the prophylactic value of actively pursuing wellness. But how is this an action? What action do I most need to bring forward momentum? I'll try an oracle, The Secret Language of Colour:

'Blue activates healing powers, increases vitality, and has a calming effect when people feel nervous, manic or overexcited. Use the blue sword of light to assist you in healing your body.'

The nervous aspect is addressed in this card. I suppose that's what I should focus on. Calming and healing. So, frenetic activity, HIIT, intense cardio, that sort of thing is not right at the moment. Action that is calming and healing is what is needed. Right.

New Years Day - Reflect on joyful moments

Today's card of the day comes from an oracle deck, The Secret Language of Colour by Inna Segal.

'Today is the day for rejoicing,' says the guidebook. 'Remind yourself of all the golden moments you have experienced in your life. Find five joyful moments in this day. Wear something that is Apricot, or meditate on this colour.  Invite joy into your heart.

'Say: "Divine spirit, please awaken the joy, laughter, and spontaneity of my heart and soul." '

This is a lovely exercise for today. I'll be writing my five joyful moments in my Sacred Journey journal. (I've used this journal  for many years off and on, and wrote about it at times on previous blogs. Over the years, the way I've used this journal has evolved. Here's how I used it back when I was deep into a fitness regime, on my old blog, Dharma in the Dishes. This was before my tarot blogging days! In fact, my very first tarot reading is posted there. Dare I share? Oh go on, then. My first reading.)

What will you be doing on this first day of the year? :)

New Years Eve spread

The Elements of Wellness Spread by Chloe McCracken

This spread works in pairs. How does something affect your wellness, for good and bad,  and what can you do about it? Line one - thoughts. Line two - physical reality, spiritual path, and motivation. Line three - emotions.

I decided to break out my beloved old first edition Anna K Tarot. So...without further ado...

How do my thoughts affect my wellness and what can I do about it? 
Queen of Cups - Knight of Cups

My thoughts help me master my emotions, but they can also rule me by leading me to overthink or overreact. I can allow myself to be more of a dreamer and less of a dweller on things, someone who wants to control myself and others. I can fix my thoughts on the experience of the rose itself rather than worrying about its cultivation or its thorns.


How does my physical reality affect my wellness and what can I do about it? 
Ace of Coins - Lovers

My physical reality remains strong and good, though at the moment a lot of this strength is waiting for development. I can make choices that are of a long term nature and have long term rewards, and that will lead to a happy old age.

How does my spiritual path affect my wellness and what can I do about it? 
Page of Cups - Wheel of Fortune

In fact I am still very much a seeker, a novice to the spiritual path. My spiritual path dabbles in the spring of living water, but I don't seem yet to have filled my bowl with it. I can take a tip from the Wheel of Fortune and ladle it up in huge bucketfuls.

How does my motivation affect my wellness and what can I do about it? 
Queen of Swords - 6 of Wands

I'm tough from past experience, but this also left me a cynical old bugger and that can certainly affect my wellness! What I can do about it is allow myself to feel good about the things I accomplish, no matter how big or small. 'Imagine what would happen if we obsessed about the things we love about ourselves,' says a meme I read today. Indeed.

How do my emotions affect my wellness and what can I do about it? 
Temperance - Queen of Coins

Being on an even keel is a very good thing, but you can also get on such an even keel it becomes a rut. Or like the lady in the picture, you so much want to avoid spilling the water you become afraid to step up onto the next step. What can I do about it? Reap a harvest and enjoy it. Forget balance and go for exhilaration. :)

How can I turn these into aphorisms for this year? Well...how about...

Enjoy the roseness of the rose.
If it will make you a happy old lady, carry on.
Drink deep from the living water.
Let yourself feel good.
Forget balance and go for exhilaration.

Off to write these in my journal. :)