(I tried to put this post up, for the past hour, not happening. Let’s try again. Shit I hate Mercury Retrograde.)
First of all, thank you all so very much for your beautiful birthday wishes. They truly are so meaningful to me.
I’ve decided to do this over a few days (there are quite a few pictures and tales to tell). On Saturday I began my official day by not moving very quickly, took my time getting going, and had the most leisurely afternoon. Daniel and I wandered in a nice downtown neighborhood, started at an antique mall and then went about gathering a bunch of my favorite foods.
Why yes, that is a feast of fabulousness from The Taco Palace. (Fine, it’s just some value meals from a fast food chain, but they are yummy to me, and I don’t believe in “guilty pleasures” as a term.)
We went across the street to the fish market and got crab cocktails and crab cakes. I made everything into sammiches. Because it was my day, and I could.
Then we went around the block for dessert. The smiley face treat is a Key Lime Tartlet. Below that is a Black Bottom Double Chocolate Muffin. Next to that is a Chocolate Raspberry Torte. And the last one is an Everything Brownie. (No, we did not eat it all at once, we paced ourselves.) When the guy found out that it was my birthday, he threw in a free candle.
We took our goodies back to the car and then went to Sweet Skins, where Dan bought me an amazingly soft and lovely organic cotton/hemp blend shirt (which was on sale).
Tomorrow will be The Fair Day, with bad photos (and hopefully no technical difficulties). But for now, let’s get back to our cards.
Raven ~ Bran ~ Healing, Initiation, Protection
Bran offers initiation, protection, and the gift of prophecy. What is meant by initiation in practice may be as formal as actually undergoing an initiation ceremony, or as informal as being initiated into the mysteries of a new post or profession or group. It marks the death of one thing, which gives way to the birth of another. The power of Raven can also bring you the very deepest form of healing, which is achieved through a process known as “the resolution of the opposites” -giving you the possibility of resolving conflicts that have long lain buried in your unconscious or perhaps in your past.
By being able to travel from this world to the next, the Raven symbolizes also, the power of healing. On one level, it can be the type of healing that comes about through radical confrontation with the unconscious, with the hidden, with the Shadow, and with the darker, potentially destructive aspects of the psyche. The Raven’s association with death becomes an association with the depth and thus, with the transformative powers of initiation, for such a moment marks to a greater or lesser extent the death of the old self, and the rebirth of the new self.
Bran has been seen as an oracle for thousands of years. And this connection reinforces the healing aspect as well as recognizing Raven as a bird of prophesy and divination, integral facets of the healing arts.
Stormy commented, but the blog monsters ate it, here’s what she said:
Nah, I think you picked that card on purpose
I look forward to reading through days and days of your celebratory weekend adventures. But for now, it’s time to tuck the boy in and get to bed myself. Thanks for your friendship, given unconditionally and without judgement.
LOL, those damn cards just keep telling our story don’t they! Have a restful night and we’ll be seeing you tomorrow. You are most welcome Dear One, new friends are sometimes exactly what we need.
That croissant looks amazing! I’m living vicariously through your weekend adventure! Thank you for rescuing my errant comment!
I’m looking forward to a card from one of YOUR decks soon! (hint, hint)
Initiation – new semester today! At least, that’s how I’m looking at it.
I think I need a birthday week too. Good idea.
New semester today does equal initiation for sure (oh lol, no pun intended). Use some of the Raven prophecy too if you need it!
Every one should have (at least) a birthday week. Did you see Cat’s comments? We all deserve that.
Birthday Week? Abso-frickin’-lutely!! We’re fabulous. A week hardly seems long enough.
Sure Thing…when do we start *your* celebration?
Looking forward to all the pictures and tales of your first Birthday weekend .
Another re-birth card…wow!
I know! I was sort of shocked when I first flipped this card over, then I was all…. well of course, why not. It seems as though we are quite deep into making these changes and walking this new path, or walking our paths with new eyes anyway.
Ooooo! That looks like a lovely birthday. Mine’s in a couple of weeks. I’m taking notes.
Let us know when we get closer, so we can all go over to your blog and cover you with good wishes.
Forgot to mention that my current WIP has a male love interest named Bran. Yes, there are birds involved. I’ll keep you posted.
I love checking in here, even when I don’t have time to comment. Sounds like you had a lovely birthday. Can’t wait to hear more!
Yay Kate! Welcome, so glad to hear from you. I changed the link and hopefully that means we can click and go directly to your new place.
Send that Raven to me. He and I need to have a long talk about healing. You keep pulling cards that speak to me.
I’m so glad you had a nice birthday.
I can’t do the numbers, but it must be vast. How ever many decks we are using times the number of cards in each, and yet they all seem to be just so right each day.
Sending that Raven right over. (You’ll have a little mini-stroke when you see what we got this afternoon.)
I always liked the concept of Bran. Probably because it’s so seer-friendly. What does it mean when you keep dreaming about frogs? They don’t do much, just hop around in the background. Normal brown & green frogs, yet also rainbow guys.
I have always been drawn to these seer type icons as well, the darker the better. I’m all about the night and the mysteries!
Frogs, from Druid Animal Oracle: sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, and power. Elements of water and earth combined to bring joy, delight, and healing with its singing and hopping.
From the Animal Medicine Cards: calling the rains, quenching the dryness, cleansing the earth. Transformation, replenishing your parched spirit, body, mind.
Sounds, and looks, like it was a wonderful day.
I’m so happy for you.
Can’t wait to see the rest!
Oh yes, quite festive! Thanks.
I’m thinking something in a random jumble for tomorrow.