We are going to discuss reaching balance points, in the metaphysical sense, but first things first, put on your party hats, there’s another yearly marker to recognize. Join us in celebrating the birth of Daniel’s second sister today. Happy Happy to you Michelle! We adore you beyond all reason and sanity. Hope your entire festive 24 hours (and then some) was filled with joy and love. SO wish we could be there with you.
And now, for a MUCH delayed answer to a question from Judy in the comments about a million years ago. She asked what I listened to when I walked. I know I’ve answered this before, probably several times, because I recall googling around and discovering that I’m tragically out of date where a few of my favorite artists are concerned.
On today’s wander I was made aware that I need to share this again. In (seriously) no particular order (and no, there aren’t links to anything, it took way too long just to do this, mostly because I kept thinking of others that I’d left out and I had to go back, over and over and over and over… ):
Cher (duh)
K. T. Tunstall (first and second album)
Michael Franti (the CDs Tracy sent me)
Yogoman Burning Band
(soundtrack) Lion King 1 1/2
George Thorogood (selected tracks)
Eagles (basically everything ever recorded, including solo albums by most members, past and present)
Amy MacDonald (first album only, because even though the second one has been out for like two years we can’t GET it here)
(soundtrack) Little Mermaid
Shakira (that one album Emma had in elementary school)
Steve Miller Band (some, not even sure how much/many)
Tom Petty (basically everything)
The Allman Brothers Band (you already know which ones and why, it’s my age, most of us have these songs someplace)
Brian Setzer (all the Stray Cats, all the Orchestra, and mostly all of everything else, up to about 2009)
Lynyrd Skynyrd (pretty much everything EXCEPT Freebird)
Beach Boys (everything we could find)
Eric Clapton (a handful of tracks, the ones I like)
Creedence Clearwater Revival (only about five songs, I don’t know, it just worked out that way)
(soundtrack) Wizard of Oz
John Mellencamp (not the VERY oldest album but everything else)
Sarah Bareilles (a few songs that J.D. generously gave us, and which included a fine group of Irish drinking tunes)
(soundtrack) Dirty Dancing
Madonna (her very early stuff)
(various selections Hanna sent me when she worked at various radio stations, including some awesome zydeco and ”oasis” music, plus a bunch of my other faves like The Bangles, Barenaked Ladies, Paul Simon, Blues Traveler, Joan Jett, and about 50 more single releases I can’t remember right now).
The entire concept of being able to listen to songs that you have pre-chosen still amazes and delights me. It’s one of my favorite new bits of technology, and even then, my wee music player is ancient in the concept of modern terms. It’s one of the easiest parts of getting out of The Burrow.
Here’s what it looked like around me this afternoon as I hoofed my way along. (This is about two-thirds of the way through my Route, for you local folks, it’s right above Tugman Park.) Weather like this requires me to dress in layers and do so appropriately. Which, holy crap, on some days takes for freaking EVER. One reason is that my stupid hair keeps changing. And I have to adapt to, not only the climatic conditions, but keeping that shit out of my damn face.
When Empress and Max came by yesterday she went foraging in some closets. Her search was for mittens and gloves (because apparently the last 47 pair we’ve sent home with her over the years are gone, shocking). Since we’ve never tossed out anything in our lives, there was quite a selection to choose from (although she might disagree, she made it work, but some exact items she was searching for didn’t seem to be in those exact bags/purses/baskets/ratty old shopping sacks).
She left (slightly disgruntled perhaps) with some winter wear accessories. And I found a hat. No clue where it came from or who originally owned it (it’s store-bought, so it obviously did NOT belong to any of us), but I claimed it for my own. And I wore it today. Worked fabulously.
Even though the way I kept my hair up under it will probably have to change the next time I venture out. This time, it was fine. As was the entire outing. Except for one point, when I had Movement Envy. And you guys know how I am about NEVER being jealous or envious, I’d rather pet a fucking cat.
Three young women were running along the path as I was crossing the street. I looked at them, with their bouncy ponytails and their matching outfits, all quick and limber, and I wanted to either puke on their shoes or BE them right that second. Then…
at that precise same moment, just as those thoughts registered in my brain, I glanced down, and saw the note (Flash Card probably) that you are looking at in the above picture. I stopped, as if I’d been yanked to a full and complete halt. Frozen. “Shit.”
Thanks Universe, don’t be SUBTLE or anything. Fine, I got the message. What’s theirs is theirs and what’s mine is mine. I AM making progress, I AM really healthy and strong. I just can’t EVER wish to be someone else. Gotcha.
None of us really needs to wish we were someone else, who we are is exactly right, is where we need to be, is just the right balance of lessons and challenges and gifts and blessings. Sometimes though, we need to be reminded.
This same idea is partly what our card is talking about. Also, it happened again. This particular draw has shown up in two other places lately, in personal readings for people who have contacted me. Not even remotely kidding.
Two of Pentacles ~ Perfect Balance
This is a great sign for where we are, all of us trying to move past the crap that’s bogging us down right now. We do need to take that next step, as we saw in yesterday’s selection, but we are not QUITE there yet. Today we are being shown that we are balanced, exquisitely and perfectly balanced, right where we are.
No fear or worry is present because we know we won’t fall. We are just becoming anxious for the next place to set our feet. We CAN juggle all that needs to be held aloft, our arms are just starting to tire and we’d like that break, NOW.
Twos are all about the duality of everything, light and dark, soft and hard, loud and quiet, day and night, up and down, wet and dry. When we take the time to notice these differences, and acknowledge the beauty in that two-ness we are made aware of even MORE of them. And the world looks nicely balanced.
Another aspect of this illustration is how the Pentacles are arranged, they are in an infinity symbol. This is important for us right now. We need to believe that no matter how long that Next Step takes to get here (and trust me, it’s not actually THAT long), we are willing to keep our equilibrium infinitely. We won’t HAVE to though, but it is crucial that we feel as though we WOULD, if it became necessary.
The last part of this is the physical level. Pentacles are of matter; we can hold it, make it, break it, buy it, sell it, touch it. Take a second for yourself, and put your hands together. Sit (or stand or whatever) for less than one minute, feeling the skin on your hands, rubbing them together, creating friction and warmth, absorbing that sense of physicality your brain is registering. THAT is you, THAT is Pentacles, THAT is all of us connected as a five pointed star within the circle of the Universe.
If you do it and clear your mind of everything else, just for those few seconds, you are able to appreciate your hands, your skin, your brain, your body, your ability to feel and love and balance and look forward to the Next Step we are all just about to take.
LateNight New Thing: I’m going to type in which deck we’re using at the end of every post now (unless I forget). Just seemed like we needed that right now.
Robin Wood Tarot
