Self-love September - Ace of Cups

Last year while I was in England I tripped over the website of a very interesting woman by the name of Gala Darling and movement toward deep emotional healing and happiness that she calls radical self-love. (as I making this post from my phone I can't create a link. But you definitely may want to check out her blog. She makes some very interesting posts and has several classes and workshops that she even offers a payment plan for!)  Then I saw something from one of my favorite YouTube vloggers, The Four Queens, declaring the month of September as self-love September. This year I'm ready to take action on it. Below is the introductory video that she offers for Self-love September 2015. It explains what the concept is all about as well as give some tips to assist with getting started. I was lucky enough to to find an absolutely beautiful journal at Barnes & Noble on clearance for only $2.15! I love the rich creaminess at the paper and the fact that it's not lined as well as the beautiful cover. So that will entice me to use it more. I chose to focus on the Ace of cups from the beautiful BoneFire Tarot. So often as readers we associate this card with a budding of new or the rekindling of an old romance. I think it's very important for us to look at the card from a very fundamental perspective. The Ace is the number one. So this speaks to that gift of emotion, that wellspring of love that starts with it being a gift from the divine to us, and that we continually give to ourselves. it's important for us to nurture and care for our own selves first and foremost. To see our own beauty and our validity through the eyes of the source/divine/god/goddess that exists with in us. When we are able to do this, we are able to stop seeking love or validation from any external source. I think the Ace of Cups also reminds us of the need to be compassionate and gentle with ourselves as we go through the emotive process of diving deep into our emotional being. Look at the lotus blossoms at the base of the cup. The Lotus is a very sacred symbol in buddhism. Is one of the only flowers that is constantly seeding as it is flowering. They can only grow in the most disgusting, murky, muddy water. This represents the constant flux of life and death, of regeneration and renewal that can only come from unpleasant or challenging situations. It's only through sifting through plus parts of ourselves, experiencing the dark, shitty times that were able to see just how powerful and beautiful we are. I finally decided that baking the question as to why things are set up this way is one of the most counterproductive and self-defeating things I can do. So now my work is to except the truth of it and proceed from there.

One suggestion that KerriAnne of the Four Queens made is to carry some sort of totem or item to remind yourself of participating in self-love September. Last week the universe showed me the universal symbol for love, the heart, in a couple of unexpected and unique places.

 I also found a beautiful pink glass heart that I had intended to give my mother, but didn't get a chance to before she passed away in July. I will definitely use this as one of my talismans for the month.

Last night's post completely dovetails into today's. Through embracing a deep sense of self-love I will be able to access the desires of my heart and spirit and and work toward making them a reality. 

https://youtu.be/0YQMCJvyAlg 

Rollin' With Good Fortune - Day 55

The Dark Angels shuffled out The Wheel of Fortune X. A golden sky forces back dark thunder clouds. To the left and right are two stone walls with a bull and a lion respectively. Dead center is a dark magician type fellow standing in front of a massive stone wheel with a huge stone gryphon. On the one hand there is brute force or doing things out of habit (the bull), on the other hand there is reacting out of anger, foolish pride, or ego (the lion). Between them us the gryphon and the human. Gryphons symbolize great wisdom and protection. Buddhist philosophy teaches the "Middle Way", which in extremely basic terms is about living with a sense of balance that is found through meditation as opposed to extremes. Because therein lies true happiness. Ultimately ones external conditions are a reflection if the internal.

Major changes are in the air. I can feel it and am starting to see evidence in my physical reality. And this card is a 10 which means the cusp of endings and beginnings. There is a profound theory of the 10 Worlds, which I won't event attempt to go into but you can go here to explore on this award winning blog my dear friend does to learn about. If I can continue to view life through the eyes of the gryphon and accept that life is constantly in flux and just because really fucked up shit happens, it doesn't necessarily equate with punishment. In fact, literal shit is also known as fertilizer. It's not really good or bad inane of itself. It's just shit. Depends on what one does with it, and that may be seen as good or bad perhaps. But shit (aka Life) is just shit. The lotus flower is used to symbolize Nicherin Buddihsm for several reasons, one being the fact that it is such a gorgeous flower that grows in the murkiest water. That's what is really meant by the phrase, "It is what it is..." The title of this card says it all in Buddhist terms. They do not say "blessings" but instead use the word "fortune". NO cause is ever wasted in Buddhism, meaning no effort made. Effort can be action, but equally as much one's thoughts or intentions even if no action is taken. Say for example you had a friend in the hospital. You really want to go sit with them. It will bring them joy to have someone to spend time with them. It will bring you joy from doing something that makes you feel like a compassionate person. But it's butt-ass cold outside and you just want to go home. In Buddhism, fighting through the feelings of not wanting to go and going based on doing something kind, will amas good fortune. But say you don't want to go because you feel a cold coming on so going is harmful to you, thus you decide not to. The honor of your intention will still bring you good fortune. It's still considered "making cause". This card is reminding me to keep making good causes and due to the law of cause and effect, I will experience good fortune.

It's also worth mentioning the fact that there is no such thing as coincidence and Buddhism is a very prominent force showing up the past few days. Out of nowhere I chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo one day last week. Then I came across my beads and prayer book totally at random. Yesteday's card was the QofW as Tina Turner who has been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for like 40 years or so, and today a wonderful woman I used to practice with in Philly called to let me know she is in town and wants to get together. Seems the a Universe has significant changes in store that have been building up from the many causes I've made. (Of course now I have "Proud Mary" playing in my head lol! And we're rollin'!)

 

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