Confidence is a strange thing. One minute you think you have it, the next you wonder where it went ...... and then suddenly you realise you didn't really have it. What you actually had was a mask, which helped to make others think you had it. And so to this week's affirmation:
Affirmation of the Week
(beginning Monday 9th November)
"I EMBRACE CONFIDENCE"
A lot of people, actually the majority that have met me over the years, have always thought I was very confident. Especially at work. And whilst I have become confident in what I do, that has grown because of the long time I've been in that position. I'm sure if I were to go elsewhere, I'd feel like a fish out of water. Yet really, up until a few years ago, I never had any confidence generally. None at all. Yet what would you have seen? A woman striding forwards, walking fast, head up, firm handshake and steady gaze. Yeah, the fake it til you make it mode!
Confidence on the outside begins by living with integrity on the inside - Brian Tracy
But here's the rub, if you don't actually feel that confidence on the inside, it doesn't matter what other people think. Maybe I should rephrase that, because for job interviews and the like, it would matter. But generally. To people you don't know or won't ever talk to. It won't matter. The facade won't matter. And when it comes to certain things, even things you do quite well, without inner confidence, you're gonna feel like a fake. And don't even get me started on how that faking it means you're not actually being congruent (loving that word, thanks to my college course). How do I know? Because that's what happened to me. And I'm thinking of something in particular I worked very hard at for over a decade, got the recognition for, and still felt like a fake! Confidence comes from within. It's a belief in the self. And even if things go wrong, that belief will help you find the joy and lesson within such so-called *failure*. Which in turn builds more confidence. Which in turn can then help with things like courage, change, joy, love ........ and even new adventures. It helps us to see wonder wherever we go.
Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.- Samuel Johnson
When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.
Joe Namath
What brought about these thoughts? The weekly ezine from Living Life Fully (no surprise I'm sure to returnees of this site). One of the excerpts was all about confidence:
"Ten Ways to Connect to the Confidence within You
Louise Morganti Kaelin
Working with a variety of people from all walks of life has given me some insight into the process of success. Regardless of our background, skills, experience, or attitude, we can't be successful until we feel confident about who we are and what we're doing. It's one of those cart before the horse things, since we tend to think that being successful will give us confidence. In fact, feeling confident FIRST will allow us to experience success and the achievement of our goals. Here are some ways to connect to the confidence within you.
1. Be aware that confidence comes from inside, not outside.
You can't use others as a yardstick. Other people take their cue from you. If you act confident, people will have confidence in you. If you are hesitant or timid, no one will be able to put their trust in you.
2. Start with your strengths (and we ALL have them).
Make a list of your strengths, no matter how silly the list may seem at first glance. If you can boil a 'mean' pot of water or touch your nose with your toes, let yourself get in touch with how you feel about that. That feeling is known as confidence.
3. Allow the memory of confident times to be your trigger.
It doesn't matter if it happened in the 2nd grade--remembering a time that you were on top of the world, if only for a moment, can be all you need to feel confident here and now, in this situation.
4. Confidence is like rabbits: it multiplies exponentially.
Once you start feeling confident about everything you do well, you start looking for other areas you feel confident in. You also start feeling confident about things you haven't done before. You'll be able to more honestly assess your skills and expertise and give yourself the opportunity to succeed. Allow the feeling to multiply just like all those bunnies in that commercial where the gentleman has to get approval for a check.
5. Maintain an attitude of gratitude.
Gratitude puts (and keeps) a smile on your face. What's the first thing you notice about confident people? They're smiling.
6. Identify your rules for feeling confident, then rewrite them!
If I asked the question "What must be in place in order for you to feel confident?", I can guarantee that you will have a long list of conditions that must ALL be in place in order for you to feel confident. If I asked you who wrote those rules, you would answer "I did," although it may take you a moment or two to realize that fact. If you wrote the current set, take the initiative and rewrite your rules. Make them simple, stated in the positive, and totally in your control. (P.S. There is nothing more in your control than your thoughts. That's why #3 works.) One more thing: make sure your new list is divided by OR's, not AND's.
7. Hang out with confident people.
Confidence is contagious. Actually, all feelings are contagious. Which group will make you feel better? One that exudes strength, confidence and positivity? Or one that is constantly seeing the worst that could happen, fearful of trying anything new, afraid to be embarrassed? Hang out with the one that makes you feel like you can accomplish anything you want!
8. Completion equals confidence.
Finishing anything at all gives you confidence. The knowledge that you can put your mind to something and do it is all that is required to feel confident. Look around and finish everything you see unfinished.
9. Only you can kill the feeling of confidence.
Just as you can't find confidence outside of yourself, no one else can stop you from feeling confident. Have you ever noticed that really confident people are oblivious to your opinion of them? No matter what you've done, it's only YOUR opinion that matters.
10. Don't worry about getting 'above' yourself.
Some of us don't want to get too big for our britches. We think that downplaying our abilities is the way to go. The truth is that thinking is just another way to keep playing small. It undermines our ability to succeed because after a while we start believing that 'it' was no big deal. As Norman Vincent Peale expressed it: "Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." I like that phrase, 'humble but reasonable.' If you keep that in mind, you can't go wrong."
Questions for this week's affirmation, either with or without cards, are:
How do others view your confidence?
How do you view your confidence?
How confident are you inside, honestly?
What practical thing can you do, right now, to build confidence?
What positive change will this bring?
Wishing you all a wonderful & confident week ahead :)
x Mouse
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Fairy Godmother
Fairy Tale Tarot..........The Fairy Godmother
Cinderella
The magical number 3!
On this 3rd day of the month the 3rd card from the Major Arcana comes to visit. The Fairy Godmother aka The Empress also corresponds to the planet Venus, ruler of Taurus and the sign in which today's Full Moon is found. How perfect is that!
In earthy Taurus the focus is on nurturing the physical and material aspects of our lives. Paying attention to the needs of our body and taking the time to nourish our wellbeing in a practical way.
This card turned my thoughts to mothering...............the maternal energy that encourages and supports us, offers praise and encouragement .........a shoulder to lean on and a hand to wipe away the tears. A constant presence of love that is noticably absent in fairy tales like Cinderella and has been replaced by uncaring fathers, wicked stepmothers and nasty siblings. Of course if it wasn't there wouldn't be any fairy tales because there'd be no need to set off in search of happy ever after.
Not necessarily literal mothers but anyone on whom we lay our expectations of being loved and nurtured by.
Taurus is the sign of the 2nd house of the zodiac which is closely related to our early environment and the affect it has on our adult selves. From a book I've just finished...
**We're products of our childhood. Everything we become springs from who we were as children, how we were treated, who and what shaped our ideas and values. We are who are***
The anti-heroine, Jill, is a convicted child murderer in prison and she uses that thinking to justify the actions that brought her to where she is. She takes no responsibilty.......it wasn't her fault.
The heroine ,who is writing a book about Jill's crime , has a different point of view.
**We may be shaped by our childhood but there is such a thing as choice. We are what we do.**
Both of these women have dysfunctional family backgrounds ............in one way or another don't we all because it's in the childhood experiences that the foundation for our life's lessons and challenges is laid. The journey to overcome them is our fairy tale.
Fortunately not many of us will project our own inner pain onto someone else in such a violent manner. Most of the time we do it to ourselves. The child's comfort blanket becomes the chocolate wrappers and cigarette packets, the empty alcohol bottles and one night stands that imprison us as we wait for someone to come rescue us.
Reflecting on the story of Cinderella I did for a while see her as a bit of a wimp meekly submitting to the abuse of her family and sitting around in the ashes wishing it was otherwise. I changed my mind when I began to see the Fairy Godmother as a part of herself because this card is about self-empowerment . It takes time to see the dragons for what they really are and to find the strength to separate oneself from their influence but most of all it takes time to realise that you hold the magic wand. You are the one who can bring change and transformation.
Be a Fairy Godmother!
Do something nice for yourself today!
Cinderella
The magical number 3!
On this 3rd day of the month the 3rd card from the Major Arcana comes to visit. The Fairy Godmother aka The Empress also corresponds to the planet Venus, ruler of Taurus and the sign in which today's Full Moon is found. How perfect is that!
In earthy Taurus the focus is on nurturing the physical and material aspects of our lives. Paying attention to the needs of our body and taking the time to nourish our wellbeing in a practical way.
This card turned my thoughts to mothering...............the maternal energy that encourages and supports us, offers praise and encouragement .........a shoulder to lean on and a hand to wipe away the tears. A constant presence of love that is noticably absent in fairy tales like Cinderella and has been replaced by uncaring fathers, wicked stepmothers and nasty siblings. Of course if it wasn't there wouldn't be any fairy tales because there'd be no need to set off in search of happy ever after.
Not necessarily literal mothers but anyone on whom we lay our expectations of being loved and nurtured by.
Taurus is the sign of the 2nd house of the zodiac which is closely related to our early environment and the affect it has on our adult selves. From a book I've just finished...
**We're products of our childhood. Everything we become springs from who we were as children, how we were treated, who and what shaped our ideas and values. We are who are***
The anti-heroine, Jill, is a convicted child murderer in prison and she uses that thinking to justify the actions that brought her to where she is. She takes no responsibilty.......it wasn't her fault.
The heroine ,who is writing a book about Jill's crime , has a different point of view.
**We may be shaped by our childhood but there is such a thing as choice. We are what we do.**
Both of these women have dysfunctional family backgrounds ............in one way or another don't we all because it's in the childhood experiences that the foundation for our life's lessons and challenges is laid. The journey to overcome them is our fairy tale.
Fortunately not many of us will project our own inner pain onto someone else in such a violent manner. Most of the time we do it to ourselves. The child's comfort blanket becomes the chocolate wrappers and cigarette packets, the empty alcohol bottles and one night stands that imprison us as we wait for someone to come rescue us.
Reflecting on the story of Cinderella I did for a while see her as a bit of a wimp meekly submitting to the abuse of her family and sitting around in the ashes wishing it was otherwise. I changed my mind when I began to see the Fairy Godmother as a part of herself because this card is about self-empowerment . It takes time to see the dragons for what they really are and to find the strength to separate oneself from their influence but most of all it takes time to realise that you hold the magic wand. You are the one who can bring change and transformation.
Be a Fairy Godmother!
Do something nice for yourself today!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Affirmation for the Week
The journey that I've had since coming to tarot has been something I never expected. Least of all learning to delve within my own psyche, exploring there and even changing things about myself I thought were there for life. Cat has been one, if not the, biggest supporter of mine on this particular leg of my journey which is helping to form the person I am today. No doubt then, you won't be surprised to hear that the topic of this week's affirmation is one that I hold very dear to my heart, and also my personal and spiritual growth, even if I do find it hard to maintain at times ......... ok, make that a lot of times LOL :)
Affirmation of the Week
(beginning Monday 2nd November)
"MY CUP IS HALF FULL"
Well, for all I know yours could be totally full :) However, for me, I try to remember that my cup is half-full, because there will always be more positive things that I can add to it. The journey from half-empty to half-full has not been an easy one for me. As I said above, it's also not a journey I ever expected to take. I used to have the attitude that if you always expected the worst, anything else would be a bonus. Not realising of course that what thoughts/energy you put out there, you're gonna get back. Of course, that could always be looked upon as a bit of a fear motivator but I certainly don't want to get back any more of the negativity I used to have! To be honest I could drone on for a long time on this matter, but I won't subject you to that. Rather, I'll leave you with the DailyOm's more succint excerpt from last Monday entitled: "Half-Full Consciousness". The affirmation questions will be at the end, after that.
"October 26, 2009
Half-Full Consciousness
Starting from Empty
We are all familiar with the metaphorical story of two people looking at the same glass and one perceiving it as half-full while the other sees it as half-empty. As much as we’ve heard this, it’s still a valuable exercise to really observe our minds and notice whether we are engaged in half-full or half-empty thinking. People will refer to themselves as being of one type or the other as if it was a permanent characteristic, but we are all capable of shifting into a half-full consciousness if we simply make the effort.
When we look at our lives with half-empty consciousness, we perceive a lack and think that the other half of what we want is missing. We are coming from a position of expectation and entitlement. On the other hand, when we look at our lives as half-full we perceive fullness. It is as if we recognize that our cup could be fully empty and so we are grateful for what we see as bounty—not something we expect or believe we are owed, but a gift. In half-full consciousness, we count our blessings. When we look at our lives we see all the elements that are in place and all the things we do have. This doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t seek more, but we seek from a place of fullness instead of from a place of lack. This fullness draws positive energy into our lives and often attracts more abundance.
If you would like to begin to make the shift into half-full consciousness, try imagining your life as an empty glass. This is your life without all the people you know, the work you do, your home, or your current state of physical wellbeing. This is just an empty, open space waiting to be filled. Once you have that feeling of openness in your mind, begin filling it with all the people, things, and places that make up your life. You may be surprised to find your glass overflowing."
Questions for this week's affirmation are:
What kind of general perspective do you currently have?
What aspects of that perspective could do with more positivity?
What challenge do you need to face?
What can you do physically to embrace this?
What benefit will this bring to your life?
Wishing you all a wonderful positive week ahead :)
x Mouse
Affirmation of the Week
(beginning Monday 2nd November)
"MY CUP IS HALF FULL"
Well, for all I know yours could be totally full :) However, for me, I try to remember that my cup is half-full, because there will always be more positive things that I can add to it. The journey from half-empty to half-full has not been an easy one for me. As I said above, it's also not a journey I ever expected to take. I used to have the attitude that if you always expected the worst, anything else would be a bonus. Not realising of course that what thoughts/energy you put out there, you're gonna get back. Of course, that could always be looked upon as a bit of a fear motivator but I certainly don't want to get back any more of the negativity I used to have! To be honest I could drone on for a long time on this matter, but I won't subject you to that. Rather, I'll leave you with the DailyOm's more succint excerpt from last Monday entitled: "Half-Full Consciousness". The affirmation questions will be at the end, after that.
"October 26, 2009
Half-Full Consciousness
Starting from Empty
We are all familiar with the metaphorical story of two people looking at the same glass and one perceiving it as half-full while the other sees it as half-empty. As much as we’ve heard this, it’s still a valuable exercise to really observe our minds and notice whether we are engaged in half-full or half-empty thinking. People will refer to themselves as being of one type or the other as if it was a permanent characteristic, but we are all capable of shifting into a half-full consciousness if we simply make the effort.
When we look at our lives with half-empty consciousness, we perceive a lack and think that the other half of what we want is missing. We are coming from a position of expectation and entitlement. On the other hand, when we look at our lives as half-full we perceive fullness. It is as if we recognize that our cup could be fully empty and so we are grateful for what we see as bounty—not something we expect or believe we are owed, but a gift. In half-full consciousness, we count our blessings. When we look at our lives we see all the elements that are in place and all the things we do have. This doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t seek more, but we seek from a place of fullness instead of from a place of lack. This fullness draws positive energy into our lives and often attracts more abundance.
If you would like to begin to make the shift into half-full consciousness, try imagining your life as an empty glass. This is your life without all the people you know, the work you do, your home, or your current state of physical wellbeing. This is just an empty, open space waiting to be filled. Once you have that feeling of openness in your mind, begin filling it with all the people, things, and places that make up your life. You may be surprised to find your glass overflowing."
Questions for this week's affirmation are:
What kind of general perspective do you currently have?
What aspects of that perspective could do with more positivity?
What challenge do you need to face?
What can you do physically to embrace this?
What benefit will this bring to your life?
Wishing you all a wonderful positive week ahead :)
x Mouse
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Dream Weaving!
A long weekend makes for a short week following and suddenly it's the weekend again. I knew I wouldn't manage three separate post so my three cards were drawn at the same time with the intention of using them to help with an interpretation of a dream I had last weekend.
The Dream: I'm in a bedroom, sitting on the bed, when I see someone start to clean the window. I tell them it's not necessary as I've already cleaned it but they ignore me and continue. Then I notice on the other window a huge spider web with several spiders and dead flies in it. I go to the kitchen and get a long handled duster to remove the web and when I return I see more spiders climbing up the side of the bed. They're very small and I think they're only babies and haven't had time to make webs yet.
Fairy Tale Tarot
6 Cups...........................The Emperor and the Nightingale
Prince of Cups..............The Frog prince
Princess of Pentacles....The Princess and the Pea.
The bedroom/bed environment indicates the issues are personal and private and there is a need to find some quiet space to rest and reflect. The helping hand cleaning the window brings the message I'm not seeing things clearly with the biggest problem being the fact I think I am.
Like a curtain or a veil of illusion that spider web obscures my vision............each of the three fairy tales have the same theme. The reality or truth is lost or hidden behind something less appealing and revealing it comes at some cost.
"Everything has it's price " says the Frog Prince.
Spiders are interesting dream symbols as they have many different meanings both good and bad. The web at the window is not good..............the smothering dragon mother trying to protect again.
Dead flies before my eyes.
The past!
The 6 Cups brings the influence of the past into the present. I think this card is fantastic.........no laughing children or cups of pretty flowers here but an old man full of sadness and regret confronting Death until the nightingale of long ago returns and sings at his window and Death is defeated.
I see the nightingale...........at least consciously I do but perhaps deep down another part of me sees it as an unrealistic dream, something way out of reach so why bother trying. I've had to give a great deal of thought to what exactly those flies represent and I came across this quote which definitely set bells ringing.
Robert Bruce............"Now shall this spider teach me what to do for I have failed 6 times."
I have and more than 6 times probably but focusing on that is self defeating and ignoring it isn't the answer either. I'm trying to use the memory of failure constructively by understanding the reasons why so this time I'll be better prepared .
The baby spiders are the good guys.................the ones that refer to a powerful force protecting you against self-destructive behaviour and are an omen of good luck. I shall let these little ones weave strands of positive thinking around me so I'll no longer think I'm trapped in that old sticky web of my own making.
The headboard of the Princess of Pentacles is patterned with a strongly growing pea plant.
Keep the mind on nurturing it's growth!
The Dream: I'm in a bedroom, sitting on the bed, when I see someone start to clean the window. I tell them it's not necessary as I've already cleaned it but they ignore me and continue. Then I notice on the other window a huge spider web with several spiders and dead flies in it. I go to the kitchen and get a long handled duster to remove the web and when I return I see more spiders climbing up the side of the bed. They're very small and I think they're only babies and haven't had time to make webs yet.
Fairy Tale Tarot
6 Cups...........................The Emperor and the Nightingale
Prince of Cups..............The Frog prince
Princess of Pentacles....The Princess and the Pea.
The bedroom/bed environment indicates the issues are personal and private and there is a need to find some quiet space to rest and reflect. The helping hand cleaning the window brings the message I'm not seeing things clearly with the biggest problem being the fact I think I am.
Like a curtain or a veil of illusion that spider web obscures my vision............each of the three fairy tales have the same theme. The reality or truth is lost or hidden behind something less appealing and revealing it comes at some cost.
"Everything has it's price " says the Frog Prince.
Spiders are interesting dream symbols as they have many different meanings both good and bad. The web at the window is not good..............the smothering dragon mother trying to protect again.
Dead flies before my eyes.
The past!
The 6 Cups brings the influence of the past into the present. I think this card is fantastic.........no laughing children or cups of pretty flowers here but an old man full of sadness and regret confronting Death until the nightingale of long ago returns and sings at his window and Death is defeated.
I see the nightingale...........at least consciously I do but perhaps deep down another part of me sees it as an unrealistic dream, something way out of reach so why bother trying. I've had to give a great deal of thought to what exactly those flies represent and I came across this quote which definitely set bells ringing.
Robert Bruce............"Now shall this spider teach me what to do for I have failed 6 times."
I have and more than 6 times probably but focusing on that is self defeating and ignoring it isn't the answer either. I'm trying to use the memory of failure constructively by understanding the reasons why so this time I'll be better prepared .
The baby spiders are the good guys.................the ones that refer to a powerful force protecting you against self-destructive behaviour and are an omen of good luck. I shall let these little ones weave strands of positive thinking around me so I'll no longer think I'm trapped in that old sticky web of my own making.
The headboard of the Princess of Pentacles is patterned with a strongly growing pea plant.
Keep the mind on nurturing it's growth!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Affirmation for the Week
Just recently I decided to have a chilled-out, no opening the front door kind of weekend but it didn't happen. I decided to go on holiday, where I was busier than if I'd been at home. So then I thought I'd kinda go for a weekend not long after I got back. Didn't happen, saw friends instead. Third time lucky? Nope. Got offered overtime. Needs must and all that, gotta pay for that holiday. Which leads to this week's affirmation:
Affirmation of the Week
(beginning Monday 26th October)
"I RELISH MY WEEKEND"
I can just imagine people reading that first paragraph and thinking, I'd love to have a weekend without opening the front door, without obligations, of not having any jobs to do around the house, to just be. *Chance would be a fine thing.* Or how about *As if I'd be that lucky*. *Never happens in my world*. And I used to think that too. So every so often I'd try and make sure I got a weekend away from everyone and everything. Only problem was (and I'm going back years here) I'd find anything and everything to fill up that time with mindless chatter. I'd end up slouched on the sofa watching programme after programme, maybe do a facial, definitely order Chinese food in ........ and then Sunday night would arrive and I'd still feel absolutely knackered, nothing achieved or done with a list for the following week that was longer than ever! And after a while I stopped even trying.
Fast forward to last month. After the weekend I worked, I worked another weekend (great as the Bank will be very happy about that). Then I was supposed to be working the next one, but due to transport problems I managed to swap the shift out with someone else to a later date. And instead visited friends. So I decided that come what may, I would actually book this one into my diary. For the weekend just gone (as in now, cos I'm posting this on UK Sunday). And ever since I made that intention, I've had invitations, ideas, and appointments all trying to make their way into those couple of days. Where before I would have relented and delayed my *me time*, this time I've stayed firm! No doing. That weekend is for me, and me alone :)
So what am I planning on doing with all this *time*? Meditating for one thing. I've been ignoring the meditation messages for so many years now, it's like it's been a subconscious avoidance, no more. I'm also hoping to bake ahead (aka mini carrot cupcakes, maybe fairy cakes, banana bread etc) where I can try some of them out (yes that really should read as stuff my face), and if they work out properly (ie taste ok, don't kill me, and only if I don't scoff the lot), will be frozen for Christmas time (yes under 9 weeks now, don't faint). What else? Sleeping, eating, lots of hot chocolate, facial, manicure, pedicure ....... watching a film or two, definitely lazing around in pj's. And playing with my tarot and oracle decks. Reading too. My reading has lapsed. All the little things that I never *get round to* because other things get in the way.
And the reason? Because this weekend I am making ME to be the number one priority. Because I'm tired and run down and need some quiet time, some me time, because I deserve it. I am choosing to do this.
For some it won't be as easy as just saying I'm going to do this and close that front door, and then not opening it until the Monday morning. Kids are one reason (any chance they want a sleepover at friends or grandparents?), medical reasons (think about how would you be able to work around that), money (doesn't really cost anything to stay at home and maybe chuck something in a slow cooker or pot for dinner), working shifts (how about no tv on the evening and reading instead, soaking in the bath). You could have a noisy house (sleepovers or if lots of visiting kids, how about having them watch Disney films in one room while you're in another, silence being the only thing required?) or even your partner refusing to join in, laughing at you (personally if this happened, you deserve better) or whinging away (send them to watch the footie at their mate's house for the evening, earning brownie points in the process). So if any of these reasons resonate, how about adapting it to an evening instead of all weekend? It's making the most of what we've got, because we all deserve some *me time* and life is often so hectic these days that we often sacrifice our own needs to put everyone else first.
There is of course the other possiblity, that this kind of weekend would bore you silly. After all, we all have different tastes and ideas, and enjoy different things. In which case I would ask you to think deeply and slowly about what kind of weekend (or evening etc.) you would enjoy the most, that involved just you. What would you do, wear, smell (personally I love the smell of the house when food is baking), where would you be, what would you see when you looked out of your eyes? Is there anything new you would like to try? What would you hear? And then adapt those thoughts/hopes/desires/ dreams to fit into your current circumstances.
The end result? Hopefully to feel rejuvenated, to feel your heart lift (even if that has meant revisiting memories which brought a few tears), to probably not feel quite so tired, to feel replete, and have a smile on your face. To have done some things that have been enjoyable, that you've been meaning to *get around to* one of these days. That come Monday morning you can say, hand on heart, I really enjoyed that weekend/day/evening/time. Don't we all deserve that?
Questions to be used with this affirmation (either with or without cards) are:
What would your ideal weekend include?
How does the image of such a weekend make you feel?
What is currently holding you back from taking more *me time*?
What small change could you make at this time?
How would you feel after making such a change?
Wishing you all a great week ahead :)
Affirmation of the Week
(beginning Monday 26th October)
"I RELISH MY WEEKEND"
I can just imagine people reading that first paragraph and thinking, I'd love to have a weekend without opening the front door, without obligations, of not having any jobs to do around the house, to just be. *Chance would be a fine thing.* Or how about *As if I'd be that lucky*. *Never happens in my world*. And I used to think that too. So every so often I'd try and make sure I got a weekend away from everyone and everything. Only problem was (and I'm going back years here) I'd find anything and everything to fill up that time with mindless chatter. I'd end up slouched on the sofa watching programme after programme, maybe do a facial, definitely order Chinese food in ........ and then Sunday night would arrive and I'd still feel absolutely knackered, nothing achieved or done with a list for the following week that was longer than ever! And after a while I stopped even trying.
Fast forward to last month. After the weekend I worked, I worked another weekend (great as the Bank will be very happy about that). Then I was supposed to be working the next one, but due to transport problems I managed to swap the shift out with someone else to a later date. And instead visited friends. So I decided that come what may, I would actually book this one into my diary. For the weekend just gone (as in now, cos I'm posting this on UK Sunday). And ever since I made that intention, I've had invitations, ideas, and appointments all trying to make their way into those couple of days. Where before I would have relented and delayed my *me time*, this time I've stayed firm! No doing. That weekend is for me, and me alone :)
So what am I planning on doing with all this *time*? Meditating for one thing. I've been ignoring the meditation messages for so many years now, it's like it's been a subconscious avoidance, no more. I'm also hoping to bake ahead (aka mini carrot cupcakes, maybe fairy cakes, banana bread etc) where I can try some of them out (yes that really should read as stuff my face), and if they work out properly (ie taste ok, don't kill me, and only if I don't scoff the lot), will be frozen for Christmas time (yes under 9 weeks now, don't faint). What else? Sleeping, eating, lots of hot chocolate, facial, manicure, pedicure ....... watching a film or two, definitely lazing around in pj's. And playing with my tarot and oracle decks. Reading too. My reading has lapsed. All the little things that I never *get round to* because other things get in the way.
And the reason? Because this weekend I am making ME to be the number one priority. Because I'm tired and run down and need some quiet time, some me time, because I deserve it. I am choosing to do this.
For some it won't be as easy as just saying I'm going to do this and close that front door, and then not opening it until the Monday morning. Kids are one reason (any chance they want a sleepover at friends or grandparents?), medical reasons (think about how would you be able to work around that), money (doesn't really cost anything to stay at home and maybe chuck something in a slow cooker or pot for dinner), working shifts (how about no tv on the evening and reading instead, soaking in the bath). You could have a noisy house (sleepovers or if lots of visiting kids, how about having them watch Disney films in one room while you're in another, silence being the only thing required?) or even your partner refusing to join in, laughing at you (personally if this happened, you deserve better) or whinging away (send them to watch the footie at their mate's house for the evening, earning brownie points in the process). So if any of these reasons resonate, how about adapting it to an evening instead of all weekend? It's making the most of what we've got, because we all deserve some *me time* and life is often so hectic these days that we often sacrifice our own needs to put everyone else first.
May we never let the things we can’t have
or don’t have or shouldn’t have
spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have.
or don’t have or shouldn’t have
spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have.
As we value our happiness, let us not forget it.
One of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy
without the things we cannot or should not have.
One of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy
without the things we cannot or should not have.
~~ Richard L. Evans ~~
There is of course the other possiblity, that this kind of weekend would bore you silly. After all, we all have different tastes and ideas, and enjoy different things. In which case I would ask you to think deeply and slowly about what kind of weekend (or evening etc.) you would enjoy the most, that involved just you. What would you do, wear, smell (personally I love the smell of the house when food is baking), where would you be, what would you see when you looked out of your eyes? Is there anything new you would like to try? What would you hear? And then adapt those thoughts/hopes/desires/ dreams to fit into your current circumstances.
The end result? Hopefully to feel rejuvenated, to feel your heart lift (even if that has meant revisiting memories which brought a few tears), to probably not feel quite so tired, to feel replete, and have a smile on your face. To have done some things that have been enjoyable, that you've been meaning to *get around to* one of these days. That come Monday morning you can say, hand on heart, I really enjoyed that weekend/day/evening/time. Don't we all deserve that?
It is a difficult lesson to learn today
to leave one's friends and family and
deliberately practice the art of solitude
to leave one's friends and family and
deliberately practice the art of solitude
for an hour or a day or a week.
And yet,once it is done, I find there is a quality
to being alone that is incredibly precious.
Life rushes back into the void, richer,
more vivid, fuller than before.
~~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~~
Questions to be used with this affirmation (either with or without cards) are:
What would your ideal weekend include?
How does the image of such a weekend make you feel?
What is currently holding you back from taking more *me time*?
What small change could you make at this time?
How would you feel after making such a change?
Wishing you all a great week ahead :)
x Mouse
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Starting Again.
Fairy Tale Tarot............Ace of Wands
How Coyote Stole Fire
So here I am, back with the first card I drew when I began my threesomes with this deck. It could be said I completely got the wrong end of the stick and have now come back full circle to the starting point. I have in a way but as I read through everything I've written since then I know its all relevant and simply needs to be applied to a completely different direction than I thought it was for.
Coyote is the trickster and has certainly pulled a fast one on me but I can learn from that. A little creative cunning and a few sneaky manoeuvres might be more effective against my opponent than head on confrontation.
One thought I shall take from Coyote today.........from the book.
"......letting go of past perceived failures".
Very important but not easy to do. Knowing you've failed before cannot help but create an expectation of "I can't" .........an attitude that can have one defeated before even beginning. My feeling is not to fight this with vehement "I can's" but to spend some time understanding why I failed and what I can do to change things around.
Very appropriate............Moon in Sagittarius today and two wands in a row. A reminder that this fiery impulsive energy needs to be channeled carefully or it'll burn out of control.
The appearance of the watery Chariot is very welcome. The final card of this week and I'm adding it today because the next few days I'm going to be too busy to blog. It's a long holiday weekend here and we have family coming to stay. Perfect timing as it takes the focus off myself and onto taking care of others and enjoying a relaxing social time.
A ship and horse flying through the sky..............it's all up in the air at present and can stay there for a while. Leaving it to simmer gently on the back burner I can keep an eye on it and use any quiet moments to reflect on my game plan.
How Coyote Stole Fire
So here I am, back with the first card I drew when I began my threesomes with this deck. It could be said I completely got the wrong end of the stick and have now come back full circle to the starting point. I have in a way but as I read through everything I've written since then I know its all relevant and simply needs to be applied to a completely different direction than I thought it was for.Coyote is the trickster and has certainly pulled a fast one on me but I can learn from that. A little creative cunning and a few sneaky manoeuvres might be more effective against my opponent than head on confrontation.
One thought I shall take from Coyote today.........from the book.
"......letting go of past perceived failures".
Very important but not easy to do. Knowing you've failed before cannot help but create an expectation of "I can't" .........an attitude that can have one defeated before even beginning. My feeling is not to fight this with vehement "I can's" but to spend some time understanding why I failed and what I can do to change things around.
Very appropriate............Moon in Sagittarius today and two wands in a row. A reminder that this fiery impulsive energy needs to be channeled carefully or it'll burn out of control.
The appearance of the watery Chariot is very welcome. The final card of this week and I'm adding it today because the next few days I'm going to be too busy to blog. It's a long holiday weekend here and we have family coming to stay. Perfect timing as it takes the focus off myself and onto taking care of others and enjoying a relaxing social time.
A ship and horse flying through the sky..............it's all up in the air at present and can stay there for a while. Leaving it to simmer gently on the back burner I can keep an eye on it and use any quiet moments to reflect on my game plan.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Preparing for Battle.
Fairy Tale Tarot.........9 Wands
The Flying Ship
In this Fairy Tale the young hero has to build and navigate a flying ship in order to win his princess. He has magical assistance in this task and while travelling to the princess's kingdom he meets up with several people with special gifts who join him and it's their abilities that enable him to complete the challenges the king gives him.
There is a sense of waiting in the 9 Wands............waiting with the knowledge you are soon going be facing a major challenge. This is the time to prepare and plan, to muster every resource you have so you''ll be in the strongest possible position to defend yourself from the attacking forces. Stormy skies, rough terrain and turbulent water show how difficult this journey is going to be.
Realising now exactly what form that Frog Prince takes I know this is true.
I thought it would be fun to look at the gifted people in the story and see if I could use them to help me. It was as I was doing this that I really saw how much work had gone into this deck for not only do the selected tales fit the tarot meanings so well but also other correspondences. I like to take the astrological meaning into account ............this card is the Moon in Sagittarius and it's so Sagittarian it's unbelievable. It's ruler Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion but it can on the negative side reflect where and how a person overdoes, gets carried away by excessive behaviour. With the Moon we're looking at the emotional, intuitive, spiritual and the inner life.
A natural inclination and too much energy put into sailing upon the waters. So the first task has been to give that ship some wings and lift it higher so a new and different vision can take shape.
I've got that far so let's see who's coming along for the ride.
The Listener............there will be many distracting voices and looking at those gloomy faces of the subconscious much of what I hear will be negative and will have the potential to drown out the one quiet voice that will be offering strong positive encouragement. I'll have to remember to be discerning .............take my hearing aid out when the grumbling starts.
The Swiftfooted................he keeps one leg tied to prevent himself running. Restraint and self control................don't be in too much of a hurry .
The Glutton & the Gulper....................puts the focus on nourishment and can be taken literally . Small changes in diet and eating and drinking patterns will definitely help but in a wider sense suggests practical everyday living and doing little things that will promote a feeling of wellbeing.
The Sharpshooter...............the Sagittarian archer with his bow and arrows and a deadly accurate aim. Don't look too far ahead and set targets I'm confident I can reach............has the 'one day at a time' feel.
Finally there is the Wood Carrier............with his bundle of sticks that can transform into an army . Collective strength ..............he carries the inner qualities needed to reach the goal. Commitment, focus, strength and perseverence and more and all working together for a common purpose.
So I guess the advice for this week is not to rush into anything yet but start to prepare a strategy and plan of action .
The Flying Ship
In this Fairy Tale the young hero has to build and navigate a flying ship in order to win his princess. He has magical assistance in this task and while travelling to the princess's kingdom he meets up with several people with special gifts who join him and it's their abilities that enable him to complete the challenges the king gives him.There is a sense of waiting in the 9 Wands............waiting with the knowledge you are soon going be facing a major challenge. This is the time to prepare and plan, to muster every resource you have so you''ll be in the strongest possible position to defend yourself from the attacking forces. Stormy skies, rough terrain and turbulent water show how difficult this journey is going to be.
Realising now exactly what form that Frog Prince takes I know this is true.
I thought it would be fun to look at the gifted people in the story and see if I could use them to help me. It was as I was doing this that I really saw how much work had gone into this deck for not only do the selected tales fit the tarot meanings so well but also other correspondences. I like to take the astrological meaning into account ............this card is the Moon in Sagittarius and it's so Sagittarian it's unbelievable. It's ruler Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion but it can on the negative side reflect where and how a person overdoes, gets carried away by excessive behaviour. With the Moon we're looking at the emotional, intuitive, spiritual and the inner life.
A natural inclination and too much energy put into sailing upon the waters. So the first task has been to give that ship some wings and lift it higher so a new and different vision can take shape.
I've got that far so let's see who's coming along for the ride.
The Listener............there will be many distracting voices and looking at those gloomy faces of the subconscious much of what I hear will be negative and will have the potential to drown out the one quiet voice that will be offering strong positive encouragement. I'll have to remember to be discerning .............take my hearing aid out when the grumbling starts.
The Swiftfooted................he keeps one leg tied to prevent himself running. Restraint and self control................don't be in too much of a hurry .
The Glutton & the Gulper....................puts the focus on nourishment and can be taken literally . Small changes in diet and eating and drinking patterns will definitely help but in a wider sense suggests practical everyday living and doing little things that will promote a feeling of wellbeing.
The Sharpshooter...............the Sagittarian archer with his bow and arrows and a deadly accurate aim. Don't look too far ahead and set targets I'm confident I can reach............has the 'one day at a time' feel.
Finally there is the Wood Carrier............with his bundle of sticks that can transform into an army . Collective strength ..............he carries the inner qualities needed to reach the goal. Commitment, focus, strength and perseverence and more and all working together for a common purpose.
So I guess the advice for this week is not to rush into anything yet but start to prepare a strategy and plan of action .
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