Daily Meditation

Encouragement In the Face of Imbalance

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty three seconds, and focused on the natural breath.

Most of the time when I meditate, I do yogic breathing. This means that my breaths are rhythmic and deep, with a full inhale to completely fill the lungs, then a full exhale until the lungs are empty before then repeating the process.

Today’s meditation was to focus on your natural breath, which I found oddly difficult to do. When I allow myself to breathe naturally without control, I find that my breathing is not particularly even, or very deep. And, like the observation effect in physics, it feels as if just by observing the natural breath (even as a passive observer), that the observation results in change.

Today’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which represents is a strong “feminine” energy, personality, or person that is both nurturing and practical in the areas of the physical world, money, and resources.

A lot of the times when I see a Queen card within a daily draw, it is a sign of praise for something that is happening or that I have accomplished. This is, of course, a very limited view and I believe that it is especially lacking in regard to today’s draw.

The appearance of the Queen of Pentacles today is telling me that, rather than having found a balance between work and home, it is something that I still need to work on.

I agree with that message, as I feel that I have had very little time with you lately. I’ve been so focused on trying to get back on track after the depression that had weighed me down for so long, and As a result I have been neglectful of you and your needs… and myself and my own needs where you are concerned.

The Queen of Pentacles presence in today’s draw tells me that I need to pay more attention to finding that balance that gives me the time and energy to work on my goals financially and otherwise, but also to spend time with you and nurture that “home” aspect of my life as well.

The Nest

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty eight seconds, and focused on how people have a natural tendency to get stuck in their comfort zone and become resistant to trying new things.

I think that this is true for just about everybody, and there’s a reason that most people struggle with change. Myself included. The meditation was guided in encouraging the listener to open up to change now and then, rather than staying stagnant in one’s comfort zone all the time.

Today’s draw is the Nine of Cups, which is an representation of contentment, fruition, gratitude, and sometimes culmination and resulting consequences in the area of emotions, relationships, and creativity.

The appearance of the Nine of Cups today is a reminder to be grateful for what you have now. With so much pushing and shoving forward in my drive to get things done, stay on track, and get ahead… Sometimes I forget that what I have right now is really pretty damn good.

Today, this card is a reminder to take some time to be content and what you have and be grateful for it, rather than always striving for more.

The Spark

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Today’s meditation was curtailed by the fact that I either fell asleep, or passed out. I’m not really sure which, but it cut my day short and I did not get in my meditation.

Today’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is a representation of a eager to learn, student-type energy in the area of inspiration, passions, and drive.

I personally visualize the Page of Wands as a spark. That spark within the mind and heart that bursts into life and creates the energy and curiosity necessary to move forward in a new endeavor or idea.

Off-topic (but yet not), I think that the artwork on this card, like so many cards in the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, is spot on in its representation of how I interpret the tarot. The character on this card is so full of life, and the expression on his face is one of joy and inspiration.

I spent most of yesterday in the creative endeavor of getting my tarot journal set up. This is usually something to do in January, or sometimes even in October in preparation for the new year to come. Circumstances didn’t allow for that this year, but I believe that the Page of Wands is telling me that I’m now back on the right track and ready to move forward again with my practice and journey with the cards and what they can teach me.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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Today’s meditation was fifteen minutes and forty eight seconds, and focused on bringing mindfulness into daily life instead of just during meditation.

It discussed how easy it is to get distracted and overwhelmed during the day, and how taking a moment now and then to take a breath and pay attention to that moment and all that entails in the physical world can help in getting out of one’s mind and the constant wild turbulence that is often going on up there.

Today’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is a representation of duality, division, and openings in the areas of resources, money, and the physical world.

In the standard tarot, the Two of Pentacles has an image of someone in the process of juggling and looking slightly overwhelmed with an infinity wrapping around the juggled items. In the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, on the other hand, you can see that there is a much softer image portrayed, with a Fae watching over the growth of a plant.

I like this softer image. I like that it shows both the duality of the nurture and growth dynamic, but also how it shows that as the plant grows above the earth, so too do the roots dig beneath. It is a symbolic relationship, each needing the other to keep the plant healthy and happy.

In this draw, the Two of Pentacles is telling me that although I have a lot going on in my life, it’s also important to balance my self care into the equation.

This is something that’s not always easy for me to do because I get overwhelmed with work responsibilities, the running of my business, and all that that entails. I get too focused on pushing forward, and forget to pay attention to my own needs.

I need to remember that living a balanced and healthy life is not always about where I’m going and where I want to be, but also about where I am now… and how I’m doing now.

To Thine Own Self Be True

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Today’s meditation was eighteen minutes and four seconds, and focused on a body scan encouraging relaxation which started at the head and ended at the toes.

During the scan the guided meditation also discussed maintaining momentum with your practice. In other words, ensuring that you are meditating daily and not skipping over or setting aside your meditation for other issues, activity , or concerns.

This is something that I personally struggle with. I know that the meditation is helping me, and I know that meditation is good for you in a number of different ways. Yet, at times when there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day I’ve been known to skip my meditation… even when I know that the meditation only takes 15 minutes or so.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Swords, and has to do with progress, the unknown, and/or a leap ahead in the area of thoughts and communication.

This card often indicates deception or betrayal, but I believe in this case the card is a representation of a need to look inward. In this representation the Seven of Swords is the epitome of the Shakespearean quote (said by Polonius in Hamlet), “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

The Seven of Swords is a reminder to take a look at my beliefs and intentions to ensure that I am staying true to myself and my values as I move forward.

It’s message is the importance of being true to yourself and staying in touch with what’s important to you rather than letting outside influences or even your own fears or emotions get the better of you. I think everyone needs this reminder every once in a while… myself included.

When business slows down, as it always does after Mother’s Day each year, I suffer through a period of self-doubt and worry. It’s a bit silly because my business is thriving, and this time of year is a regular slow period that is predictable and expected.

And yet, every year the whispers of worry and self-doubt return to make a repeat appearance. The Seven of Swords is telling me to look at my inner values and my core self and then continue forward, confident in myself and what I know to be true, instead of becoming distracted by the whispers.

The Inner Child

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Due to spending the majority of what would have been my free time today with the police dealing with the break-in down in our gated garage, I did not get the chance to meditate today.

Today’s draw is the Six of Cups, which is a representation of memories, childhood, and innocence in the areas of emotions, relationships, and creativity.

This card has multiple meanings, as many of the cards in the deck do. But, it’s presence today is a reminder to get in touch with my inner child, where my joy in creation resides.

I have so many projects on the go right now, and so much to do. I’ve been feeling a little bit overwhelmed while trying to play catch-up from the depression that took so much of my time at the beginning of the spring.

The Six of Cups is a reminder that even though there’s so much to do, many of the projects that I need to work on our seated and creativity. These are projects that I should be looking forward to with an open heart, rather than trudge towards as if they are a chore.

A funny and fun coincidence… An excellent article offered in my NYTimes Smarter Living subscription this morning is “How to Revisit the Ghosts of Your Past“, which relates to another possible interpretation of this card.