Prompt: “Shuffle your deck of choice, then pull out every ninth card. Of the eight cards now sitting in front of you, which card do you relate to most strongly and why? Of the seven remaining cards, which card do you relate to the least and why? With the six cards left, assign a real person in  your life, a fictional character, a movie, a book, or a song to each of these six cards and then tell us why you made the choice you did for each.”

Relate to the Most – King of Pentacles – I might not always admit it, not even to myself, but I have done well at creating a stable foundation for myself and my life, as well as to help provide a sense of stability for others that look up to me for help and guidance.  I may motivate myself with fear and a fixation on scarcity… but in truth? I’m doing better than I often allow myself to acknowledge.

Relate to the Least – Three of Wands – There’s so much going on in my life right now, and it feels like there’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of things that are up in the air. As I struggle with these issues, I find myself freezing in place and stalling out far more often than I am moving with direction and purpose.

Four of Pentacles – S lives alone, her children living thousands of miles away and showing no interest in her or her well being. She spends her days helping others, driving the elderly to their appointments while she, in her 80s, keeps trucking on.  She wears plain clothing and no jewelry, a discount cane helps her balance on days when she needs it. She drives an old car with many dents that is immaculately clean inside, but at least twenty years old.  And yet, in a box in her crowded little condo, sitting on her dresser beneath an old lamp that’s seen better days is a hoard of secret treasure.  Jewelry glitters in gemstones and gold, tucked into each drawer of the box, the contents neatly itemized and every once in a while? A new piece added.

Four of Swords – Recently injured, he couldn’t wait to get back on his feet and be able to drive again.  J’s experience left him with his arm in a sling and delegated to the passenger seat for two weeks, and every single moment of that time he was in recovery? He was chomping at the bit to be in the drivers seat again.  He gave himself the rest he needed, though, and is healing up well.

Two of Cups – Forty years of marriage and they spent every single day of it together. They worked together, they played together. They didn’t even run to the store or the post office without the other along for the ride.  Forty years with no more than an half-an-acre between them at most. You could see how well they worked together, even when they bickered at each other.  You could see the love in every look, even when one or the other of them was in a mood or being “impossible”.

Ten of Swords – Then one day, forty years ends. One passes away and leaves the other behind. They becomes she, and she is alone. Aching and alone. Heart torn open, left bleeding in the dirt and wishing she could follow him on into the dark, but she is left behind. Lost in the dark and feeling as if there is nothing left to live for.

Two of Wands – Plans are made, but it’s not time yet to jump in.  Lots and lots of plans are made, and eagerness reigns.  Yet? Still, it’s not quite time.  It’s a holding pattern for the girl in the dark red gown with the matching cap on her head. She bounces on her toes, the future before her bright, as she smiles brightly while a small folder is handed over.  Soon… plans will be put into action, and she has so many plans.

The Sun – Toad the Wet Sprocket’s song “Walk on the Ocean” makes me think of summer days filled with nothing but time and the pursuit of laughter and enjoyment. It’s the daydream of summer vacations that I never experienced, but knew others were enjoying.  It is a reminder of the joy of finally getting to experience and enjoy time off myself.

DECK USED: Hilda The Tarot