My kindred Kat is hosting August Moon, “a reflective writing challenge that creates space for you to reflect on the things that have led you here and consider ways to manifest a truly magnificent send-off for the year.” I love that she’s doing this, that I can pair it with Susannah’s August Break. As someone who has the summer off, works at a university, August is a time of transition rich with energy, ripe with opportunity and obstacles. These blogging challenges help me to focus my energy, cultivate clarity, remember to balance my effort with ease.
Today’s prompt from Kat is: set an intention. In her email, she described it this way, “I invite you to share what is it that you want to explore over the next two weeks. In particular, I invite you to consider the crossroads at which you find yourself, in any aspect of your life.” When I was contemplating the prompt this morning, I was considering focusing on the obstacles facing me, the ways that I am stuck. Then I decided to pull a card from my Wild Unknown tarot deck to see if that might offer some clarity, suggest a focus. As I shuffled the cards, I thought about Kat’s prompt. I pulled the most beautiful, perfect card: Six of Wands.
Victory, success, rising up. This card shifted the way I was thinking about Kat’s prompt. The six of wands suggests, “The obstacles have been relentless, but now is not the time to look back upon them. The more pressing question is: where will you go with your new set of wings?”
Holy wow…
The cards I’ve been pulling since we got back from a month in Oregon have all had a similar message. That I’m entering a new phase of life, a time of bliss, harmony, peace, wishes come true. That I should move on, lift my eyes to the horizon, direct myself forward. They’ve warned of remaining stuck, lost, confused, that staying in the past will only cause suffering. They suggest that I bring calm and focus to my mind, open myself up to joy.
So I suppose that’s my answer. Don’t rehash the obstacles or ways in which I’m stuck in old patterns and ways of being, but rather explore what I want my life to look like, how I want to feel, what I’m hungry for, what I have to offer. Things are going to be amazing, you are HERE, move forward.
That’s my intention then, to consider the question, “where will you go with your new set of wings?”
Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray) 
Been battling my Meniere’s lately – bad attacks and daily wobbles. After listening to Krista Tippet talking to a woman about the science of attention I felt that I really need to practice paying attention to my creativity, ideas, kindness and generosity. These are my new wings. This is what I need to nurture, not the fear and loathing of this condition. It changed my outlook. I was able to find the humor in the fact that I can’t walk a straight line and the gratitude for the friends ready, willing and able to get me some groceries. Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll feel better enough to go into the studio and fly some more. If not, I’ll stay home and create necklaces out of the beach glass I picked up in New Zealand. Wings… I love it. Thank you.
A sense of humor and good friends — yes, Evie! That’s absolutely it, what keeps us going. May you feel your wings, know them, even on the days that they must rest, stay folded on your back. ♥
my husband & i moved to a new house so my intention is to unpack w/compassion and organization. 🙂
Good plan, Alane. ♥
That is such a fantastic twist, rethinking of obstacles. Here’s another from Patti Digh (I heard her say this in an interview on a podcast): “The story of Little Red Riding Hood would not move forward without the Wolf.” Life is not about avoiding the obstacles, it’s about living through them, experiencing them. I love the metaphor of your wings…it’s a metaphor that’s very strong in my life right now. Yay for butterflies and pushing through the narrow passages!
Oh, thanks for sharing that, Susie. That’s good! ♥
When I saw your Wild Unknown card, I got shivers all over! It’s simply perfect.
Ohhhh, good things are coming. I can just feel it. x
♥
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