5 of Pentacles with 2 and 7 of Pentacles – When Life Circumstances Drastically Change

5 of Pentacles Issue with  a 2 and 7 of Pentacle Resolution

Haven’t there been times when we’ve used our pain or life trials as a crutch or to solicit sympathy or attention from others–at least temporarily?  In the card image for the 5 of Pentacles (above) she is sitting on the rock, crutches on her lap and out in the cold, no less.  Note the scarf, gloves and snow upon the ground.  We all get wounded from time–we suffer an eye-opening loss and our initial reaction is  squeeze the eyes closed.  We just don’t want to deal with it.  But eventually, it comes time to open the eyes and take inventory or make a plan of some kind.

Yet we all know that some folks never do; they lay claim to role as victim and do what they can to enhance that role or overly exaggerate their difficulty.  There’s help available and they know it and also know how to reach out for it but (for whatever reason) remaining victim has become a habit that they are getting something from.  The greater difficulty with a person using  using those crutches long-term is that they block the ability to change and loose touch with inner values and their own spirit.

Drastic changes in life circumstances due to external conditions happen to all of us at one time or another.   All three cards chosen today for blog fodder were Pentacles–cards of the earth and of material world and worldly concerns.  In some tarot decks we see the 5 of Pentacles person on crutches, wounded by life, walking past a church or chapel ~ not going in.  You get the feeling that spirituality is being ignored.

There are times that isolating one’s self from the world for a little while is a good thing right after suffering a dramatic change in the circumstances of our life.

I feel pretty qualified to write about the 5 of Pentacles, haven “been there, and done that” as the saying goes.  I isolated myself and shut my eyes and it got pretty cold there eventually and I did take shelter in the spiritual realms.  Reading spiritual books, meditating, seeking out like-minded individuals, finding a soul family for a while and being helped–but I had to seek a solution and leave the crutches behind, and come in from the cold place where I was making material concerns more important than they should have been.

And that brought me to a ‘2 of Pentacles kind of place’ in my mind and heart.  Through my newly established ‘spiritual legs’ (after haven tossed those crutches away), I was able to be more joyful about life.  I opened my eyes, realized the lessons and the blessings in the recent changes and was able to “go with the flow” as the saying goes.

The gift of the drastic change to external conditions enabled me to further develop the ability to feel much deeper compassion for myself and others.  I found ways to take advantage of the shifts of energy.  I raised my sails and let the winds of change move me and did not resist.

Sometimes there was no wind and I found myself in the ‘doldrums’ on those occasions–once in a  while depression or feelings of hopelessness kicked in.  But by then I had already turned my crutches in for a hoe (I’d learned how to use some spiritual tools) and just like the image on the 7 of Pentacles card (above) I had to contemplate how to use those tools; but figured it out.

Perpetual change was the name of the game in certain periods of my life and those changes helped me to learn how to maintain equilibrium.  I learned a lot about my strengths and also my weaknesses during times of rapid fire change.

I learned to trade in any illusions about the outer world being a stable and safe place and realized (each time and on deeper levels) that all stability and safety is to be sought and found within one’s own spiritual self.  In doing so I calmed myself enough (opening my eyes) to be able to see opportunities around me and also the true beauty of the Earth and Life Itself.  (Capitalization intended).  I saw The Divine everywhere I looked once I found The Source within.

We must not be afraid of change.  We need to “un-stick” ourselves from old conditions and release the past in order to benefit fully from all the gifts that Life has to offer.

We are taught by society that our stability in life comes from the work, the career we have within the framework of society.  We may have prepared for a particular job or career only to find that work dissolve before our eyes.

That happened to me. There was health care reform that affected many professional health care providers like myself for a short time.  Physical Therapists (like myself), Occupational Therapists and Respiratory Therapists–many of us found ourselves applying for job loss benefits.  It was very de-stabilizing time.  And  that was around the time that I found  much more satisfying work that I do as a counselor and professional psychic.

We all must do something in some way when we are feeling destabilized.  We cannot remain too long in that stuck and un-focused state.  We must take those tools (that garden hoe shown in the image of 7 of Pentacles above) and plant some seeds.  While we’re waiting form them to sprout and grow, we cannot loose faith and hope.  Instead, we can firm up our inner spiritual fortress while we’re waiting.

In my case, I built a website to do my psychic work and it was about 3 months before I could see the search engines picked it up and people found me.  Meanwhile however, it was a great joy for me to create the many web pages and load images and write articles for the website.  On days when I had no clients, I used the day to create the next web page and then the one after that.

I continue to have failures and also successes and both have served as great teachers for me– it continues that way.   For myself and for all humans who open their eyes and put down the crutches and pick up the spiritual tools, establish a true connection with the Spiritual Source within and plant those seeds while dancing with the movement of life we are able to recognize opportunity.   Then it becomes clear to us that there is nothing to fear and most of all that we are supported by a kind, giving and loving universe.

We get there by looking inward.

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Patterns of Thought, Neurons, Psychic Development and Spiritual Evolution

Neurons Gossip

How do all those things relate?  Patterns that I’m referring to have to do with what sometime’s I’ve heard called “gossipy neurons” or “ground consciousness” — either way, karmic repetition.  I really appreciate how the Dalai Lama of Tibet has joined Buddhists theory with scientific theory to understand the mind and how it works.

So patterns of thought and neurons that react to stimuli (see What the Bleep Do we Know?) — gossipy neurons!  I love that image of neurons gossiping and we could then see how and why the work of Byron Katie has been helpful to so many–i.e. question that thought and who would you be without it?

Neurons gossip — stimulus happens (some life event or experience) and then old dialogue begins accompanied by old pictures.

In my work as a psychic I’ve learned how to listen to observe to create a space for information to come through and I can’t have any neurons gossiping in the background when i do this.   I think meditation and working in those areas with the mind enables one to recognize when ground or karmic consciousness takes over or said another way, when the neurons start gossiping and firing and kicking up those old connections.

When we notice those neurons gossiping we can become aware and break those old patterned connections through intention–creating a new pathway, one that includes compassion and love instead.

I often point out how psychic development (I offer an Online Course) is an aid to our personal spiritual evolution.  This is yet another example!  Awareness rocks!

The Older Spiritual Warrior and Virgo Sun mid-degrees intensifies character formation to refine identity and dealing with obnoxious people

The Older Spiritual Warrior and Virgo Sun mid-degrees intensifies character formation to refine identity

–AND– dealing with obnoxious people

–ALSO– Inner Patterns and Emotional Work Redefining Character and Re-evaluating Spiritual Warrior Energy

In reading a book by a Buddhist monk recently therein  was a reference to the energy of frustration, aversion and yes that other uncomfortable “a” word, anger, relating to a dog that you tell to “Stay!”

Being in the center of the fire–the flame–is also used as an example.  We want to strike back, react, seek safety and security in either fight or flight types of reactions.

I’ll tell you what helps with this—being an old warrior (such as me).  The temptation to fight and react is there but one finds the opponent or that which incited the emotion to be totally not worthy and many times that adversary (the source of the anxiety, aversion or anger) is actually downright laughable.

It’s just that one remembers the foes and enemies that were fought and conquered in the past and suddenly one can tell the inner dog whose lips are drawn back, teeth showing poised to attack to “sit!” and to “stay!”

Self-discipline and inner-mastery cannot be achieved by shelling out dollars to have someone do it for you—obviously this type of discipline and mastery is achieved only through one’s own personal efforts.

And what comes to mind is that line from whatever movie that was:  “Are YOU talking to me?”  Let me save my breath for my creative endeavors, pursuits and the enjoyment of the life that remains.

I’ve learned to step away from obnoxious humans and move toward the gentle, peaceful side of life as often as possible—it takes focus to deal with obnoxious humans.  I’d rather use my efforts engaging in creative and enjoyable activities.  Who needs to or better yet wants to be telling the energy within to “stay!”—there’s no longer a need or desire to prove warrior energy or self-mastery once a certain level is reached.  

It’s a fairly mild day here today with the clouds covering the sunshine presently.  There are a number of activities that I have in mind for my afternoon.  The Sun is at the mid-point of Virgo now while Mercury is reaching its final degrees through Virgo.

Blain Bovee, in his Sabian Sage Forecast, wrote that the major themes of this degree of  the Virgo Sun illumines character formation and themes of doing deep inner work on emotional patterns to refine identity occur.  I totally feel the truth to that.

I was having a lunar return around the time that my downstairs neighbors began to heave their hearty voices and slam the walls after midnight last night.  I had all the white noise going too!  Honestly!   I told the dog to “stay”–we were both too tired–and I pulled the pillows closer to my ears and turned over.   Again they were at it this morning with the yelling and banging and then I laugh with the Universe remembering all the important battles that I’ve fought and won and how unworthy it would be to give this notice. Again, I say, “Stay!”

Obnoxious, nasty humans getting you down?  Tell the emotions this way:  “Stay!”  (And then take the resulting inner power and “walk away” from those obnoxious people however and whenever possible.)  If you can’t do that, turn on the music (mp3 players and ear buds help!) or squeeze the pillows tighter to your ears, find the tunnel of light and let yourself drift in and sleep!

There are so many helpful phrases from the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva AND various Lojong Training Phrases that could be called upon here with this post –once one’s had that training, sometimes just one word and in this case for me lately, keeping it real and simple,  the word “stay!” says it all.

Ahhh, Life!   I love you!  Feeling Groovey!