Month: April 2020

Lost Cause – Day 535

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Waxing April Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Lost Cause

Well, today was a lost cause. All I did was run around and feel thwarted at almost every turn.

We’ve all had days like this. You know…when nothing turns out the way you intended? When everything you attempt to do ends up not only not happening but turning into its own pile of mess?

I Should’ve Known

Sometimes you don’t need to pick a card to get a handle on how your day is going to unfold. Like when you step in a puddle of kitty barf as you head to the bathroom first thing in the morning. Not a good sign.

Or when you realize that the kitty barf is actually something that they were repeatedly trying to evacuate from their bodies in small, half dollar size puddles of saliva spread out in eerily perfect distances that mimic a footstep. Yes. So when you realize you’ve stepped in something wet and instinctively yet simultaneously recoil and lunge to put your weight on the other foot, you find that foot landing in a puddle of feline gastric-juicy wetness of its own.

I should’ve known, really.

Just One Of Those Days

Hey, I know. I’m sure many people feeling ill or working themselves to the bone caring for the sick, or the people called upon to stock our grocery stores and deal with our cranky, often selfish, asses would love to have the luxury of my lamentations.

Alas, we all have our crosses to bear. I’m in the midst of sorting out feelings that I’ll almost inevitably share here sooner or later. But until I do, I’ll probably persist in making the mistake of hitting up the cache of peanuts I stockpiled for the blue jays and fish crows.

Case in point: Tonight I made the mistake of ‘catching up’ on the news I’d deliberately not followed all day (you know, as I was agitated enough by other stuff going on in my life). Aided by the anonymity and deniability provided by Karl being asleep on the couch, I surreptitiously retrieved a fresh bag of peanuts from our ‘pandemic stash,’ having refilled the peanut feeder before we took a walk this evening. I knew I shouldn’t break it open. I knew it.. Especially after the crappy day I’d had today.

But I did. I planted myself in front of the tv and binged, mindlessly cracking open the shells and plopping the contents into my mouth. The only bright spot is that I think I may have cured myself of my recent peanut addiction because now I feel as decidedly barfy as the cat must have this morning.

Oh brother. And speak of the devil. Right on cue, Tigger just heaved. I kid you not. Crouched underneath the dining room table strategically positioned such that he’s unreachable, I’m subjected to the universally distinct sound of a cat working something up and out. Good grief; what a day.

Time for bed. Some days are a lost cause. Hopefully, tomorrow will not only be a better day, but also a better post.

“I don’t think I feel right, Mommy” – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-576)

Prairie Dog – Day 534

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Exquisite Sunset – 28 April 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Prairie Dog

I chose Prairie Dog this morning, with Elk underneath. I usually relish choosing this card. It gives me an excuse to hibernate.

A logical interpretation of a ‘pick’ like this would be, “Lisa, you need to withdraw; you need to retreat from all activity and go within.” This would be an especially likely thought process given the Elk underneath, which urges pacing oneself in order to cultivate stamina.

But of course, today was a glorious day of sunshine with a cool, refreshing breeze. And perhaps lending an even greater sense of urgency to ‘strike while the iron was hot,’ the weather forecast for the next several days is rain, rain, and probably even a little more rain.

This fact, plus plans I’d made days ago that couldn’t be changed, dictated that I engage in some pretty intense activity today in spite of the urging of my cards. While nothing I did today would qualify as intense by the standards of so many people who are laboring under extreme conditions, particularly those who are performing the myriad services that are keeping our lives both humming along and intact these days, it was more physical activity than I’m used to.

Another Day

As a result, I’m going to have to let another day go by without discussing the cards I chose last night from the Mystic Art Medicine Cards. Indeed, I’ve sort of been haunted by what I picked of those cards last night as it is. My sense is that the two I chose were not for all of us (you included) but were for me. And their lesson began with the discovery I made and wrote about last night.

The main predictable result of my failure to heed the Prairie Dog/Elk choice this morning is that I am weary to the bone this evening. Hence, I am closing now and leaving you with the photograph of the sunset tonight.

It was indeed spectacular.

I just checked the weather forecast again and it’s now changed. Again. Looks like tomorrow may not bring as much rain as they’d originally predicted.

(T-577)

Change of Plans – Day 533

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Change of Plans

I started out writing my post for this evening by opening Sacred Space and choosing from one of my favorite oracle decks, Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards – Tools for Transformation, created by Cher Lyn. In the process, however, I made a discovery that resulted in a change of plans.

The focus of my choice tonight was to be different than my usual, rather generic question that I usually ask, “What do we need to know right now?” (or a variation on that theme). Instead, I was prompted to inquire: “What do we need to release or shed?” and “What do we need to embrace?”

I will write more about the cards I selected tomorrow night.

Sad Discovery

I’ve loved these cards ever since discovering them several years ago. In fact, they were published in 2011, a fact that’s intrigued me, since the imagery she uses feels very connected to symbolism I’ve come to associate with my son Karl, since his death in 2011.

I don’t know what possessed me to do a search on Cher Lyn as I was writing my post, but I did. It may have been curiosity to see if she had published anything else.

As you’ve probably deduced from the heading, above, I was shocked to discover that she passed away suddenly just this past October.

The photos of Cher on her Facebook page and website reveal an unmistakably beautiful and sensitive spirit. I’m not even sure where that sense comes from other than the powerful response I had to the photographs of her, as well as her richly symbolic and haunting artwork.

Lost in Her Story

I lost myself in reading about Cher, even though I could tell there was obviously a lot more to her life’s story than what I was stumbling upon. The details of her death in a car accident shocked me.

And so, I find myself approaching my evening deadline, distracted and saddened by this sad discovery. Perhaps it’s a function of the tragic abundance of death that’s surrounding all of us right now. There are so many heartrending stories swirling about, across the entire planet.

I found I couldn’t just blithely use Cher Lyn’s oracle cards this evening once I made this discovery. I want to simply honor the loss of her life.

Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards (box) – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-578)

ICYMI – Day 532

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Old fashioned radio – Photo: pinterest.com

ICYMI

It’s funny – this is one of two acronyms that have grown in usage over the past several years that seem to stop me in my tracks. When I see ICYMI (which stands for ‘in case you missed it’), I always have to pause and make a conscious effort to say the full phrase to myself. For whatever reason, this acronym just doesn’t trigger instant recognition in my brain.

Neither does NSFW. Which is particularly ironic, if you know me very well on a personal level, since I tend to speak in NSFW language about NSFW subjects probably far too often. (That’s ‘not safe for work,’ Karl.) (He’s as bad as I am about these acronyms; trust me.)

OK, so now that we have that sorted (hmm, is OK one, too? maybe not), I want to let you know the reason why I titled this post the way I did.

KYW, Of Course

My ‘unexpected opportunity!’ My 30 seconds of fame, dear readers! Good heavens, I’ve only been writing about it for days. In fact, I’m sure you were wondering if it would ever air – or if I was just stringing you along. Because yes, including tonight, I managed to eke out three whole posts dedicated to an interview that seemed to go by in the wink of an eye. But at least tonight’s post includes a link to the actual broadcasted clip!

I have to say, being a person who does not routinely (read ‘ever’) get interviewed on tv or radio, I was pretty stoked when I hopped in my car this morning for my weekly run to buy our organic milk during the old people’s hour. (That sentence horrifies me. But sadly, it’s accurate.) The stoking factor was that it only took seven minutes or so from when I got in the car and turned on the radio for the segment to come on!

Then, having bopped in and out of the store in jig time, I got home all excited to have heard it, whereupon Karl turned the radio on here in the house. Sure enough, another version of the segment  – one that was a scootch longer, even! – aired within a couple of minutes.

Gratitude

I want to thank Kim Glovas for seeking me out for the interview. It was a privilege to be asked to share my thoughts on what our global experience of this pandemic might be instigating within and revealing to us, not only personally but on a much larger scale as well.

There are some of you out there who may smile when you read the paragraph above. Yeah. Life’s a hoot.

I also send out big hugs to each of you who so kindly expressed enthusiasm when I first wrote about the interview last week. While it’s always great to have unexpected opportunities arrive in our lives, it’s waaaaay more fun to share those bright spots with others.

So again, ICYMI, here it is. As always, thanks for reading. And thanks for listening!

Tigger – unimpressed with my shenanigans – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-579)

Two Weeks From Now – Day 531

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Photo: L. Weikel

Two Weeks From Now

Well, it sure seemed like today was a huge test for a lot of us here in the United States – even a bigger test than the special election in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. And I have to wonder what consequences we’ll be witnessing two weeks from now.

I was astonished when I drove to my office today (where I didn’t encounter a single person, by the way). But the traffic was shocking. Cabin fever, it would seem, has hit our country and hit it hard.

Not only was there a steady stream of traffic racing past my office for several hours today, but when Karl and I took a walk early this evening, our neighbors revealed what a hellacious day they’d had. Apparently people are losing their minds in the state and county parks.

Give a Little, Take a Lot

All of you who’ve been reading my posts know that I am an ardent advocate of people getting out into nature and taking walks, biking, whatever, as much as possible. In fact, when this pandemic was just in its infancy (as far as us realizing that social distancing was going to be our single best tool in keeping transmission rates down), I voiced upset over Pennsylvania’s initial choice to close the parks.

Well, I stand corrected. I had a lot more faith that people would use their damn heads if and when permitted to use our state and county parks. No. Such. Luck.

We have people parking in places that were never meant to be used as such. (Let us hope no one slips and falls at High Rocks, since there’s a huge risk that emergency vehicles wouldn’t even be able to get to the park, there are so many cars parked bumper to bumper on the sides of the roads leading to the park.)

And then there are the roving packs of people. There were groups of 10-12-14 people walking together today, laughing and having a great time together – as if they haven’t a care in the world. Not a face mask in sight.

They were given the opportunity to spread their legs and get out into nature – and they are taking too much. Those packs of people walking shoulder to shoulder up our country roads, blocking those roads with their cars, and not even seeming to care one whit about the people they’re ‘sharing’ trails with (or parking in – at their own homes), are reverting right back to the selfish ways that got us here in the first place.

We’ll See

Another example of this is reflected in the news reports that beaches in Florida and California are teeming with people desperate to ‘get back to normal’ and ‘soak in some rays.’

Well, for as much benefit as sunlight provides in killing the virus, I have a feeling, two weeks from now, we may see that sunshine wasn’t enough.

Case in point: just fifteen days following the election in Wisconsin on April 7th, 19 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.

I guess we’ll see how things fare two weeks from now. The worst part of all of this is that it’s not just people taking risks with their own lives. That would be one thing. But it’s another thing entirely when people decide to risk giving the virus to others. More and more, we’re discovering that asymptomatic people can easily be unwittingly spreading the virus like wildfire.

If you haven’t been tested, how do you know you’re not the ticking time bomb that will explode someone else’s life?

Two weeks from now will be interesting. I hope it’s not terribly depressing.

(T-580)

Lamb – Day 530

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Brave Lambie – Photo: L. Weikel

Lamb

Nope; it’s not what’s for dinner. Not our dinner, anyway. This lamb, at least, is one of the creatures I call to in a sing-song voice as we make our way up the hill that is the last major leg of  our daily walks.

I love springtime. I especially love it because there seems to be a steady supply of itty bitty lumps of fluff in the fields each day, struggling to get to their feet in order to begin the somewhat unsteady business of frolicking. My favorites so far this year are the two pristine white fluffballs hovering close to their very black-wooled mother with the white splotch right in the center of her forehead.

The three of them are simply adorable. The twins because they’re hoppers. And the older they get, the more they bounce off each other, off their mother, and recently, I’ve seen them bouncing off other members of the herd as well. The elders are marvelously patient.

Mom, however, is obviously savvy to us and protective of them. While the lambs seem to respond to me with increasingly predictable (and precious) curiosity as I address them each day in my sing-song greeting, mom makes it clear to them that they should not be tempted by my seductively kind voice. No. They must beware of me. I’m probably one of ‘those’ two leggeds who like to steal little lambies who don’t stick close enough to their mommies and get stolen away, only to end up on two-leggeds’ dinner tables!

The Stuff of Nightmares

You can tell by the horrified looks on the babies’ faces that these lamb’s tales are the stuff of nightmares. “Really, mommy? She’d do that to us?”

“Well, she might not, but the ones who look like her might.”

It’s interesting to notice their reaction to my greetings each day. I swear, there’s a recognition. Even if it’s just the high pitch of my voice. One of the elders of the herd consistently answers me. Each and every time I call out my long, “Halloooooo, babies!” that particular ewe responds.

Yes, she could be telling me to get lost. But it doesn’t feel like that’s the message. It feels much more like she’s greeting me with enthusiastic recognition.

The message I’m getting at the moment is that I need to look up ‘sheep.’ Not tonight, though. It’s too late.

(T-581)

Update – Day 529

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Pastel Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

Update

I’d like to provide you with an update, lest you all think I was hallucinating (or perhaps fantasizing) in yesterday’s post about having given an interview on KYW Newsradio. The most recent information I have is that it will air over the weekend.

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I think it may air a couple of times over the course of the day Saturday or Sunday. At least that’s how I recall segments playing on that station. And let’s face it: I have no idea. So if you happen to catch it, yea!

They’re quick – I think they’re only like a minute long or something. Which actually feels like a trick of time. I’m fascinated when I watch any kind of program that involves interviews and they say, for example, “We only have 40 seconds left, Jim, but tell me you life’s story.” And then it seems they have enough time to do precisely that!

Regardless of whether anyone happens to actually hear it in ‘real time’ on the radio, though, I can promise you that I will indulge my delight and gratitude for this opportunity by providing the link in a follow up blog post.

In the Meantime

In the meantime, I am sitting here listening to the steady beat of raindrops falling outside. I knew it was coming (and I flirted with the idea of cutting the grass earlier this week), but I’m dreading our first lawn mowing. I thought about mowing earlier in the week, but now that we procrastinated on getting the job done today, it’s probably going to have to wait until the weekend. It will be a mile high in some places by then.

Funny. I don’t know what made me write that last paragraph. I think it was the sound of the rain and the sense that I can almost feel the grass growing as I sit here typing this.

Ha.

It’ll probably be good to get into a familiar rhythm again. The rhythm of mowing the lawn. Yes, it will be a good thing.

Sign of the Times – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-582)

Unexpected Opportunity – Day 528

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 4 Comments
Last Night’s New Moon/Lyrid Night Sky – Photo: L. Weikel

Unexpected Opportunity

When I woke up this morning, I never guessed I’d be presented with such an unexpected opportunity. But there it was – a text message, asking if I would be willing to be interviewed for a segment on ‘Spirituality in the Time of Covid-19.’

The sheer fact that I was given the chance to voice my perspective is surprising enough. But on KYW Newsradio? (Yes, all of you from the tristate area surrounding Philadelphia, say the jingle aloud with me:  “KYW, Newsradio…1060!”)

Nope. I have to admit it; I didn’t see that coming.

But when I received that text message this morning, I immediately flashed to the fact that today is the new moon. New beginnings. A perfect time for planting the seeds of what we want to create in the future.

My Passion

I love the world that has opened up for me over the past 35 years through my studies of, and experiences in, shamanism. Embracing my relationship with Mother Earth and the interconnectedness of all beings, and exploring the different realms that exist around us, changed the course of my life.

My passion for this perspective on life and my direct experience of astonishing shifts in both my relationship to life as well as those of my family, friends, and clients, strikes a chord in me that is difficult to shush once you get me going.

Pretty Low Key

Nevertheless, overall, I think I come across to most people as pretty low key when it comes to my relationship with ‘the spiritual realm.’ I don’t shout from the rooftop the nature of my work. I don’t try to persuade people to ‘believe’ anything in particular. But I do love introducing people to our inherent ability as humans to access information from and establish relationships with unseen forces and archetypal presences that want us to remember and recognize that they have sentience.

Whew. That was saying a lot. Luckily, I didn’t wax quite so rhapsodic in my interview.

Speaking Out

Given that I tend to mostly only speak of this passion to my family, friends, and clients (and to those of you who care enough to read this blog), I have to admit, when I was invited to participate in the interview today, my first inclination was to say no.

But I do try to ‘walk my talk.’ And given everything I’ve been writing about lately, the choice seemed clear and unequivocal – even if it did make me really nervous.

So I just wanted to let you all know that I planted the seed of one of my intentions today. And I’m so incredibly grateful for the unexpected opportunity to do so.

I hope you planted some as well.

Maybe you’ll catch the segment if you tune in tomorrow.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T-583)

New Moon and Lyrids – Day 527

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Photo: Travelandleisure.com

New Moon and Lyrids

I know; I’m sorry. I should’ve written a day or two ago about the Lyrids – the meteor shower that is peaking tonight. I’m hoping you may have seen their arrival mentioned on social media. But if you didn’t, and if you’re actually saner than I am and therefore sleeping as I write this, take heart. Even though they’re peaking tonight, there should be a fair number continuing to streak through the sky over the next few days.

And if you happen to be an extremely early bird (you know who you are and I know you’re out there!), it might be worth your while to nip outside in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday the 22nd to ‘see what you can see.’

The good news is that, since we’re in new moon territory (reaching its fullest darkness at 10:26 p.m. EDT tomorrow), the stars – and any passing meteors – should be brilliantly apparent to our searching eyes.

New Moon in Taurus

Before I even read this thoughtful essay by Chani on tomorrow’s new moon, I was feeling a palpable shift. It’s weird (in a good way) when all of a sudden you just sense a difference in the way things feel. Sort of like a weight has been lifted or a blockage removed. Believe me, I’m hoping those feelings persist.

And while it is true I know only a smattering of astrology, I must admit that the conjunction of tomorrow’s new moon with Uranus (and as I said, in Taurus), makes me feel as though the stars are predicting that new ways of being and living here on Earth are demanding to be ‘unearthed.’

We keep hearing that people want to ‘return to normal.’ And if you’re like me, you see articles and essays and advertisements all over the place demanding us to decide whether we even want to return to normal (whatever that is or was) and perhaps even more importantly if we can return to that so-called normal.

Old Normal

Probably the first thing we need to do, if we’re honest with ourselves, is figure out just what in the world we consider to be ‘normal.’ That’s the ‘old’ normal, which we can figure out by describing (in a journal or wherever you routinely catch random thoughts and wrestle them into submission) how our lives used to play out on a daily basis.

And when we write out the details of our old normal, it’s essential to pay attention to how we feel. How is our body reacting to our description of our old normal? With warm fuzzies of affection? A knot in our stomach? Dread? Sadness? Anticipation?

New Normal

After we’ve described what our lives used to be like, it’s important to describe what we crave, deep down, to truly have return to our lives. (Perhaps, if we’re honest, for the first time.)

Tomorrow, and the next day, are especially powerful days for us to envision what we want to create in our lives and plant the seeds in our consciousness and intention to create that new reality.

If we don’t dream big now, when will we allow ourselves to envision our new normal? When will we ever have another opportunity like we’re being offered right now? Almost everything has come to a screeching halt. We’re seeing the precariousness of so much that we believed was a juggernaut of indescribable power.

Things are changing. It’s up to us to make up our minds that we’re not going to go back to business as usual. It’s a new moon; let’s dream a new world into being.

 

(T-584)

Temperance – Day 526

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Clouds 20 April 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Temperance

I opened Sacred Space this evening before making tonight’s selection on our behalf. As can be seen from the title to this post, I chose the Temperance card. The deck I was drawn to this evening is The Wild Unknown Tarot* by Kim Krans.

As usual, the intention I set was simply to receive a message or guidance for us to contemplate for the next few days, something for us to ponder and interpret for ourselves individually, as well as applied to ‘us’ in a much broader, inclusive sense. I asked that this message be a guiding factor for until I’m ‘told’ to check in again, for our next message, via another oracle.

I’m sure you’ll all be relieved to know that not only did I not imbibe this evening, I also happen to be fasting today. So, hey you guys – you’re getting a really clean pick!

Ha. I joke, but it’s true. There is a clarity that can be perceived on a bunch of levels when I refrain from eating for a day. The re-set of my system feels good. Hmm. I wonder if it’s sort of like rebooting my laptop. I never thought of it that way before, but the analogy doesn’t feel that far off.

The ‘Main’ Choice

The primary card I chose tonight, as mentioned above, was Temperance. It’s quite beautiful, as you can see. I encourage you to examine the card in detail and allow yourself to pay attention to what pops out to you. Allow your intuition to run ‘wild.’ Perhaps notice how the image makes you feel. Whatever ‘definition’ you personally bring to Temperance is important to note for yourself.

But in order to give you a framework for interpreting the card/message on your own, I like to provide you with the creator of the deck’s interpretation, which is as follows:

Temperance – The Wild Unknown Tarot

Temperance – XIV – Healing, Renewal

“The great blue heron remains calm and peaceful as she blends the opposing elements of fire and water. The temperance card asks you to be a moderator much like the heron. Focus on cooperation and compromise. If you’ve been excessive with one aspect of your life, practice self restraint and moderation now. You’ll find a new sense of healing and balance from bringing a little harmony back into your life.”

Personally, I was surprised by this card because Blue Heron has a starring role. The Medicine Card I chose for myself today was – you guessed it – Blue Heron (albeit reversed).

‘Underneath’ Card – 7 of Swords

 

I got the sense that I was supposed to employ what I call the “Weikel Way” to my card pick tonight – which simply means that I make the primary choice, and then look to see what card is on the bottom of the deck. I like to use the bottom card as a foundation or contextualizing card – perhaps giving a sense of ‘what else’ needs to be considered, what lies ‘beneath’ our experience of the main card.

Again, look at the artwork of this card and allow your intuition to help you pay attention to the details that may hold special meaning for you. Following is the author’s interpretation:

Seven of Swords – The Wild Unknown Tarot

Seven of Swords – Secrecy, Self Interest

“Six swords hang in plain view while the seventh is tucked under the sly fox’s tail. So goes the story of the seven of swords…a secret is being kept. Either you’re the keeper or the kept-from, and it’s time to identify which. Deceit and avoidance linger in the air. Face the cause of secrecy or risk ostracizing yourself.”

Lots to Contemplate

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this is quite a rich message. The application of both cards to both our own personal lives and what’s happening to us on a national and even global level definitely worthy of our attention (if we’re honest with ourselves and want to receive the message).

Of course, I’m hoping this will spur each of us to engage in some self-reflection and inner dialogue on how both of these cards might have some application to what we’re experiencing in our own lives at the moment.

They also may give us some insight into what’s unfolding on a macro level, too.

Seems to me we’re being asked to find a new balance. There’s probably a lot of deception that’s taking place right now – underneath everything – that may have caused what we’re experiencing on both a personal and a global level. It’s important, in striving to find a new balance, to see if we can honestly figure out how we may have been lying to ourselves about some things. And yeah – maybe we’ve been sold a bill of goods for quite a while now, too.

*affiliate link

(T-585)