I know you love the idea of calling me “Sister Death” as did St. Francis of Assissi, but I have come to you on this collage as male. Please call me Brother Death. Since you have two big brothers and no sisters, perhaps Brother Death will suit you better.
My message for you today is this: immerse yourself in all the colors- literal and metaphorical- of Life. That is the only way for you to be ready to take my hand as you take your last breath.
I stand before you, ancient as Time, against a backdrop of feathers of the angels. We are all supporting you and offering you gentle reminders and support. Listen closely, you will hear us whispering.
But remember, I am the Serious One. This is no joke. Death is no joke. I am the Great Interrupter and I spare no one. Let this be consolation to you, and let this be the impetus that keeps you awake.
Fearless (Committee Suit): You need more confidence. You need less worry and fear.
I am the one who runs quickly forward without any fear.
I am the one who is strong and might and resilient.
I am the one who faces life in a forward motion courageously because I know that I am strong and resilient. I also know that I am safe and protected.
I am the one who takes big steps when I need to take big steps.
My message for you today is this- you have been fearless in so many things on your journey- facing difficult stepchildren, keeping your marriage going, your parents’ deaths, cancer, the deaths of your beloved felines, writing and publishing fiction, starting a business . . .
Now it is time to be fearless in claiming time for yourself for rest and renewal and softening and self-connection. This is a different kind of fearlessness, a different kind of courage, but still. . . It is time to active my energy more and more.
This is one of the first cards I made. This archetype is especially pertinent to me right now because I am focusing a lot of energy on helping myself remain present and more mindful, which (for me) is not exactly an easy practice.
Who are you?
I am the one who was the first child created.Ā I am the essence of your childlikeness.Ā I am made of stars and wishes and flowers and dreams.Ā I am the original Child of the Universe.Ā The universe, and your soul, are my home.Ā I am the one who nudges you to play, to stretch, to move, to laugh, to create, to grow, to dream, to simply be.Ā I am the one who allows myself to be held in the arms of The Great Mother.
What do you have to give me?
I give you a heart that is full of delight and wonder in each and every moment.Ā I give you the ability to forget agendas and schedules and to be in the moment, THIS moment.Ā I give you a sacred release from time constraints.Ā I give you the power and the desire to create, to dream, to play, to laugh, to give freely.Ā I give you the desire and the ability to let yourself be held and loved fully in the arms of the Divine Mother.
What do you want from me?
I want you to be still every day, spend time with yourself in nature every week.Ā I want you to relax, to let go of worries and your anxieties, and to simply enjoy what your life holds, all that it holds. I want you to stop and smell the flowers.Ā I want you to experience Joy in its fullest blossoming every moment, every day.
How will I remember what you have taught me?
When you see the stars at night, you will remember that you too are a child of the Universe and you will feel my presence in your heart.Ā When you hear a child’s laughter you will remember that laughter is my Divine Gift to you.Ā When you are in a hurry and you see something beautiful or delightful, you will remember that place in your heart that holds me.
Sometimes I visualize all of my “inner voices” as residing in a big castle. Each one has its own room and sometimes I visualize (in meditation or in writing) myself there, exploring the rooms and the part of me that inhabits each one.Ā
I am the one who is so angry I am destructive. I am the one who can’t control my anger. I am the one who hurts others with my anger.
One day several years ago, while exploring my inner castle, I found myself in the “dungeon,” so to speak, and guess what?Ā There are some parts of me that I’ve locked up down there because other parts have been stronger, or because I just haven’t known how to interact with them.
Angry Annie is one of those parts.
On that day several years ago, I imagined myself taking her hand in the dungeon and inviting her to go with me “upstairs” into my world and into my life.Ā “Just for the day,” I promised her.Ā I can’t even begin to tell you what a difference it made!
And it just so happened that that very same day, my husband did something that REALLY pissed me off on a very deep level (not just surface stuff being activated, but many years of stepfamily issues rising to the surface).Ā As I was feeling my blood boil, I remembered Angry Annie and that she was with/beside me for the day.
It was as if I’d really been set free.Ā I was able to speak my anger to my husband without being consumed by it, and believe me…. this was a brand new experience for me!
I didn’t do any journaling with her right away. At that time, it was enough that I had invited her out of the dungeon and into my everyday world. It was enough that I was becoming aware of the times when anger rise, and offering compassion and curiosity to this part of me instead of shutting her away in the dungeon of my inner castle.
I believe a lot of it has to do with social conditioning around the subject of anger. It’s not nice to be angry is a message that seems to be prevalent.Ā Growing up, I saw my mother lash out with her anger…. and I saw my father repress his completely.Ā I chose his way because her way was hurtful.Ā But I have learned that there is a different way.Ā
At first I was actually afraid of Angry Annie, but now I see that she isn’t here to hurt me or anyone else in my life. She is here to shine light on injustice and to help me forge the way to my own best self.
Have you made a card for the part of you who feels the emotion of anger now and then? My card, above, shows Angry Annie out of balance. I still need to make a card for her when she is IN balance. There is something powerful about anger in balance as a way to fairness and justice and a righting of wrongs.
Share with me below! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject and how you go about keeping your inner Angry One in balance.
After watching my mother-in-law’s slow decline and eventual death last year, I turned to my deck for help/guidance with my own aging process. This card in particular spoke wisdom and clarity.
Who Are You?
I am the one who loves cats and holds them close to my heart.
I am the one who understands cats.
am the one who has been blessed over the years with the safe-keeping of five cats (and one dog).
I am the one who receives comfort and peace from the felines who have joined me on my journey.
What Do You Have to Say to Me Today?
What I say to you about your aging is this…. you have watched four of those cats (and one dog) as they aged, and you have guided them through their own aging process. The cat currently in your safe-keeping is showing preliminary signs of aging now.
You have learning that there is no stopping the aging, no matter what you do.
I urge you to care for your own body and spirit as carefully and wisely and lovingly as you cared for Sasha, Scooter, Minnie, Suzy, Seymour, and as you are now caring for Louis.
Does any of this resonate with you? Do you have a card in your own deck that whispers wisdom to you about your own aging? Please share below!
I am serious.
