Inner Surprises Blog

deck

By Anne Marie Bennett

Subscribe to updates

deck

Two Card Reading

by
Surrender
Surrender

SURRENDER

I am the one who bows down to What Is.  I am the one who lets life Flow around me.  I am the one who is in a posture of full supplication.  I am the one who prays while I surrender.  I am the one who is surrounded by water and earth and air.  I am the one who surrenders to Spirit.  I am the one who bows down to Life and the Joy of Living it. 

My message for you today is this: Right now, get into this position that I am in.  Feel how it feels to really bow down and surrender. I mean it… right now!  Get out of your chair and DO it.

 

 

 

 

Authenticity
Authenticity

QUEEN OF AUTHENTICITY

I am the one who stands tall and strong in the shining golden sun.  I am the one who is the keeper of your Truth.  I am the one who has chosen not to get on the sailboats, but to stand still.  I stand with authority.  I stand with faith and justice.

I know exactly who I am and that is my biggest teaching for you today and always- that you remember who you are, that you point your fingers upwards towards the Divine, that you let the Light shine on you, that you always pause to remember who you are, and that you hold yourself, your life, proudly.

SUMMARY– Wow, I see quite two different postures in these women.  One is bowed down, surrendering, and I can’t see her face.  The other is standing up straights, strong, proud, owning her self and her life.  Both of their hands/fingers are pointing upwards though, and I will let that be my grace note for today.  Point my heart ad my hands upwards towards the Divine.  Let that be my focal point.  That everything is in the hands of Spirit.

 

New Year Reading with Affirmations

by

Here are the four cards I drew for my New Year Reading this week, and what they said to me about my journey into 2014.

Note that I chose one card from each of the four suits in my deck, plus one card in the “Unknown” section.

 

sctimebottleTIME IN A BOTTLE
Committee Suit

I  am the one who feels worried and anxious about not having enough time.  I am the one who wants to throw away all the clocks and never have to worry about time again. I am the one who believes I don’t have enough time to get everything done.  My message to you about the coming year is this: I am an old, false belief that you inherited from society and your ancestors.  You don’t need to buy into my energy any more!  Focus on creating pockets of time during each day where you can slow down, even for a couple of minutes and be STILL.
AFFIRMATION:  I have enough time

 

 

 

sckripaluKRIPALU
Community Suit

I am the one who is a sacred holy place for you. I am the one who plays a big role on your life’s journey.  I am the one who has nurtured you and lifted you up and loved you and taught you for more than 25 years.  My message for you about your year is this: Come back to me and rest here again this year a few more times. This place calls to your spirit, offers you sacred solitude and rest.  Come to me and rest.
AFFIRMATION: I place visits to Kripalu and other sacred places high on my priority list.

 

scdolphin (2)DOLPHIN- 6th CHAKRA
Companions Suit

I am the one of great Intelligence who knows how to work AND I also know how to play and frolic and have fun with my friends.  Our message to you in 2014 is to lighten up- play and laugh more, operate from your INNER knowing only, not the distracting ways of the world.
AFFIRMATION: I choose to laugh and play and lighten up daily.

 

scprayerPRAYER
Council Suit

I am the one who stands for every prayer ever prayed since the beginning of time.  I stand for the power of prayer.  Prayer is any time you make connection with Spirit.  It may be asking for something, it may be about healing of yourself or others.  It might even be just to rest in Divine presence.  My answer to your question about focus for the New Year is this: at the end of every meditation time, yoga time or any Quiet Time you give yourself, add a few prayers.  Seek inner changes. Ask for what you need, it is always given.
AFFIRMATION: I choose to add conscious connection with the Divine to my Quiet Times.

 

 

 

scunknown223Unknown Card
Unknown Suit

I am the one who is in a Holy Place surrounded by Holy Ones.  These beings of light speak to me on other frequencies yet I hear them clearly. My answer to your question about focus for the New Year is this: You are also surrounded by these Holy Ones.  This is a year to give them your full attention.  Bathe in the clear waters of their wisdom and love for you.  Open to receive the Light they freely give to you.

AFFIRMATION:  I listen, look for and hear the Holy Ones all around me.

 

 

*

AFFIRMATIONS

Just a note about affirmations!  I highly recommend this book by Sondra Ray: The Only Diet There Is, which is more about affirmations than about losing weight. Even if you don’t want to let go of weight, read this book if you are interested in using affirmations to affect transformation!  It’s more than just saying them out loud, or writing them down. It’s about getting in touch with those inner voices who don’t believe the affirmation, and listening to them and honoring them so you can get past them.  Give it a try and see!

Rainbow Misfits

by
Rainbow Misfits
Rainbow Misfits

Who are you?

We are the ones who are not the right colors.  We are the ones who don’t belong.  We stand out, we don’t blend in.  We are the ones who are unique, rainbow-colored. We are the rainbow misfits.

What do you have to give me?

We give you the courage to be bright, to be bold, to be uniquely you.  We give you courage to be different from the rest.

 

What do you want from me?

We want you to stay true to your own colors.  We want you to be who you really are, not a mirror image of everyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reading for a Weekend Retreat

by

I have to laugh… really laugh at the daily reading I just did with my SoulCollage® deck.  And my mirth is bubbling over, and I just have to share it with you!

Tomorrow morning I am leaving for three full days of an “Unplugged” retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, which is in Western MA, about 2.5 hours from my home.  I am feeling really excited by this opportunity to unplug, and reconnect to myself on the inside, so to speak.  The retreat I am attending is called “Writing the Mind Alive” and based on the Proprioceptive Writing process. Am so happy about bringing my own soul back into my writing.

But I digress… I am laughing because the two cards I drew today in my daily reading are all about solitude, rest, and going within!


Solitude

I am the one who curls into myself, who closes my eyes and goes within, who rests in the solid, secure knowing that I am safe, that the waves will not overtake me or wash me away.

I am the one who is at home tucked away in my soft, beautiful shell.  I am the one who is at home near the ocean, water.

I am the one who is watched over and protected by luscious purple divine growth. I am the one who is watched over while i sleep, protected while I go on inner journeys.

My message for you today is this… enjoy your Unplugged weekend.  Rest in the safety that accompanies all of your inner journeys. Breathe. Rest. All is well.

PERMISSION TO REST

I am the one who is content to just BE.  I am the one who doesn’t always have to be DOING something.  I am the one who gives you permission to rest.

It is not a coincidence that you drew these two cards today, right before your Kripalu retreat.  This is a retreat that you are receiving, not giving, not leading… but a retreat for YOU to receive.  Give yourself permission to rest while you are there. Give yourself  permission to receive.  Relax. Be still. Let go.  And see what comes to you.

Birthday Reading

by

I usually draw two cards from my Deck every day, as a way to stay in touch with the inner and outer energies in my life.  Thursday was my 54th birthday and on that day I chose two really special cards.  These are cards I have not worked with since I made them, but cards that have special meaning to me nonetheless.

Anne Marie at 12

I am the one who is only 12 years old. I am the one who has been watched over since I was born. I am the one who has been guided and protected by these female figures of light. I am the one who is not alone, who has never been alone, who never will be alone.

My message for you today is this: These guardian beings are still with you today, right now. Pause. Close your eyes. Hear them. Feel them. Open to them. Happy Birthday!

Crow Woman

I am the one who wears crow paint, who is marked with the sign of Crow. I am the one who is protected by Crow Energy, Crow Love.  I am the one who looks ahead to the future.  My message for you today is this- you are not alone. You are guided and protected by deep Crow energy.  It is very strong in your life even though you may not understand it.  Be patient.  Open your heart as you look ahead to the next year of your life.