Week 8 Blog Post

Death

Often in the death card there is a skeleton, as well as a rising sun. This skeleton is typically wearing armor or black robes. He can also be seen holding a scythe. This picture put together can tend to seem very negative, but it is quite the opposite. While the skeleton does represent the death of something, it does not need to refer to the death of a person. It could be the death of a situation, an idea, or something similar. The sun is there to remind people that this is a positive card. While something is dying, it is not the end. The sun is still rising; life still goes on. Some things may be ending, but there will always be a new beginning right behind the ending. If I had to pick a card to represent me right now, it would absolutely be this card. I am at a really difficult point in my life right now, but I know that new things will come my way soon. Things have drastically changed over the past six months and while that is very difficult, I just keep reminding myself that something positive will come of it all.

Week 7 Blog Post

    

After reading about all of the Major Arcana, I decided that I would pick a different card than the one that I had originally chosen. At first, I picked the Lovers card. This made sense to me, given the duality nature of this card. I am a gemini, and by nature we have "evil twins". Many people do not believe in astrology and write it off at a joke. I have to disagree, though. I have never met a gemini that does not fit the gemini traits. The Lovers card expresses many of these traits, and it seemed only fitting that I picked this card. Now, however, I would pick the Death card. At first glance, it Is easy to assume that this would be a negative card. After learning more about it, I have realized that it is not a negative card. It is more about new beginnings, about letting go and finding closure for things that can be upsetting and difficult to go through. There is a lot in my life that I have held on to for a very long time, and it weighs me down heavily. Recently I have found some closure for one such thing, but there is a lot more to go. This card is very much a reflection of where I am at in my life, and what direction I need to go in.

Week 5 Blog Post

Pages 107 - 142

The Sun

1. What is your most powerful form of self-expression? (Where do you shine?)
     My most powerful form of self-expression is my ability to speak within a group, and speak publicly.

2. What doubts or insecurities have you overcome?
    I am working every day to overcome my insecurities, but I have made progress in how I see myself, and how I look at the things that I go through on a daily basis.

3. Who championed you and helped you appreciate or develop your gifts and talents?
    My mom has definitely helped me to appreciate my gifts and talents, even when I do not appreciate them.

4. Where in life are you a leader, and how do you help others thrive under your leadership?
    I am most often the "mom" of the group, making sure that everyone is okay and taken care of. This means that I can do anything from talk to someone when they are having a problem, to getting them a Band-Aid when they have a cut.

5. What could you do to bring more joy into your life?
    I could definitely work on my outlook of life, and work to better manage my panic disorder and depression.

6. What are you most optimistic about?
    I am most optimistic about the idea that things will be different and better one day.


The Devil

1. To what do you feel bound or enslaved, and what will free you?
    I feel bound or enslaved to make sure that everyone is okay before I am. Putting myself first and taking care of my own needs too will free me.

2. What negative trait that you possess has only recently come to your awareness?
    I tend to complain about things a lot, and I never realized just how much until recently.

3. What fears get in the way of living your life, and how can you move through them?
    Having a panic disorder means that many fears get in my way every day. I can move through them by reminding myself that they are not real.

4. Who or what brings out the worst in you, and how do you allow it?
    Feeling lonely brings out the worst in me. I do my best to avoid that feeling, but it is not always that easy, especially being here at school, away from my family.

5. In what ways do you sabotage your own well-being and success?
    I oftentimes look down on myself and do not think very highly of myself, and this makes it difficult to succeed.

6. What personal "demons" have you reconciled or conquered?
    I have made peace with the end of a relationship that I was conflicted about for a very long time.