Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading:  12-28-14 through 1-10-15

 AND

 Blog #33:  Some Unique Qualities of Elephants

 

LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT

  

ACE OF COINS:  The New Year starts out with wonderful opportunities for growth and prosperity in the areas of job/career, finances, health, home, and sense of security/stability. Look for chances to expand in these parts of your life, and if you take advantage of them, you will be well-rewarded.

KNIGHT OF COINS:  You have the motivation and strength to move forward in the physical world, in all the areas mentioned above.  Use the power and forward movement of the Knight energy to help you, and you won't be disappointed. It is as if you have a new lease on life at the start of the year, so let this propel you ahead.

QUEEN OF COINS:  The powerful Queen energy will also be with you during the next two weeks. Use your intuition to sort out what would be the best avenues for you to pursue as you start this time of abundance.  Anything is possible, and with the help of this beautiful energy you will be greatly pleased by the progress you are making.

BI-WEEKLY THEME:  Coins are predominant, so use this time wisely to keep your eyes open for new opportunities that may not have been there before.  The excitement and chances for a new start are what these two weeks are all about, so be optimistic and hopeful, for things get off to a great start in this new year. 

 

 

Blog #33—Some Unique Qualities of Elephants

Retrieved from www.elephants.nationalgeographic.com

Elephants are among the most intelligent creatures on Earth, and they are also quite similar to humans in several ways.  For example, they have emotions like we do.  Research has shown them to display jealousy, rage, envy, and a high level of competitiveness.  They have been shown to grieve when one of their herd dies, and they will even go to the spot where the death occurred and mourn.  Baby elephants are taken care of by their mothers or other females until they reach adulthood at about age 20, and their lifespan closely parallels that of humans (average of 70 years). 

However, there is much we can learn from elephants.  Their family groups are very cohesive, and group members protect one another.  They show us that by supporting their fellow elephants, they are able to better thrive in their environment.    As mentioned above, the females of the herd (not just the mother) join in the raising and nurturing of the young. It is truly a community endeavor, as when the females teach the babies how to use their trunks.  Experienced mothers also show new mothers how to nurture their offspring.

Elephants communicate telepathically with the other elephants within and outside their herd.  They have poor eyesight, which is made up for by a keen sense of sophisticated hearing, smell, touch, and taste.  They are also noted for their good memories, which are better than ours.  Despite their large size, they are able to walk in a quiet, graceful, and rhythmic way.

Studies have even been done on several personality styles exhibited by elephants.  As one author notes:

“Each individual in a group has a very different personality type,” said Professor Phyllis Lee, a behavioral psychologist at the University of Stirling and chair of the scientific advisory committee for the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. “These personalities have a key role in how successful the family is and how they cope with threats and adversity like starvation or drought.“ (http://www.earthintransition.org/2012/11/the-four-types-of-elephant-personality)

The strongest personalities were demonstrated by leaders of the herds, which is established not by dominance but by their ability to show intelligence and solve problems.  This is unusual in animals, says Professor Lee. 

Some spiritual qualities embodied in elephants include: gentleness, commitment, communication in relationships, protecting others, telepathic communication, strength, patience, and compassion.   The organization of the herd is matriarchal, since the males often leave the herds to form their own bachelor herds or to seek out mates from other herds.

The Hindu god of luck is Ganesh, the elephant-headed god who is the master of wisdom and learning.  He also helps remove obstacles that prevent obtaining abundance.  One author notes:  “He is unquestionably the most lovable and mischievous of the deities with his grandfatherly presence, his protuberant belly, and the twinkle in his eyes.”

(https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Religions/Avatars/Ganesh.html).

We can learn much from elephants, as researchers are finding out as they delve into the behavior of these magnificent creatures.

Sources

http://www.shamanicjourney.com/article/6034/elephant-power-animal-symbol-of-commitment-royalty-strength

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/elephant-meaning.html

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/html/elephant_emotion.html

http://www.earthintransition.org/2012/11/the-four-types-of-elephant-personality

http://thinkelephants.org/pages/how_elephants_think.html

(https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Religions/Avatars/Ganesh.html

 

 

Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading:  12-14-14 through 12-27-14

 AND

 Blog #32:  What Are Mandalas?

 

LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT

  





QUEEN OF CUPS:  A time for feeling supportive, nurturing, and kind to others.  Let the Queen energy permeate your whole being as you bring unconditional love, peace, and joy to all those you meet.  Allow your aura to expand outward to others, and show them the blessings of consideration and kindness.

 

6 OF COINS:  This is the season for giving, but it is also important to remember that there should always be an exchange of energy. This means that the balance of giving and receiving should be present, so allow others to give to you, not just in terms of material things, but also regarding time and effort. Take care of yourself by resting and by providing physical and emotional nourishment to yourself to maintain strong health and well-being.

 

8 OF COINS: As the New Year approaches, take a few moments to think about the upcoming year and what you would like to accomplish. Get a few ideas of what you can do to plan for your future, rather than just allowing things to happen willy-nilly. Contemplate where you want to go, and come up with even just one or two goals that are possible for you to achieve.  You may be amazed at the results.

 

BI-WEEKLY THEME: Show kindness, love, and support to all those around you.  Have a smile on your face and a kind word for everyone, for you have the power to transform the attitudes of others simply by doing this. Stay in balance by keeping your giving and receiving in equilibrium, and be sure to give yourself breaks from hectic activities. Remember to start thinking of some attainable goals you would like to work on in the New Year. You have the ability to accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

 

Blog #32:  What Are Mandalas?

Retrieved from caterina-artfulmusings.BlogSpot.com

Mandalas have been around since ancient times and have been created by many peoples, such as Tibetan Buddhists, Tibetan monks, the ancient Aztecs and Navajos of the Americas, and the Taoists in Asia. 

Wikipedia defines mandala as: “In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala)

The word itself is a Sanskrit word meaning “circle”, which represents wholeness.  One author describes it as “a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and without our bodies and minds.” (http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html)

Another interesting origin of the word is given by an author who says that it comes from the root Sanskrit word “manda”, which means “essence and “la”, meaning container.  So it is a “container of essence”, which could be seen as an image that holds the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mandala/)

Buddhist monks continue to make beautiful and intricate sand mandalas, which take days to create.  After holding a ceremony, they sweep it into a jar and put the sand into a body of water as a blessing.  The creation and destruction of the mandala symbolizes the cycle of life.

Although there may be many squares or triangles in a complex mandala, the circular and concentric structure is always present. The elements are balanced, demonstrating unity and harmony.  Many different kinds of mandalas can be found on the internet, so you can check out the wide variety by going to Images on Google.

What are mandalas used for?

Some people like to meditate by gazing at a mandala.  You can do this whether you create your own mandala or obtain one from the internet or other source.

One author says that the design of the mandala should be visually appealing so that the mind is fully engaged and gets away from the chatter that goes on if we don’t concentrate on something else.  The meditation can be used to gain the kind of knowledge within us, which could allow access to your higher consciousness or clarity on issues that have been bothering you.

Mandalas used in meditation

If you want to try a mandala meditation, here are some steps to follow:

1.  Select a mandala that is attractive to you, or that appeals to you in some way.

2.  Find out the meaning of the mandala that you have chosen, or set your own meaning/intention before focusing on it.

3.  Set your intention.  Here is an example of setting your intention using a Native American labyrinth mandala:

". . .we know this meaning of mandala relates to beginnings, our eternal nature, and how this is relative to our life journey. So, before meditating on the mandala we set the intention to more clearly understand our life journey, or be shown guidance in a particular area (where) we are having trouble on the path.” (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-mandala.html)

4.  Focus on the mandala, looking at the beauty of the designs.  If your mind wanders or starts chattering, just bring it back to the mandala.  Fall into it, letting it absorb all of your attention.

Creating your own mandala

If you prefer, you can create your own mandala to express your individuality or even to work through issues or challenges you may be having.  The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung associated the mandala with the Self, or the center of the total personality. He saw it as growth toward wholeness depicting one’s uniqueness and a reflection of the Self. For these reasons, he would have his patients create their own mandalas and then assist them in deciphering what their mandalas said about themselves. 

If you are interested in creating your own mandalas and would like to understand more about this process, a great reference is Susanne F. Fincher’s book Creating Mandalas (1991).

Painting, drawing, or coloring our own mandalas allows us to use our creative right-brain, and this can lead to amazing healing and insights into ourselves and our lives.  There are tools available to help you with this process.  (See http://www.whats-your-sign.com/free-mandala-coloring-pages.html). 

For even more creative opportunities that could give amazing results, just start with a blank circle and start drawing/coloring/painting whatever comes to mind. Have fun with it!  Your mandala can symbolize your journey through life, tell a story of where you have been, or what you should do to grow and develop.  (http://spiritualawakening.weebly.com/mandalas-what-are-they.html)

If you want a different meditation experience and believe that using a mandala may be the key to opening new doors for you, it may be worthwhile to explore mandalas more.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala)

http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html)

(http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mandala/

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-mandala.html)

http://spiritualawakening.weebly.com/mandalas-what-are-they.html)

Fincher, Susanne F. (1991) Creating Mandalas. Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, Inc.