We All Need Luck
SYMBOLISM
The Winged Figures in the corners of the Wheel of Fortune refer to the four apostles who wrote the gospels.
The sphinx is the guardian of the mystical secrets.
Angel represents autumn consciousness.
The Angel of the Lord is a messenger.
The Bull symbolizes winter.
The Lion represents spring and strength.
The Eagle embodies summer…
The Wheel is a mirror of the cycle of life.
The clouds in the blue sky symbolize hope, clarity, and a breakthrough on a spiritual path.
The Wheel in Motion is Destiny at Work: Divine Law rules.
GETTING TO KNOW THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
You have a fresh start! Will you make this experience positive or negative? One thing is sure: Change is inevitable. The Wheel of Fortune offers you a chance to go with fate. You are the designer.
Accept the cycles of life with a positive outlook. Outside forces move you forward toward an unknown future. Chance, luck, and random events contribute their share. Fate intervenes in your behalf with a favorable outlook.
You don’t have total control over the circumstances of your life but you choose options, no matter what comes your way. Those choices create your future.
New chapters bring inevitable changes. Your past moves you forward toward the good, the bad and everything else.
New ideas and beliefs will transform how you live as you move to your future. Some major life changes will require inner healing. Your future is inevitable. Appreciate the good times.
Wisdom lies in knowing what you can and cannot change. The external world is always changing. One thing you can control is how you react to these changes. Therein lies your personal power.
The important thing is to always seek the best outcome because the change never stops. Remember, you are part of the bigger plan. Create your opportunities.
When the Wheel of Fortune appears in a spread, take a moment to decipher its t direction. Where does it lead you? .
STORY
On a sunny Texas day in April, 1962, I enjoyed a midday break between classes when I learned six American soldiers had been killed in Vietnam. I knew in my gut we’d crossed a line.
Life changed for us all that day. It wasn’t long before fellow students were drafted. Some did everything they could think of to avoid what they feared was inevitable.
Harry Edwards married my friend Marcy and they got pregnant. It worked for them. Baby Rachael kept Harry out of the Army.
Harry’s younger brother, Tom, got drafted but refused to carry a weapon. He wound up being a medic in Vietnam. I’m not sure he got much of a deal on that one. He didn’t carry a weapon but mental, emotional, and spiritual scars stayed with him through life.
Belmer Wright, Rick, and Rick’s girl Cathy went off the grid and ran dope up from Mexico. They made a good living until they got caught and ended up in the slam. Belmer put in three years in a Texas prison outside Dallas. Rick ended up in a Mexico City Jail for over 20 years. Cathy spent the next two decades visiting him. Although she never admitted it, I think she ran dope the whole time but just never advertised her career choice. The last time I saw her, she was still loose.
Tony Delong, Gino Garibaldi, Ernie Eggers, Bob Stevens, Larry Duncan, Jamie Dunlap, and Jimmy Swayze went on a weeklong drunk and sobered up on a government bus headed for National Guard Boot Camp.
One student, Ewe Irwin protested He headed for California and took candid photos of everyone on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. He sought the fugitives in public places, got his shots, assembled them in a book, and published it.
I saw his book once and the photos were professional. The paper, printing, and cover were good quality. In short, the book was a document to be proud of.
I searched and searched to find a copy of the book but could not remember the title. I’m still holding out hope but the chances of finding a copy of this book aren’t good.
Recently, Daria Peoples wrote a book about Angela Davis. “Be the Light. How She Became Angela Davis.” I loved reading it!
FOCUS IN
Journal your future. Write out the goal you want. What are you willing to do to make your future happen?
MEDITATION
Go to a quiet, private, safe space and get comfortable. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Encourage your body to relax. You want to be at ease and comfortable.
Your breathing allows you to gently and easily become quiet and still. Continue breathing for a few moments to get comfortable as you enter a deeply relaxed space.
You are in a quiet, private park. You are sitting in a comfortable garden chair.
When you are ready, your self will allow you to make the changes happen that will benefit you most.
You are in a quiet, private space which will allow and encourage you to express the insight you have in your situation. Take a few moments to ground your thoughts.
As you think about your situation, explore some ways that can help you move toward your future.
Examine your ideas now. Which one is the most practical? Which is the easiest?
Is one option more attractive than the others? Which option seems to be the most promising?
Spend a couple of minutes now as you affirm your choice. Consider some specific things you can do to make a practical plan to carry out your choice.
Take a couple of deep breaths now and relax. Get comfortable where you are. Allow your mind to become quiet and still.
Imagine your plan as it might work successfully. Take the time you need as you envision it as a successful project.
You are working on your future here.
You notice now that it is time to return to your day.
You are happy to do this because you know that you can return to this place and this project any time you want.. You know that return visits to this place will help you construct positive change. They will support your project at a pace which is comfortable for you.
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Find out more about Thurman Greco at www.Thurmangreco.com
Purchase ebooks at www.thurmangreco.com
The Inner Light Comes Forth
SYMBOLISM
The Hermit’s gaze is directed both inward and outward.
The lantern focuses on vigilance in the dark.
The six-pointed star represents the light within us.
The golden stave is the individual light and strength of The Hermit,
The Hermit wears gray to warn us against uncertainty.
The green-gray sky represents withdrawal from outside distraction.
The Hermit’s white beard is a disguise.
The snow represents a new beginning.
Getting to Know the Hermit
The Hermit appears in a Tarot spread because he has a message. His message: Look within for wisdom.
We find peace and contentment within ourselves.
The Hermit appears in a spread in several situations: You need to be alone and, as the querant, just can’t get the time. Or, you may be afraid of being alone. Finally, you can’t escape being alone.
Whatever the situation, The Hermit waits for you to turn to him for advice. You don’t always need a Tarot spread to work with The Hermit.
Were you ever in a situation where soul-searching helped you reach an authentic decision? Do you keep a mental/spiritual space just to quietly explore your inner thoughts? Have you ever thought, on some level, that truth waits for you?
The Hermit enters your life because you need time to process thoughts, things, and events introspectively. You leave the either/or world behind when you find truth somewhere in the middle.
Your discretion and privacy are essential so you can process what you’ve learned and what is happening to you. This gives you a chance to be at peace.
When you are grounded and centered, you can return to the crowd again.
A Story
The Hermit visited me often when I managed a food pantry in Woodstock between 2008 and 2013. The Hermit helped me find – and keep – my own-authentic light. I used it as I walked along my path.
I saw his face in the trans person who wore a fringed leather jacket, completely worn-out western boots, and sparkly apricot nail polish.
I saw his face in the old man who drove a worn-out pickup and had no money to replace it. Any repairs happening on that rig were his handiwork.
I saw his face in the expressions of the older couple who shopped weekly and shared a coat in the winter.
These people were the real deal, not just something made up, like the autographed photographs of Jesus Christ that the Christian radio station in Monterrey, Mexico, sold on the air when I was a young girl growing up in Texas.
No one could convince me of anything otherwise. Not even the woman who came up to me quietly and privately after the local writer’s group meeting in Stoneridge. She spoke her truth to me: “You wouldn’t know the face of God if He showed up wearing a sign on his chest.”
She had a right to her own opinion. After all, chances were good she read a whole lot more about God than I. No doubt she paid more attention to many more sermons than I had ever thought about listening to.
What did I know? I hadn’t been in a church in over 30 years when I walked into that Episcopal Church in Woodstock in 2005. Truth be told, I never set foot in the place on Sundays because I couldn’t take my beloved papillon, Pork Chop, with me.
And, for sure, I don’t think this lady (whose name I’ve forgotten) would ever have seen God in the faces of any of these people. Bible stories I read tell us we see God in the burning bushes (Exodus 3:2-4), in the desert (Exodus 16:10), in a manger (Luke 2:16), or in a prison cell (Acts 12:7-11). But not in a food pantry hallway.
God meets us anywhere and speaks to us in ways we understand.
People entering the food pantry brought their hearts, minds, souls, and feelings with them. I saw volumes written on their faces in the church basement: broken dreams, loss, damaged relationships, memories, apologies, new hopes, goals, starting over.
And, finally, forgiveness.
Forgiveness was God in action and faith in the food pantry. Hungry people prayed, questioned, and sought forgiveness.
I finally decided that I, too, could own up to the anxiety we all experienced. It was no longer a we/they situation. Everyone experienced the threat of hunger and lived with a primal fear created by this threat.
My constant threat? the pantry deniers closing the pantry.
Under The Hermit’s direction, I learned not to sweat the haters.
Giving up was a luxury none of us had. We worked on self-confidence, self-awareness, and our futures. One unspoken question hung in the air every pantry day.
“How am I going to get out of this mess I’m in?”
Focus In
When your life calls for a time-out to sort things out, use it. Think. Rest. Read. Meditate. Pray. Focus on the larger issues.
Sometimes you can get away. Sometimes the getaway is a mental time out in your living room.
Remember: Your light is your light. Your path is your path. After you’ve worked out things on your own, notice how much calmer and clearer things are when its over.
Withdrawing from your everyday life give you a new perspective.
Meditation
Go to your private and safe place. Settle in to your most comfortable chair or mat; whatever is the best place and position for you. Turn on some healing music. Light a candle or turn on your Himalayan salt lamp.
When you are ready to begin this meditation, remember a busy day in your life. Think of the busy-ness, the hassles, the deadlines of the day.
Now, leave all that behind you. For this short time, release your frustrations and stress.
Focus your attention on your breathing. Allow your inhales and exhales to become rhythmic and calm. Breathe in calm and positive feelings. Release toxins and negativity when you breathe out.
As you pay attention to your surroundings, notice that you are experiencing a quiet, still evening. You carry a lantern. You focus this meditation on a question that you have been trying to answer for some time now.
As you look around, you move your lantern around to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. You see a quiet area in front of you. There is a small bench waiting for you. Quietly, you walk over to the bench and seat yourself comfortably.
Somehow, you know this is a learning moment for you. You realize this learning experience a different kind of learning. You know you are going to learn –
without words
without pictures
without anything you can describe or analyze
In the silence of the moment, you receive insight which you will use. .
You sit with this moment. As you do this, you absorb the needed wisdom.
You sit quietly for a few moments and then realize it is time to return to your day.
You know you can return to this time and place anytime you want.
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Interested in Woodstock? This show has been showcasing Woodstock, its residents, and its activities for almost 20 years:
The Courage of Your Convictions
SYMBOLISM
The bright yellow background stands for vitality and acting with conscious awareness.
The woman with the lion wears white to signify her purity and kindness.
The lemniscate (infinity symbol) above the woman’s head symbolizes her ability to call upon her higher self. This is the energy of the universe. Has she experienced this before in a prior lifetime?
The green landscape indicates her success.
The blue mountains in the background indicate a peak experience.
The position of the woman’s hands demonstrates hands-on healing.
The woman and the lion show the ability of the meek to overcome the mighty.
The red lion stands for power and fire.
GETTING TO KNOW STRENGTH.
Are you making your way through a risky situation? Are you overcoming fear?
For me, the Strength Card is a feminine card showing that intuition and gentle responses are more effective than sledgehammer tactics. Negotiation and balanced calm win over a seemingly impossible challenge. Call on focus, patience, and stillness when you tune into your intuition to really understand the situation.
With the Strength Card, your inner strength and courage guide you to stand firm because you are grounded. When you are steady and calm, you can win. This is better than running, hiding, or denying the situation.
Important! The Strength Card tackles anything and everything operating destructively in your life – from within or without. This includes anger, anxiety, despair, laziness, lust, and loneliness.
Patience and courage are important. With determination you live up to your potential. Self-control and faith in yourself strengthen your intuition.
Strength is an inner spiritual trait, overcoming ignorance and oppression as it solves your problems. With the Strength Card in control, tact and diplomacy work better than aggression and confrontation.
Even in the thick of things, you can stand up for yourself. The change you fight for is worth the effort.
In the end, it all comes down to forgiveness.
A STORY
One October afternoon, in 1976, I called on the Strength Card for help. I married Barry, my second husband only weeks before. Barry, myself, my two children, and a Keeshond puppy ived in an apartment near the Air Force base where Barry was stationed.
With only two days’ notice, I learned my new in-laws were coming to visit. They arrived with a list of rules and conditions. One, my new mother-in-law was a chain smoker and they were trying to wean her off cigarettes. So, “Please, no smoking.” Two, they were staying a couple of weeks. And, on and on and on. The smoking prohibition impacted us strongly because both Barry and I were smokers. What were we going to do?
We gave up the tobacco.
It wasn’t easy but, when they left, I was no longer a smoker. During their visit, I gave up a habit of a decade. And, it stuck with me for life.
With the Strength Card in my life, I overcame obstacles. I had the courage and resolve to cope with the challenges.
The Strength Card responds to loneliness, grief, anger, depression, and anxiety. Channeling the inner beast and unruly passions positively is effective. This is a time to reconcile with the negativity in your life to win the battle. In fact, negativity teaches you how strong you are.
When the weapon of choice is Strength, the potential is infinite.
FOCUS IN
Heal your own mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and mythical wellbeing. Enrich your relationship with yourself. This is definitely a time to call in Reiki.
Include complementary medicine healthcare with your self-care. Lifestyle adjustments will support your improvement. This applies to things like fatigue, feeling down, or not coping.
Throughout my life and career as a healer, I’ve seen healthcare and self-care turn people’s lives around. Miracles can happen when you care for yourself and include the Strength Card. For starters, your hair, skin, and nails improve. With sufficient sleep, yo wake up skills you didn’t even know you have.
Never forget how forgiveness fits into the picture.
MEDITATION
Go to a private, safe meditation place. Get in your most comfortable position – either on a chair or a mat.
Gently close your eyes as you begin your deep breathing pattern. Take several deep sighs of relief and relaxation. You may even have an urge to yawn.
Begin your inbreaths as you relax. Each inbreath increases your relaxation level. Each outbreath releases toxins and negativity. As you breathe, and bring more relaxation, move into your calm posture of a warm golden sun and sky. You feel a gentle breeze as it rustles white clothing.
Pay attention to the luscious green lawn beneath your feet. You see bountiful trees and shrubs in the distant meadow. You notice trees, flowers, grass. Birds, butterflies, and other insects seem to be abundantly happy.
You are in a special place.
Settling in your safe and secret space, you look down a path toward challenges and experiences. You see that you are at a place in life where you will know what is best for your future. It’s time to learn about yourself.
Find the place of greatest comfort and forgiveness.
Use your strength to feel safe now. Open your heart – both for yourself and the other. You are ready to take responsibility for your actions. You are ready to accept and forgive imperfections.
It’s time to return to your day now. You know that you can return whenever you are ready.
You are forgiven, for now and forever.
Thanks for reading this article! Please share it with your friends, neighbors, relatives.
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My books are all available as ebooks. If you have any questions, please contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com
Press On!
SYMBOLISM
The Charioteer carries a wand which he does not raise above hi head to heaven. Power, creativity, and initiative are important here as he moves on.
His hands do not hold the reins. His character controls life’s forces and his mental energy directs his passions.
The Charioteer’s belt is decorated with symbols of the planets.
His skirt has magical symbols.
The shape of the Chariot represents the material world.
The Chariot wheels are in the water while the Chariot itself sits on the water. The Charioteer gets his energy from the water (the unconscious) and from the land.
The black and white sphinxes are guardians of mystical secrets. The sphinxes stand for life’s mysteries. The black sphinx represents the night, femininity and the unconscious mind. The white sphinx stands for masculinity, conscious thought, and the sun.
The Armor show us The Charioteer is ready, and prepared for the next event.
The Crown symbolize authority and is worn on the head with a laurel wreath symbolizes victory.
The Canopy of Stars represents liberty and independence.
The Winged Sun accompanies the Charioteer on life’s journey.
GETTING TO KNOW THE CHARIOT
The Chariot shows up for graduation, new apartments, new jobs, driver’s licenses.
Energy triumphs over obstacles. You have the skills to succeed. This works especially for things like taking a test or running a race, but it’s also about your understanding your motivations.
It’s also about control and willpower.
But, there’s another thing: This all goes better with intention.
With the Chariot, you move in a new direction. That’s where the intention comes in, know where you are going. This means you set your goal and make your plans. It’s all about knowing where you’re planning to go and how you’re going to get there.
STORY
The Chariot showed up years ago when I studied Spanish. Before thi time, I used what Spanish I knew to buy groceries, chat with neighbors, protect my family’s health at the local medical clinic, and keep myself on the positive side of the law with the Federales while living in Venezuela and Mexico…
But, time passed and I was in a totally new place: a new country, a new spouse, a new job, and a completely different lifestyle.
I used Spanish in my new job but things weren’t what they could be. In my heart, I knew I was stuck and stagnant. I wasn’t learning any new words.
The situation required a goal-oriented focus and courage without heavy-handed tactics. I knew I must, finally, learn the language – not just play like it.
When I enrolled in a Spanish class at a local college, the willpower of the Chariot carried me through. I used the strength of the Chariot for the confidence and belief in myself to learn Spanish.
I knew this was going to be a time of overwork but the outcome would make the effort worthwhile. There were conflicting demands on my time and resources but i felt things would work out well in the end because I was in the driver’s seat.
I also knew that grit and determination were the things most needed to see this project through.
The Chariot helped me make this major life decision. It was time to on my life’s journey. The Chariot was an important pathway for me.
Ambition and determination helped me overcome the obstacles I found along the way and the Chariot helped me cope, develop skills and use my abilities to succeed.
Ambition and determination helped me overcome th obstacles I found along the way and the Chariot helped me cope, develop skills, and use my abilities to succeed.
I finished the classes with A’s. Even all these years later, I can still speak to people in their language. The strength of the Chariot gave me the energy to not only set goals but carry them through to success.
There are also situations where The Chariot can help you control competing forces and inner conflicts. A politician or business employee sometimes needs to settle into the situation and take the middle road and go with the flow. When this happens, follow the road where it takes you to success.
I’ve seen this work well on the local government level. Several years ago, in my community, a few buildings needed modernizing and upgrading. One building, the Highway Department Garage was a teardown and rebuilt project. Our Town Supervisor certainly had the building contractor skills. He knew how to manage the budget. One noisy faction of the community was critical. He knew how to call in The Chariot
Before it was over, Woodstock had new and improved buildings. They included a Highway Garage, Town Hall, Community Center, and the Comeau Property with the Town Clark’s Office and Supervisor’s Cottage.
The goals you achieve are important. But, don’t stop here. Other accomplishments are waiting for you in the future.
Then it’s time to ask “What’s next?”
DO THIS
Are you planning a project? Set your goal. Chart your map. Make a list.
MEDITATION
Find a safe and private location where you can get comfortable. Settle in a comfortable chair or on a flat surface.
Turn your attention to your breath. Close your eyes and focus on your inbreaths and outbreaths. As you inhale and exhale become more and more relaxed. Let your breath settle in to a calming and cleansing pattern.
You open your eyes now and see that the sun shines brightly and is high in the sky. The sun illuminates the sky in a positive yellow. This is your reliable consciousness focusing on your goal.
A star-covered canopy shelters you from the heat of the sky above.
You look around and see a path that you feel was created just for you. You know, in some way, that this path is for you to reach your goal. Your job is to stay on this path.
You see a Chariot waiting for you right underneath the canopy. Two sphinxes are stationed at the front of The Chariot. You know they represent the mysteries you experience as you travel to your goals.
The Chariot is your space and time on this project and in your life. This vehicle has a connection to your karma. As you realize this, you do not fear it. Instead, you feel empowered to work with it to your benefit.
You see the winged sun adorning the front of The Chariot. You feel that this sun will join you on your new project.
You know that this Chariot and these symbols are part of your journey as you stay on your path. They further your progress to your goal.
You realize now that the path is its own journey as you steer your course toward your success.
The landscape around The Chariot is positive and fruitful. The lawn is a lush green grass. Your path leads you along the banks of a beautiful stream.
Farther down the path, across the stream and through the park, is a city with gorgeous buildings capped with red roofs.
The path leads you to success!
You sit with this scene for a few moments while you enjoy and absort your future which is waiting for you. Get comfortable with your success and how it feels.
You know it is time to return to your day. You continue to focus on your breath while you slowly and carefully move your hands and arms, feet and legs.
You move consciously into the now of the day.
Thank you for reading this article This post is a series of seed chapters for an upcoming book I’m writing about The Tarot:
This third book “The Spirituality of the Tarot” will be available soon.
My two Tarot books, “A Healer’s Tarot Memoir” and “The Minor Arcana and the Court Cards” are available in ebook form .
You can order them at www.thurmangreco.com.
While they last…The Minor Arcana and the Court Cards
are being given with a tarot reading.
A few copies of “But for Gabriel” are available. You can order them at www.thurmangreco.com
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This blogged book has gone out to 14 countries. This interesting true story tells the truth about hunger in America.
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www.hungerisnotadisease.com
Taking Responsibility
GETTING TO KNOW THE EMPEROR
The Emperor doesn’t quibble around with what is right and what is wrong. An authority figure, he knows what is worth having. He is his own person. He is also an important father figure. And, the Emperor may be a person of authority, such as a boss. He is balanced. He brings security and conventional values.
He does these things through rules, systems, discipline, and boundaries. He develops the rules. He fosters disciplines. He creates boundaries and he honors values.
He is not afraid of conflict.
Boundaries have meaning for the Emperor. He knows when to create them and how to maintain them. He does this because he understands and respects the rules of society.
The Emperor lives authority and power. And, he likes controlling it all. He knows how to use things like structure, rules, logic, and reason.
The Emperor is thought of as a man but can also be a woman. Women are the Emperor when they structure their careers and their lives according to the rules. Women who know how to use the Emperor’ skills can find the experience to be a powerful experience.
People think of The Emperor as a warrior but, really, he is a ruler. His job description requires that he defend the boundaries and values he lives. The Emperor believes that if something is worth having, it is worth fighting for.
Whatever environment the Emperor connected with, whether it be business, government, partners, parent, he can take charge as he works with honor and tradition.
STORY
My father was the Emperor in my life. Although he was depicted as a warrior, he was a beneficient ruler.
In the Rider Waite Deck, the Emperor wore robes over a full set of armor. My father wore armor daily. His armor was a bullet proof vest and a side arm which he hid under his arm in a leather holster. When he was in public, I never saw my father without a suit coat over his armor. He even wore his armor at the breakfast table.
My father, a small-town Texas attorney, was good enough at what he did to plead a case in the Supreme Court of the United States of America in Washington, D.C. I never knew the particulars or even the names of the plaintiffs or the defendants.
What I knew was that my mother took him clothes shopping in Austin and bought a special blue serge suit and a white shirt with just the right collar and even more special, somber tie just for the occasion. And, on or about May 15, 1954, he packed himself, my mother, and myself into his late model, dark green Oldsmobile 88 and drove to Washington, D.C. to plead the case.
While we were there, he drove us around Washington, D.C. so I could see the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument, and the George Washington University camput.
We didn’t get out of the car to walk around the city or even stay the night in Washington, D.C.
My father, who always carried a concealed weapon, knew the martial arts of the day, served in the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, and was in the OSS during World War II, did not call attention to himself.
He didn’t want to be noticed by anyone because he was constantly on the lookout for trouble. And, for him, crowds meant trouble. He saw things and people and could pick a person out of a crowd and recognize him/her as “trouble”. This was an attitude I grew up with.
After riding around Washington, D.C. all day, we ate dinner at a fish restaurant, O’Donnell’s. Fish was not readily available in my hometown so my father loved the meal. I don’t remember what fish dish he ordered, but I do remember that when he ordered for us, he asked the waitress: “Do you have jalapenos?”
They were served at every meal in our home. Mother drove across the bridge into Villa Acuna and bought large, #10 cans of them in a bodega there.
After dinner, he drove us to Salisbury, Maryland, and we stayed in the Wicomico Hotel.
The next morning, he put on his fancy new suit, shirt, tie, shoes, and drove back to Washington, D.C. to plead his case before Justices Robert Jackson, Harold Burton, Fred M. Vinson, Hugo Black, Tom C. Clark, Sherman Minton, Stanley Forman Reed, Felix Frankfurther, and William O. Douglas, the Supreme Court Justices of the day.
Then he returned to the hotel in Salisbury, paid the bill, picked us up, and drove home to Texas. He drove nonstop taking the short route through Arkansas.
He returned home to his practice which was primarily civil but included criminal cases because he provided whatever services his small town Texas clients needed.
At a time when women in Texas had few rights, my father was known area-wide for doing much for his clients. In divorce cases, he had a reputation for taking everything for his female clients, especially if there were children involved. The first thing he did was clean out the checking account leaving fifteen cents for the divorcing husband. The washing machine went where the children went.
I recall that every day he used the word “ethical” somehow.
FOCUS IN
What is your relationship to responsibility? Journal about this masculine energy.
MEDITATION
**This meditation is most effective when practiced in the morning. The goal is a meditation that is tranquil and quiet.**
Find a quit and safe place which will be distraction-free.
The goal here is to find a supportive and stable place where you can sit comfortably on the floor or recline on a cushioned chair.
You want to be both relaxed and alert so you can go about your activities with a positive, focused attitude.
Once you are seated, encourage your body to feel at ease while remaining aware. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Hold this breath in and breathe out, feel the support and comfort where you are resting.
Connect to this place. Allow your breathing continue to connect you to this place and this day.
These in-an-out breaths clear away mental stress and clutter. They steady you for the coming events, both scheduled and unscheduled.
Take a moment to settle your intention for the day. Prepare yourself to continue through your coming schedule with clarity and positive intent.
Close your eyes and take calming in and out breaths for a few moments. Take a centering outbreath now to center yourself. Continue with your attitude of calm and positivity.
Take a deep inbreath now and appreciate your readiness for your schedule today.
Bring to mind a powerful attitude reflecting how you will move through the coming hours. Let this attitude resonate with your inner self.
You know it is time for you to move forward with your schedule today. Know that you can return to this meditation whenever you want. Meanwhile,
Take a deep breath to release any negativity. Wiggle your fingers. Open your eyes and proceed with your day.
Thanks for reading this article. It is a seed chapter of an upcoming book.
Meanwhile, please share this article with your friends, neighbors, and family.
Forward it to your preferred social media network.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
GETTING TO KNOW THE MOON
The moon affects everyone and everything on the planet. If you don’t believe me, think of the high and low tides of our oceans.
Beyond this, women’s menstrual cycles are connected to the moon.
Go one more: We refer to the maiden, the woman, the crone. The maiden is the newborn crescent moon. The mature woman is the full moon. The waning moon represents the crone.
Speak with policemen, emergency medicine employees, warmline workers, and you’ll hear how people act differently during the time of a full moon.
The moon focuses on dreams, feelings, instincts, and intuition. Sometimes, you may focus on your rational mental activities, ignoring your inner feelings. Problems occur when you ignore the things that the Moon finds important.
When this happens, the Moon brings things to the surface. While this may be painful, it can also be healing. One thing for sure – the intuition the Moon sends you is a strong message that you already know the answer to your question.
However, overthinking as well as other thinking can cause more questions – especially as you travel into the unknown future which causes disorienting perceptions. What happens is this: the situation is not really changing. What is changing is your perception of reality.
When you realize that you cannot return to the world you once knew, you can be shocked – to say the least. You cannot see your life in the same way again.
This is big stuff and it’s also scary. The Moon brings you front and center with low self-esteem, your oppressive background, sexual identity issues, and everything else you’ve been taught to run from. PTSD, past traumas, mental illness, drug addiction, disabilities, gender issues, and anything else that needs a slow approach, and nonlinear healing.
The message of the Moon: Do not be afraid of the dark. After all, we’re all part of it. The Moon card is emotional, intuitive, and healing.
Reach beyond your fears. You are safe.
Explore your subconscious while you find healing in your shadows.
If the influence of the Moon seems to be too strong, some grounding exercises can keep you in your body. If you don’t know any or if they don’t seem to be what you need in the situation, then Reiki is a reliable option.
A STORY
Dr. Longmore, an Emergency Medicine specialist, had an office in Woodstock located in the little group of offices across the street from the Playhouse. He practiced by himself, without a receptionist or nurse. His patients included every category of residents in Woodstock: the elderly, the rich, and the homeless. Artists, local residents, musicians, and writers anyone else in between.
They went to him with their health issues and he treated them with dignity and respect, whether or not they had money. Most of the artists had no money so, when he treated, they brought over paintings.
Dr. Longmore finally had one of the best local art collections in the area. Then the paintings and sculptures, given to him over the years by artist patients with no money, disappeared from his office after he was arrested.
On the street, the real story remains a mystery. The FBI report referred by hydrocodone. The stories in the paper didn’t read like a whole story or even a piece of a story.
Dr. Longmore and I knew many of the same people. He healed them. The food pantry fed them. Even without trying, I knew more or less who was on what. How could I not know? I saw them every week under fairly intimate circumstances. Faces, gait, arms reveal much. Hour-long waits in a crowded hallway reveal much more over time.
I only knew two people on Oxycodone. And, one of those two was trying to sell the stuff. So they can’t blame Dr. Longmore for that.
He got six months house arrest, three years probation, two hundred hours community service, and fined $200,000.
The real punishment went to the poor in Woodstock who now have nowhere to go for a doctor. It puts a lot of pressure on the Healthcare as a Human Rights group.
His office sat empty for the longest time, the building at 104 Mill Hill Road. I think of Dr. Longmore every time I pass by. I remember his beautiful art collection, all the people he served, all the good the man did for the people of Woodstock.
The first tenant was a beer hall: Reynolds and Reynolds served specialty beers and delicious, locally sourced foods.
The current tenant offers yoga, IV vitamin therapy and wellness promotion.
For me, it doesn’t matter. The building is a monument commemorating those in Woodstock who unfailingly give of themselves.
While the Moon Card doesn’t land on every reading, it does show. In Woodstock, many people are in the lineup. Each time I pass by the building. I’m reminded of yet another person who qualifies for commemoration for giving lifestyle.
Many Woodstockers are remembered for giving much, asking for nothing. Recognition for a job well done does not always happen with the Moon. People should be honored in some way for a job well done – even if only in memory.
Even with the Moon out there, names and faces bubble up from my memory. They ride in on their own energy, as if the people are volunteering or working once again for the community and those in it.
When I see the Moon Card, I offer gratitude. My community is what it is today because of the individual efforts of each person I remember, plus of the efforts of many people I never knew.
We are not alone in our pain
FOCUS IN
Your journey can nourish and heal. Meditate, journal, practice yoga or Tai Chi, foster interconnectedness with others.
Place your hand over your heart and offer soothing touch and forgiveness.
MEDITATION
Go to a quiet place, one that is private and safe. Sit in a very comfortable position. If you want, light a candle, play healing music, or place a favorite stone or rock in your space.
Focus your attention and awareness on your breathing. Become aware of your inbreaths as they bring healing and positive breath to your lungs and body. Notice the outbreaths releasing toxins and stress.
Follow your inbreaths and outbreaths as you become more peaceful and relaxed.
As this happens, you come to understand that you have power and energy to conceive and create your life. Your reality is your reality.
You understand that it’s not important to worry about what others think of you. Your self-acceptance and self-approval begins within yourself. You know that your own path is the one that is right for you. This happens with your open mind and clear conscience.
You see that you are free from the past as you live in this present moment.
Self-love and unlimited potential create your reality. Self-love and unlimited potential build your outward reality.
You no long allow negative and limiting thinking.
At this time, you accept joy, happiness, and unlimited love.
Relax now, for a few moments as you follow your inbreaths and outbreaths. Feel how the healing, relaxing energy fills your consciousness.
You take your journey inward and connect with your inner healer.
After experiencing a few more inbreaths and outbreaths, you know it is time to return to your day. You know you can return to this meditation any time you want.
Thank you for reading this article!
Interested in finding out more about Woodstock, NY, the most famous little town in the US? This show is all about Woodstock!
Find this book at www.Thurmangreco.com
Thank you for reading this article. Please share it with your friends and family. Forward it to your preferred social media network.
Exploring Mysteries
Getting to Know the High Priestess –
The High Priestess wants you to learn more about your unconscious. She feels your potential will benefit from the attention you give to your dreams, imagination, and intuition. Your potential needs attention. Explore your mysteries.
Because you already have the answers you seek, you can trust your instincts, even if you can’t explain why or how. You have your own secrets. It’s a good time to discover them. After all, you already know the answers.
The High Priestess appears in a spread to tell you that something hidden or otherwise unknown is about to surface. This is all about recognizing or revealing the hidden potential in your life. Opportunities wait to surface. Something hidden emerges. She mediates the human and the divine.
The High Priestess understands truths that cannot be put into words or doctrines. This is hard to describe. She is all about understanding.
If you happen to have a secret, please keep your own counsel.
A STORY:
The woman seated at my table on that beautiful Woodstock afternoon at the Mower’s Saturday Sunday Flea Market was lovely. But, she wasn’t the centerpiece of the spread on the table at that moment.
She thought of her question while she shuffled the cards and handed me a card from deep in the deck.
I knew for sure: this spread was unique.
They all are. I’m always amazed at how, in some way, each spread tells a story appropriate for this person, this situation.
This spread was no exception. It was time to explore mysteries.
Three cards stood out: The High Priestess, the Tower, and the Eight of Swords.
In this spread, the High Priestess spoke. She focused on hidden and emerging opportunities. She saw potential waiting to surface.
I was especially impressed by this because the High Priestess has a reputation for keeping things hidden. In this moment, I felt she was offering a way for my client to discover a mystery of her own.
What a gift! The High Priestess knows that not all truths can be put into words or even doctrines.
Another card reaching out to be read was The Tower.
The Tower brings surprise, shock, and awe. But, years of experience have taught me that The Tower is, deep down, not a total surprise. It needs you to explore mysteries.
The wisdom of the Tower is that this card offers a chance to rebuild, update, and move into the future.
Another bit of wisdom of The Tower is that it’s wise to slow down after the event for a few days, even a week or two. Let the dust settle before making any substantive decisions. That way, the decisions can be part of the rebuilding process.
But, what about the decisions that need to be made? We come now to the wisdom of the Eight of Swords:
First – don’t feel sorry for yourself.
Second – After you’ve given yourself time to see the problem for what it is, list your options.
This is a challenging thing to do but is easier if you give your eyes a chance to see the problem realistically. Your list can be short, written on the back of an envelope. Or, it can be a page or more in your journal.
Finally – Trust in your intuition. Is there anything in this list that you can use?
Yes – Great – Go for it! Explore mysteries.
No – Is there nothing in this list that you can use? No – Don’t get discouraged. You have a final option that you may not have yet considered: The wisdom of the Eight of Swords has a strong message: Walk Away!
FOCUS IN
Journal your goals and intentions. What are ways you can align your intentions with your goals?
MEDITATION
Begin this meditation by getting comfortable in a quiet and private place where you won’t be disturbed. Turn off your phone. Loosen uncomfortable clothing.
Focus on your breathing. Allow yourself to breathe to your own natural rhythm. Breathe slowly, easily and deeply to produce a state of deep, gentle relaxation. Inhale…Exhale…Inhale…Exhale…
When you are ready, breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Notice how your sense of relaxation, comfort, and peace of mind become noticeable to you.
A ball of light surrounds you now. This ball of pure energy circulates around you and moves you into even deeper relaxation and comfort.
Each inhale and exhale encourage you to become more relaxed.
Enjoy how relaxed and comfortable you are now. Your inhales bring soothing, relaxing, nourishing, and healing energy into your body.
Your exhales release tension, stress, pain and/or discomfort.
Each breath increases your relaxation and comfort.
Think, now, of a beautiful, peaceful, safe place. It is magical and mystical and just for you.
Take a few moments to enjoy this place. Notice the trees, shrubbery, flowers, grasses. See the birds. Smell the beauty of this special place.
You see a table and chairs for two in front of you. Two drinks of soothing liquids are on the table. What do the glasses, cups, saucers, and napkins look like?
A wise being comes into your special area and sits at the table. You join this wise being at the table.
You know that this is a situation you can trust. You understand that you are here, in this special place, to explore solutions to important questions that you are dealing with. You are seeking solutions for problems that have been bothering you for some time.
When you ask questions your responses come to you as inspirations. You ask questions that may not generate responses at this moment.
You know that some answers may not come instantly. You know that you may need several hours or days before inspirational responses come to you.
Wordlessly communicating with this wise being, you know in your heart that you can return to this place whenever you need because some answers will become available to you over time.
You know that this meditation will become easier over time.
You know that it is time to return to your day. You open your eyes, and take a few final relaxing breaths – breathing in and then breathing out.
You look forward to meeting with this wise being in future meditations.
You open your eyes and take a few relaxing breaths – inhaling and exhaling to your own rhythm.
You look forward to meeting with this wise being in future meditations.
Now, you return to your day.
Thanks for reading this article. It’s coming to you after a recess of several weeks. I have been reorganizing my manuscript recently.
I’m currently writing “The Spirituality of the Tarot”. This book is absorbing a lot of attention and focus. One thing I’ve learned – when the manuscript calls, there is a reason.
Thank you for your patience.
Find out more about me at www.Thurmangreco.com.
Two short books, “Healer’s Tarot Memoir”, focus on The Major Arcana, The Minor Arcana, and The Court Cards”. They are available as e-boooks at www.Thurmangreco.com.
Do You Know Where Things are Going? Act now!
Do you suddenly feel as though somehow, some way, somebody or something just removed a few obstacles in your life and career? Suddenly, after seemingly endless waiting, things are moving rapidly in a direction perfect for your goals!
Finally!
The waiting is over.
Well, you are not mistaken. Things like that do happen and suddenly there’s a lot of activity that needs to be sorted out. This will clarify your intentions.
Things are moving in your favor more rapidly than you hoped. Don’t get overwhelmed. Instead, take advantage of this energetic boost by acting now.
Ground activities to prevent overwhelming feelings. . Even so, action is popular right now.
This can be an opportunity to keep your goals on the front burner.
This is a very positive time so be ready to be energized.
Prioritize your opportunities because you don’t always have to accept everything.
Even so, you need to know where things are going. Everything needs to be
moving in the right direction.
STORY
I lived an 8 of Wands story several years ago when I found canine massage therapy. I searched “high and low” for a school to study canine massage therapy.
I was teaching reflexology and Reiki therapy at the time. But, I was also becoming more involved in pet rescue as orphaned dogs weighing under ten pounds and being more than 10 years old seemed to be finding me.
While this happened, I searched out every canine massage therapy teacher I could find. Nothing seemed to be right. I found a distance-learning class in the US and I found a teacher on the West Coast of Canada.
Everything seemed good – just not a good fit for me. I never thought I would learn massage via distance classes. And, I just didn’t seem to be able to make it to the West coast of Canada.
Suddenly, Jonathan Rudinger’s class was in front of me! It seemed perfect – and it was. Jonathan and Anastasia offered the right class at the right time in the right place. They taught Canine Massage Therapy in Toledo and they had a student opening! I packed two small dogs in the car with me and took off for Toledo!
I loved every minute of the class! I was going to be able to use my Massage Therapy, Reiki therapy, and Reflexology credentials along with my new canine massage skills.
Perfect!
Three days after I returned home from the class, I found a space in a local veterinarian’s office.
I felt like somebody or something removed a few obstacles in my life and career! After a lot of waiting, and blind alleys, things moved rapidly in a direction just perfect for my goals!
Finally!
Jonathan Rudinger’s class served me well. I was still practicing this skill 20 years later. This career took me well into my retirement years.
FOCUS IN
Have you got a list for your short-term goals? your long-term goals? Is it in need
of updating?
MEDITATION
The 8 of Wands is an exciting card. Feeling grounded is an important part of this experience. For one thing, it is used practically when chaos enters your life. Restoring order helps.
Begin this meditation by finding a calm and safe space. Get comfortable as you find a supportive space to sit or lay flat. Take a few moments to relax and unwind.
Let your body float…
Let your body drift.
Without worrying how you breathe, simply allow yourself to breathe fully and deeply. Release tensions as you exhale.
Gently close your eyes.
Give yourself permission to experience this meditation without interruption.
This time is yours.
Visualize your spine. See a special cord which begins at the top of your head and travels down your spine – beyond your spine – into the earth.
As this cord travels into the earth, it supports and grounds you.
Now, inhale and exhale several times as you release any worries, doubts, and fears.
Grounded peace replaces these emotions. Warmth, energy, love, and peace move into your world.
Your cord gently disappears for now.
Now, slowly move your arms and legs and smile.
You feel gratitude for this connection and know that you can return to this experience whenever you seek a grounded connection.
Thank you for reading this article. It is a seed chapter in a book about the Tarot which I am writing now. If you liked it, please share it with your friends and family. Forward it to your preferred social media network. Subscribe to this blog for future chapters.
This book is available as an ebook. Get it at www.Thurmangreco.com
Standing Out
When members of your group work at odds with one another, they may not appear to be getting anywhere. Take a moment to analyze the disagreement so
You can seek a more proactive approach to overcome the obstacles.
But don’t get worked up for nothing. Frantic energy will get you nowhere.
Could you make an assertion and adapt your motto?
Sometimes, you can find yourself competing with others. Even though there is a struggle, there is no clear winner. This is your chance! This may be a time to step up and prove your worth.
Could you be sure to pick your battles? This is not a good time to argue just to prove your point. Rise to the challenge for the right reasons.
Order can be restored. You can succeed.
Finally, take a deep breath and re-examine your own path.
All this competition can help you become a better version of yourself.
DO THIS
Grounding activities are important now: Yoga, meditation, labyrinth, breathing exercises, mindfulness are some you may find helpful.
MEDITATION
Find a quiet place for this meditation. If you can, find a place away from street sounds or work noises.
Dim the lights a bit. Sit or lie comfortably.
Take a deep breath and hold it for a moment. Now, release this breath. See the tension in your body leave you now. Take a few deep breaths followed by releasing the breath.
As you breathe out, you release tensions. After a few in-and-out breaths, you feel relaxed. Each exhale brings more relaxation and comfort.
Close your eyes gently now. When you open them, you are standing on a path in a large park.
As you walk on this path, you see the trees overhead. Birds sing and a soft breeze blows. You feel it on your arms. The whole place smells like summer. You see the shadows of the trees and bushes as you walk along.
The path leads you to a stream. You see a small boat on the edge of the water. You know this boat is for you. You get in the boat and untie it. As you do this, the boat gently floats down the stream. Sitting in your boat, you drift and float in calm waters.
As you float along, you understand something: You can anticipate spinning and whirling pools of water. You know that streams have quiet times where the water seems to drift along. You know that streams also have swirling times where the water spins along, bubbling.
What you experience with your being is this: The water has its quiet time, with drifting and floating. Then, there is a turbulent time with bubbling water swiftly moving along.
PAUSE
You bid goodbye to the stream now, knowing that you can return to it any time you wish. You gently move your muscles now, shifting, at your time and pace.
Thank you for reading this article. It is a seed chapter in my third Tarot Book. You can purchase the first 2 books on www.thurmangreco.com.
I also produce a weekly show on YOUTUBE about people who live in and visit Woodstock, NY:
This YOUTUBE show has been running with weekly programming about Woodstock and its interesting residents. Let’s Live has been running over 15 years with an occasional intermission. The guests love it and I get lots of positive feedback.
Thank You
Thurman Greco
thurmangreco@gmail.com
Rejoice and Celebrate
When you have an opportunity to work with others, this new beginning
is a chance to build projects together that will work out.
Liberate yourself from circumstances that no longer suit you.
Appreciate this time. When you work with others, you share with them. This gives you confidence and vitality. They can appreciate your talent.
This inner foundation can be a good work-life balance.
If your life has been hectic lately, take time to integrate all the things you’ve been working on. This can be a blessing. Enjoy the moment.
Spread good energy throughout your community.
How can you celebrate this? Maybe it’s time to serve some cake!
DO THIS
You are living in a positive moment today. How can you celebrate it?
MEDITATION
We accumulate stress throughout the day in the muscles of the head, face, and jaw. This meditation can help smooth and relax these muscles, allowing the tension to disappear.
Select a safe and quiet space for this meditation. Quiet music will help you relax as you follow the movements of this massage.
Dim the lights, light a candle or incense. tTurn on some quiet healing music. Recline or rest is a comfortable face-up position.
Place your fingers lightly on your temples. Move your fingers in small, gentle circles. Move them in clockwise directions and then in counterclockwise movements.
PAUSE
Now, continuing to move your fingers in circles, move your fingers across your forehead area.
PAUSE
Now, using your ring fingers, gently tap around your eyes. Begin by gently tapping beneath your eyebrows and then tap around your eyes as you go around your them.
PAUSE
Gently slide your fingers down your nose. Then move your fingers as you tap the area around your lips.
PAUSE
Now, gently and slowly move your fingers across your cheeks so that each hand is located to the front of each ear. Slowly move your fingers over your ears thoroughly. Finish this with a long, luscious pull on each ear.
Now go to your jawline and gently move your fingers along it.
PAUSE
As you finish your massage, become aware of your thoughts, feelings, or sensations.
It’s time to return to the room now – refreshed, relaxed, and renewed. What specific kinds of touches felt good to you? Did you have a favorite?
Thanks for reading this article.
These posts are seed chapters for my third Tarot Book. Books 1 and 2 can be found as ebooks at www.ThurmanGreco.com.
I read the tarot at the Mowers Meadow Saturday Sunday Flea Market in Woodstock, New York. When this market closes in October, I’ll be looking for a winter “home” to read the Tarot Cards.
Please forward this article to your friends and family and share it with your favorite social media outlet.
This book is still available in paperback. It’s been popular throughout the world.
THANKS
Thurman Greco
