Living A Life Filled With Love And Positivity

Living A Life Filled With Love And Positivity

A few days ago, a friend sent me a lovely note on my Facebook wall.  She posted a picture of an old couple walking hand in hand, and said, “I immediately thought of you when I saw this picture. You, David, Joel, your dog, your stories about your Mum, your Nan, your Dad and your fabulous team at work…I always love reading your Facebook post and blog.   I wish to live a life filled with love like yours.”

It was such a sweet note that brought tears to my eyes.  Indeed, it was a stage I never thought I could get to, considering that I had walked a rather rocky past tainted by divorce, single motherhood, being cut-off from my parents and the struggle to find myself.  I went through a period of healing after, which affirmed my belief that the Universe will never throw a challenge at you without providing you with the means to deal with it.  

This was the classic manifestation of the 5 of Cups card in Tarot.  When the 3 cups got knocked over, I found the 2 upstanding cups.  One came in the form of my best friend who helped me believe in the institution of marriage again – so I got remarried, to him.   The other came in the form of my answering the call of my higher consciousness to provide support and comfort to other women who had to survive divorce and single motherhood all on their own.  I did not realize that when I put in that effort to a divorcees support group that I had set up, I was actually sowing the seeds of my work as a lightworker.

So, in response to my friend’s note, I sent her a message taken from a quote by Ben Sweetland.  It said, “We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.”  The day I had decided to turn professional as a Tarot reader, I had decided to embrace life with positivity and live  in joy and gratitude everyday for every blessing around me no matter how big or small.

Here was how I took control.  The only person that I allowed myself to do battle with, is myself.. The only choices impacting me, could only be made by myself.  The outcomes I wanted to effect in my life, could only be influenced by myself.

Ultimately, I was in control.  And I was determined to remain in control of my life.

Taking Control Of The Devil Then

I would like to explain the concept of Control with the Devil card in Tarot.  Unpleasant to some, it was the card which provided positive advice for me. 

The Devil card in my Radiant Rider Waite deck created by Virginijus Poshkus and published by US Games, portrayed an image of a half-man- half-goat creature sitting behind 2 human figures who are shackled to each other by chains.  The chains however are loosely fastened and their hands are not tied, suggesting that they are chained to each other out of their own free will. They are not even chained to the Devil himself! They seemed crippled in inertia for fear of him.

My life was previously reflected in this card, the Devil.  He was the scapegoat I blamed for all the negative moments in my life.  This scapegoat was represented by what I felt were the causes of my distress then – the negativity within my previous marriage, the breakdown in communication with my parents immediately after the divorce, the friends who chose to be on the side of my ex-husband, and the nature of the corporate environment which had shaped my very hard exterior as a corporate careerist. 

These restrictions had generally existed because I chose then, to let them rule my life and shape my perceptions of my future.   I was holding onto these chains of negativity that imprisoned me for years, leaving me to look down at my feet as I walked along the path, whilst missing the embrace of the Sunshine above me.

I started working on myself when I saw what I was missing around me – my son who was growing up and needed me, my husband who loved me and needed me to love him back, and my parents who just wanted to protect me but did not know how.  Then when I saw a group of women who were going through the same negativity I did because of their respective divorces, I had decided to take control then, and promptly removed the bonds of negativity tightly clasped around my neck.

Taking Control Of The Devil Now

Today I am happily married, the family is very close-knitted and my relationship with my parents is better than ever.  While the days of negativity are behind me, I am managing a different kind of “devil”.  I think the Devil card most apt in describing this would be the one in the Book of Shadows Volume 2 - So Below Tarot Deck by Barbara Moore.

The Devil is portrayed by an image of a delicious Sundae. I could not help but laugh out loud at this wonderful card because it really was a manifestation of me at this moment.

The Devil card represented all kinds of harmful bonds like temptations.  It was an accurate depiction of how I had been using my extremely busy schedules and multiple commitments as excuses to lead a sedentary life of poor diet, and almost lack of exercise.  I was constantly stressed at work, and viewed everything around me with negativity.  I blamed the workload for my poor health.  I blamed the family for their lack of understanding about why I was not spending more time with them.  I blamed people around me for creating the pressures of deadlines and last minute demands.

 My Judgement card moment came about when I was hit with repeated health issues which culminated in an angiogram done 2 months ago.  That was when the doctor said, “Shape up or else.”  

So I promptly took control.  I revamped my entire lifestyle with a balanced diet and some exercise with my personal trainer. I also knew when to take a break, so when the juggling of these multiple projects seemed all too much for me, I would step back for a bit to give myself a breather.  I have also made it a point to get home before sundown when possible. This allowed me to spend more time with my family and the dogs.  This new lifestyle reshaped my outlook in life into a more positive one.  I had more energy, and I definitely had more fun.

I went for my medical review with the cardiologist this morning and I was so pleased when he said that I had made marked improvements with my health.  The medical report indicated numbers that had put me within acceptable range in the respective field.  He promptly halfed my dosage of hypertension drugs and told me that he had a goal to remove them totally by mid next year if I continued to show improvements in my health. I was so pleased.

Staying Positive

I was also determined to set an example with what I was doing with my life health-wise.  I wanted to prove that being fit and healthy, positive and happy were not just concepts owned by fitness freaks, dieticians, health gurus, yoga practitioners, healers.  I wanted to prove that anyone, in whatever shape, form, or background can be fit, healthy, positive and happy.  

That is why I am really proud of being part of the team that launched Singapore's first science-backed wellness program called AIA Vitality that is committed to making real changes to Singaporeans' health with every little healthy choice that they make.  Do check the program out at www.aiavitality.com.sg.

You see, there is no secret formula to staying positive and filling your life full of love, if you believe with conviction that you need to be so, to bring some semblance of positivity into other people’s lives too.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She currently runs her own Tarot consultancy called Sun Goddess Tarot which is based in Singapore.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also endorsed as a reader for the Free Tarot Network and is a mentor for the ATA.   She can be contacted at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot or www.sungoddesstarot.com

Fix, Not Fear The Five Of Each Suit

First Reaction To A 5 Of Any Suit

Yesterday, at a Tarot reading session for a client, one of the cards picked in the Tarot spread was the 5 of Cups. Her question pertained to her state of relationship with her husband, and she stared intently at that card. Before I could even provide her a detailed narrative of the significance of the card to her situation, she burst out crying. Our hour together went on to 2 1/2 hours because I truly wanted to support her as much as I could and realized that her despondency set in deeper when the image on the card appeared quite negative at first glance.

So, I have decided to dedicate this blog post to the family of 5s; 5 of Pentacles, 5 of Wands, 5 of Cups and 5 of Swords, to share my perspective that these cards are not to be feared, They are possibly the cards that can offer you the best advice ever to lift you from the negativity of your situation. For this purpose, I am using my Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

5 Of Pentacles

The image on the 5 of Pentacles card shows a destitute couple walking through a snow, one is limping with a crutch in hand, and the other is covered by a shawl. A church is in the background with 5 pentacles etched on its stained glass window.

Typically, this card is a reflection of the querant going through financial strive, loss of job or home, or other material adversities. However, I often like to take the querants on a journey into the card and show them the crutch and the shawl that are there to Iend them support and warmth in their time of need. I'd point to the church behind them which is a symbol of spiritual comfort. Most importantly, I'd point out to the fact that there are 2 people in the card, each of them are not alone.

So, when you see the 5 of Pentacles, ask yourself these questions. What currently within your situation is that resource you may have to help you through the challenges? Whom can you ask for help? What or who is that 'church', 'crutch' or 'shawl' in your life ? Know that when you are thrown into a deep end, you will always find some form of support floating nearby, and your struggles against the tide will bring you lessons richer than ocean life that can only make you stronger.

5 Of Wands

The image on the 5 of Wands card shows a group of people dressed in different clothes, raising their rods in competition with each other.

Typically, the 5 of Wands is a reflection of the querants experiencing struggles, tension and conflict within their respective environments. However, I'd often invite the querants to "walk into the card" with me so that we can get a better assessment of the situation. The people in the card image wearing different outfits reflect the different beliefs, opinions, values of the people the querants are dealing with. On closer look at the card, the people raising their rods aren't hitting each other with it. The rods are raised to create awareness, fear, noise and possibly to just put their individual points across.

So, when you pick a 5 of Wands, ask yourself these questions. At what point can you come to a compromise? Can you agree to disagree? If you can't change the situation, can you change how you think about the situation? Know that life is made more colorful and interesting because diversities exist. People's attitudes, beliefs and approach to things are so different, and if you can learn to respect that diversity and work within a framework with proper rules of engagement, you don't have to see life as one big struggle.

5 of Cups

The image of the 5 of Cups card depicts a man in a dark cloak who has turned away in despair. On the ground sits 5 cups, 3 of them have been knocked over and the 2 remaining cups left standing. In front of him, a river flows in a torrent of waves separating him from his house. A bridge is seen at a far distance.

Typically the 5 of Cups is a reflection of the querants experiencing emotional loss, disappointment, inability to attain a goal and perhaps not able to accept or move on from these challenges. However, during our journey into the card, I'd point to the 2 upstanding cups and tell the querants that there is hope, they should never lose hope. I'd point to the bridge and tell them that if they had bothered to look further ahead, they'd see they can get support in their time of need, and there is perhaps a silver lining in their situations. That bridge is beckoning them to walk over, cross the river and move on.

So when you pick the 5 of Cups, ask yourself these questions. Is the person you're experiencing that disappointment over, worth it? Did you look closely enough to find the right solutions to the issue? Were you expecting too much? Did you reassess your goals? Know that challenging situations are opportunities to teach you valuable lessons. And really, it's okay to give yourself time to heal.

5 of Swords

The image on the 5 of Swords resonates tumultuous energy and depicts a man looking intently at his conquered enemies. 2 men are seen walking away from him. He brandishes 3 swords in his hand and 2 swords lay haphazardly on the ground.

Typically, the 5 of Swords is a reflection of the querants undergoing conflicts, hostility, isolation and tension. The card also speaks of negative ambition and perhaps the querants may have achieved something but at a great cost.

A "walk into the card" together often provides greater clarity for the querants to see if the "swords" are worth fighting for or perhaps they should pick their battles. When we "talk" to the image of the 2 men walking away in defeat, we often come to a conclusion that the continued perception of betrayal or that all is forever lost will only perpetuate greater disillusionment.

So when you pick the 5 of Swords, ask yourself these questions. What are you prepared to give up for that win? Can your disillusionment change the situation for the better? What can you do to rally the right support to help your situation?

The 5s Are Your Best Guides

I often like to precede my Tarot reading sessions with clients by telling them that Tarot is not a fortune telling tool but rather a tool to help them uncover choices with which they can use to influence the outcomes of their respective situations. The 5s are possibly the best 4 cards in a Tarot deck that can provide you with the necessary guidance to help you influence a positive outcome. I don't believe in destiny. Destiny is in your hands. I like to tell my clients that if they can't change their situations, they should change the way they think about their situations.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and was recently certified as a numerologist in Singapore. A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and is a mentor for the ATA.

She can be contacted at www.facecbook.com/SunGoddessTarot or www.sungoddesstarot.com