Lessons in Balance

The Twelfth Night of Christmas

Again, a strong female voice creating her kingdom/world as a place which acknowledges female qualities of compassion, cooperation and connection as vital to abundance (wholeness and well being).-Penelope Clement

The Empress holds a scepter in her right hand, a book in the other and the world sits at her feet. I get the message that all the tools I need to embellish my world are already in my hands.

Thanks to the Twelve Nights, Penelope Clement, and the message of the cards, I have a powerful, creative foundation for this new year. In review of the past Eleven Nights:

1. Compassion. Cultivate compassion by being grateful, actively search for good news and recognize a connection with everyone I encounter.
2. Inner Knowing. Refer to my Inner Being before acting.
3. Lechery. Use steps one and two as a filter and a guide rather than my current 'on board critic'.
4. Integration. Integrate my intentions by thinking, writing and speaking it.
5. Strife. Remove Strife by a constant contact with my Source.
6. Death. Learn to renew myself with a simple complete breath (as in my yoga practice).
7. Generosity. Play Life with an open hand.
8. Competence. Go with the flow. It's an on-going discipline to let go and trust.
9. Knowledge. Keep building it, but also keep it open.
10. Wheel of Fortune. Just stay on course and move forward, I doubt that it ever gets completely done so ease up.
11. Spirituality. Experience the inter-relatedness of all Life.
12. Empress. I expect a magical year and take full responsibility for it. It's my kingdom, after all. :D

I have a lot of wants for this new year and feel that I won't be disappointed if I continue to focus on the lessons and qualities suggested throughout my Twelve Nights.  The choice of perception is mine alone: am I carrying the world on my shoulders or does it sit at my feet?

The Eleventh Night of Christmas

Obviously, the new world is ready to acknowledge the need for spirituality in our lives and in our selves. This is the energy which will bring answers to our questions and fulfillment to our lives. - Penelope Clement

I'm told that when I was a toddler, I had a make-believe friend that I played with, talked to and invited to dinner. Although I stopped talking to my friend as though he were right there, I have always felt a protective presence around me. Now, I sense my friend inside me and am beginning to see him (my toddler sense of gender) in others.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is credited to have said, "We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection." That human affection that lies beneath personality and/or ego, is to me, Spirituality. The more I tend to my flame and allow it to burn bright and strong, the brighter it burns in others. That's the energy I seek.

~~~~~

About my Twelve Nights of Christmas

Artist: Penelope Clement

The Tenth Night of Christmas

Life is changing in amazing ways. Why not have a say in how it shows up for ourselves? We all know the end of the old world is here. We actually have a say in how the new world shows up for ourselves and others. -Penelope Clement

The figures on the Wheel appear to be cheering, even guiding me toward a landing. If I can stay on the course mapped out in the last nine nights, abundance, happiness and joy are waiting up ahead.

As I flip through the cards, I can see that there are as many possible interpretations as there are people. How one works her way up to this card, determines the spin of the Wheel. What we feel, is what we get and to me, each Night was like a canal lock. Each card gave me a little boost, lifting me higher into the flow.

~~~~~

About my Twelve Nights of Christmas

Artist: Penelope Clement

 

The Ninth Night of Christmas

It is important that we consciously express knowledge that we are gaining the power of compassion and generosity in our thinking, speaking and visions. -Penelope Clement 

The swords in this card appear to be weaving themselves and visually remind me that knowledge and beliefs are but a collection of thoughts. Again, they can serve as tools or weapons.

The open weave of the six swords underscores my intention to keep an open mind, to allow room for new thoughts.   Even though the Prince of Swords brought Competence, I still hold the Prince of Wands, Inner Knowing, ahead of it.

Traditionally,  Swords symbolize thoughts. What does this card convey to you?

~~~~~

About my Twelve Nights of Christmas

Artist: Penelope Clement

The Eighth Night of Christmas

With the New Year, we realize that we have the competence to realize all our generous intentions that we generated for ourselves. This is a step into our ability to have mastery on the physical level. -Penelope Clement

This is the perfect night for this card. The figure in this picture appears to be offering the thought (sword) and allowing it to guide him, just as I've been doing for the last week. On the First Night, I decided to focus on the things I'm grateful for, send healing thoughts and wishes whenever I read or hear of tension or anger, and to recognize my connection with everyone that I meet or see. As it turns out, I'm the one who's really benefiting from this exercise.

What I'm beginning to see is far less criticism in my self-talk. For example, where I might fault myself for some disorder at home, I'm just getting into the action of tidying up. When it's done or when I wake up to the order, I thank myself. It's a small but pleasant change that I've noticed. 

I'd like to think that I'll be able to Competently navigate this year with thoughts that will guide me through with the least resistance, as opposed to having to hack through unwanted situations. That's another pleasant thought!

~~~~~

About my Twelve Nights of Christmas.

Artist: Penelope Clement