Gifts for Spirit, Mind, Body

4/9/12—Ordering Fries With That

Today's Draw: Six of Wands from the Black Fantasy Tarot. Are you trying to make a change in your life, but it seems like situations are conspiring against you? Has this kind of thing kept you from making some of the changes you've wanted to make in the past? Are you ready to give up?

This is an interesting little tarot deck I came across recently. All the cards are simple like this and the artist tells us to use the interpretations from aeclectic.net. And their interpretation is that this card means victory. And while I'm happy to agree with that, I'm also seeing something else today—focus and determination...the things you need to achieve the victory you seek.

Imagine you're at McDonald's and you order a large chocolate shake in the drive thru. Here's how the conversation is likely to go:

DRIVE THRU: "Welcome to McDonald's. Would you like to try one of our extra value meals?"

YOU: "No, thank you. I'd like a large chocolate shake."

DRIVE THRU: "A large chocolate shake?"

YOU: "Yes, a large chocolate shake."

DRIVE THRU: "Would you like anything else today? How about some fries with that?"

YOU: "No thank you. Just the shake."

DRIVE THRU: "OK, that's one large chocolate shake. That will $3.89. Drive to the first window, please."

Sound pretty familiar? Well, the same thing happens when you decide to make a change or ask for something from the universe.

Say, for example, you're determined to say "no" more often to the people who are always asking you for your time or resources. So you decide you're not going to be suckered in any longer. Next thing you know, Marcie calls you. She is running late, as usual, has a whole dramatic story and needs you to drive her kids to school. You say you're really busy and can't possibly fit it in. Situation handled. You're a naysaying machine!

But then a few days later, Karla calls you and ups the ante. Her husband has surprised her with an anniversary getaway weekend and it's going to be SOOOO romantic! He found a babysitter and everything. But the thing is, it's Karla's turn to bake five dozen cupcakes for tomorrow's PTA meeting. And she has to get her hair and nails done before she leaves town. And she'd also like to surprise her husband with a little something something from Victoria's Secret. And you're the best baker she knows. The best in the whole PTA. And she'll owe you one. It's her ANNIVERSARY and her husband is FINALLY being romantic!!!!

But here's the thing, Karla already owes you at least two or three, if not more. And the reason is because every time you need Karla, you can't seem to get her on the phone. She calls back when her help is no longer needed. But she feels REALLY bad about not being there for you. On top of that, Karla's one of the reasons you realized you needed to say no in the first place. She's there for you when it's convenient for her to be, but she's not there for you in clutch situations.

It's Karla's anniversary. You don't want to disappoint her. And, now that she mentions it, you DO make the best cupcakes in the PTA. What do you do?

Think of this as the equivalent of your "do you want fries with that?" moment.

See, you've been chugging away like this for years. You TAUGHT people to take from you because you've always offered yourself up so readily in the past. And, while normal people would insist upon doing something nice for you for all the nice things you've done, you're not surrounded by normal people. You're surrounded by people who will take until you stop giving. Because that's the dynamic you've always accepted.

So, all of a sudden, the universe is supposed to think you're serious about changing? You said you were serious about losing weight last week, but you've just ordered a chocolate shake from McDonald's! No, the universe needs to be sure you're serious, so it sends tests. And once you pass those tests, it sends tougher ones to determine your boundaries around what you've said you want. You proved you could say no, but what if it's a truly special occasion? What then?

We make a mistake when we ask for change and expect the people or situations that bother us are just going to disappear from our lives like "poof!" Yet, often that's why we give up. Because it's hopeless. The takers are NOT happy. And, clearly, the universe is working against us.

But, in fact, the universe is in the process of giving us exactly what we need. It just wants to make sure we really want it because......you know........the chocolate shake. And it also needs to know what the new parameters will be, because you've always been a sucker for a good sob story in the past.

So think about where this may apply to your life right now. Maybe it's not around saying "no". Maybe it's about speaking your mind to others. Maybe it's about trying to leave a bad relationship. Or maybe it's about always leaving work so late you never get your workout in. You're going to be tested. Your boundaries are going to be pushed.

Are you going to say "I give up! I'm doomed to my miserable life!"?

Or are you going to defiantly sip your chocolate shake and say "bring it on, universe. Bring. It. On!"?

Tags: Aeclectic.net, Black, Fantasy, Gamecrafter, McDonald's, Secret, Six, Tarot, Victoria's, Wands, More…chocolate, fries, of, shake

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Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 10, 2012 at 3:46pm: :)

Comment by Tierney Sadler on April 10, 2012 at 3:23pm: I just got back from my day, too. Today is a healing day for me. :)

Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 10, 2012 at 3:06pm: Good afternoon Tierney Hows your day been so far? not to bad I hope. I went to The Magickal Attic in Newport News this was the first time I have been. Its a cool wee shop. I think I will go back at the weekend. Yvonne

Comment by Tierney Sadler on April 10, 2012 at 9:57am: Oh, that makes sense (about the ovaries). Have a nice day!

Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 10, 2012 at 9:47am: Hello I had my ovaries left so I am producing hormones so I still go through all the change of life stuff. I am taking non hormonal stuff from the doctor and that does help but I went through this period of these illnesses and foolishly (lol) thought that the medication was at the bottom of things so I stopped all my medication and I got worse. So I am back on my medication and I am doing much better now except for my back and hip. You are right I need to take charge of my life as it seems to be spinning around out there and I know I have the power to change a whole lot of things I just need to take one thing at a time a decide what needs changed and how to go about it and then stick to it. I know I have the power funnily enough that is cumming more and more clearer everyday. Today I am off on a day trip by myself. I am going to go to Hardies and get some breakfast if I am not to late and then go check out a shop in Newport News. Have a great day I will let you know how my day goes. Yvonne thanks for the take on the male lion. Yvonne

Comment by Tierney Sadler on April 10, 2012 at 9:22am: Ha! I get lions and tigers mixed up, too. But the lion is king of the jungle. I think in light of all you said below that you need to take charge of your life. Which, I know, you're trying to, but the physical stuff is dragging you down. But I think the universe is showing you how much power you have and you can use it for your good or to your detriment.

And, by the way, I'm so sorry for all the medical issues! That's a lot to happen in a short period of time. I'm never quite sure where I land on the "we create our diseases" thing. I absolutely do believe our thoughts and attitudes have a big influence on our health. But I also think that can lead us to blame ourselves for everything that happens to us and I think sometimes things just happen. We're all going to die one way or another, so we all have to get a deadly disease sooner or later. Or get hit by a truck or whatever. Is that our fault? Or is it more like the manufacturer's warranty expiring on our cars? I think we'll all be given at least one health challenge during our lives, even if it doesn't kill us. I think that's part of the path. But how interesting you had a hysterectomy in the midst of all this empty nest worry. And how are you having menopause issues if you don't have female parts? Don't they give you hormone patches or something like that? Or is that normal and I just don't know?

Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 10, 2012 at 8:42am: It was not a male tiger in my dream I wrote that wrong it was a male Lion any takes on the male lion lol I get so confused I was so excited about having an animal come to me in my dream I got the animal mixed up. Yvonne

Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 10, 2012 at 8:39am: Good morning Tierney How are you this morning? You have got to have a direct link to the universe. I don't know who else read your blogs but you must have been put into my life for a very good reason. I am 50 and a half about a year ago I started this woe is me stage in my life I focused on mainly that my last child was getting ready to leave home and my husband is gone most of the time and I am "all by myself poor me". I made myself miserable I got so wrapped up in the poor me thing I made myself feel ill tired all the time that kind of thing. Well November of last year I did get sick for real I ended up in hospital turned out my thyroid was not working right so I was put on thyroid medication. Then just after that I found out I need to have a hysterectomy. By the end of January I was in pretty bad shape with the hysterectomy deal and also by then my thyroid got regulated when that happened the "hot flushes" from menopause came on with a vengeance. The Endocrinologist that I was seeing for my thyroid said it was because my thyroid had been off for years and I was always cold so I never felt the "hot flushes" before. I had been that cold before that last year it got so bad that I called the heating and ac people to come out because I was sure there was something wrong with my heating system and the duct work and I made them go under the house and check all the duct work. There was nothing wrong with the heating it was something wrong with me. Around this time (January) my back started to hurt and it was believed that was because I needed a hysterectomy. But my back continued to get worse so I went to my family doc and she said she was not so sure it was cumming from the need of a hysterectomy an MRI later it was discovered that I have three bulging disks in my back. Fast forward a few weeks. Post Hysterectomy, the first 10 days I felt like I had been hit by a bus but after that I felt pretty good except for my back. Last Thursday I went to my spine doctor to cut a long story short I got 2 cortisone shots one in my back and one in my hip I also have strained my back the bulging disks are due to arthritis on them but they are not causing the pain. The shots have helped some but I am still in some pain and I have to have physical therapy. So now I really have hot flushes night sweats my back and hip are still sore and I need to have physical therapy and it will be sometime before my back is better. Rewind now. If I could go back to the point were I had some brain and not have been feeling sorry for myself and having illnesses I could turn on and turn off and been paying attention to what was really going on I would have been able to have taken care of some of this stuff and prevented some of it. Now I really am in a bit of a mess just because my body has changed because I am getting old and I was not paying any attention to the real problems I was too busy making up some. So now I wish I was like "The Fool" with his wealth of knowledge all around him which is just there for him to tap into I would have tapped into it a year ago and faced what is really happening to my body and I may not be as bad as I am at the moment. The hot flushes are a pain the arthritis is a pain (but I have started back taking my medication for that and I feel much better) my thyroid is doing better (I have started taking that medication again) now I have to get my back fixed and that will be good. Also my Endocrinologist gave my non hormonal meds for my hot flushes I stopped taking that too a while back but I have started it again and they are getting better. The knowledge was all around me I did not pay any attention to it. Great card Tierney this is one of the reasons you have become so important to me as a friend and a support system thanks Yvonne

Comment by Yvonne C Rivera on April 9, 2012 at 12:13pm: lol got our dreams mixed up

Comment by Tierney Sadler on April 9, 2012 at 10:34am: I meant your other, real life dream was cool. But yeah, this one is cool, too. I think meeting him eye to eye says you're determined to make things work. There's another saying "don't wake a sleeping tiger" and you've awakened the tiger within you...the animal that will do what it takes to get what they want. :)