May Affirmation: I bring balance to my life as I work for justice and peace.

We continue our soul’s journey through the major arcana of the tarot with the card of Justice. This card is ruled by Libra, which brings us the challenge of balancing the scales in our lives as well as acting with justice and integrity. A tall order! It brings to mind the powerful call from the prophet Micah to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. But how do we do that? The story of King Midas provides a clue.

This card shares the story of King Midas in the Inner Child cards. The king had a great love of wealth and power and one day a stranger arrives to grant his fondest wish. Of course he wishes that everything he touches be turned to gold. The next morning he awakens to his wish coming true. The furniture in his home, the roses in his garden, everything that surrounds him is gleaming in gold! However, the king had a beloved daughter who loved the roses very much. She was grief-stricken by the change and, running to her father in tears, he embraced her, and she turned to gold! The King is heartbroken and pleads for his wish to be reversed. The stranger returns and tells the King to dive into a pool in the garden and fill a vase with the water. Cleansing himself of his pride and love of the material, he is able to pour the water on everything that his gold lust has tarnished, including the roses and his daughter, restoring them to their natural state.

The lessons in this story are profound and obvious. The King’s life was desperately out of balance and he had to learn the hard way what was of true value. How many of us have lives that are tilted out of balance? Maat was the goddess of wisdom of ancient Egypt and Justice has often been portrayed on this card as a female figure with the scales, “balancing the accounts” of our life as we travel towards the afterlife. Before we get there, it is wise to take a moment to reflect on our priorities and whether our actions are a match with our values. Do we walk in integrity?

And of course the second lesson is to be careful what we wish for, because it just may come true! Thought creates. We are powerful creatures, more powerful then we often understand and remember. What we manifest in our world becomes our reality and our responsibility.

And remember: “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

O God of Light and Darkness, it is so easy in our world to see only the dark and believe in only the night. But when we keep our gaze fixed on you, we see only Light, and it is too easy to ignore a world in need. Empower us to be like stained-glass windows with your light shining through us so that we become instruments to bring Light and Love to the world. Open our hearts to the reality of the needs of others, and teach us that we are here not for ourselves alone, but as ambassadors of your Love and Compassion. So it is.

February Affirmation: I manifest divine love and light
from the temple of my heart to everyone I meet.

As we continue our journey through the major arcana of the tarot, our next stop is the card traditionally called Strength. This is one of my favorite cards and it carries the energy of Daniel in the lion’s den. This card is all about courage and faith and trust. But even more importantly, it is about the strength of love. How many of us have felt that we were walking into a den of lions or even putting our head in a lion’s mouth? This is one of the ultimate tests of faith and we discover that our source of strength is within, not without.

In the Inner Child Cards, this card is symbolized by Beauty and the Beast. In the story, Beauty learns that the strength of love comes from within her heart, not from the illusions of the external world. How often are we blind to the reality of love because of our preconceptions and biases. We choose love only when it matches with our cultural stereotypes but when we have the courage and strength to go beyond what our physical eyes see to what our heart can feel, we move into the deeper level of love. This is the love that can sustain us in the “lion’s den” of life, when the darkness surrounds us and the alligators are gathering and snapping their jaws. When everything looks bleakest, we learn that love is still alive and well.

In 2010 thirty-three miners were trapped underground in Chili. You may remember the incredible story of their rescue after over two months. All of them came forth alive! How did they survive? In their darkest moments, they said they relied on their strong inner faith and each other. While those above them worked desperately to find a way to bring them into the light, they found their own light in the darkness. That strength and faith and love is so needed in this moment in the world around us. I would challenge you today to find a way to touch at least one person with your love and your positive faith. Know that the light is real and will manifest in our world once again. Share this knowing with everyone you meet. Stand strong in love and faith, and know that you are safe, you are blessed, you are Light and Love.

And remember: “In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
Albert Camus

Loving Mother/Father God, we look to you for an example of what love can be. We know that you hold us always in your loving embrace. Open our hearts to the wondrous ecstatic risk of love. Show us how to love others as you love us; without conditions, without counting the cost, without expecting anything in return. Only by giving ourselves away in love can we hope to find ourselves. So it is.

December Affirmation: I celebrate the union of the Sacred Feminine
and Sacred Masculine, sharing this Love and Light with the world.

We continue our journey through the Major Arcana of the Tarot as we arrive at the Lovers. Though often assumed to be referring to physical romantic relationships, this card is truly about an inner union. As we have seen, each of us has feminine and masculine energy. It is critically important for these energies to work together in balance and harmony, creating the inner marriage. Trust, loyalty and compassion blossom from this inner union. In fact, this union is necessary for the highest and best physical relationships. The inner union must come first before it can manifest on the third dimensional plane.

So how do we get in touch with these energies and bring them into balance? One possible way is a visualization that I have used for many years. We all have probably heard of the right and left brain. The left brain is your intellectual, analytical center represented by the masculine. The right brain is your center for intuitive awareness and creativity represented by the feminine energy. But what many of us forget is that the nerves cross at the center of your neck (the medulla oblongata). Therefore, the masculine left brain controls the right side of the body and the energies of the right brain manifest on the left side.

Take a moment now to close your eyes and breathe deeply. Standing firmly on your feet, visualize a string, like a plumb line, going from the top of your head to your toes. Make any adjustments to your stance so you feel very firm and centered. Now lean to your right, letting your weight fall primarily on your right leg and foot. Be aware of any stress points and listen for any messages from this side of your body. Remember this is your masculine energy flowing through your right side. What does it need to tell you?

Now shift your weight back to center and then to the left. Feel your feminine energy flowing down your left leg and become aware of any stress points. What does your feminine energy need to tell you? Now bring your body back to center, take another deep breath and open your eyes.

This exercise enables you to connect with both sides of your being and allows you to experience what it feels like to be centered in those energies. Balance and harmony are exquisitely important in our chaotic world. Focusing on your inner union creates the peace and serenity that allows you to step forward into turmoil, even in the midst of the holiday rush, and not be overwhelmed. Remember that inner union is a possible anecdote to outer chaos and turmoil and find time, even a few moments, to connect with that union within. It’s there, waiting for you. And it brings us hope in the midst of any despair, and joy in the midst of any sadness.

One of my favorite Christmas carols has a powerful backstory. The words to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the Civil War. His wife had recently died and his son was recovering from a severe war wound. In the midst of his grief and concern, he penned these words which still speak to us today.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!…

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Many blessings of Light and Love for the Holiday season and the New Year!