Fab Friday ~ My Shiny New Record Player

"I had daydreams and fantasies when I was growing up. I always wanted to live in a log cabin at the foot of a mountain. I would ride my horse to town and pick up provisions. Then return to the cabin, with a big open fire, a record player and peace." Linda McCartney

As inspired by tarot ~ The 6 of Cups

It's funny how some memories can be distant and foggy, a remembrance only when specifically brought up in conversation, video or pictures. While other memories require only a scent or a sound and they are as real as if you're right there in that space and time all over again.

I have one such memory… brought on with an immediate intensity the minute I hear the crack of vinyl on a record player. It brings me back to when I was young, still living on the farm. Our living room had that shag brown carpet, and my mom had the classic matching three tower bookcases. In the middle one, of course, was the record player, wired up to the massive speakers with the soft cloth, buffering the sound. The player had a hard plastic cover and a slot for the 8-track cassette.

It would take but the first snap of the record, you know, the crack before the music plays… to get me out from where ever I was, doing whatever I was, into the living room. That snap, crack and pop meant only one thing in my world back then…

"Mom was about to dance; and that meant she had time for me."

"There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando…" I can hear ABBA. I can see my mom swing her hips to Elvis, and I remember now, with the heavy heart of understanding, her eyes retreat to her own days gone by when she listened to her umpa music from back home.

Imagine my surprise when I received my Crosley portable player for Christmas, while staying at my Mom's house. I immediately made her dig through her "stuff" and find me ABBA… and as soon as the needle dropped it was there, happiness. My childhood. Me and mom dancing.

This gift is more than just a record player. It is a conversation piece… do you remember the first record you listened do? It's a beautiful way to share time with my #ministarlite who loves the 'big CD's with music on both sides. It's alone time… browsing through record stores, finding gems new and old. This portable player, which was once my past, has now become my future.

This beautiful little record player is so much more than just a music machine. It's represents a piece of who I am. Yesterday and now tomorrow.

Red Carpet Dreaming,
)o(
Amanda

Tarot Selfie ~ Tarot Tuesday

Want a quick snap shot of what's going on with you?

Try my Tarot Selfie! 

Sample Reading:

Querent: I'm a manager at work, but my team doesn't respect me. What can I do to change the negative energy and miscommunication.

IndigoSpirit: First Impression ~ Each stage of the courts is represented, telling me that you bring significant life experience to the table. With The Moon at your anchor, it would seem you are well aware that there may be some deception happening, and that you're constantly checking over your shoulder to see who's watching. As The Moon walks through your four base cards, it shows me that the deception most likely is coming from you. It's time to have an honest conversations with self; focus on your motives, and how you're relating those messages.

How to be: The King of Swords rx (in reverse) ~ Stop with the bravado. It's misleading. You're attempt at being straightforward is coming off as being rude and abrasive. You don't need to prove anything, you've earned the right to be where you are.

No one likes a showoff.

How not to be: The Page of Swords ~ All that talking and energy? It's not genuine. Stop trying so hard to impress. You being you is impressive enough! Keep your feet on the ground and your head out the clouds. The more you choose to listen over speaking, the better you'll be received.

Steady growth garners support.

Advice: The Knight of Pentacles rx ~ You will get yours, but it shouldn't be at the expense of someone else's work. Ensure you give the proper recognition to all those who've participated in helping you grow and move forward. Don't claim work as your own when you've had a team working behind/with you.

There is strength in silence.

Outcome: The Queen of Cups ~ Allow yourself to act with compassion. It won't make you less in the eyes of your employees. You have what it takes to be a leader, and your strength is empathy. Dig into those life experiences and find a way to relate with your staff. You'll find that they'll very quickly turn to you for advice and see you as the mentor you strive to be.

Enter Your One Question Here

Love and Light,

Amanda

Paul Walker Tribute: Throwback Thursday

IndigoSpirit Tarot: 

In tragedy and loss, we reflect on the best of times;

we welcome memories of home.

IIIoS | VIoC

Fond memories of the movies, the cast. And you.

Red Carpet Dreaming,
Love and Light,
Amanda

Letting go of the Negative Ego

"Live like there is no tomorrow, wallow in all the happiness that comes your way, and never look back. Let go of old grudges." ~ KoC in Around the Tarot in 78 Days

With so much at hand, I decided it was time to pull some cards for myself. This was four days ago. They've been sitting there looking at me ever since. Begging me to define them, be the voice to their message. Unfortunately, I must admit they've caught me a bit off guard. Not because their meaning seems difficult to decipher, but because the message is hard to swallow. The end is fast coming and I am having a hard time letting go and allowing those working on my behalf to do just that.

I decided on a basic three card spread, and added two additional cards to clarify:

          2.           3.
1.        
              4.          5.

1. What's at hand  2. Advice  3. Outcome 4. How to deal with my current situation 5. Summary

Cards pulled:
1. King of Cups 2. Death 3. Queen of Swords in Reverse 4. 3 of Swords 5. Queen of Wands


1. Right off the hop, I noticed 3 Court cards had come to play. Instinctively I knew the Queens for who they were… me, but I'll get to that later. It's the King of Cups, however, that has kept me stuck. Even as I write this I am conflicted with him representing a person in my life, or his qualities as represented in my life.

Instinctively, I go to him as a message rather than a person. Which works well with the KoC, as his is a realm built on instinct. He is the master of intuition. He is also patient, something which I am working on, overtime, right now. My time here in Ottawa is coming to an end, and for that I'm thankful. Normally, I would be over obsessing about where I'm going to live, sending out resumes like a mad woman, freaking out about getting all the arrangements done, dates and times set and ensuring that everyone is on board with my plan. This time around I can't. And not even just be cause I don't want to. I am physically, emotionally and mentally unable. There seems to be this big wall of mist that I walk into every time I try to take control, landing me on my back with a massive headache or extreme exhaustion. I was worried about my blood pressure and the tingling I get when I try to get over involved… but my numbers are optimal. Physically, I am in great shape.

What I think I'm running into is universe it's self. Literally. It is shielding me, keeping me from past behaviours and making me rely on others to get it done. And believe me, I don't do that easily and yet, everything seems to be okay and getting done. This is my new beginning, and it starts with trusting that everything I have done in the past has laid down the ground work for where I am going.

2. Death. Again, with so many court cards in this pull, and the state of these ridiculous self inflicted headaches I've been getting, I must admit, the death card makes me a little nervous as I am of the schooling that the Death Card means just that, and it does not deferentiate between events or people. Because my query was specifically situational versus person(s) specific, and the relation between the original three cards, it solidifies what I already know. Who and what I've been up to this point is coming to an end. Death come swiftly, as I am ready to be reborn.

New Moon in Scorpio

3. Time and time again I tell people, my favourite card is The Empress, and my most hated card is The Queen of Swords in reverse. One hates most in others that which he sees reflected in his shamed self. If anyone must die, let it be her in me. The mean, jealous and finger pointing self that can get so wrapped up in what and who I thought I should have been. Yes, that's me, boiling the bunny in a pot, screaming at the top of my lungs "I did this all for you and what did I get in return? RRROOOAAARRR". It's silly and of that I am sure!
However, it is said that it is virtually impossible to cut your own arm off, thus, making it much easier to cut off someone else's. I have a few arm bones in my closet of skeletons.

We've just been graced by a New Moon and as if it were a gift from universe, I happened upon the following passage;

This New Moon in Scorpio is the time to "Face the Death of the Negative Ego." Cathy McClelland. Brilliant.

4. As confirmation to that which needs to die in my life, I pulled the 3 of Swords. No surprises there. Every time I see this card I am reminded to experience my emotions. I turned to my tarot notes, and smiled when I read a personal reflection of this card… New Beginnings out of Loss.


5. The Queen of Wands. In all the cards in this deck, there are two that I believe are a reflection of myself and who I strive to be: Strength and The Queen of Wands. The KoC and the QoW are a beautiful marriage of personalities. Both creative, strong with a solid sense of spirit. The Queen of Wands is a woman who is connected to her whole self, she naturally embraces all four elements and walks through life with confidence and grace. A smile to spare for all she sees.

As a final confirmation, I decided to connect with my angel cards, something I haven't done in forever… and who but Francesca came to visit, asking me to visualize what I want, and it will be. Reminding me that negativity will do nothing but block my progress.

Imagine, at the end of all of this, and I finally get to be who I'm truly meant to be.

Dreaming of the red carpet,
)o(
Amanda

Dream Walking with Alligator

Alligator as represented by The Moon

In the cool still of the night, and buried in the full Moon light;

may gator devise a way, to share his wisdom day by day

I've been learning to transcend my me time with meditation and prayer. With so much going on in my life, it is imperative that I learn to "slow down savvy sistah... slow down", as I cannot go through the kind of melt downs that I have in the last couple of years.

Meditation is self-medicating at its most high. 

The challenge? Staying awake. Staying focused. Staying calm.

In a moment of feeling completely unfocused, out of control and exhausted to the point of being wildly awake, I took the time to starfish myself on the bed, turn off the lights and lay low. The were moments of clean meditative episodes, until out of the depths of a slowly manifesting bog like shoreline, comes an alligator. He was strong in stature and muscle, had a keen eye focused directly at me and a massive toothy jaw gaped my way.

#magicmoment discovery ~ An Alligator Animal Totem

My breath was taken away, and I was instantly awake. I typically have the same animals/insects visit me in my dreams: spiders and worms (don't ask). So to have this magnificent beast make his way into my world was such a shock.

This new friend of mine represents balance in all things. Love and hate, birth and death, creation and destruction. More importantly and very specific to me, it represents the beginning of a new period and the death of an old (considering I'm moving to the other side of the county within weeks I would say a new beginning is just around the corner for me).

Gator also speaks of a new level of growth and wisdom. A teacher in ancient knowledge is his biggest gift. With my current study of Tarot and my desire to bring this knowledge to others in a new and modern voice, I feel like I've been given a personal message that Spirit has my back.

I loved this following passage from Spirit Animal Totems ~ 

"IF ALLIGATOR OR CROCODILE HAS SWAM INTO YOUR LIFE; Look for an opportunity to ingest new knowledge and wisdom. This totem animal contains all the unbridled creative forces of the world and the fury and ferocity of Primal Energies. It is the keeper and protector of all knowledge."

)o(

Love and Light,
Amanda

Photo Credit: Stock.xchng

The Doily ~ A Plentiful Life

"By engaging the powers of the cards in our daily life, we come to connect to the invisible knots that bind the universe with often magical results."

Around the Tarot in 78 Days

One of my favourites from Tante Agnes

The doiley and the 10 of Pentacles, a strange connection, right? Not really. When reading the key words associated to the 10 of Pentacles like: solid, security, tradition, lineage, wealth, arrangements, family... they solidified a personal connection for me with the 10oP.

This year for my birthday, my mom gave me all the doilies that she had that my Tante from Holland had made. As I am a craft'aholic, my mom thought it fitting that she give them to me as I truly and genuinely appreciate the time, talent and commitment that went into their construction. Tante Agnes' work has always amazed me. Where most think of doilies as old fashioned and linen closet fillers, I think they are stunning and beautiful and a lost art on generations to come. I wish I lived by my Tante so she could show me how she makes these beautifully structured, solidly and arranged pieces of art that really are family heirlooms and have ability to tell the tale of lineage. It would have been a great tradition that I personally would have loved to pass on to my #ministarlite, with hope that she would pass it on to hers.

The Sacred Doily "Invisible Knots that Bind"

Careerwise & Financially - Like the doily, you've established a good solid foundation. There is an existing structure, and an order of progress.

Healthwise - A pattern will help construct a safe and supportive life cycle. It is time to pass on the that which you know, to ensure a continued source of structure and stability.

Relationships - A well established family, generations deep. The centrepiece of flowers change with every coming Thanksgiving dinner, but the doily it rests upon is generations old. Like an age old doily, if tended by and cared for, can last the test of time.

Travel and Lifestyle - Family Reunion Time! If that one hundred year old doily could talk, what would it say about you and yours?

Education - Even though the online world provides an endless source of teachings, it is the knowledge passed down through generations that has the most value, as it is taught with love and is condition free. Now is the time to consider, what do you have to teach, and what do you have to learn?

Spiritual Awareness and Self Development - If you make a mistake, fix it. If there are too many holes in the weaving of your life, it will unravel. 

Enjoy the message of 10oP. It is confirmation that you've reached a point in your life where you can enjoy all that you've accomplished with a sense of pride and relief. Share the secrets of your success and take a minute to enjoy life in the slow lane.

)o(

Love and Light,

Amanda

My Vision Board Dilemma

The High Priestess
Source: Marji Graham Tarot

  If I had to liken a Vision Board to a Tarot Card, it would be the  

High Priestess.

A Vision Board. It never occurred to me that it would be so hard go make one. I've been stuck on this project for almost a month, and I think it's because I'm not really sure if I believe in the "power" of them (I believe in tarot, but not vision boards... kettle calling the pot black?).  In some ways, I feel like it's more of a crafting project, which is fine with me, then a project of planting the seeds to my future. 



To be fair, I also think one of my set backs is the process of deciding what to make this vision board for. Ultimately I am trying to visualize my future in Edmonton. I am trying to plant the seeds to creating my perfect career. The challenge is that I am currently stuck in the trappings of the Page of Swords in rx. I feel like there are a million things I want to be, and in many ways can be, but I can't just pick one because I feel like I might miss out on other opportunities. I feel like I won't be able to do all the things I love if I start narrowing it down. This makes me frustrated. Which makes me angry. Which gives anxiety. Which just makes me a little nasty, and a lot bitchy.

Pick one. Or do none.

I'm stuck between two worlds. That of Tarot and Writing. I love to talk about the 3oS, as much as I like to write about a broken heart. I'm having a very difficult time merging the two. One is very spiritual the other material. I've tried to split the two and work on each individually, but that was too time consuming and emotionally draining. It felt like a chore.  It's hard to pick between the two I love, therefore, both ideas have suffered. In the words of Tarot, my two wands are broken :(

I've weighed the pro's and con's of both... each, of course, have balanced outcomes with no obvious winner. Finally I asked, what can I do today vs what can I do tomorrow. Today, right now, I can pull out my pack of cards and read. Tomorrow I can work on writing chapter two. The success of one is at the mercy of building an audience, while the success of the other is based on how many hands I'm willing to shake in a day. From start to end, building a business in tarot has a much shorter lifecycle, than a reader base built on self-publishing. I guess I have my answer.

My hope is that by choosing Tarot as my basis for this vision board, the outcome will eventually give me the freedom I need to commit to my writing. 

Do what I love so that I can be my passion.

Time to get out the mags, glue and scissors. This #creativesunday will be spent visualizing a balanced and passionate me into the future.

Red Carpet Dreaming...

Amanda

Want a lesson in Vision Board'ing 101? Let Martha Beck on Oprah.com inspire you!

Slow Down Savvy Sistah. Slow Down.

Three things happened to me yesterday.

First, I pulled 4 cards that basically told me to put my plans on hold, rethink what I'm doing and stay low. Fine. Not my favourite answer considering I asked Spirit if I was going in the right direction with my business idea and planning of the future. Oh ya, ye ol' Hermit dropped out of my hand, too. Spirit couldn't have been anymore clear.

Says The Hermit ~ Wait for the fog to clear, your path will be much clearer.

Then I volunteered on the #daytimeottawa show, to be graced with a 7 minute speaking engagement by the "Slow Coach" himself, Carl Honoré. His message:

"Solve Problems, Work Smarter and 

Live Better in a World Addicted to Speed."

How? By slowing down. His theory suggests that the more you slow down, the faster things will come together. Hmph.

Finally, that evening, there was a few things I could have and should have done. I decided, however, that I needed to find the beads for the #ministarlite's halloween costume... you guessed it... now!

One quick trip to Michael's another downtown to Sassy Beads, two and a half hours later and stuck in traffic... I have no beads. My hast led to a long evening of nothing getting done.

Honoré suggests most people will come to terms with slowing down when a crisis happens in their life. Typically health related. Well, I'm physically fine... am sure I'll pass most if not all health checks. So that is not why Universe is so clearly telling to chill out. 

Actually, it is this move home that has me freaked out. I have spent the last 6 years whining and complaining about being in Ottawa, and that the best thing that could ever happen to me is moving home. Well, I'm coming home. Tell the world. And when you do, let the world know too, that I pissed 6 years away by freaking out in the fast lane. Instead of taking this opportunity to make and mold myself while I was in the comfort of my own time, I blew through everything and in the end, I have accomplished nothing.

The Phantomwise Tarot - The Hermit

Herein lies the fundamental problem as to why I think we as a society are addicted to speed: it allows us to not have to think it through. If we allowed ourselves the time to think, we would be overwhelmed by the situations we've put ourselves in. We would then have to be accountable, accommodate, sacrifice, purge... and worst of all say no. No I don't have time for you today because... 

Imagine if you slowed down, and learned to say no I'm busy with this specific thing right now that has my complete attention. Maybe your inbox (soft and hard) would be empty and/or manageable by end of day. You might finish a book, from cover to cover. You might watch your children excel in one or two things instead of being kinda good at a lot of things, but not really being sure because you've missed so much of it running around. Imagine having time to bake a real cake on a Sunday morning, with no to-do-list hanging on your conscience?

Yah... me too... the thought of being in control stresses me out more than the thought of being completely out of control. 

I am in control of my addiction to speed. I'm always looking for my next hit. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure I've got one more thing that needs to get done.

One of the main principles behind being an IndigoSpirit is simplicity. At least now I know why learning to live a simple life is so damn hard. I haven't learned how to slow down.

Much Love,

Amanda

Talk to me!!

Do you need speed to succeed?

What is that one thing you could do, today, to slow it down just a notch?

Do I have what it takes to be Self-Published?

I think I'm pretty excited about bringing this little piece back to the market. After getting my edits back, and trying to CreateSpace 'format' it, I got totally overwhelmed and wanted to completely abandon writing all together; even after some key people really pitched in to help me make it work. The painstaking process of making it a reality made my blood turn and give up hope.

Writing it was the easy part. This self-publishing thing? Nightmare!!! But I'm up for it. I'm here to prove that it is a viable and reasonable way to cut your piece in the world of storytelling. And I need to prove to myself that it can't really be that hard :s

Shall we then?

Let me reintroduce you to my Freshman project:

Love Lessons

First step I guess is to determine where the hell I fell off. My writing talisman? Tarot. Why not? Everyone has their "thing" that helps keep them grounded and motivated. Mine is Spirit and her message as related through Tarot. Without further ado...

As guided by Tarot: 4 of Pentacles ~ invest in making a stable environment. There is a need to bring control to your current situation. Focus on the people and not the perceived 'financial gain'.

I love when the message is loud and clear and just happens to be exactly the one I needed. As you can see, my focus for the next couple of days needs to be on the following 3 steps to get back on track:

1. Make a stable and viable writing/publishing environment. So need to do that as my physical, online and mental state is a mess as it relates to being a professional writer.

2. I think my first step is to control all things physical... clean up my notebook, stickies and organize the file folder that holds all things Love Lessons.

3. The characters are real, and they need to be brought to life. They need to have a voice. And it needs to be good. I need to feel in my heart that they are "good enough", and the financial reward will follow.

Red Carpet Dreaming...
Ms. Kay

1. Have you ever gone back to a project after abandoning it? If yes, did you feel like you let your characters down?

Don't forget to follow my Red Carpet Progress @diycelebrity

Tarot Tuesday - Page of Pentacles

Week One ~ Around the Tarot in 78 Days with Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin

Page of Pentacles

"I am the voice from deep within that urges you to carry on and follow your destiny"

I feel like I'm stuck, not sure what to write... and thus begins my journey with the Page of Pentacles. If he was sitting across from me right now he would tell me to write whatever comes to my mind.  Don't over think it... keep it simple.  How fitting as I begin to define my voice in the mysteries and magik of Tarot.

At the beginning of my journey with Tarot, this little dude was one of the Courts that I avoided and tended to cringe when he showed face.  Didn't really get what he was about until I connected him with a 'personality'. Without hesitation and within seconds, Frodo Baggins came to mind. Quite literally Elijah Wood, actually.  Everything about his portrayal of the character and the traits associated with this little dude just seem to make sense.

Lets consider a few keywords that I work with: Earthy, a spirited love for nature with a need to honour all that life/nature has to offer, realistic, innocent honesty, diligent and loyal.  There is also great interest in learning, goal oriented, focused and financially savvy.  Finally, my little Frodo is committed.  He's the die hard friend that will be by your side and think 'it' through on your behalf. Young and full of curiosity, he might just come along on your mis-adventures, even when he knows better.

The Page of Pentacles is the cliché ~ It is what it is ~ and you just have to love hime for it.  As the "significator" to my 78 week journey, I love how Katz & Goodwin start the week of with the following PoP caption "Humble Beginnings | Delivery of Good Fortune".  Are you seeing the connection?  Frodo of the Shire | Frodo the Saviour of Middle Earth.  I work with the Running Press mini deck, where you'll find the Page dancing on strawberries (something I can totally picture growing in the shire) and hanging onto/playing with a ring of keys... need I say more?

Love and Light,
Miss A

Follow me on twitter for daily inspirations @diycelebrity