Smart, clever, creative inventive people do not gather their thoughts; they are under siege by them.

I don’t know about you but I often have a hard time gathering my thoughts, too easily distracted from any “boring” task. In fact, I often feel like Harry Potter trying to get through the flying keys to the Chamber of Secrets. This is my normal life – many thoughts, all the time, not all of them good, all demanding my immediate attention until the next thought elbows its way to the fore. Sometimes this make me disruptive (rude, really – I apologize) in conversation – if I do not spit it out, it will likely be lost, possibly forever. Mercury Retrograde (MRx) does nothing to help me, and generally seems to delight in making things worse. Sigh….

During the current retrograde, I have been thinking quite a bit about myself – introspection, etc. – and ways I can improve my performance in life (home, work, writing, relationships, etc), and I have arrived at a conclusion: the problem is not too many thoughts (as I previously believed) but too many disorganized thoughts. With that, I have been working on organizing my thoughts, and I think I have arrived at strategy I can use long-term. As you deal with your own bombardment today, I suggest the following:

• Write it down: Not all ideas are keepers but when you have a good idea, do not let it slip away or get lost in the crowd. Write it down and reserve the right to dismiss later.
• Time for review: Set aside time each day (or week, or month, or whatever reasonably works for you) to calmly review the list of ideas you have created. Sort the ideas into MUST and MAYBE; prioritize MUST, set aside MAYBE for further review at another time. ((NOTE: If you discover no items worth pursuing further, no problem – scrap the list, tomorrow is another day.))
• Concentrate on the actions: Choose the MUST item most pressing (maybe it is time sensitive or meets an immediate need), and seriously consider the actions required. This may be the most challenging step as it requires concentration but we know we are capable of concentration (when the subject appeals!) – decide to concentrate on this step.
• Create a plan: Plan the actions, including a timetable for completion. ((NOTE: Be realistic in your timetable. Creating pressure is unlikely to assist. Do not buy into the false idea “I do my best work under pressure” because it simply is not true.))
• Work the plan: Begin to implement the plan.
• Allow for flexibility: Perhaps a step in the plan is not working – that’s okay as we learn by doing – feel free to update, revise, replace the step with something better. ((NOTE: One or two failed steps does NOT mean the plan failed or should be scrapped.))
• Get to it: Because any battle plan is good before the shooting starts, GET MOVING! Do not allow yourself to become stuck in any of the organizational steps or lost in the minutiae of planning. Allow your thoughts and plans to move within the organizational framework.

And don’t ever forget the most important SQUIRREL!!!!!

“Living right is easy. What goes wrong. your causing it.” Son Volt

Confidence is important – everyone should have a healthy serving for themselves – and it should be used wisely. Overconfidence tends to be its own reward (think ricochet!) and should be avoided.

Overconfidence has two forms: genuinely over-exaggerated faith in self (I CAN DO ANYTHING!! Hold my beer and watch this!!), and bravado meant to hide a lack of true confidence (OF COURSE I CAN!! Maybe I can google it?). Both forms can be dangerous, leading you to take challenges and risks well-beyond your abilities; if you are very lucky, only your pride will be hurt. Do not allow the churning energy around you to inflate your taste for the foolhardy; remember the importance of discretion in valor.

Although we often see boldness or arrogance in its stead (i.e. your basic glamour to help you fake-it-til-you-make-it), true confidence has no substitute, Be confident in what you do – know your inventory and act accordingly.

• Can I help you edit your pages? Of course I can.
• Can I walk a tightrope? No. Call The Flying Wallendas.
• Will I help you interpret your dreams? Absolutely. Tell me as much as you remember.
• Will I help you diagnose your rash? Not at all. Make an appointment with a dermatologist.

HANDY TIP: Do not invest more of yourself than you can afford to lose.

Confidence can have a draw back; when we know we should “win” we are not good with “defeat.” As a result, we are reluctant to cut our losses, instead continuing to invest ourselves (time, attention, engagement,energy) more heavily. This strategy of “throwing good after bad” almost never yields a positive return. Do not turn a lack of success into outright failure by draining your resources to no positive end. There is no shame in admitting there are some things beyond your control.

Stop the bleeding and move on.

The Empress (Card III) embodies the beauty and power of creation; she is the wind in the trees, the babble in the brook, and the wheat in the fields. She is everywhere, she is everything, and she gives of herself tirelessly, ceaselessly, eternally.

And that is why she needs The Emperor

The Emperor (Card IV) is pater familias; leading with strength, wisdom, conquering power, executive decisions,  and the first drawn blade in battle. He protects The Empress from abuse and harm but he does not – cannot –  dominate her.

Without The Empress, he has no raison d’être.

While The Magician and The High Priestess are swirled together as Yin and Yang, they can successfully operate independently; The Empress and The Emperor are two sides of the same coin, a symbiotic relationship with no beginning and no end – a complete circle twisted to infinity. It would be simple to see interdependence as weakness but in truth, it is their great strength.

• Do you have the courage to create?
• Are you strong enough to stand up to artistic criticism with grace?
• Can you successfully defend your position without belligerence?

When the answer is yes, The Empress and The Emperor are together in harmony, and working for you. When the answer is no (i.e. “I create until I am criticized and then I stop” or “I viciously defend everything I do”), take the time to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Where is The Empress or The Emperor? Why am I so far out of balance?” 

Moderation and balance are keys to happiness and health, internally and externally, and they must start within ourselves. The powers to create and protect are always within us, and we can access them at will. It is okay to be afraid to put yourself out there, DO IT ANYWAY!

And know in your heart, no matter what happens, you can handle it with grace, strength and pride.

Just a gentle reminder: Wars are fought by everyone, not just the soldiers.

Please take a moment this weekend to remember the accomplishments of all those who came before us, prepared to sacrifice anything and everything to keep us safe and free. Despite how we have been taught, those sacrifices were not limited to the men of the fox holes or front lines – women worked, rationed, fought, and risked as much or more as any man in a uniform.

Honor all by remembering with gratitude and awe.

If I had written the story:

Chicken Little: THE SKY IS FALLING!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!

Wise Owl: No, Chicken Little. The sky is not falling, the sky is fine. You are fine, sit down and relax. It’s just a little retrograde. 

We hear a great deal about Mercury Retrograde (MRx) and most of it is bad; beware of legal antics, keep the help desk on speed dial, don’t drive further than your own mechanic can tow, duck-and-cover. We allow dread, and sometimes panic, to color our outlook as we prepare to endure until the MRx is over. Worse, there are people who choose this time as a blank check for inconsiderate behaviors to be accepted as unintentional, i.e. “It’s not my fault. Mercury’s in retrograde.”

SILLINESS!!

We need not dread MRx when we can use this time in positive ways. Granted, MRx is not the best time for starting new projects with others as communication and transportation are more challenging (not impossible or fraught with peril – lighten up!). However, MRx is an ideal time for introspection.

• Take a personal inventory: Look for strengths as well as weaknesses within yourself. Feel free to make a list and check it twice, deciding which items need immediate attention, little or no attention, etc.
• Project planning: Do you have a project in mind? Something you would like to begin, or something you would like to revisit? This is a good time to consider projects, and make a plan for the project you choose – the level of detail is up to you. ((WARNING: Do not allow yourself to get lost in minutiae – you are a creator, not a bureaucrat.)
• Always room for improvement: Since you are not living in stasis, you are already doing many things every day, and chances are you could be doing some of them better. Allow yourself to review your habits and patterns – are you doing things well, or easily? The way “it’s always been done” or the best way for you? Do you find joy or dread in the things you do? It is okay to make changes, try new methods, maybe let some things go – your mother’s method is only useful to you if you like it.
• It always feels good to smile: You do not need a reason, just do it; allow your face to lead your body to joy. Smile for yourself, smile to yourself, share it with others if you like but smile, smile, smile.
• Create down time: Allow yourself down time; if you find some MRx dealings too challenging, rest a bit – go for a walk, meditate, take a nap – recharge and return to the task refreshed.

But most of all, never forget:

The High Priestess (Card II), beautiful and beguiling, is the most empowering card in the deck; she has all of the  wisdom, strength and power of The Magician but not his brute force – she does not need it, she has finesse. When she chooses her path she cannot be stopped; when she undertakes a project, she cannot be resisted. She will glide forward, not necessarily with ease but certainly with determination, and everything in her wake will be changed.

The power of The High Priestess is in her feminism; her softness is her strength, not her weakness, She does not bully or belittle, she can nurture as well as guide, and she fearlessly draws on Divine Power both within and without herself. Do not misunderstand, she will pick up a weapon and stand a post if it becomes absolutely necessary but only after every other option has thoroughly failed as she has no interest in conquest – for herself or anyone else.

The message of The High Priestess is the iron fist in the velvet glove; she has great power and a soft touch. This is important to remember (particularly for women) because we are often made to believe force is the only show of power, and it simply is not true. More often than not, a true show of power is in the battles we do not fight; when we respond with grace rather than force, we show great strength. Many obstacles can be side-stepped rather than conquered, and save the resources for another day.

The High Priestess and The Magician are well-linked companions, much as Yin and Yang swirl together through eternity. And just as The Magician is within us all, waiting to be called upon to do great things, so too is The High Priestess; access the empowerment she provides, you can move mountains – draw on the energy she holds, you will shine as the sun.

Draw upon the strength and power of The Magician with the wisdom and finesse of The High Priestess, you are unstoppable. Follow your passions, choose your true path wisely, and above all else, be careful what you wish for as you will certainly make it happen.

….so what are you saving it for?

Knowing she was dying of cancer, Erma Bombeck famously penned her last letter, a list of regrets she could do nothing about but would certainly avoid if she had it to do over again. Her list included:

• Burn the pink candle sculpted like a rose.
• Talk less and listen more.
• Invite friends over to dinner even if the carpet is stained.
• Eat popcorn in the ‘good’ living room
• Worry much less about the dirt…light a fire in the fireplace.
• Sit on the lawn with my grass stains.
• Never buy anything just because it is practical.
• More ‘I love you’s’ More ‘I’m sorry’s.’

Erma’s regrets reflect a common thread – “saving up” for some other time, presuming there will be some other time – and she understood too late how easy it was to drain away pleasure from today by thinking there would always be tomorrow.

Saving money “for a rainy day” is certainly sensible, and no one advocates wasting resources as a lifestyle. However, human lives are short and rather fragile. We are not meant to save our “living” for some future date. we are meant to live out loud right now, every minute. We are here to dance, to sing, to love, to create, to laugh, to cry, to LIVE.

WE ARE HERE TO LIVE!!!

Wear the expensive perfume.

Call your friends over for dinner – order a pizza, open the wine, don’t worry about the dust – and enjoy being surrounded by people who know the real you and would not change a thing.

Attend the art shows, concerts, festivals, and rallies.

Sit on the beach, or park bench, or fallen log or rock formation.

Turn up the music and dance, or sing, or cry or just listen.

Write, draw, paint, sculpt, perform, teach – whatever it is you do, share it with the world because you cannot take it with you.

Erma’s letter famously signs off with the very best advice for all of us,

“But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it .. live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.”

Do you remember outlaw comic Bill Hicks? If you do not, I am very sorry – please look him up at your convenience and be amazed by the power of the man’s brilliance. If you do remember him, chances are you also remember The Letterman Incident; a profound act of cowardly censorship committed by a man with the power to help change the world through his media presence (before the age of social media). Again, if you are not aware, please look it up – and be prepared to be very disappointed in Mr. Letterman – I was so disappointed, I stopped watching.

Believe it or not, my purpose is not Letterman-bashing. Bill Hicks, brokenhearted by the censorship and dying of recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer, turned this moment into something great. Refusing to be silenced, he penned a 39 page letter on the incident before embarking on his last comedy tour, performing as often as possible the very act Letterman locked away. AND THE CROWDS LOVED IT. When Bill left this world, he left knowing he had impacted thought with his parting gift.

Free Speech is very expensive. It requires vigilance, dedication and responsibility; since you never know who is listening or how they will be impacted by your words, it is important they be authentic, true and appropriate to your true self. And while there are occasions when discretion is the better part of valor, a true voice is the best part of valor.

Stand up and speak out are the big lessons Bill Hicks left behind. If he could do it with his last breaths, what is stopping you?

((For more on Bill Hicks, please see: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1993/11/01/the-goat-boy-rises))

((DISCLAIMER: All images found in Google Images; search Magician Tarot.))

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” J.K. Rowling

My least favorite sentences in any language, “I don’t have a choice” and “It’s out of my hands.”

Quite frankly, these are cop-outs of the highest order. There are always choices to be made, and not choosing is also a choice. But as with most cop-outs, these smack of dishonesty and a lack of courage; if we are honest with each other and ourselves, we would say something like “My options are limited but I think I can live with this choice,” or “I do not know how to impact the final decision.” But no matter the words, the feelings are generally the same – ineffectual and powerless.

ENTER THE MAGICIAN, STAGE LEFT

The Magician is so important, he is Card I (remember, The Fool is 0). Why? Because he has the power to make things happen – The Fool starts the journey but The Magician is his back-up right from the start. The Magician’s power is everywhere; the heavens above, the earth below, within him, around him and through him, the energy swirls and gathers, and waits at the ready. A rabbit out of a hat? No, problem. A smoother path? Coming right up! A divinely inspired plan? Hold still, this won’t hurt a bit….probably.

BIG REVEAL: THE MAGICIAN LIVES WITHIN US ALL

We are each powerful in our own way, and we are honor-bound to live authentic lives using those powers in true and appropriate ways. We can affect change – we do it all the time, often without realizing it – and if we are mindful of our actions and the outcomes we desire, we can affect real, positive, and powerful change in our own lives as well as the world around us but we must choose it….and be responsible for it. As we all know, great power demands great responsibility.

The Magician is always within, waiting for the call to flex his muscles – bring that energy to the fore and be amazed by what you can do. Just be careful where you point it. 

NOTE: Taking a moment to look at the cards above, please note The Magician is traditionally depicted as male and all elements are represented. Among other archetypal explanations, his depiction is meant largely to suggest he is powerful in all things and in charge. However, since there is no good reason for The Magician to be male rather than female, many artists have depicted The Magician as female (see Google Images for more examples) which combines the power of the elements with the power of creation. 

If asked, most people would probably say they welcome a certain amount of anticipation in their lives; presents appearing under the tree on Christmas Eve to be opened only after midnight, or the fluttery feeling you have as the infamous “third date” approaches, or the giddy excitement right before the new school year starts. These moments are anticipated with nervous excitement, making them all the more interesting to us as we wait, and that is a good thing. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Anticipation can quickly become an exercise in patience. Patience. Patience, patience, patience….How quickly do we become tired of being patient? Of repeatedly being told we must be patient? Of our patience being sorely tested, and then tested further? ARRGGHHH!!!!!!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT: We are doing “patient” all wrong.

You heard me.

We tend to treat patience as the ability to hang on by our fingernails while waiting for whatever it is we really want, and this is where we jump the track, right off the rails into impatience – foot-tapping to foot-stomping, finger-drumming to nail-biting, advocating to demanding. We are not “being patient” so much as we are holding our breath and hoping we don’t actually turn blue. What an incredible waste of energy and opportunity!

Anticipation is fine when we are on the edge of enjoying the reward, not when there are miles to go before we sleep. Rather than “hanging in there,” we should use the time to our advantage – rest, renew, reinvent, reinvest, revisit, revise, study, gather, plan, grow – the choices are limitless and within our power. There is always something we could be doing while we wait; find what works for you – do you write, read, paint, sew, garden, run, bake, cook, sing, dance, study, play the guitar – everyone does something. When my patience is tested, I research an aspect of why I am waiting. Knowledge is power, and the more I know, the more powerful I will be when the waiting is over.

Don’t just be patient – do something! You may be surprised.