Yard Sale Documentation Project: September Round-Up

September 30, 2012 at 8:48 AM (Antiques, art, bargains, decorating, Estate Sales, Garage Sales, Goodwill, home decor, Tag Sales, Thrifting, Yard sales)
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Thought you’d heard the last of this, right? Not quite yet.

Yes, the season is waning, but that’s more a result of September’s wet weather than of limited sale-ing ops. I’ve compressed the experiences of the past several weeks into one post, and will likely do the same for October unless something fantabulously amazing happens out there in the meantime.  

Enjoy!

Saturday September 15th

This was an uneventful outing. Although revved up to make the scene due to one supremely up-scale neighborhood having their annual sale, I was home by 10:00am. Today’s was more a case of “I don’t really need that” rather than the less-attractive whine “there’s nothing out here today.” At this point in the game that’s OK.

For the record, here are my purchases:

  • Versatile Crate and Barrel divided dinnerware holder thingee  $2
  • Full box of Metropolitan Museum of Art “Sunflowers” note cards  $2

 

Saturday September 22nd

A rainy and therefore late start to the day. I’m sure many of “my people” were out at the usual hour, but sale-ing in the rain is where I draw the line. I am enthusiastic about the yard scene but I’m not desperate.

You’d be surprised at the number of folks still hosting sales, but not surprised (if you’ve been paying attention at all ) to know that the throngs are still thronging. Ran into Jack, about whom I was beginning to worry since we’d not seen him in weeks. He’s well, and was quick to alert me to several unadvertised sales happening nearby.

It was another “I really don’t need that” kind of day … maybe the exertion of having my own sale a few weeks ago really has altered my yard sale gene. A few things about which I’m really happy did come home with me today:

  • This ADORABLE kiddie shopping cart, complete with lift-able baskets and racks.
  • Vera will totally flip her lid.                                             50 cents
  •  Pair of 5” prints, wonderful colors, nicely framed         $2

I spent more than that on the morning’s coffee and bagel.


Saturday September 29th

Today’s event was totally rained out, which was a bummer since I received an email notice during the week about a fab sale to be hosted today. Having advance notice of a good sale is akin to having free pizza delivered to your door or seeing the CandyGram guy standing there with an armload of chocolates.

However, the lack of sale-ing activity today gives me a chance to share with you one more facet of The Yard Sale Experience: The Integration Process.

Sometimes this is the more time-consuming aspect of being a yard sale hound, the fact that to effectively and gracefully integrate all these new belongings into one’s living space requires thought, patience, ingenuity, and oftentimes more than one trip to the hardware store.

You may remember this frame on the left from a sale in July.

Here it is on the right, reformulated; now showing off a print formerly housed in a much less elegant holder but which is now at home in a complimentary style and mutually-enhancing arrangement. Lovely, eh?

This is where the 5′ X 8′ wool rug that came from perhaps the best sale of the season landed, now very much at home in my bedroom. It seems to go well with both the summer- and winter-toned decor in there and I love the soft feel of the wool on my tootsies.

Plus you should know that everything you see here (yes everything) came from yard sales along the line, except for the mattress itself.

And here are those two wooden painted frogs from June that I just had to have. They preside over all activity in the kitchen as they perch upon some baskets atop the refrigerator. Ostensibly I bought them thinking Vera would enjoy them, but the truth is they make me happy.

There you have it. Until next month, when things WILL seriously be coming to close, Happy Trails!

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King For A Day

September 27, 2012 at 8:12 AM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks)
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Turn-about is fair play, right?

Although we need to address them by their title and use the proper pronouns when speaking of them, the Tarot’s Kings are not about gender, but attitude. And no matter what your gender, you’ve got to admit that it’s good to be the King.

As we saw with the Tarot’s Queens, it’s also true that sometimes the Kings represent us and the energy we’re holding, sometimes they represent other people and their modus operandi, and sometimes they represent non-actualized aspects which are calling out for attention.

Given all the variables, it helps to have a really good handle on the particular vibe that each one of the Personality Cards carries. Here’s a little synopsis for each of the Kings, and then the challenge for you!


King of Wands: The Leader
He’s the first guy to leap off the cliff, to run toward a challenge instead of away from it, to meet obstacles with boundless courage and a thumbed nose. Daring, confident, driven, and visionary, this King is creative about life and all of its possibilities; no innovative thought or concept is beyond his capacity to envision or embody. But like the bright sun burning too hotly, his arrogance, abrasiveness, and reckless abandon can, at times, make him dangerous to be around.

King of Pentacles: The Businessman
This guy knows how to work the physical plane. He understands the mechanics of business, how to make money, how things fit together to create the finely tuned engine of success. Serious, traditionally minded, and ambitious, he does not pass up an opportunity to build something that will be here long after he’s gone. Not a big fan of spontaneity or a radical new idea, but if you’re looking for tried and true knowledge about how to build a building, a business, or a career in the “real world,” he’s your man.

King of Swords: The Enforcer
This is the embodiment of the attorney, the accountant, and the police officer. This King lives his life through – and finds his comfort in – rationale and objective truths. There is no gray area with the law, the balance sheet, or the speed limit, and this suits him just fine. He is authoritative because he’s backed up by facts, he’s in charge because he knows the rules of the game, and when “right makes might” he’s unstoppably powerful.  When out of balance he can be unyielding, tyrannical, and unsympathetic.

King of Cups: The Controller
“Control” isn’t always a bad thing, but it’s a tricky thing. This King thrives on relationship with others and yet tends to become unmercifully entangled in and by them. At his best, this King is the always-loving, ever present, kind-hearted, most empathetic best friend or partner or boss or parent you’d ever want. But when he doesn’t know when to quit, he can turn into the most manipulative, complicated, co-dependent, and snidely friend or partner or boss or parent you could ever imagine.


Now for the challenge: Take a look at that list and make note of which King speaks most loudly to you; which one really resonates with you; which one would be very useful in your life right now; which one is calling out for attention. Pick a day sometime within the next 5 days, and make an effort to embody that particular King for the entire day.

How does this King dress? How does he speak? How does he move through the day? What are his priorities? How does he spend his free time? Who are his allies? Who is not going to appreciate his attitude? How does “being him” change your day?

Bring out the qualities, attitude, approach, and energy of this King. Really become him. Also keep in mind his negative aspects as you’re embodying your King of choice, since they too are part of the package!

Just one day. Try it, and remember that it’s good to be King.

 

Visit the TarotWorks website and learn how you can embody your best Self through the Tarot: Readings*Classes*Videos*Webinars
Card Image of the King of Swords from the Robin Wood Tarot Deck

 

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Queen For A Day

September 21, 2012 at 1:49 PM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Personal Growth, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks, Uncategorized)
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Although we need to address them by their title and use the proper pronouns when speaking of them, the Tarot’s Queens are not about gender, but attitude. And no matter what your gender, you’ve got to admit that it’s good to be the Queen.

In truth, none of the Tarot’s Personality Cards, aka “Court Cards,” are gender-specific, or age-specific for that matter. It’s because of this fact that these 16 cards (The Kings, Queens, Knights, and Pages) are the most troublesome section of the Tarot deck.

It’s also true that sometimes these cards represent ourself and the energy we’re holding, sometimes they represent other people and their modus operandi, and sometimes they represent non-actualized aspects which are calling out for attention. It’s no wonder the appearance of a Court Card can throw a reader for a loop!

Given all these variables, it helps to have a really good handle on the particular vibe that each one of the Personality Cards carries. Here’s a little synopsis for each of the Queens, and then a challenge for you!

Queen of Wands: The Heroine
This is the Queen of creativity and personal power.  She’s magnetic, extroverted, capable, dynamic, and driven.  She enjoys a challenge and knows how to manage people and situations with finesse and ease.  Give her a stage and she shines like the sun; people are naturally attracted to her. She is the center of her own universe, ebullient, optimistic, and easy-going. When in her negative state she can be over-bearing, rude, pushy, and overconfident.

Queen of Pentacles: The Nurturer
Whether she’s nurturing a garden, a family, or her multi-national corporation, the Queen of Pentacles enjoys the tangible value of stability, security, and the forces of the natural world. She’s comfortable in her body and enjoys taking care of the physical needs of herself and those around her. She appreciates good food, nice clothes, and pretty things. Change upsets her and she’s not the first person to come up with a radical new idea, but if you’re looking for a reliable friend and a calming presence, she’s your girl.

Queen of Swords: The Advocate
This Queen lives her life around principles and ideals. Her thoughts are her fortress and she’d rather stick with them than with those people who might disagree – or heaven forbid – be ignorant.  She does not compromise her position nor does she suffer fools.  She’s independent, authoritative, often intelligent, and always assertive.  She knows her own mind and relies on her personal sense of truth to pave the way. When out of balance she can be cutting, irrational, and insensitive.   

Queen of Cups: The Feeler
It’s all about feelings for the Queen of Cups.  What she wants (which is, to her, the same as what she needs), who she’s connected to, what her intuition tells her, these are the things that determine her mood for the day.  Still waters can run deep, but emotions are clearly visible and there’s no hiding how she truly feels about anything.  Loving, compassionate, intense, and insightful, she can become so immersed in her inner life that she becomes unreasonable and perhaps even unreachable.


Now for the challenge: Take a look at that list and make note of which Queen speaks most loudly to you; which one really resonates with you; which one would be very useful in your life right now; which one is calling out for attention. Pick a day sometime within the next 5 days, and make an effort to embody that particular Queen for the entire day.

What does this Queen wear? How does she speak? How does she move through her day? What are her priorities? How does she spend her free time? Who are her allies? Who is not going to appreciate her attitude? How does “being her” change your day?

Bring out the qualities, attitude, approach, and energy of this Queen.  Really become her. Also keep in mind her negative aspects as you’re embodying your Queen of choice, since they too are part of the package!

Just one day. Try it, and remember that it’s good to be Queen.

Visit the TarotWorks website and learn how you can emody your best Self through the Tarot: Readings*Classes*Videos*Webinars
Card Image of the Queen of Wands from Kat Black’s Golden Tarot

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One Or Ten: Either Way It’s All Good

September 17, 2012 at 11:36 AM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks)
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When you’re reading Tarot for other people, you never know when a single card or a most innocent comment will make a huge difference in another person’s life.

My Monday morning Facebook page was graced by a mention of gratitude by someone for whom I had recently done a casual one-card reading. It was an example of just the right message, just the right words that found a home in this person’s heart.

One card, a simple message, a resonant chord, and this woman has already taken off, making big changes in her life.

On the other end of the spectrum we have the 10-card Celtic Cross spread. If the beauty of a single-card draw is its simplicity, the terrible beauty of the Celtic layout is its unending pattern of interwoven connections. You could literally spend all day on a single Celtic spread and still not fathom all the information contained therein.

Much of this past weekend was spent working on a 6-part video course for Udemy demonstrating the ins and outs of this complicated layout. The Celtic Cross isn’t an all-occasion kind of spread, but one to be used when the time and the energy to unravel its mysteries are at one’s disposal. This layout represents traditional Tarot at its finest and as such is venerated, held as a standard by which “real” Tarot readers are judged.

But the bottom line is this: by whichever method you seek out your guidance from the Tarot, it’s all good. Resonance doesn’t lie; when you hear the truth you know it; when you are ready to be touched by a word you will hear it.

When the student is ready the teacher will appear. And, Tarot works.

It’s that simple.

Is it time for YOUR reading? Visit the TarotWorks site to view your options for bringing clarity, insight, and confidence into your life.

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Too Much Tarot: Is There Such A Thing?

September 12, 2012 at 9:45 AM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks, Wellness)
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The Tarot can be a powerful resource for understanding, clarifying, and empowering the actions we take and the choices we make in our life. But does it ever reach a point when there too much of a good thing?

We see the incessant use of the Tarot very often when people first become acquainted with the Tarot. It’s a new toy, it’s different from anything we’ve had before; it’s like getting a new puppy who’s always ready to play with you.

When you find something so compelling, so multilayered, so relevant, and so true, it is hard to put the thing aside and go about your business.

Usually, eventually, the newness wears off and things settle down. Yet there are likely to be times that we reach for our faithful friend the Tarot when we really should be letting sleeping dogs lie. Here are a few guidelines for signs that it may be time to set the Wisdom of the Ages on the shelf for a bit and allow life to unfold of its own accord:

1.  When you’re really tired. Thoughts are swimming, emotions are all over the place, focused attention is not serving you. Wait to call on the Tarot after you’ve had a good rest and your head is clear.

2. When the question is one to which you really do not want an answer. You know those questions that you really shouldn’t be asking: Is my partner cheating on me? Will Nick and I be married forever? Will my children always be safe? Stay away from a query the reply to which might make you miserable.

3. When you keep getting the same cards over and over. Repeatedly getting the same message from the cards tells you to take your ball and go home. If things on the table aren’t changing, it’s up to you to change the rules of the game in the outer life.

4. When you’re on some serious medication. This may sound a little silly, but if for whatever reason you’re on pain killers, strong antidepressants, sleeping aids, or even overindulging with alcohol, stay away from the Tarot. Complications will surely ensue.

5. When seeking guidance from the Tarot becomes a substitute for autonomy in your life. This one is an insidious little bugger, but it’s more common that you might think. When Tarot “works” it’s easy to assume that “It” knows what’s best. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Tarot is here to inform, not direct, our life. The Tarot is here to guide, to provide information upon which we can reflect, and to help us hone our authenticity. Any way of using the Tarot that moves us into dependence is antithetical to healthy self-determination.

Tarot can be a faithful friend and helpful companion; don’t make it bite you on the hand.

Visit the TarotWorks website to see all the ways the Tarot can help empower your life!

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Yard Sale Documentation Project 9-8-12

September 9, 2012 at 8:28 AM (Antiques, bargains, Estate Sales, Garage Sales, Tag Sales, Thrifting, Uncategorized, Yard sales)
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I should have done what Kate did today and stayed in bed.

After a full week of teaching second graders she was in no mood to get up early, get in the car with her mother, and go look at other people’s junk. Letting me know last night that I was on my own allowed for a revamp of the travel route for the day.

It was not a sparkling morning, but rather a foggy, cool start to the day. Nevertheless I was up and aiming farther afield than we normally drive, out to Scarborough near the beaches where a big sale had been advertised.

And yet, at the appointed time and place, no action whatsoever could be found.  A large white gate closed off the end of the driveway. No sign, no notice of “rain date” (it was not raining), nothing. GRRRRRRR.

Strike One.

But, it’s only a stone’s throw to Higgins Beach where, because of recent hurricanes, the beach swells were predicted to be extremely high. So I took a wander down to see what was happening. And it was happening at 8am — surfers, onlookers, beach walkers, all sorts of people out to watch the pounding surf.

Ah, beach air. I feel better.

On to the next stop, Cape Elizabeth, for an “Estate sale 60 years in the making.” Although MapQuest had steered me wrong on the street address (Strike Two), the true target wasn’t far from the misstep and I soon found myself in front of a very juicy-looking array.  Proud of myself for remembering to pop the camera in my bag, I gathered my things and exited the car.

“Oh my frickin’ god,” I’m pretty sure I said out loud, as the car door closed.

Sure I’d remembered the camera, but I hadn’t grabbed any cash before leaving the house. I’m standing in front of a yummy yard sale with no money. And I’m about 10 miles from home.

Strike Three.

Yeah, I scraped some quarters out of the change box in the car and looked around a bit. Fortunately there was nothing there that made my heart ache. Made a half-hearted effort at whatever sales crossed my path and wended my way back across to the other side of town.

Despite walking into the wind today,  I did manage to find these Pottery Barn decorative strands for $1 each. The tag was still on them: originally $24 each. WTF? I am totally looking forward to the day that my disposable income pile allows me to drop $50 on decorative strands.

Turns out the side trip to Higgins Beach was the highlight of the excursion . And I’m quite sure the surfers had a better morning than I did.

If it keeps up like this I’ll post a synopsis at the end of September and not bore you with the  minutia of such a day. I sure hope the season doesn’t poop out before I do.

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A Useful Truth

September 7, 2012 at 7:22 AM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks, Uncategorized)
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That phrase has been floating around in my head for about a week now, “a useful truth.”

It started one day as I was preparing to do a reading. In addition to getting the cards in order, clearing the table, and making sure that I’m sufficiently calm prior to the reading hour, I ask for help and guidance from whomever/whatever might be involved in the Tarot reading process. It doesn’t matter to me who/what they/it are/is, I know they/it are/is there.

No wonder I need help, with a sentence like that.

Anyhoo, as I was making my little plea for assistance, I heard myself ask, among other things, that we bring forth “useful truths.” As soon as I heard it out loud, I recognized this as a particularly important element of a “good” Tarot reading.

Lots of things are true: the sky is blue, the type of car you drive, how much money you made last year, blah blah blah. A reading can be filled with lots of truths — a let’s hope it does — but sometimes it all sounds like a lot of blah blah blah. Where is the truth that makes us see things differently? Where is the truth that wakes us up? Where is the resonant truth? Where is the useful truth?

I’ll take back what I said about this being an important element of a good reading; conveying a useful truth is what makes a reading great. If a truth has become useful it means the client “gets it.” This means that a new thought has made an impact on someone’s psyche. Awareness shifts. Lives change.

And like the hokey-pokie, that’s what it’s all about.

Visit the TarotWorks website to learn how to use the Tarot to help you find the useful truths in your life. There’s tons of good information there, check it out!

Ace of Swords image from Tarot of the Sephiroth (c) US Games Systems Inc.

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Remember “Tales From The Dark Side?”

September 4, 2012 at 12:36 PM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks, Television, Uncategorized)
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In an interesting synchronicity, the new “Tales From The Tarot Table” feature on this blog crystalized on the same weekend that a friend sent me the link to a 1980’s episode of Tales From The Dark Side.

I do have a vague memory of such a series, a psychological mystery drama a la Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, only a bit more campy. OF COURSE such a series is going to have at least one episode witnessing the enigmatic and exotic persona of the Tarot. “Come into my pahlor, dahlink ….”

First off, the show has some great one-liners for Tarot folk. My favorite is when the main character ( young blond woman, attractive in an 80’s sort of way) is bustling around prior to reading for a drop-in client — apparently they did this a lot back then, drop in on Tarot readers at their homes– and mutters something like, “What a way to make a living!”

I feel ya’, sister.

The title of this episode is, “In The Cards.” Is that the best they could do? It appears that TV writers in the 80’s were grossly overpaid.

It also appears that all readers in the 80’s used the Rider-Waite deck. This might seem strange to us 30 years later, but the truth is that prior to 1988 there wasn’t much else to choose from. Good thing, because they’re swapping decks all over the place here.

Oh, this thing is filled with stereotypes, for sure, but I would have been disappointed if there hadn’t been at least one turbaned old woman. And pay special attention to the background music and sound effects, they are amusing and eventually, do make a point. (No pun intended here, hee hee … you’ll see.)

All this being said, if you give the episode the full 22 minutes, you’ll see that there are some significant Tarot truths hidden in the seams between the hideous set decoration and the overacting in this cornball drama.

Take what you will from it, at the very least it’s an amusing look at one more way American culture has perceived the Tarot.

Be sure to visit a place where videos are neither cornball nor overacted: the TarotWorks website where the Streaming Video Classes page has been Updated and Repriced!

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Tales From The Table

September 3, 2012 at 9:02 AM (How to Read Tarot, Intuition Development, metaphysics, Personal Growth, Professional Coaching, Tarot, Tarot Tips, TarotWorks)
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Introducing: A new series of stories appearing in this blog, “Tales From The Table.”

Some really fascinating things happen at the Tarot table, things too juicy and dynamic and remarkable to let pass between two people only. So from now on, when such an occurance happens during a reading you’ll be hearing about it.

Here’s the experience that prompted this whole notion of “Tales From The Table;”  it’s one that will stick in my mind for a long time to come:

A client finds herself in an unfamiliar place in her life, a place where the hard work of self-awareness has been tended, leaving her with the knowing that the familiar routines must pass in order to make way for a new version of her life.

We see her groundedness and capability very clearly in the first part of the reading, and yet to really think of making changes brings up fear, hesitation, and self-doubt. “There’s that knot in my stomach again,” she admits.  

The question to the cards becomes, “What can help me remember that I’m capable of making these changes in my life?”  A straightforward question with a clear goal. She draws the 10 of Cups.

There are many ways this card could be read, most of them with a very positive vibe. In that specific moment my eyes were drawn to the two children depicted on the card.

When you get a “hit” that speaks directly to you, you can’t help but smile. 

“You raised two happy, healthy children, didn’t you? They gave you a run for your money, didn’t they? They’re solid citizens and successful adults now, aren’t they? If you can do THAT, you can do this.”

We laugh, we cry, and we know the reading has supported and encouraged this person in her desire for a more meaningful life.

Tarot card image from the Rider-Waite Tarot (c) US Games Systems Inc.

Visit http://www.tarotworks.com to learn more about how the Tarot can help you have a more meaningful life.

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Yard Sale Documentation Project 9-1-12

September 2, 2012 at 1:50 PM (art, bargains, Estate Sales, home decor, humor, Tag Sales, Thrifting, Yard sales)
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I bet some of you just said to yourself, “Huh, she’s still doing this?”

Pathetic as it may sound, I’ll be out there until the snow flies or the sales dry up, whichever of those sad events occurs first.

Although, after yesterday’s outing one might wonder why. There were lots of sales, and some nice things, just not a lot that I couldn’t live without. Looks like I’m taking my own advice from last weekend’s burn-out experience of hosting a sale.

That’s the primary feeling carried over from sale-ing yesterday: the profound gratitude of being the buyer rather than the seller.  A friend of mine, while recently considering having a sale of his own to clear the house of unused and outworn goods, was discussing the prospect to a neighbor who claimed he’d “rather have birds pull my eyes out.”

Yes I was tired for days afterward but it wasn’t all that bad. I guess that’s one more notation in the column entitled “Why men don’t have babies.”

Since there was so little to account for today, I included the vase of sunflowers from the garden to brighten the scene. The Hamilton Beach processor was a find at $2, and the sweet $1 penguin drawing (5/25 print signed) makes me happy. Kate and I had a nice drive, it was a lovely late-summer morning, and I came home feeling perfectly satisfied.

So much so that I set myself on the couch and had a 2-hour nap. That yard-sale hangover is tough to shake but at least I still have my eyeballs.

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