




Is Oliver an Aquarian personality?
06 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in "100 New York Calligraphers, Poetry Tags: a new frontier, air element, Aquarius, Horoscope, humanitarian, make the world a better place, offbeat views, overflowing water, philonthropic, Quicksilver, Robin Williams, saturn, sign of the Zodiac





The magician uses an endless conference call to network with the spirits of the elements…
02 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: all of nature is intelligent, am I lacking faith in the universe, clarity of your speech, conference call, create anything, Facetime, infinity sign, magic, magician, magick, meet them on a personal level, perfprm, philosophy, put ideas into context, royal gown, self-assurance, spells, the spirits of the elements, zoom

Tip of the day:
Conference Call
The Magician uses his abilities to connect with all aspects of nature, as if he were on an endless conference call with the spirits of the elements. Communication and networking are his greatest powers. Much like when using services like Webex, skype, Zoom or other audio or visual conference platforms, it is important to understand the people you are talking to so you can meet with them on a personal level and you can have the best conference call possible.
Conference calls can sometimes be long and stressful and the tone of your voice and clarity of your speech are important. Whether its a video conference, you are screen sharing with several people, or on a telephone conference, be like the magician and relax your mind before you begin.
On this card a magician holds his arm aloft, surrounded by his tools of the trade and an infinity sign over his head, implying that the possibilities are limitless. As he summons the powers of nature, the competent and self-assured Magician enchants everything around him. It’s as though the Magician had spoken the future into being. All of the possible consequences are spelled out for him, as well as the many paths he may follow. You can create anything or accomplish anything within your life if you can tap into the Magician’s resources. The Magician is all about putting ideas into context, which is the first step in turning them into reality.
The word “magician” conjures up images of witty dialogue and practical ability. His appearance in your spread denotes a degree of self-assurance and ingenuity that enables you to put your thoughts into action. The insights brought by this card are best used to the pragmatic and concrete elements of your life, rather than the ephemeral or theoretical. Your ability to succeed in future political or commercial endeavors will most likely be determined by your own willpower and drive.
A man in a modest but royal gown stands on the face of the Magician card, he has every tool from each of the suites on a table in front of him, including a cup, a pentacle, a sword, and a staff (for the wands suite). With Beautiful blossoming roses and daffodils surrounding him, both above and below, the magician has a joyful resolve on his face. He’s ready to do what has to be done and he’s glad to know that he is capable of accomplishing his goals.
The Magician card is about that magical moment when all you have to do is perform. When it seems like the world is conspiring to get you to this point, there’s nothing left for you to do except act. Everything is ready, whether it was prepared for you or you prepared it yourself. All that’s left is for you to perform the spell. This emotion has a power to it, a genuine and true power that may flow through you and make you feel invigorated and alive.
Everything Begins in the Mind
We frequently dread labor in our contemporary culture since it is linked with stress, uncertainty, and fatigue. The Magician is telling you that the job ahead of you doesn’t have to be difficult. Work may be as fluid and powerful as, well, magic. We also have a tendency to live in the dark: many of our days pass us by undetected, and we go to bed wondering what we accomplished that day. The Magician urges you to be aware of the job that has to be completed. If you haven’t made the necessary preparations for your job, the Magician is implying that you must meticulously lay out all of your plans before proceeding.
It’s time to ask yourself some questions when you encounter the Magician in your readings. What are you working on at the moment? What tools do you use? Are they put together? Do you have a sense of balance? Goal-driven? Are you sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into? Is it possible for you to allow yourself to feel powerful and strong, or are such emotions something you’d rather avoid?
What The Magician Means for You Today
The Magician has appeared today to remind you that not all is as it seems. While we tend to think of life as a random and mechanical process, the magician knows that all of nature is intelligent. Magic is about more than casting spells to make life easier, it is a way to connect with the fundamental aspects of our being and remember our position as a part of nature ourselves. A true magician trusts in the will of the universe and works along with the flow of events, rather than against them. Today, ask yourself ‘Where am I trying to force things in my life?’ or ‘where am I lacking faith that the universe is on my side’? It is time to tap into your true source of power act with the full force of the universe pushing you from behind.
The Queen of Wands fills the room with light…
31 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, charisma, extroverted, fills the room with light, inspiration, language, loves her children, passionate, Queen of Wands, self-contained, tarot, tarot-cards

When the Queen of Wands walks into a room, it is filled with light. She is enthusiastic and passionate about everything she does, and those who are around her appreciate her sense of humor, spirit, and energy. She is an activist, a champion for the poor, and a frequent leader for the causes she cares about. She possesses a high level of charisma and the ability to inspire people to become closer to her. She isn’t afraid to go after what she desires.
She adores all of her creations, especially her children. Her love for her children, on the other hand, can cause her to become overly involved in their lives. This is due to her inability to remain out of the limelight.
Exuberance and an outgoing, friendly personality are associated with the Queen of Wands, indicating someone extroverted but self-contained. This card also has the potential to represent feminine warmth. Your strong attachment to your close friends and family may clash with your independent streak. This card also represents someone self-sufficient, and depending on where it appears in your spread, it could also refer to someone close to you who you can trust.
The Queen of Wands is a soothing, comforting card. It could be because of the cat at the queen’s feet, or because of the sunflower, she is holding in her hand. This queen is a fountain of creative beauty, regardless of the reason. Her white cloak and yellow robes are simple but elegant. Her left hand is holding a sunflower, and her right hand is holding a wand or staff. Her throne is a stunning display of colors, with red and yellow winding through the lions’ faces. Her eyes are friendly, but she appears to be thinking about her next project or task.
The Queen of Wands is just as friendly and sociable as any of the other wands court cards, but her energy is more feminine and comforting. Whereas the Knight was often self-centered and arrogant, the Queen is sincere and generous. She had just as much attractive potential as the Knight and men are often drawn to her for no apparent reason. Her self-assurance is understated, but it is obvious – she will tell you what she can and cannot do.
Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder
She is not only as excited, enthusiastic, and energetic as the other wands court cards, but she is also sunny and cheerful about it, never imposing her desires on others. She is always open about her feelings, but she does not become enraged if you step on her ideas or enthusiasm – she understands that not everyone can share her enthusiasm for everything. This is a lovely combination of the wand’s creative power and a feminine wisdom style.
This card is urging you to be more open and honest. The Queen may be advising you to pursue her excitement and enthusiasm over everyday, “mundane” activities to find her kind of happiness. If you put the right spin on it, anything can become an adventure!
When you get the Queen of Wands, ask yourself these questions. Is there someone in your life who this card represents? Who do you think that person is? Is there a lesson they could teach you, or something else you can learn from them? Which traits can you learn from the Queen? Do you require energy, understanding, or confidence? How can you achieve these things?
What Queen of wands Means for You Today
The Queen of Wands has appeared today to encourage you to see your unique beauty. Whether or not you fit the modern standard of what is considered beautiful doesn’t matter as long you feel confident in your appearance. The Queen of Wands knows how to be charming and look good no matter what she looks like on the outside. When you see yourself as beautiful, so will everyone else. Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to others today, instead, try to remember that your energy is what makes you attractive to the people who are meant to be in your life. Feeling like you look good gives you a type of confidence and charm that makes you irresistible to others.
Have you lost perspective for the responsibility that you usually carry?
27 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: a more peaceful state of mind, burn-out, burning the midnight oil, frustration, glorify hard work, lost perspective, over-commitment, too much, your health
The ten of wands
The picture shows a man holding 10 large wands and he is bent by their weight, trying to keep them together. Although he has full control over the many things he needs to manage, he also bears the burden of duty.
Society tends to glorify hard work, there is even a new sub-culture of people who refer to their way of life as “hustle culture”. There is a fine line between pursuing your dreams and toxic productivity. This card is a sign that you may be taking on too much.
Keep an eye out for over-commitment if the Ten of Wands emerges in your spread. You’re probably working too hard or shouldering more responsibilities than you should. Be cautious since too much hard effort may lead to stress. It may refer to both excessive workloads in pursuit of your objectives and excessive workloads as a consequence of achieving them.
Frustration is one of the other possible interpretations of this card. The tens often represent a type of transformation and the ten of wands can be like a transformation through fire. You may become fed up with being overburdened and decide to make a change that leads to a more peaceful state of mind.
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On this card, we see an empty field with a home, perhaps a town, on the other side and vegetation all around. The man is trying to handle a large pile of sticks by himself. He’s putting forth a lot of effort to keep the sticks off the ground. Worst of all, these sticks seem to be slipping from his grip yet he has to keep them all in line. Unfortunately, he still has a long way to go before reaching his home in the distance, and the sticks in front of his face have blinded him to that distance.
The Ten of Wands symbolizes a massive load, as well as the exhaustion that comes with bearing it. This card puts things into perspective by reminding you that the burden you’re carrying isn’t light. We lose perspective on our own responsibilities from time to time, either believing they are bigger than they are or believing we can manage any enormous load that comes our way (when we can’t).
Burning That Midnight Oil
The card also suggests that you’ve been running on fumes for a long time. Even the simplest chores may become enormous and unpleasant if you don’t get enough R&R in your life. This card may be urging you to take action; although the duties ahead of you may not have been your choice, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are well-rested and have time to relax. You’ll need to take a break soon, or you’ll crack!
In the face of the Ten of Wands, here are some questions to ponder. What are some of the ways you’re overburdened? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? Do you regularly take on more responsibilities than you can manage on your own? What are your options for dealing with this problem? How can you ensure that you unwind and rejuvenate?
What Ten of Wands Means for You Today
The Ten of Wands has appeared today to warn that burn-out may be imminent. If you have been burning the candle at both ends, you may be coming up against your physical limits. If you are overburdened or stressed out, take some time to rest and relax. If you keep pushing too hard, you may end up getting sick or injured as a way for your body to force you to slow down. If your goals and ambitions are causing you to reach this level of stress, you could be placing too much importance on material things or job titles and sacrificing your health in the process.
Try these ways to respect those with memory issues:
27 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: arguing, dementia, don't reach for drugs immediately, Don't refuse drugs catagorically, Family, kindness, life, love, memory issues, no shaming, not like cjildren, question their observations, relationships, respect, they are not always wrong, unique

Arguing
Insisting you are right because, well, you know better. You don’t have dementia. People living with dementia (PLWD) have an increasingly limited ability to understand the world as we see it. Therefore, we need to learn to see the world from their view. When we do this, we don’t argue if they say that they haven’t eaten all day even though lunch was an hour ago. We just say, “Really? Then we’d better get you a snack.”
Expecting everyone with dementia – or even everyone with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type – to be the same
Your uncle’s trajectory with the disease will be different than your dad’s or your friend’s husband. Everyone with dementia is as much an individual as everyone who doesn’t have dementia. Yes, there are guidelines and behaviors to watch for, but each person will respond differently. Remember, too, that each day will be different. Some days are easier than others. That’s the nature of the dementia caregiving.
Shaming
Although it’s tempting to point your finger at the person with dementia, I have never seen shaming to achieve positive results. They can’t help their behavior. Shaming is rarely a good reaction toward anyone, but it’s especially egregious when the person cannot help their behavior. Redirect. Distract. Lovingly find out what’s wrong. Just don’t shame.
Treating people living with dementia like children
This type of behavior can be sneaky because our care partner needs us to speak more slowly. More simply. More carefully. That does not mean that we should talk down to them. Remember that their intelligence has not deteriorated. What has changed is their ability to understand the complexity of the world as others see it, as well as their ability to verbally express themselves.
Assuming that they are wrong when they tell you someone is stealing from them or physically or emotionally abusing them
It’s appalling, but abuse can happen in any care setting. Listen carefully and with respect. Then investigate to the best of your ability. Look for signs of physical abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse if the person’s complaints seem to warrant that.
Assuming that they are right when they tell you someone is stealing from them or abusing them
Caregivers can be routinely accused of taking things, such as hearing aids or clothing, because the person living with dementia can’t find what is needed. This is a human reaction, if a bit paranoid, even for those of us without dementia. However, paranoia can be a symptom of dementia. Listen to the story with respect and love. Try to find the missing object without making a fuss. With accusations of physical abuse, don’t jump to conclusions, but do listen and consider all options because, yes, abuse happens.
Reaching for drugs to settle difficult behaviors
Try first to understand the reason behind this behavior. What we need to do is go through a mental check list. Do they seem warm enough? Could they be thirsty? Could they be in pain? Try to find out why they are upset. Determining the underlying cause can often take care of what is viewed as problem behavior.
Categorically refusing drugs
People living with dementia can have pain just as you or I can have pain. If you hurt that badly you’d complain, too. You’d also, most likely, accept appropriate medication. There are people living with dementia who have mental illnesses that don’t go away once dementia sets in. While dosages of any medication must be very carefully controlled when someone has dementia, often a low dose of the proper medication for their pain or mental illness is not only appropriate, but humane.
Perhaps together, we can find balance…
24 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: birthday, chemistry, classics, frost, homeless, Music, physics, ravenous butterflies, shocking, snow, thought for the week, unfair society, wind gusts

I was struck by this posting in Ravenous Butterflies yesterday.
I knew about the weather extremes, since they were manifesting on the area here in the mountains in New England.
I see too, the homeless people scurrying for shelter in the gusts.
Ravenous Butterflies wants to give respite from the trials of life.
And I was touched by the intention.
The UK has experienced a series of weather extremes since we last spoke; temperatures dipped to -5C at night with frosts and snow in the North. This was proceeded by rapid warming and bracing 99-mile-per-hour gusts from storm Isha, our second major storm of the year!
Sadly, there’s been damage to property and livelihoods and major disruption to travel.
I was slightly impacted when my octogenarian father slipped on the ice and hit his head; he was playing golf. Yes, I asked the same question: why was the golf course open, and what was he doing playing in sub-zero conditions with his equally well-aged chums? Only fools and Englishmen as they say!
Thankfully, he was left with no lasting injuries, and we are both fortunate that he was able to stay with me for a few days to recuperate, which was really lovely.
There are many less fortunate who brave far worse; I walked past a cluster of homeless people living in tents in central London this weekend. It was freezing; I gave them a bag of oranges. I’m not sure how oranges are going to save them; it was a tiny gesture. They face monumental struggles, and now, with the strong winds, I can’t help but wonder if their tents have blown away.
We live in an unfair society, and the disparity in this world is shocking; the more I look, the more I see.
The reason I began Ravenous Butterflies was to give peace and respite from the trials of life. Nobody ever said it would be easy, but if I can offer hope, kindness, beauty and inspiration, perhaps together we can find balance.
Have a wonderful week whatever the weather!
Love Lisa XXX
For today, temperance and balance are my goals…
23 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: addictions, BALANCE, calmness, divination, harmony, life, one foot in water, one foot on ground, outpatient treatments, patience, rehab, tarot, tarot-reading, temperance, upbeat

The Temperance card is all about balance and moderation and is an important reminder for people to prioritize their health, especially if they are struggling with addiction or depression, and this can include more formal treatment options like rehab or therapy. While we often associate addiction with drugs or alcohol, many people are addicted to social media, online-games, in-app purchases, gambling, or even shopping – anything that interferes with a normal, balanced life. Medical professionals can provide wonderful support and assistance to anyone who is struggling.
Rehabilitation for those in need can take many forms and can be affordable. There are many kinds of rehab centers and treatment programs, ranging from residential rehab to local community outpatient treatments and addiction counseling. Professional help and support, whether from doctors, support staff, or other clinical experts has a wide range of benefits.
With one foot on the ground and the other in the water, an angel stands over a pond, pouring water into two cups. The angel is at ease in both the waking and subconscious realms. She is juggling two opposing poles: material and spiritual, and wonders which one she must give up for the for the sake of the other. This is the still point that restores harmony to the universe.
Temperance is an upbeat card that urges you to achieve harmony and balance in your life and to tackle difficulties with patience and serenity. It understands that conflicting forces inside you do not have to be at odds. Make any important choices with caution, knowing that excellent decisions will lead to a positive outcome for you. Moderation and self-control may help you handle problems in your life.
Patience, self-control, and calmness are all blessings on offer from the Temperance card. This card implies that if you have lately had tough circumstances, you will soon feel calmer and be able to deal with the situation better. You have a good sense of how to handle life and can bring disparate parts together to create a better whole. However, Temperance reminds you of the need for restraint and balance.
On the face of the Temperance card, we see an angel floating just above the earth on the cover of Temperance. She attempts to establish equilibrium by pouring one cup of water into the other. We can also observe that she has one foot on the land and the other in the water, indicating that she is attempting to attain behavioural balance.
Balance is Your Key to Success
Temperance is the card of balance, and its message is to seek equilibrium. The card does not indicate whether the angel will be successful in achieving balance between his two cups, but it does indicate that she is attempting to do so. Another meaning of this card is the necessity to join forces or combine thoughts and materials in order for anything to succeed – the angel can only balance the cups by mixing the water in them.
When you draw the Temperance card, you are being asked to evaluate what you need to create balance and harmony in your life. Do you need to restrain yourself from making hasty decisions? Are you in need of motivation? What must occur in order for you to achieve a state of centeredness? Is there a part of your life where you’re creating this discord? Examine your personal connections, job, and previous activities to see if you can achieve the balance that Temperance encourages you to find.
What Temperance Means for You Today
The Temperance card has shown up for you today to encourage you to seek a proper balance in your life. Whether you’re struggling to balance work and home life, or to balance your responsibilities against your desire to have some fun, it’s never easy being pulled in many different directions at once. Temperance reassures you that it is possible to find an equilibrium which works for you, emotionally as well as in terms of everyday practicalities. Do something positive today towards finding that balance – today’s first small step is the beginning of your journey towards Temperance.
Here is the story of an incredible children’s writer, Eileen Spinelli!
22 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: children's books, David Harrison, Eileen Spinelli, saucy red hair, the wealth of a family, typewriter

I have the same saucy red hair as Eileen and found myself quick friend of both her and her husband, another children’s writer, at the Highlights get-to-gethers at Chautaukua, NY. I wanted to send you to this Story of Eileen’s life sent to me by David Harrison.
You can see it for yourself at: https://www.news-leader.com/in-depth/entertainment/2024/01/21/poetry-from-daily-life-eileen-spinelli-poets-journey/72273454007/
If you want to see more, try visiting Eileen’s own website: http://www.eileenspinelli.com/index.html

