I began my morning with a cup of coffee and three questions for my tarot cards related to a project. The Ace of Cups showed up in the final position of "What will be my biggest challenge today?" I was stumped because it didn't seem to fit with the other cards. Yet, all I could think about as I was sitting there interpreting the reading, was how uncomfortable I felt and how much pain I was in due to a recent back strain. The Ace of Cups, a card of deep abiding love, in this moment, I believe, was telling me that I needed to show some love and compassion to my Self.

The Ace of Cups, like all Aces, is a Gate card. I was being guided on a pathway that was revealing the need for self-care and self-love. I immediately stopped the reading and put together a series of gentle yoga and Pilates stretches to ease my pain and strengthen my back again, and I committed to doing these exercise every day. (After two weeks I am nearly pain-free!)

Sometimes, the meanings within the tarot are just in your face obvious. There's no need to look any further than what's going on in your life in the exact moment the card shows up. Like the Buddhist proverb says: when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

The Ace of Cups taught me not to look any deeper than the obvious. It said, "take care of you."

 

This article also appears on my website (in progress) at http://treasuresoftarot.com

*Linda & Chris have been traveling and living in the Caribbean on their sailboat, Troubadour. Read about their journey at http://sailingtroubadour.blogspot.com