The Balance of Blessings
This week I want to talk about the concept of blessings. I don’t mean the ritual and energetic act of consecration; this week I’m focused the way we process our gratitude for the good things in our lives.
We often say that we are blessed when a good thing happens. We say that that something that has happened is a blessing. But what does this really mean?
Both the Middle English and Proto-Germanic origins of the word ‘bless’ speak of the act of consecration, that is, to make something holy.
The Hebrew concept for the word ‘bless’ is to increase. That is, to increase in joy and peacefulness.
The Greek concept of ‘blessed’ is to describe those who are free from earthly cares and struggles.
In the Bible, the word ‘blessed’ is used repeatedly in the Beatitudes. Here, one understanding of the word ‘blessed’ simply means ‘happy’.
In 1958 Jack Kerouac coined the term “Beat Generation” based on the first four letters of the Beatitudes, saying that to be Beat was the radical act of showing kindness, sympathy, and compassion.
Many people use the term ‘blessings’ simply to mean good things.
Some people inherently feel that the blessings they count in their lives are gifts from a Higher Power, or the product of their own positivity. The danger of celebrating our blessings this way is that when we compare our good fortune to another’s misfortune, we may mistakenly feel that we are more favored. Likewise, when we suffer misfortune, we may feel that Higher Power no longer cares for us, or that we have unwittingly created our own difficulties.
Here is a way I have discovered to find the balance between celebrating our blessings, knowing that we are always loved and favored (even in difficult times), and holding compassion for others.
I believe that gratitude multiples blessings. Even in difficult times, we can always acknowledge and appreciate the good things that are ours. When we focus on that gratitude, our blessings seem to multiply.
When we see the blessings that come along with misfortunes, we often find the comfort and solutions we need to move forward, and to extend compassion to others.
It can be a challenge to find gratitude in the face of hardship. While we must acknowledge every part of a difficult experience, we can make gratitude part of that experience. When we put some attention toward gratitude, we make the best of every situation.
The StaarCorner
We are so pleased to welcome Michelle Welch as a presenter at StaarCon 2023. Michelle’s second book, Spirits Unveiled: A Fresh Perspective on Angels, Guides, Ghosts and More, was recently released by Llewellyn.
Michelle is a talented tarot reader and medium. She is the owner of SoulTopia, and producer of tarot and divination conferences. One of her greatest gifts is her ability to share new ideas and new understanding of the world around us.
StaarCon 2023 will be January 20-22, in person in West Palm Beach, Florida, and online on Accelevents. The StaarCon Afterglow will be available to all StaarCon attendees for an additional 30 days. You can get a ticket for one day, two days, or the full conference. Get your ticket now, and plan to join us in January!
Gratitude and Manifestation
Here is a two-card tarot exercise to help us understand and increase our blessings. You can do this each day, weekly, or whenever you feel like it.
Pull two cards. Let the first card show you a blessing that deserves your gratitude. Take a moment to acknowledge that blessing and sit with your gratitude.
Then, let the second card show you a blessing that you can manifest in your life. It may show you an area in which you need healing, a project you need to begin, or an energy you need to welcome. Take a moment to interpret the card. Make a commitment to your action and energy to bring this new blessing into your life.
The Week in Review
November Tarotscopes are now available on my YouTube channel. See what energies will be available to you this month!
Tonight, Wednesday, November 9, at 7 pm ET, join me on my YouTube channel for a free tarot class, Finding Yourself in the Cards.
From Around the Web
How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain shares the results of a very interesting university study.
In finding the balance of blessings, we must avoid toxic positivity.
How to Heal a Broken Heart is a helpful article from Healthline.
Guidance on the Journey
People often think of tarot as a way to take a peek at your future. Will the future bring fortune or misfortune? Will I be blessed or cursed?
While the cards can be predictive, sometimes in a startling way, many tarot enthusiasts believe the best way to use the cards is as a tool to create your own good fortune, to find solutions, and to mitigate problems.
One way to do this is to ask helpful questions. Open and proactive questions are sometimes better than specifically predictive questions. For example, “What do a need to do to get a great job?” is often a more helpful question than, “When will I get a good job?”.
We can also ask questions that allow us to use difficult cards to mitigate problems. When a difficult card appears in a reading, ask a question like, “What can I do to avoid this, or mitigate this?”
Sometimes questions such as, “What can I do to solve this problem?”, or “How can I heal from this heartache?” will reveal a better path forward.
Upcoming Events
Consider a Zoom.com party where you can practice Social Distancing and still meet with your friends for a virtual tarot party!
Alternatives to meeting in person are available.
Office appointments and house or office parties are again available by appointment.
Please call to discuss the options.
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot (New!)
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
cardandcraftacademy.com
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 45
November 9, 2022
