Downward Facing Dog
This is primarily a Tarot blog, but I do like to share other things from time to time, if I think they are interesting or may be beneficial to others. I’ve been practicing Yoga for a few years. I thought I’d share a pose that has really helped me when I get into my dark moods.
Like many people, I battle with depression most days. It’s something I’ve had to manage, in various stages of intensity, since childhood. I’ve tried the drugs, and talked to the shrinks, and changed my diet and all that. Some things help and some things don’t. But these days, when the depression demons come to visit me, I just sic my Dog on them.
Adho Mukha Svanasana, also known as Downward Facing Dog, is one of the poses in the traditional Yoga Sun Salutation sequence. But it is also practiced as an asana on it’s own. I think it may be my favorite pose right now. It certainly has helped alleviate my dark moods.
According to Yoga Journal magazine, Downward Facing Dog,
- Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
- Energizes the body
- Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
- Strengthens the arms and legs
- Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
- Helps prevent osteoporosis
- Improves digestion
- Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue
- Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis
Notice the very first thing they mention is calming the brain and helping to relieve stress and depression. It’s really uncanny. I don’t know how it works, but it does. Yoga for Women says,
With regular practice, Downward Facing Dog rejuvenates your whole body. An inverted pose, it allows for the reversed flow of gravity and increases the flow of blood to the head and heart.
Perhaps the increased flow of blood to the heart and head has something to do with it. However it works, it is certainly helping me. After coming out of this asana, I feel a tremendous sense of peace that stays with me for the rest of the day.
Child Pose is the recommended counter-pose for Downward Facing Dog. I actually use Child Pose a couple of times in my practice. It really stretches out my back, which is also a source of trouble for me. It’s the perfect compliment to the Dog. But the Dog still rules. It’s the highlight of my daily practice.
Parasites
This is normally a blog about Tarot. But as some may know, I am also interested in the Paranormal. From time to time I may write about this subject, when I have something to share.
In the spirit world, there exist what are referred to as parasites, entities that feed on negativity, depression and stress. The more they are fed, the stronger they become, and the more negativity a person under their influence may feel. Hence the designation of ‘parasite’. The tricky part is breaking the cycle. It’s difficult to lift oneself up from depression, and the parasite is there to make it even more difficult.
I believe there are people who can also be parasitic in this way. There is someone who has been living downstairs from me, who emanates a strong negative energy. I can sense it, and what little interaction I’ve had with him has supported what I’ve felt. He is a very unpleasant, miserable person.
I’ve had to call the landlord a couple of times about him playing loud music and smoking inside the building, which comes right up into my living room (it’s an old house and therefore quiet ‘leaky’). And while these problems have been resolved (for the time being), I have been fussing about him being down there, giving this person all my attention… negative attention… and wishing with all my heart that he would disappear.
And what have I done, but allow this creep to enter my life, get into my head and consume all my attention. Aha! Just what a parasitic entity will do. I realized this only this morning, and had the idea that it is time to use the same tactics on this person’s existence downstairs as I would on a parasitic entity.
So far, so good. I have kept busy with my work, my cooking, my cards and everything else that I do to make my home a happy, peaceful place. I have been meditating on a cleansing white light beginning in my heart, filling my body and spreading out into my house. It’s been a good day, and I’ve been able to get a lot of work done.
This experiencing has taught me something about my nature. It seems that wherever my family moves, we are ‘followed’ by this type of element. I’m beginning to wonder if I don’t bring it on myself, because I have trouble with depression and can be very negative if I don’t watch myself.
It’s a good exercise in developing a more positive spirit and mindset. I am taking this experience as a valuable lesson and running with that. It’s only been a day, but so far it’s working.
But part of me can’t help but wonder if a banishing spell won’t work on this guy, as it would on an entity. Okay, just kidding about that one. But part of the banishing spell that I do use involves the same white cleansing light emanating from my heart into my environment, pushing away all profane and negative spirits. So in a way, it is a banishing spell. I may not be able to push him away physically, but I can certainly push away his energy, and leave my house and my life that much cleaner.
A Brief Pause
Please forgive the lack of posting. My father passed away on Sunday.
May he rest in peace.
I will resume my card-a-day postings next week.
Where Have I Been?
I feel as though I’ve run a marathon.
I have…
- escaped a toxic environment
- avoided a nervous breakdown
- commenced my ‘change of life’
- begun to better organize everything
- decided I need answer only to myself
Regarding the ‘change of life’; I have decided that when a woman reaches a certain age, she should be allowed to take as many cool showers a day as she needs, and as many naps as she pleases. Anyone who disagrees with me shall be beaten about the head and shoulders with a small hand fan until they repent.
I now live in a place where I can enjoy peace and quiet, and where I can safely take walks and enjoy my surroundings. Everything I need is close by… a local coffee shop, a library, a church, an independent theater, a drugstore, a grocery, a vintage clothing shop and a new-age store… among many other places. (You’ll notice the coffee shop came first… that’s not a mistake).
Life will fight you now and then. You must fight back. Fight back until Life realizes you mean business, and responds by giving you what you most need, and then leaving you alone to ‘get on with it’.
Don’t waste time worrying about the future or regretting your past. Be present in the moment… move forward… be yourself… breathe.
Updates and Musings
First, I have put the Tarot of the Carnival on hiatus again for now. There have been a couple of entries over the past few weeks, but always just one for any given Carnival. Most weeks I’ve had no entries at all. I’m just not getting enough interest to keep it going right now.
Second, I want to express how grateful I am to my friends and readers whose words of encouragement have helped me get through the tough times I’ve been having lately.
Third, I am thankful that I have my cards to guide and encourage me as well.
I won’t go into the gory details. But the good news is, my financial situation has finally begun to improve. We actually have a bit of money left over each month now, and are beginning to accumulate a meager savings. It’s nice to have a bit of money left in the bank after taking care of necessities for a change.
There is still a personal situation that is giving me trouble. But there is a solution to this problem, as there always is, but it will take time to accomplish what needs to be done to remedy it. But in about about four months things should improve considerably.
I asked the cards about this today. I used the French Spread from the book Power Tarot, and using my trusty Gummy Bear Tarot.
The card positions in the French Spread are:
- Things happening now
- Hopes and dreams
- Strength and security
- Support or opposition
- Something in the future that may surprise you
Card One is The Chariot. This pertains to this current difficulty with someone. In fact, every time I’ve done a reading about this situation, this is the card that shows to represent them. It fits them perfectly.
Card Two is The Moon. I’ve felt sharply separated from my inner quiet and meditative self since this problem has started. In fact, I’ve been unable to meditate for any length of time or with any real feeling of peace since this problem started. I hope to restore my inner peace and reconnect with my subconscious again soon.
Card Three is Seven of Swords. This is the one I’m not sure about. For me, this card usually means to be secretive or to get away with something. I haven’t yet been able to discern how this can be my strength and security. It will take more thought.
Card Four is Ten of Cups. My support. My family. The love that my husband has for me and I for him. He is always my strongest supporter. Without him I don’t know how I’d have coped through all the stress lately.
Card Five is Four of Wands. I will have reason to rejoice soon. A happy home, stability in my life. Opportunity for growth and new challenges. The future looks good, I am happy to say.
All in all, it’s a very encouraging reading. It has put a positive spin on my day today. This is one of the primary reasons I read the Tarot. I find hope, encouragement and new ideas in the cards.
Here’s to the future!
On Emerging From the Dark
If you find yourself in a deep dark scary wood, it does no good to sit under a tree and sulk. It does even less good to crawl into a hole and cry. It is much better to keep moving, seek any light that you can find. Remain open to the heat from the sun, seek its light filtering through the trees, and let it guide you to where it is lighter and brighter. Then you can find the sunlit path that will lead you out of the dark wood.
It’s very east to simply allow yourself to wallow in self-pity when things get bad. It’s much easier to stay where you are and suffer. Making changes requires effort. Changes themselves can be scary. Some people resist change to the point of harming themselves. It takes effort, willpower, faith and hope to get up and start moving. I will add love and forgiveness to that list. You need to love yourself enough to do what’s best for yourself. You also need to forgive yourself enough to let go of past mistakes and move on.
Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get moving. Sometimes the universe will give you a push in the direction you keep proclaiming you wish to go, all the while standing still and longing for better things. If you keep “putting out there” that you want something, but make no move to get it, you shouldn’t be surprised if you get a shove in that direction.
If you ever hear yourself saying, “I have to” when you are feeling trapped, stop and reflect on that. Just stop everything and ask yourself why you ‘have to’. There are always options. There are always, always other paths. The other paths may not be easy, but they may be better for you than the one you are treading.
The Tower is still in the process of falling down. The lightening has long since abated, and the smoke will be clearing soon. Soon there will be peace again. A different peace now, but perhaps a better peace for moving forward.
Pardon My Absence
It seems I fell off the face of the earth for a week or so. Until Saturn stops messing with my life, it’s just going to be like this.
I did not publish the Carnival last Sunday, as I only had one entry. We’ll try again this week. I will publish that entry this Sunday along with any others I receive. Maybe folks have lost interest, but that’s perfectly understandable, given my lack of presence here.
What I really need to focus on, is posting regularly here once more.
Lift foot… place foot on ground… shift weight forward… balance… lift other foot… place foot on ground… shift weight forward… balance…
The Fool Returns
Well, I only intended to put the Carnival of the Tarot on hiatus, but apparently I decided to put the entire site on hiatus without even realizing it. The subconscious can be a trickster that way, and I guess I needed a break and some time to think, reflect and recharge my batteries. I apologize for being absent so long. But I have returned and I am ready to get on with things.
The next Carnival of the Tarot is scheduled for this Sunday, January 13th. However I have only received one entry so far. I would love to get a few more to make it a nice comeback, so please consider entering something you’ve written. I would be grateful.
I have not touched my cards more than twice since the last time I wrote. I have been very distracted by other areas of my life, and Tarot was simply set aside for a time. I’m hoping to begin a daily practice once again, and to share my interpretations here when there is something worth sharing.
I plan on offering free readings to help me get back ‘in shape’ with my cards. I will post details here soon. If you are interested in a free reading, please check back soon to learn the details.
Thank for your patience while I was away, and for the encouragement and friendship expressed both in the comments and in emails. It’s good to be back.
Burned Out
The Sun is a nice card to see in a Tarot spread. It usually means ‘protected’, ‘vital’ and ‘blessed’. But it can also mean ‘burned out’.
Too much of a good thing, is still too much. Sometimes you get to a point where you have to walk away from something to refresh your perspective. Sometimes you just need to take a break.
I’m not writing that I’m taking a break, I think I’ve already taken one. I haven’t been very active here at all. I’m not sure if I’m finished taking a break yet. But I felt like writing something today, and I consider that an improvement. I also feel like getting my cards out this afternoon. I have a couple of questions for them.
But first I’m going for a walk. It’s a nice day out, and I want to enjoy it before the colder weather really sets in around here.
Which Victorian Romantic Card Am I?
I love Baba Prague decks. I have two of them, but I don’t have this one. So I thought I’d try this quiz for fun and to see what deck I might be.
According to the quiz, I am The World
Reaching a state of complete happiness – Rapturous joy – Sheer happiness, dancing through life – Ultimate fulfillment, reaching your life’s goal.
I certainly don’t feel like that. In fact I feel more like the Hanged Man every day. Spinning my wheels and going nowhere fast. This image strikes me as a bit odd. It seems to be a part of a bigger picture, and I wonder why they selected this particular bit to be the World. It looks as though the lady holding the basket of flowers is about to fall over onto her back. While this reflects my natural clumsiness, and tendency to fall down on occasion, I don’t see how it reflects the archetype of the World. It minds me a bit of a drunken revelry, in which this lady has lost her top and is about to fall on her backside. Some party, eh?
At any rate, neither the image nor description (which doesn’t in my opinion reflect the image) relate to me in any way right now. It just goes to show you how useless these online quizzes can be. But they are fun to play with. And sometimes the results, however far off they may be, can bring you to reflect on things. In this case, my general malaise and lack of enthusiasm for just about anything right now. I hadn’t realized I’ve been feeling that way until I took this quiz, and got this card as an answer. Even in a silly online quiz, the Tarot speaks.
