Interpreting Tarot -- Reading the Book of Life
By
Rebecca Brents

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Developing The Leader Within You
By
John C. Maxwell

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	How to Have More Love in Your Life by Enchanted Spirit Staff
Astrology, Tarot, and Self Improvement for the New Age.

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How to Have More Love in Your Life
by Enchanted Spirit Staff

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There was once a women who believed in The Golden Rule ... but with an interesting little ulterior twist. If anyone had asked (which they never did), she would have said she lived her life by that ageless advice, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She diligently remembered her friends on their birthdays and holidays ... and went out of her way to make them feel special for no reason at all.

She unfailingly made time to listen to their problems and cheer them up when they were down -- even when that wasn't at all convenient, and when their constant griping without coming to any conclusions to do something differently in their lives left her bored and depressed, knowing she could expect more of the same the next time one of them needed to "unload."

She was conscientiously courteous to others, even people she didn't especially like and those who weren't particularly kind to her. She told herself those were the souls who needed love and "a good example to follow" most of all. She read books on thinking positively and how one's outlook creates reality. It all sounded logical, predictable, and fine.

But despite her best efforts ... including her habit of putting "the best possible spin on things," she finally had to admit it didn't feel like she had a lot more love in her life, or that the people she treated well were noticeably generous and kind in return, or that her world in general was a whole lot brighter for her efforts.

The same people who called her sweet and thoughtful when they opened presents from her on their birthdays ... didn't go out of their way to remember or celebrate hers. Nobody especially wanted to listen when she was troubled and needed to talk. They had their own problems to deal with, after all. The fact that she smiled and "understood" when people treated her badly seemed only to show people she could be treated badly without consequences whenever it suited them.

She bought more books and did more reading ... and wondered why her attitudes and actions didn't turn life into a magical wonder for her, the way others said it was for them. Then one day as she was talking to herself -- the way she usually had to do, after all, she realized her belief in The Golden Rule wasn't exactly on target. HER Golden Rule went something like this: "Do unto others so they will do back unto you.

It was one of those moments the self-help writers crowed about so glowingly in their text ... when "everything changed." She thought about this revelation for quite a while ... because she had believed so long life ought to work this way that it was terribly hard to give up the notion. Maybe the people on whom she had showered all her special attention weren't all "just busy" ... as she consoled herself when she needed to soothe her disappointment. And maybe they weren't all just cloddish and cruel ... the way she privately thought when life really got her down.

Maybe she had carefully taught each of them how to treat her by the way she treated herself. Maybe her example really did become their example -- just not in the way she intended. Maybe the fact that she always assiduously put other first, sometimes with a fair amount of show and ceremony, convinced "others" this was where they belonged. They felt so much better about themselves ... and why shouldn't they? Someone else was pointing out over and over again how very special and worthy of celebration they were ... no effort on their part required.

It was a remarkable moment of change and revelation, this new idea. It got her to thinking about a parable ... or an apocryphal story ... that she's heard years before, but which hadn't made sense to her until then. The story went like this:

There was a legendary sage who had moved high up into the mountains to recharge his own batteries and be alone with his thoughts after years of being out in the world and teaching his wisdom to others. But his fame was so great and his presence so sorely missed, that people who knew of him and his insight regularly made the difficult trek to his remote home to spend a few hours in conversation with him.

He was always gracious and accommodating, but it was also clear he cherished his privacy. So while the pilgrimages of his admirers continued at a constant flow, no ashram or residential colony of disciples sprang up around him.

There was, however, a young man who desperately wanted to come to the notice of this wise recluse, to meet him, and perhaps to study under his guidance some day. To advance that ambition, the young man decided to buy a gift and present it to the sage, but of course, this gift needed to be quite fine and impressive ... something that would win the gratitude and admiration of the guru, something that would call the giver to mind whenever he saw the gift.

He decided to buy the teacher a beautiful and expensive Persian rug to have in his isolated home where it would be part of his life everyday, a comfort he could admire, walk on, and always have ... literally underfoot at all times. The young man found the rug he wanted, with a quality and design that pleased him, and though it cost more than he'd hoped to spend -- more than he could really afford, to be honest, he bought it anyway, thinking all the while what a fine, memorable gift this would make for the man he so admired.

The rug was heavy and cumbersome to carry, especially on the walk up the mountain paths to the guru's secluded home, but the young man made the effort, thinking with every step how much more notable his gift would be, how much more gratefully it would be received in light of the obvious and extra trouble he'd made to give the wise sage such a gesture of esteem.

When finally he arrived at the old man's home, he was disappointed to see so many other visitors were already present, milling around, talking among themselves, marking time in the old man's presence before they started their journeys back down the mountain.

The young man found his hero speaking quietly in a circle of these admirers ... and although he'd hoped for a more private moment in which to offer his gift, he nevertheless unrolled the beautiful, expensive rug before the wise sage and all the assembly and made his presentation. He didn't even dare to look at the man he so admired as he spoke. What if there were tears in the old man's eyes from such a wonderful moment? Or worse, what if there weren't?

After what seemed a very long moment, the old man reached out and shook hands with his young devotee, remarking with deep sincerity on the beauty and obvious quality of the gift, thanking him ever so kindly for his thought and care. Then, to the young man's horror, the sage ordered the rug re-rolled and gave it instead to a rag-tag bunch of people who were numbered among his guests, people who looked like little more than beggars, who might have wandered up here by accident ... looking for an afternoon's diversion maybe, or possibly free food.

Before the young man could utter a word of protest, as soon as the scroungy group realized what was being handed to them, they gripped their prize and scurried out the door ... obviously worried the old man might change his mind, hardly able to contain their shouts of glee as they hurried off down the mountain trail.

The young man's heart sank as he watched them go ... and then anger began to bubble up as he turned to his hero to demand an explanation. But the old man's eyes met his gaze directly, without the slightest flinch or apology. The two men paused for two beats of time before the old man spoke, and when he spoke he asked his would-be disciple, "Now do you understand the nature of a gift?"

When she'd first read it ... years before, the young woman who wanted love and recognition from her family and friends thought this was a stupid, cruel story, and the sage undeserving of the accolades and fame that were showered down on him. If there were a moral to this story, she'd have said it went something like: "Some people don't know how to appreciate their blessings."

But now she saw it a bit differently. Now the wisdom of this story said to her, "A true gift is one that has no strings attached." A true gift no longer belongs to the giver in any way. The recipient of the gift may appreciate it ... or not, value it ... or not, use it ... or not, and dispose of it as he pleases, because it belongs to him now. The true nature of a gift is something that pleased the giver to bestow ... and nothing more.

This perspective put quite a different spin on how she needed to use this knowledge ... and how she needed to change her life. If she wanted respect, she needed to give herself respect. If she wanted appreciation, she needed to appreciate herself.

If she wanted love, she needed to love herself. If she wanted honesty, caring, comfort, happiness, honor, attention, entertainment ... or any other component missing from her life, she needed to be able and willing to supply those for herself before roaming around giving away what she didn't have enough of in the first place to people who might or might not want or appreciate the gesture.

Most of all, she needed to give the gift of herself to herself, and if that meant putting an end to her practice of giving herself away to people who did not value her.

Well, that's where the life-changing power of this revelation really took hold. It was a moment of learning who she truly was, discovering what resources she could truly count on, building a new level of self-sufficiency and self-regard, and finding out that she, indeed, did like herself.

It was a startling invitation to reclaim personal power and affirm what she could and could not control, of determining what she had a "right" to expect, and how to spend her energy in ways that would more often please her. True, she lost "friends" who weren't really friends to begin with, and the friendships that remained took on a whole new feel of parity and candor. Her life changed ... and she liked the changes.

She took what she knew about creative visualization and guided meditations ... and devised a series of exercises to help reinforce and encourage these new directions in her life. You can do the same. In fact, the more personal, meaningful, and applicable to your life your own exercises are ... the better results you will get and the faster they will arrive. You can use the following ideas as quick little fantasies or daydreams ... or as the basis for a series of full-blown inner meditations or journeys.

• Imagine pouring yourself a wonderful golden apricot colored liquid to drink from a priceless cut crystal goblet, a one-of-a-kind drinking vessel created for you alone. As you drink this precious nectar you can both feel and see it filling you with an indescribably beautiful golden light -- and feel the self-esteem and strength it imparts to you, like a magic potion that is most certainly a divine gift of acceptance and unconditional love.

• Imagine yourself standing under the clear night sky, and as you look up in wonder at the immensity of the universe, you see a beautiful pink and white light start beaming toward you from somewhere far off in the galaxy. As the light gets closer, you realize it's a shower of tiny hearts ... like bubbles or glitter ... raining pink, white, red sprinkles down on you in a torrent of love and tribute. You can hold out your hands and catch millions of them ... just for the asking. And this wonderful tribute is a gift devised especially for your delight, bringing you infinite love.

• Imagine yourself walking through your favorite place in all the world, a place where you always find loving feelings come easily for you. It could be a mountain hiking trail, a deserted white sandy beach, a path that follows the shape of a beautiful winding stream, or your grandma's backyard when you were a kid. Suddenly a box catches your eye. It can be of any size. You pick it up and open it. Inside is the perfect gift of love from some anonymous admirer who knew exactly what would always bring you joy. What is this wonderful item? It's yours now. Give thanks and do what it takes to honor and truly own this blessing.

• Imagine you find a golden lamp like Aladdin's magical one, complete with genie, fairy godmother, your guardian angel, your Higher Self, the Goddess Demeter, The Great Mother, or whatever magical presence pleases you. This incomparable spirit offers to grant you one wish of something that will always let you feel loved. Think carefully what you would wish for ... and help the spirit fashion exactly what you want. Then accept the gift and make it yours for whenever you need to feel loved.

• Imagine a field of absolutely exquisite wildflowers and shamrock green clover, so thick that lying down in it is like snuggling into a bed of pillows. The scent of the flowers is the scent of love, and the touch of their leaves lets you absorb the strength, courage, and self-respect you need through your skin like an invigorating herb. Luxuriate in the smell and the feel of this fabulous meadow, and let the love that is yours for the asking become part of your body and soul.

• Imagine a gently flowing river with jewels sparkling in among the stones at the bottom ... or an exquisite marble pool filled with warm water by a waterfall and big enough to immerse yourself and swim in if you like. Step into the water whose every drop is love ... and bathe yourself there to your heart's content, whenever you choose.

• Imagine the perfect partner for yourself ... the mate who can share your life and fill it with the love and companionship you need. Give this one some very careful thought, until you can see this person in your mind, describe what he or she looks like, give a complete synopsis of his or her personality, know what his or her name is ... and until you could take this person on an outing with you lasting several hours and carry on a conversation in your mind -- knowing / hearing what this person would say, think, and contribute to the venture and how he or she would respond to the experience of being out in this place with you.

• Write a letter to this lover ... and write back from this person the letter you would like to receive.

• Remember in detail the time in your life when you felt most loved. Spend some quality time in your memory in that place ... or with those people ... every day.

Try these exercises religiously for several months. See how they will help increase the amount of love in your life as well as your ability to give and receive love with others -- without things always feeling like a one-way (or worse, a dead end!!) street.

If you'll keep your part of the bargain, you'll find ... it's enough to make you believe in magic.

Go to: Mysticism, Conscious Living, Creating Your Own Reality, Creative Visualization

At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent.
~ Golda Meir ~
Born May 3, 1898

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Enchanted Spirit is a non-denominational spiritual center of healing, support, self-improvement, personal guidance, education and writing. We publish multi-media works of New Age thought and information to encourage serenity and growth in individual life choices, advance the universal search for life's meaning, and promote tolerance for positive ideas from all philosophies and religious traditions, believing as we do that truth is where you find it.

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Last updated April 25th, 2008

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Making Peace with Your Parents
By
Harold Md Bloomfield, Leonard Phd Felder