This past week, my ten-year old son has been walking with me on the Shadow Creek Nature Trail. We take my usual route, cutting through the peaceful grove of trees and heading out along the creek. I pointed out my magic hill, and then he asked me where the “Giving Tree” was. I pointed Tristessa off in the distance. He asked me what we might find by her roots, and I told him that yesterday there was nothing, not even the green and red diamond shaped sachet that has been there since before Easter. As we walked, we stopped so he could tie his shoe and we could put on more bug spray. When we stopped, I looked at my feet and saw something green…it was the diamond shaped sachet! Somehow it had gotten moved about 20 feet away from Tristessa and was here at my feet. I recognized that this was a gift for me. I picked it up and put it in my bra, as I had no pockets in my dress. Perhaps it always had been a gift for me, and I had just not believed it, and so I had always left it there by the tree. How did it get so far away from Tristessa? It’s migration may mirror how the sacred can seem to move away from us when we don’t claim it, only to reappear when we open our eyes with readiness. Tucking it close to my heart symbolizes finally reclaiming what was always mine, integrating it into my heart-space.
Subconscious message: “You are ready to receive the magic that has waited patiently for your recognition. Your heart is now open to accept what has long been yours.”
When we got to the tree, at first we thought there was nothing there. But, then I noticed a piece of shiny gold foil-type reflective material at the roots. Sebastian dismissed this as trash, but I recognized this as a message to reflect on our own beauty. I ended up finding three pieces of this foil material around the tree and tucked on into my bosom with the sachet. To me, this speaks deeply to the parts of us that shine, but that have been overlooked by others, perhaps even ourselves, of the inner light, creativity, or offerings that may have been dismissed or undervalued but others, but yet are treasures. Finding three pieces hints at a sacred trinity: body, mind, spirit. Completion, wholeness, and integration.
✨ Subconscious message: “Your beauty is not only in what you give to the world but in what you are willing to see in yourself. Honor your brilliance.”
As we walked, Sebastian was picking plains coreopsis for me and handing them to me, and I put those in my bra. This was a moment of sweetness and of inner child healing. Coreopsis is symbolic of cheerfulness and always looking on the bright side. These were handed to me as reminders from Spirit, delivered through my son.
✨ Subconscious message: “Your joy matters. Your inner child wants to be part of your magic. Let delight and simplicity be part of your sacred practice.”
As we left the Giving Tree and approached the bayou, some of the ducks were climbing out of the water. I was delighted to see a mother duck with 10 ducklings, each almost as big as she was. I was amazed that she had managed to raise so many healthy ducklings. Usually by the time the ducklings get this big, some of them have been picked off by predators.
Watching the ducklings with Sebastian by my side and flowers in my heart reminded me of a conversation I had been having with some friends the week before, or even with my doctor earlier that day. A story of having a difficult time with the loss of pregnancies in between each of my children, and how when I was pregnant with Sebastian, I thought I was going to lose another one. However, the doctor I had then thought to test me for a genetic mutation, which it turns out that I have, and was able to give me the support I needed to carry this pregnancy to fruition. And here he is next to me, almost as tall as I am. Like the mother duck, I was worried we wouldn’t make it this far, but here we are. It was a ten of cups moment.
The ten of cups in tarot represents deep emotional fulfillment, a state of harmony, joy and contentment. I was content here in this moment with my beautiful son, finding subconscious meaning in all the little things along the way. Later that night these words came to me in meditation: It’s okay to receive. Each moment is a gift. Trust in your past, and your path, your wisdom. You are meant to be loved. The lesson is self-love. See your own beauty.
I created this card to commemorate the moment.
