Welcome back! We’re continuing our journey through the Runes, with only three more to go!
Photo by Jan Sikes
Today’s Rune is Laguz (lah-gooze).
Photo by Jan Sikes
Laguz is the water rune, symbolizing the element in all of its forms. It is also connected to emotions, the cleansing of unwanted energy through tears, and the unpredictability of life.
If you are being tossed around in the emotional waters of a situation, Laguz advises you to release your resistance and go with the flow. Adaptability is key here, as continuing to resist your circumstances will only plunge you further into disharmony. The same is true when it comes to positive circumstances – acknowledge and enjoy them, but don’t cling to them as the source of your happiness. Let the fluidity of life guide you.
As the rune of water, Laguz is the rune of intuition and the subconscious. It also represents psychic ability which can be nurtured and strengthened with practice.
Laguz is symbolic of feminine energy and can represent the woman in the context of male-female relationships. Creativity and growth are further aspects of this rune.
Reversed, Laguz points to a lack of flow in your life, perhaps from feeling stagnated in a current situation. You may be blocking some unpleasant emotions that need to be allowed to come through in order to move forward. Also, in the reversed position, Laguz can point to a woman in your life who has hidden ulterior motives or is in some way a source of trouble for you at this time.
The birthdates related to this rune are April 29th – May 14th.
Welcome to another start to a fabulous week ahead. I appreciate everyone who took the time to vote in the poll regarding these posts. The results were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the Monday #Motivation #Meditation #TarotReading as they are. That’s not to say I may not change them up from time to time, but it made me happy to know my followers enjoy these posts!
The theme this week seems to be all about positive energy. The world around us is filled with turmoil, disasters, and death. So in the midst of that, we would do well to keep our mental health positive and light. That is our only weapon against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm us. So, this meditation is designed to do exactly that. Enjoy!
When I pulled these cards for the reading this week, I literally gasped. You’ll see why.
Photo by Jan Sikes 7-26-21
The Suit of Pentacles Tarot cards deal with the physical or external level of consciousness and thus mirror the outer situations of your health, finances, work, and creativity. And look at all those Pentacles!
The Seven of Pentacles shows you understand the value of putting in time and energy now for longer-term rewards and have a strong desire to invest in sustainable results. You are not looking for quick wins. You also want to make sure you are putting your attention on the right areas instead of wasting time and effort on tasks that will not deliver any value.
When this card appears in a Tarot reading, see it as an invitation to step back from the day-to-day operations and look at the bigger picture. Celebrate what you have created and assess your progress so far.
We’ve had the Three of Pentacles before and it represents teamwork or collaboration. Each person has an important role to play, and when they come together as a team, they can create something much more significant than if they were to undertake the project on their own. So, when the Three of Pentacles turns up in a Tarot reading, take it as a sign to collaborate with others, creating synergies to achieve big results.
The Ten of Pentacles is a positive sign that you have reached a point of completion and accomplishment in your journey. As a Pentacles card, this sense of accomplishment is likely to be the result of a successful career path, smart financial investments, and a possible committed and long-term relationship. You have accumulated wealth and abundance through your hard work and dedication and can now relish sharing this wealth with others. This is one of those cards that promises everything will eventually come together and you will be proud of everything you achieved.
To sum it up, the Seven-card is all about looking at the bigger picture, not wasting time or effort on tasks that will not deliver any value, while we team up with others for an amazing payoff.
On a personal level, I was recently contacted by my publisher to inform me that my book, “Ghostly Interference,” has been chosen to be turned into a video game. My jaw literally dropped to the floor. I had never heard of such a thing. The rest of the email said I would receive an advance and royalties for seven years. So, when these pentacle cards showed up this week in the reading, I sat stunned again at the synchronicity of the Universe. You seriously cannot make this stuff up!
Taking a few days from the normal routine was truly fun! I can’t say it was relaxing because we crammed a lot into a few days. But it’s time well-spent with my daughter and granddaughters. I’ll share a few pictures.
On the plane – ready to go!
When we arrive in Tampa, we have our first round of vacation obstacles. Little Samantha’s bag didn’t arrive with the rest of ours. So, while waiting for it to get there on the next plane from Dallas, we head to the rental car place to pick up a car. Then, we go back to the airport terminal to get her bag.
We head out of Tampa across the bridge into Clearwater when my daughter notices the low tire light is on. And literally within the next five minutes, it goes from 23 PSI to 10 PSI. Yep, we have a flat. So, a long wait ensues while they sent someone out to fix it.
This photo was taken before it went all the way flat.
Almost two hours later, someone finally arrives to take the flat tire off and put the donut on. We crack up when a car pulls up next to us with a sign on top that reads “Pop-A-Lock.” At this point, even amid the frustration, it became quite funny. The poor guy that changed the tire had done a little too much meth in his life, but hey, he was nice and got the tire changed.
Once the donut is on, we head back to the rental car place and my daughter, being an attorney, was determined that they cancel the contract and refund her money. They did so without any resistance, she went to the next place and got a great car for over 50% less than the other place was charging. We finally arrived at our hotel in Clearwater at 11:50 pm. Barely in time to keep our room reservation, but as they say, “all’s well that ends well.”
The hotel has a resident parrot, so my daughter and granddaughters posed with it the next morning.
Day one – Legoland. What can I say? The girls absolutely loved everything about it!
And yes, they managed to talk me into getting on The Dragon rollercoaster.
Then after a hot sweaty day, we indulged in the water park. We didn’t get any photos because we left our cameras safe and dry in a locker.
This was on the way back to Tampa after dinner.
Day two was spent at the Clearwater Aquarium, where the famed Dolphin, Winter, lives. The movie about Winter was what prompted this entire trip. The girls wanted to see him.
We all loved everything about the aquarium. We got to feed dolphins. I don’t have those pictures yet, but they were adorable. At one point, the two dolphins kissed the girls on the cheek. They also got to feed stingrays.
The Clearwater, Florida beaches are known for their white sand and clear blue water. This was not the case for us as something called a Red Tide had killed hundreds of fish and they lined the beach. They stunk and were unsightly, so we had to walk quite a ways down to a place that was cleaner to go into the water, and even then we were a little leery of getting in it. But the girls couldn’t be denied.
That was it for me. I came back home and they went on to Orlando, where my daughter has a good friend from college they were going to visit.
I am a tired MiMi (That’s what the girls call me) but I will get rested up. 🙂
On a completely different subject, the winner of my Newsletter Giveaway of a $20 Amazon Gift Card is Michael Hall!!
It is a true pleasure to lend my blog space to Author Jacqui Murray so that she can tell you about a new release!
Am I a storyteller? Are you?
By Jacqui Murray
Storyteller vs. writer. It took me a long time and a lot of experience to realize the difference between these two. They both describe authors who create fiction but one makes you want to curl into a comfortable chair and get lost in the tale while the other encourages you to find a better you from what you’re reading. Do you know which one that is?
When I read one, I am awed by the beauty of the words chosen, how they flow together, the emotions they evoke from somewhere within me. The other–I don’t think about the artistry of the writing because I’m too lost in the characters, plot, scenery, and drama.
One is serious writing–where you are expected to learn something, grow within yourself, rigorously examine your thoughts and beliefs. The other–all that’s expected is that you forget the world exists for a period of time and immerse yourself in a different reality created by the author.
One is designed to make you a better person as you travel the journey with the main characters. The other–the goal is to entertain. You will probably come out a better person but the purpose is something else. I don’t think Hemingway wrote Old Man and the Sea as much to entertain as to examine an issue. Which was he–storyteller or writer?
One covers a vast swath of authors, from novice to well-seasoned. The other–you really can’t award yourself that title. Readers do it for you, by their love of your fiction, their eagerness for the next story.
Serious people–authors and readers–have different connotations of these writing styles, often judgmental, sometimes wrong, at least in my worldview. I found this one online. I’ll leave it anonymous but you can click the link and find out who it was. The article resonated with a lot of readers–he has 396 comments!
Writers speak in low, thoughtful tones, and everyone gathers around them at parties as they spontaneously leap into a wine-heightened progression of playful prose and insightful social commentary. Storytellers are generally at the same party, twitching in a closet as they fumble about with an over-willing partner, or, more often, by themselves.
I thought XXXX was pretty accurate about writers’ opinions of themselves and in the end, when I finished the article, not too far off about storytellers (though I objected to the hypercritical nature of the initial description).
Which are you?
A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help.
Summary
In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can’t stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy’s unique group–which includes a proto-wolf and a female raised by the pack–but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn’t trust.
Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.
A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.
Hello, Blogging community! It’s that time of year when we try to have a get-away. I am joining my daughter and two granddaughters on a trip to Florida this week so will be out of pocket to post new blogs or visit yours. But I’ll do my best to catch up when I return.
In the meantime, if you are a new subscriber to my blog, WELCOME! Feel free to browse!
I am super excited to share a new-to-me author with you. Jean Grant has a trilogy set in Scotland in the 1200 and 1300s. I am intrigued by anything related to Scotland and Ireland, so these books grabbed my attention.
I’ll let Jean tell you about them.
Thank you, Jan, for letting me come on your blog today and talk about this trilogy.
The MacCoinneach family is gifted but afflicted. Deeply rooted powers of healing, feeling, and prophecy run in their bloodline. Descended from the Norse and mystical Ancients of the Isles, they must each face the curses associated with their ability…they must each find the path to love.
Gwyn of Uist is a merciful Healer but loses breaths of her life with every healing charm. She barters an alliance with a Scot bent on revenge against her Norse kin, in the hopes to save her brother from their abusive father. But can she and Simon MacCoinneach outwit her betrothed and bring an end to the Norse-Scottish bloodshed when it will take all her breaths to save Simon on the battlefield?
Deirdre MacCoinneach feels the lifebloods of everyone around her…but vows to discover if her gift killed the men she married. Under the facade of a trader, Alasdair Montgomerie travels to Uist with pivotal information for a claimant seeking the Scottish throne. A cruel baron hunts him, leaving little room for alliances with the lass he meets along the way. Amidst ghosts of the past, Alasdair and Deirdre find themselves falling together in a web of secrets and the curse of a hundred kisses…
Rosalie Threston’s fortune-telling lies have caught up with her and she’s on the run from a ruthless English noblewoman. Rosalie finds refuge in the halls of Eilean Donan castle deep in the Highlands, and in the arms of the laird’s mysterious son, Domhnall Montgomerie. Terrible visions plague Domhnall and he avoids physical contact to temper them. When an accidental touch reveals only delight, he wonders if Rose is the key to silencing the Sight. Mystical awakening unravels with each kiss. But can Domhnall embrace his gift in time to save her life, even if it means exposing her lies?
Norse invasions, Scottish fights for independence, and the plights of the mystical isles’ people come together in The Hundred Trilogy.
What seemed ages ago, but in the grand scheme of life, only about 6 or 7 years ago, I sat down to write another manuscript. With three “practice” novels written but shelved, I dug into a new story. I changed my time period from 12th to 13th century during the Scottish Wars of Independence, wove a mystical element into the storyline, and on some invaluable advice of an agent, worked the heck out of that story to give it twists and turns to excite me, the reader. In 2017, A Hundred Kisses was born with the publishing house The Wild Rose Press.
The backstory of the heroine’s parents nagged at me. And guess what? When I looked at the history thirty years prior to the first book (which was 1296, and I looked back to 1263), lo and behold, it was a time rife with Norse-Scottish turmoil. The end of the Viking reign to boot. That story came forth in a flurry, and I found myself contemplating the third book in what was now becoming a trilogy. A Hundred Breaths (the prequel, and book one) released in 2019. Fast-forward to 1322, a time after the Scottish Wars of Independence, and A Hundred Lies was born, wrapping up my trilogy.
Each story is a standalone but can be read in or out of order. Each story tells a tale of a MacCoinneach family member “gifted but afflicted” with a mystical ability that comes at a cost: to heal but lose your own breaths in return, to feel auras/lifebloods but to feel others’ pain, and to see the future but to be unable to prevent the visions unless refraining from touch. Conquering Norse, Scottish lore, Ancient mystics, and invading English…the trilogy has a bit of everything. Can our mystical family hone their gifts for good, escape curses, discover mercy, find a home, and find love?
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing after children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.
Welcome to another exploration into the Elder Futhark Script Runes! The rune we are taking a look at today is Mannaz (mah-nahz).
Photo taken by Jan Sikes
Mannaz is the rune of humankind and symbolizes the characteristics that set humans apart from the rest of the Earth’s living creatures. This rune reminds us that we are part of a shared experience among all humans, no matter our specific language, physical appearance, or beliefs. At the same time, Mannaz represents the self with particular emphasis on one’s inner being.
Often, this rune points to some aspect of tension in the relationship between your inner self and your perceived place in the outer world. You may feel at odds with the attitudes and expectations of society. If this is the case, be sure you are listening to your intuition rather than your ego to determine the best course of action.
Mannaz reminds you to maintain self-awareness, checking in with yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually as you choose how to respond to your circumstances.
This rune can also indicate assistance provided from others. Its shape evokes a sense of mutual support as in two individuals coming together to stabilize each other, creating a stronger structure as a result. Be sure to remain open to help from others, but also be willing to lend a hand where needed.
Mannaz also symbolizes human intelligence and creativity (hmmm, sounds a lot like the Ace of Swords from yesterday’s reading). It is considered a rune of the mind and indicates success in academic studies as well as success in matters related to language or law.
In a reversed position, Mannaz can indicate isolation, low self-esteem and/or self-preoccupation. Take some time to examine the role you’ve played and be honest with yourself. It can also indicate that no one is on their way to help you.
The birthdates associated with this rune are April 14th – April 29th.
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend and are ready to tackle another week!
I love that quote from Maya Angelou. We spend so much of our lives trying to fit in and often deny the deepest parts of ourselves. The meditation I chose for today is a practice in simply ‘being.’ I enjoyed it and hope you will too.
And now for this week’s Tarot reading.
Photo by Jan Sikes 7-12-21
The Moon card is from the Major Arcana and represents our deepest fears or illusions. The Moon can indicate a time of uncertainty and illusion when nothing is what it seems. Be careful of making fast decisions when the Moon appears because you may later realize you only had half the information you needed. You need to listen to and trust your intuition so you can see beyond what is in front of you. Feel into situations rather than thinking what they mean. Let go of your conscious mental blocks or negative self-talk and allow your intuition to guide you. This card is also a reminder to pay attention to the lunar cycles. We are currently under the influence of a new moon – a time for setting goals and intentions. It is the time to plant seeds for the future. The Nine of Pentacles is the card of abundance. You’ve worked hard and now perhaps it is a time to reap the harvest. It also indicates being at one in harmony with what is around you. You can see from the character’s demeanor on the card, there is complete peace, along with plenty of everything needed. Is it just me, or do we get a lot of Aces in these readings? The Ace of Swords indicates breakthroughs, new ideas, mental clarity, and success. It is a wave of new energy from the intellectual realm. See this card as a sign of encouragement. Your mind is in expansion mode and indicates an excellent time to start an exciting new project.
So to wrap it up, we are encouraged to take time to get the facts about any situation that requires a decision, set your goals and intentions for the next moon cycle, be open to reaping your harvest and having abundance, and don’t be surprised if an exciting new idea comes at you out of the clear blue.
Make it a great week!
I have a survey for my blog followers regarding these Monday Posts. Are you getting tired of them and want to see something new? Give me your response Here:
I am so pleased and excited to share an awesome new book release with you from a fellow Wild Rose Press author, Dan Rice! Take a look at this fabulous cover!
But I am going to let Dan tell you about it!
Thanks for having me as your guest today, Jan. I’m super excited about my new book and I hope your readers will be too!
Dragons Walk Among Us is about the friendship between the protagonist Allison Lee and her squad. I imagine them as typical high schoolers with lives and interests and conflicts young adult audiences will identify with. For example, Allison is infatuated with cross country star Jason, who sees her only as a friend, if a good one. Unbeknownst to Allison, her close friend Haji harbors a ginormous crush on her.
The card-carrying members of Allison’s squad are Dalia, her BFF, and Haji, the editor of the school’s online newspaper. The three of them are inseparable, although Allison seeing or perhaps hallucinating mythical creatures threatens their bond. While the story is 100% Allison’s, Dalia and Haji are significant players in the novel’s plot. As such, I give each unique interests, while allowing for enough overlap for great friendships.
Let’s take a closer look at Allison. She is more introverted than her squad but isn’t painfully shy. This one trait differentiates her quite a bit from her more outgoing friends. Her passion is photography in all its forms. In fact, she photographs many of the sporting events Haji covers for the school newspaper. Allison’s also concerned about the environment and photographs local climate protests that Dalia organizes. Right away, you can see how their interests are different yet intersect. I hope this makes their friendship seem realistic.
Of course, there are other ways I differentiate the characters. Allison is biracial and, at one point, suffers abuse for her appearance. Dalia dyes her hair neon pink and sports a nose ring. While the two girls are cross country runners, Haji refuses to run even when in danger, citing flat fleet––okay, he runs eventually because he’s not a dunce. In terms of how they speak, Dalia is typically upbeat, while Allison is a bit more subdued. Haji, being obsessed with all things sports-related, often uses terminology and sayings derived from athletics.
I hope the realistically portrayed friendship between Allison and her squad adds an extra layer of depth to Dragons Walk Among Us, making the characters irresistible to readers. In the end, after all, no matter how fantastical and well told the tale, it’s the characters we remember.
Blurb:
Shutterbug Allison Lee is trying to survive high school while suffering the popular girl’s abuse. Her life is often abysmal, but at least her green hair is savage. Her talent for photography is recognized by the school paper and the judges of a photo contest.
While visiting her friend Joe, a homeless vet, Allison’s life irrevocably changes after an attack leaves her blind. All her dreams as a photojournalist are dashed as she realizes she’ll never see again. Despair sets in until she is offered an experimental procedure to restore her vision. But there are side effects, or are they hallucinations? She now sees dragons accompanying some of the people she meets. Can she trust her eyes, or has the procedure affected her more than she can see?
Excerpt:
Dalia resumes talking about strategies to solve the equation, but I barely register a word. My gaze is lured back to Dr. Radcliffe like a particle inexorably pulled into a black hole. My eyes widen, and my jaw slackens. Furrowing my brow, I blink, desperate to clear the mind-boggling absurdity from my vision.
Projecting from Dr. Radcliffe’s body is a shimmering golden dragon, the European variety complete with sparkling golden scales, talons, and green wings. The dragon fades and flashes in and out of existence. The tail, the bulky body, and leathery wings pass through the wall as if all are insubstantial. This is insane asylum madness. I must be hallucinating, or maybe it’s my prosthetic eyes. Not a single person, and there must be at least fifteen people in the library, notices the beast. On top of that, the dragon doesn’t make a sound. There is no way an animal of that size can be silent in such a confined space.
I don’t know if I should hope it’s my eyes or not. If it’s not my eyes, I’m a nutter. If it is my eyes…it’s too terrible to consider.
I draw a shuddering breath and chew on my lower lip. The hairs on the back my neck stand up straight, and my body tenses like prey ready to flee a predator. I want to look away from Dr. Radcliffe and the craziness glimmering all around him, but I can’t.
“Allison. Allison.”
I tear my gaze away from the professor, but I still glimpse the dragon’s glimmering golden light in my peripheral vision.
Dalia stares at me in evident exasperation. “Did you hear anything I just said?”
My gaze shifts back to Dr. Radcliffe and the draconic projection surrounding him. A student walks straight through a foreleg. My mouth drops open.
“What is it?” Dalia asks and turns in her seat to face Dr. Radcliffe. She turns back to me. “Do you know him?”
“Know who?” I shift my gaze to Dalia, long enough to catch her puzzled look, then look at Dr. Radcliffe.
“That old man you’re staring at,” Dalia says. “Are you okay? Is he the one who attacked you?”
I stare at my friend. “What? No. How would I know? I don’t have any memory of that. That’s Dr. Radcliffe. He knows my dad.”
I see golden scales and a red cardigan right behind Dalia. I look up and feel like my prosthetics are going to pop out of my head. Behind Dalia is Dr. Radcliffe and the twinkling winged beast.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
A spectral golden forefoot with foot-long white talons passes straight through Dalia’s chest.
“What?” Dalia says. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Dr. Radcliffe stares at me from behind rimless spectacles. He is holding a thick book at his side. I try to meet his gaze, but my eyes keep flicking up at the looming dragon’s head, staring down at me with yellow eyes split by black pupils.
“You’re Raymond Lee’s daughter,” Dr. Radcliffe says. “Wait. Don’t tell me. Alice.”
I shake my head. Dalia faces the professor.
“Hello, Dr. Radcliffe,” Dalia says. “Allison was telling me all about you.”
“Oh, that’s right. Allison. How could I forget? And who are you, young lady?”
“Dalia.”
“What a lovely name. Your hair. Pink like a dahlia,” the professor says and hefts the book he holds. “Well, I will let you young ladies get back to it. Good day.”
Author, Dan Rice
Dan has wanted to write novels since first reading Frank Herbert’s Dune at the age of eleven. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he often goes hiking with his family through mist-shrouded forests and along alpine trails with expansive views.
Dragons Walk Among Us is his debut novel. He plans to keep writing fantasy and science-fiction for many years. You can explore his blog at https://www.danscifi.com.
