Welcome to the start of another week. With so much heartache in the world, it’s impossible not to feel it. But as with every post, I strive to find something positive to uplift. I ran across this quote in one of my journals recently. I don’t remember when I wrote it, but I do remember the profound realization of what freedom truly is, and we ALL have it regardless of outside circumstances! So, the meditation I’m sharing today is all about tuning into positive loving energy.
This is my second attempt at doing a Rune Cast and I felt a little more comfortable with it. I burned the Palo Santo Wood and Sweetgrass to cleanse the area from anything my ego might try to interject. I used the runes I made this time.
Photo by Jan Sikes 9-20-21
The rune in the past position is Kenaz. It represents a torch, beacon or fire. On a metaphysical level, this represents the light of knowledge or enlightenment. It can indicate a breakthrough of some sort. Perhaps seeing a situation in a different light and in a gentle way. It is the rune of the artist and craftsman and is useful when creativity is needed. It also governs the technical aspect of magic. Some say it can represent a fresh start.
How strange that the blank rune WYRD has shown up so early in the readings. 🙂 The Universe is challenging me. So here goes. WYRD is a relative to the word karma and takes its meaning from the runes surrounding it. It operates on a completely separate dimension than the other runes and can often indicate in a reading that the situation is in God’s hands. It shows that what is destined to be cannot be avoided.
The third rune is Ingwaz and represents the male aspect of Mother Earth. When found in the outcome position of a rune reading, it indicates a successful outcome. Whatever is propelling you forward at the moment, Ingwaz is acknowledging and confirming that the energy behind it is potent and heading for substantial results. It is a very positive rune.
My takeaway:
Perhaps we are given the opportunity to see a situation or creative project in a new light, understanding that destiny and Karma come into play throughout life and that part is totally out of our control. With Ingwaz in the outcome position, what is coming is all good!
And the Dragon Card confirms that message!
Also, just a reminder to all the gemstone lovers, tonight is a powerful full moon and there is no better way to charge your stones than putting them out under the moon’s rays!
I feel such a beautiful energy today and I hope that somehow I can share it in this post with you.
Created in Canva by Jan Sikes
The meditation today is short but very uplifting and power-filled!
A most interesting tarot reading for this week. Sometimes it seems like I see some of the same cards over and over, but I trust the process. I randomly pull them, so there is no manipulation on my part. The Universe brings the message we need to hear.
I feel that the Seven of Pentacles applies to all of us who write our stories, or any other creative endeavors. It 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 (but wouldn’t we all love a quick win?). 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. Sometimes we need to step back from day-to-day operations and take a look at the bigger picture. If you have been working hard or putting extra effort into something challenging and important for the last few months, the endeavor or project is near its culmination. Rest assured, your hard work will pay off. You are likely to see financial or other tangible rewards for all of your hard work.
The Page of Pentacles brings a message of new beginnings, as does the Ace. When the Page of Pentacles appears in a Tarot reading, you are tapping into your ability to manifest a personal goal or dream, or the start of a new educational experience. You are excited about the possibilities and potential of what you put your mind to, knowing you can create whatever you want with focused intention and action. This Page does not specify the fulfillment of dreams as much as the initial motivation and energy to begin the process of turning those dreams into reality.
The Ace of Swords seems to show up often for us. It marks a wave of new energy from the intellectual realms. You may be on the verge of a significant breakthrough or a new way of thinking that allows you to view the world with clear eyes. Or, you may have a sudden realization or conscious understanding about an issue that has been troubling you and can finally see the path ahead of you. Meditate regularly to clear away the mental chatter and make the most of this intellectual potential.
My overall take on this reading is that while we may be nearing the end of one project, there are new ones on the horizon with strong energy and inspiration behind them. Your thoughts?
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.
Writing and Music 
You must be logged in to post a comment.