Welcome to another Monday post that I hope will leave you inspired and ready to face the week. I can SO relate to this quote from Einstein.
Courtesy Canva
This is a great meditation that left me feeling grounded and centered.
The tarot cards are a little more positive than what we got last week. I was glad to see them.
Photo by Jan Sikes
The Eight of Wands is in the “what you need to know” position. There is an element of spontaneity in this card that gets you excited for an event that’s on the verge of happening. It could involve travel or a new person coming into your life. Events move quickly, and everything falls into place without you needing to push for a particular outcome. Life is moving you very quickly toward your personal goals, so go with the flow, and you’ll have the energy you need to take on whatever life has to offer. Relax and ride the wave of excitement. (I don’t know about you, but for me, this is a welcome card!)
The first thing I think of when I see the Two of Pentacles is a balancing act. It sits in the “new perspective” position and I think that’s significant. Balancing your obligations and your schedule can be tricky. This card is inviting you to find a flow and not allow your emotions to knock you off balance. Anytime you strive to take your life to the next level, your routine and comfort zone will momentarily be disrupted. This is a normal part of expansion and growth. Take a moderate approach. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Only take on what you can handle and reach out for help when you feel overwhelmed.
To find The Hermit card sitting in the “action to take” position is an oxymoron. 🙂 This card encourages stillness and going within. It also encourages alone time. Listen to your inner wisdom by spending time in solitude. It is a necessary and healthy practice that will rejuvenate you. When it’s time to be with others again, you will your energy restored.
MY TAKEAWAY:
Something exciting is on the verge of happening. I can feel it. For me, it could be the upcoming first music festival of the year. I’ve been struggling a bit this past week, so love the prospect of excitement. I also love that it indicates plenty of energy to take on whatever is coming. Then in the process of everyday life, a juggling act seems to be a continuous necessity. I like the advice to only do what you can handle. I tend to take on more than I can possibly do. Then, the idea of spending some alone time seems warranted with the action cards preceding it. It’s always healthy to have a bit of downtime now and again.
As always, I really love the Angel Oracle card this week.
That’s it. I hope you have a good week ahead and find ways to take back your power!
This short meditation gave me a boost in confidence. Hope it does the same for you!
The tarot cards surprised me this week. As I studied them, I realized they truly carry a big message for me and hopefully for you as well.
Photo by Jan Sikes
The Hermit card is always an indication it is time to go within. He invites you to retreat into your private world and experience a deep sense of seclusion and introspection. The Hermit often appears when you are at a pivotal point in your life and considering a new direction. Through meditation, contemplation, and self-examination, you may begin to re-evaluate your personal goals and change your overall course. The Hermit also represents the desire to turn away from a consumerist or materialistic society to focus on your inner world. (Perfect for going into the Christmas season)
The Two of Cups represents a partnership of some kind, whether romantic or business. When the Two of Cups card appears in a Tarot reading, you may enter a new partnership, perhaps with a lover, friend, or business partner. You are both focused on creating a relationship that is mutually beneficial, one that will create a win-win situation for both parties. You see ‘eye to eye’ and appreciate what each other can bring to the table. In a romantic relationship, the Two of Cups shows a blossoming new union based on mutual attraction. There is both a physical and soul connection that leaves you giddy and weak at the knees. In a business partnership, the Two of Cups is a sign you are both on the same wavelength and share a similar vision for the venture you are creating together. You may not have the same skills as each other, but you create a beautiful synergy when you work together.
The Eight of Pentacles seems to come up often in these readings. It is so applicable to us writers as it is all about honing your craft. We work hard at improving our skills, with the goal of making each story a little better than the one before. The Eight of Pentacles is an encouragement to keep doing what you are doing as it will eventually lead to success. Yes, it requires a lot of dedication, focus, and patience, but as each day passes and as you stay true to your values and beliefs, you get a little closer to your goal. It may not be as apparent as you may like, but events are unfolding that will lead you to the right path. Continue working on yourself, too, and make ongoing improvements and adjustments to ensure that you are the best person you can be.
MY TAKEAWAY:
Any time we are facing a new direction in life, it’s super important to go within and see what that truly feels like. If the new direction includes a partnership, you each have certain skills to bring to the table to create something unique and beautiful. And, never stop learning and striving to be better at your craft. That’s pretty much a given.
On a personal level, this reading speaks to me loud and clear. I am in negotiations to begin a ghostwriting project, which is a whole new direction and will require expanding my skillset. How about you? Does this reading carry any message you can relate to?
I know this beautiful little dragon has shown up before, but he popped out again, so we must need to revisit him.
GIVEAWAYS: The author is giving away (3) $5 Amazon Gift Cards during this tour! For your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below as well as leaving a comment on the author’s 4WillsPub tour page. GOOD LUCK!
Today, it is my great honor to turn my blog over to an inspirational author and RRBC member, John J. Fiorvanti. I’ll let him tell you about his book, “Reflections!”
Good day to you! I extend my appreciation to Jan, who generously agreed to have me as a guest, and to the good folks at 4 Wills Publishing who organized this tour.
An Incurable Romantic
“One might say I am an incurable romantic in that my emotions have a lot to do with who I am, what I do, and why I do things. I must write about that which inspires passion within me.”
~John Fioravanti
I took this quote from the Introduction of my book, A Personal Journey To The Heart Of Teaching. It is an autobiographical work in that I trace my path from childhood to professional teacher. I wrote the book primarily for new teachers, those studying to join the profession, and for those who are thinking about teaching as a career. I recognized the signs of high stress among new teachers and I hoped the book would help them realize that they are not alone in these feelings and that it is a good thing to reach out for help.
I used the word romantic in the first line above in the sense that I’m an idealist. I strive to keep myself grounded in reality, but I refuse to lose sight of what is possible both for myself and the world in which I live. Throughout the book, I speak of my quest for the heart of teaching. I searched for over three decades for this ideal in order that my work in the classroom would reflect it, even if it paled by comparison.
As well, the first sentence of the quote reveals that I am a person driven by emotion. There were times when this got me into all kinds of trouble as a child and as a young adult I struggled to harness my emotions and just sit on them. I failed. I am what I am! During the ensuing years, I came to understand that these emotions that I regarded with a jaundiced eye, were not the enemy. It was what I did with them that could be judged as good or bad.
Good ideas appeal to my rational side but they don’t motivate me to action or to write. Feelings about ideas or events galvanize me to express myself through writing. Whether I’m writing a reflection like this or writing a fictional story, I must be emotionally invested in order to produce anything that satisfies me. Thus, I write for myself. If others enjoy what I write, that pleases me but I write because my feelings about something compel me. If there is no passion, there is no writing happening. I don’t see this as good or bad; it just is.
This is the kind of teacher I became – one driven by passion. Some students would lament that history is boring and useless. I’d smile before I replied and would notice some students who knew me were smiling as well. I taught history because I thought it was exciting to find out about people who lived long ago, breathed the same air, saw the same sunsets, and felt the fears and joys that we the living still do. I allowed my passion for the subject at hand to flow freely and enjoyed watching the bored students transform into avid listeners who started to think about the past in a different way. I could not teach any other way. It is who I am.
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
On the cover, John Fioravanti is described as ‘A Voice of Inspiration’. That intrigued me. The further I delved into his writings the more this bold claim proved to be true.
The concept of this book is simple. Take fifty quotes from a variety of people that have touched the author’s life, ranging from ancient philosophers to more recent influential characters and talented individuals from the present day. Then add personal experiences and interpretations to those inspirational quotations. A simple concept maybe, but it takes real skill to write the motivational passages Mr Fioravanti has done in such an easy-to-understand way.
Enthusiasm and the love of writing shine through as you read the author’s astute observations. His background as a History teacher for thirty-five years gives reassurance of his own experience in tackling many challenges in the real world. Despite his own self-confessed demons, which he has learned to overcome, a positive and refreshing approach to life inspires you to achieve the same.
I read this book after Christmas, a period of reflection on the year just gone and the year to come. It challenged me on many levels. The lessons learned will help improve my attitude toward life. It is an inspirational volume I will return to when I need renewed motivation.
– by Robert Fear
Author Bio:
John Fioravanti is a retired secondary school educator who completed his thirty-five-year career in the classroom in June 2008.
Throughout his career, John focused on developing research, analysis, and essay writing skills in his History classroom. This led to the publication of his first non-fiction work for student use, Getting It Right in History Class. A Personal Journey to the Heart of Teaching is his second non-fiction work; it attempts to crystallize the struggles, accomplishments, and setbacks experienced in more than three decades of effort to achieve excellence in his chosen field.
John’s first work of fiction is Passion & Struggle, Book One of The Genesis Saga, and is set within Kenneth Tam’s Equations universe (Iceberg Publishing). He claims that, after two non-fiction books, he’s having the time of his life bringing new stories and characters to life! Book Two is Treachery & Triumph.
At present, John lives in Waterloo, Ontario with Anne, his bride of forty-six years. They have three children and three grandchildren. In December of 2013, John and Anne founded Fiora Books for the express purpose of publishing John’s books.
Writing and Music 
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