Hi ya’ll. Haven’t visited WP in quite some time. I’m reveling in the quiet meanderings of spring break. Yes, it finally arrived, and not a minute too soon. My pup, Poppie, is visiting till Friday. She is the best-est companion, happy little sassy soul. To savor slow living is truly the greatest gift of all.
During my morning meditation and reading, the Opulence card came forward (Magick of You Oracle). There are times when I draw a card that simply doesn’t resonate as much as the others in a reading, appears the opposite of what I’m thinking and feeling, and likely for good reason! Here is the insight offered in the guidebook:
There is great wisdom in going with life’s flow and choosing battles, conflicts and accepting change wisely and peacefully. There is also a time to assert your authority and trust your wisdom and leadership skills. People and situations are now looking to you for guidance. Wear your success and assets proudly – they are well earned. It’s time to be a light so that others may follow.
The girl of Opulence wears the lavish golden crown of leadership. It emits a radiant glow and signifies spiritual enlightenment as well as earthly accomplishment. Being in an exalted position gives you the opportunity to be a wise leader and help others, much like happiness is only real when shared, and being exalted only meaningful when it helps others.
I’m not a leader of anything, except that of my own life. Wear your success and assets proudly – they were well earned, resounds. What I’ve accomplished over the past three years has been no small feat. “Being in an exalted position” speaks to me of privilege. Using my position of privilege means helping others. Since childhood, I’ve felt a deep call to help others. I didn’t know then what I know now, however, that helping others comes at a cost – that of your own health and wellbeing if not tended to properly.
There is a ritual included with each oracle card in the deck. The ritual associated with Opulence is: The Light of Leadership. It calls the querent to write a list of their personally perceived best assets and accomplishments, then ask someone who knows the querent well what they think their best assets and accomplishements are. Finally, the querent is called to ask a stranger what they perceive might be useful and advantageous to them (the querent). So, I ask, dear reader, if you might be so inclined to send what you perceive might be useful and advantageous to me. I would sincerely appreciate it. No inappropriate comments please, as they will promptly be removed. This is the initial part of the ritual.
Here is what I came up with regarding my list of personally perceived assets and accomplishments:
- Wisdom
- Kindness
- Compassion
- Musical ability
- Resilience
- Strong intuition
- Achieved LCSW | earned somatic sound practitioner certification (ugh another certification)
- Wrote a book
- Divorce
- Independence and freedom
- Confidence
- Motherhood
The purpose of the ritual is to shine your light into dark places where needed. Subsequently, an opportunity to allow yourself to shine may appear in which you can be of help to others. Whether you believe in magic or not, it’s a fun little ritual that can only bring more light into the world.
Perhaps the call to assert your leadership skills as indicated in the meaning of this card symbolizes the need to be the leader of my own life, to claim my personal soverignty and power. After all, I am finally free, well mostly free. It took forever to get here, and I must carry on.
FYI, oracle cards are highly subjective and intuitive. They do not predict the future, but encourage self-reflection and honesty with oneself.
Cheers!
Musings of a Taiwanese American Adoptee 
your journey to your sense of freedom is very very similar to the trials that I had to endure. just simply put, I went bankrupt in late 2006 and early 2007 faced a very personal loss. I had to climb my way back. i think about it at least once a day still because it had such a profound impact on me.
your writing and wisdom reminds me of those times of struggle. but the way you write it is eloquent and raw. sure there are writers that have their books about how they overcame a struggle but your writing has the day to day, moment to moment feel. it’s not some literal glossy display of time. there is a sense of texture and material. I think that if you wrote another book, in this time, it would create an unexpected change in trajectory. perhaps, your post reached me and others for the reason of a change in trajectory. I look at life that way – some call it superstition, but I believe in signs and the need to listen to them. I always mean to write about it but as you know, writing like that is a comprehensive undertaking. Mike
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Dear Mike, thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comments. I am grateful. Experiencing bankruptcy must have been extremely challenging in addition to a significant personal loss. I think that anything related to finances tends to “send me over the edge.” I’m glad that you’ve fought your way back after such profound losses and found your footing.
I appreciate your kind words about my writing. It’s a passion of mine, and I’ve been strongly considering writing another book. We’ll see what the future holds. The last book I wrote was marginally successful yet was a meaningful experience because I was still processing my reunion with my birth family. It was a very different time in my life, and if I were to rewrite the story, it would tell a slightly different narrative. I also believe in signs/synchronicities, so perhaps this is a sign that I should undertake writing another book! I know what you mean about writing blog posts – only so much you can truly share in a brief post when you want to share something more comprehensive! Take good care!
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to great days ahead MJ 🙂 enjoy the rest of your spring break!
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Thank you! Yes, to great days ahead!
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