Bitch on heat

Today's card, the Ten of Swords, was supposed to predict endings:

Ten of Swords: The Ten indicates endings. In the suit of Swords, endings are dramatic, and may be shocking. However, on closer inspection of the facts, it's likely that this ending was predictable. A relationship or other arrangement is cut out of your life. The closure is harsh, but necessary; you will recover and be open to new opportunities sooner than you think.

Couldn't really find anything today that could relate to this. No endings, dramatic or otherwise. The only drama was when we were taking Rachel's parents' dogs, Daisy and Harry, for a walk in Shotover Park near where they live. We let them off their leads to let them have a run and explore the woods. Shotover seems to be popular with dogs and dog-walkers of all shapes and sizes, so it's a case of keeping a watchful eye as dogs greet each other in the way only dogs know how. Now, I'm not a dog-owner nor have I ever been (though I am an enthusiastic walker of Daisy and Harry when we visit and I can imagine maybe having a dog at some point in the future) so I'm not au fait with the etiquette between dog owners as one's dogs sniff the backsides of other dogs as they hello. I tended to opt for a facial expression that tries to convey the "that's dogs for you..." look. And, by and large, I think I achieved the look. This expression seemed to be serving me well right up until the point when Daisy was about to be humped by not one, not two, but three over-excited setters. The "that's dogs for you..." facial expression was quickly replaced by one of mild panic as I yelled out "Noooo!!" and reached to put the lead round Daisy's neck. Freya just peered out at me from her pushchair as if to say "spoilsport".

It is written

The Star: Inspiration and guidance; you have clarity of purpose and great potential now. The water symbolizes creativity and its flow, memory. As the past and the present flow together, so past experiences give you the wisdom to make a dream come true. This is a nurturing card, showing that you are tending your garden well. Ideas flourish as you create fertile conditions for success and happiness.

One of the many nice things about visiting Rachel’s parents for the weekend is that Rachel and I sometimes get the chance to go out on our own while Nana and Grandpa babysit. Tonight we managed to escape to the cinema to watch Slumdog Millionaire. We didn’t know too much about the film beforehand apart from having seen the trailer last week and it being recommended to us by a friend. We were also aware that it had won a few Golden Globes and has been nominated for a million Oscars (well, ten).

In the opening minutes of the film the words appear on screen:

Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees.
How did he do it?

A: He cheated
B: He's lucky
C: He’s a genius
D: It is written

The answers A, B and C fade from the screen, leaving the final answer, “D: It is written”.

The film tells the story of how Jamal got to this point and how his experiences growing up in the slums of Mumbai gave him clues to the answers he would eventually be asked on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? It’s an excellent film about love and destiny, and perhaps an appropriate film for today given the Star indicating how the past and present flow together, so that past experiences give the wisdom to make a dream come true.

Anyway, here's the trailer. Take a look and then go see the film and let me know what you think. (You'll notice that for some reason they decided to change the final answer to “D: It is destiny” for the trailer.)

Take a break

Today is a significant day, as it marks three years of Rachel and I being together. So maybe the Three of Cups is an appropriate card for today:

Three of Cups: Love grows and a relationship moves up to a new level of commitment. A child may be born, or your creativity flourishes as new projects evolve and take form. This is a card of healing and happiness, with myriad opportunities for celebration, sharing, and the renewal of friendship. The Three also predicts healing, so you feel rejuvenated, physically and emotionally.

So whatever happens today, I'm happy to give the Tarot a point.

That said, a couple of meetings at work today seemed to fit nicely with what the Three had to say. This morning's meeting, which I'd arranged last week, was with someone from our Personnel Department about the possibility of taking a career break next year. In September this year, I will have been working at Liverpool Hope for ten years. And it's starting to feel like it! Many of the lectures I now give I haven't updated for a few years, and my research has come to an almost stand still. I just don't want to find myself having been there for fifteen or even twenty years thinking the same thing, having done nothing about it! For at least the last couple of years I have been saying to myself (and to Rachel) that I needed to change. Change my research, change jobs, change something. So I thought I'd start saying it to somebody other than myself and Rachel, and perhaps kickstart the process that might lead to me actually doing something about it! Anyway, the meeting with Cathryn from Personnel seemed to go okay (apart from the fact I had written down the meeting time wrong and was half an hour late!). She seemed to understand where I was coming from and gave me some useful advice.

Later in the day I met with two TV producers working on an idea for a TV show that would look at ghostly experiences across the UK (sound familiar?). It all sounded very interesting and exciting, but they were still looking for the show to be commissioned so we'll see if it comes to anything. Still, could be an opportunity for new projects to evolve and take form perhaps?

The best part of today, though, was the fantastic surprise I got this evening. Rachel called me through and said she'd been a little bit naughty. I immediately guessed that she'd maybe bought something. I was close. Rachel had actually booked a surprise weekend away for us both in Barcelona! She had booked it a week or two before and it would be for a weekend in March, but she had told me today to mark our three years together. I think that could nicely represent an opportunity for "celebration, sharing and the renewal of friendship", don't you agree? Even if you don't, I'm not too bothered... we're going to Barcelona!

Foundation Day

As if we needed reminding, here is what the tarot reading predicted for today:

Ace of Cups: As Cups are associated with the element of Water, or love and emotion, the Ace predicts emotional fulfillment, creativity, and contentment, from falling passionately in love with a person or an ideal to following a spiritual calling or artistic pursuit. Pregnancy and motherhood are also indicated because the overflowing chalice of the Ace symbolizes ultimate femininity.

Well, you'll never believe this but today I fell in love and got pregnant! How about that for a spot on prediction? What are the odds?? No, you're just being silly now (I've got a feeling you're not taking this seriously).

Today was something called 'Foundation Day' at the University at which I work. This is effectively a day of thanksgiving during which we celebrate the foundation of the University and award degrees to students on courses that, for whatever reason, don't get awarded at the main Graduation ceremony in July. The University also awards a couple of honorary degrees and fellowships at this time. (In fact Gee Verona Walker, who I mentioned in a post some time ago, was awarded a Fellowship at one of these Foundation Days a couple of years ago.) This year Fellowships went to a couple, Gerald and Judith Henderson, for their work with an organization called Initiatives for Change, and an Honorary Degree was awarded to Sir Jeremy Isaacs who has been a leading figure in the Arts and Media worlds for over 50 years.*

Suffice to say, I didn't fall in love with Gerald, Judith, or Jeremy (I know, even with those names!). As is usual with these kind of academic ceremonies, we were all dressed in our gowns that displayed the degrees we had obtained and from which universities we oursleves had graduated. Me? I was in a rather fetching purple and red number, complete with sash and a jaunty hat with tassle: a symbol of ultimate femininity if ever there was...!

This evening it was time for my guitar lesson. Yes, despite the "guitar fiasco" last year I am proud to report that I am still keeping up with my guitar lessons. In fact, since Christmas I have switched classes so I am now with a slightly more advanced group (and older... I'm not the oldest student any more!). I'd like to say that this is because Vernon, the teacher, recognised my natural ability and realised that the kids were holding me back. But the truth is that changes to my teaching timetable at the University this term meant that I could no longer make the Monday class. Still this can only be seen as a sign that it is time for my talents to be nurtured to the next level. As the Ace predicts, today I was supposed to be following a spiritual calling or an artistic pursuit. You can't argue with the facts!

*Interestingly, Rachel was actually involved with setting up Sir Jeremy's Artsworld channel a few years ago!

Checkout King

According to my tarot reading, today I thought I'd be recovering from yesterday's battle, so I hadn't really planned much. It was the King of Wands that came up for today. According to Liz Dean (the woman who wrote the the little book that came with my tarot cards):

The King brings calm integrity and compassion. Wise and unassuming, he is loved by family and friends. He may be demanding of others, but he still has energy and ideas. This card reveals honorable conduct. and can also indicate that you will feel comfortable with yourself now. Others respond to you positively.

Not really sure what to make of that. Calm integrity and compassion is my middle name (it's actually David), and you'd be hard pushed to find a day on which I'm not wise and unassuming. It's just part and parcel of who I am (!). Today included a trip to Sainsbury's (rock'n'roll, eh?) but I don't think asking the guy at the checkout for a couple of extra carrier bags counts as being demanding of others, does it?

I was "working from home" today. So, yes, I felt comfortable with myself. And it is fair to say that others did respond to me positively today (I got the extra carriers I asked for, plus a few extra).

So today maybe Tarot gets half a point (though perhaps I'm being a little generous there).

Ready for battle!

This is what my tarot reading for the week ahead came up with for today:

Knight of Swords: When the Knight of Swords arrives in a reading, he heralds a future battle that must be fought so that a resolution to a problem may be found. Dynamic and charming, he may come into your life for just a short period of time, but his verve is infectious: he brings enough energy and determination to meet the challenge with courage.

So I was all set for a battle of some sort today! A fight! Maybe even a "scrap" (does anyone use this term any more?), just like you used to get at school, in which me and my nemesis are surrounded by an over-excited crowd, clapping their hands in unison to the chant of "Scrap! Scrap! Scrap!..." just in case it wasn't clear to any of the onlookers exactly what was going on.

But, alas, it was not to be. No fight today. No arguments. Not even a bicker. Or a cross word. Freya, now a willful 15 month-old woddler, had had a rough night thanks to a combination of teething and an ear infection, but it was Rachel who got up in the early hours and saw to her allowing me to stay in bed as I was to be up early in the morning. Rachel was quite willing to do this (or at least said she was!) so no battle there.

Monday is my main teaching day with six hours of teaching. That all seemed to go off without a hitch, and no arguments, battles, or significant challenges that I can recall. By the time I got home around 7pm, Freya was bathed and ready for bed and Rachel had the dinner on (her own recipe lasagne... the best ever). So still no battles. I put Freya to bed and within 5 minutes she'd fallen asleep. A very relaxing evening lay ahead and an early night. Not a battle in sight.

Tarot nil points.

Next week

I'm learning to read the tarot, so I thought I'd do myself a reading for the week ahead. The spread involves eight cards. The first card is called the 'significator' and supposedly indicates the dominant theme(s) for the week. The remaining seven cards relate to each day of the week. My significator card is the Three of Wands, that's the one in the centre. Here's what the very helpful little book that came with the cards, the Golden Tarot for those of you who know about these things, has to say about the Three of Wands:

The Three reveals creativity and self-expression, and the development of projects. Events speed up, with more communication, action, and reward, as money flows your way. This confirms what you secretly know to be true - that you are really good at what you do.

Cool. Now taking the cards in turn day by day, starting with the card in the one o'clock position as the card for Monday and going clockwise:

Monday
Knight of Swords: When the Knight of Swords arrives in a reading, he heralds a future battle that must be fought so that a resolution to a problem may be found. Dynamic and charming, he may come into your life for just a short period of time, but his verve is infectious: he brings enough energy and determination to meet the challenge with courage.

Tuesday
King of Wands: The King brings calm integrity and compassion. Wise and unassuming, he is loved by family and friends. He may be demanding of others, but he still has energy and ideas. This card reveals honorable conduct. and can also indicate that you will feel comfortable with yourself now. Others respond to you positively.

Wednesday
Ace of Cups: As Cups are associated with the element of Water, or love and emotion, the Ace predicts emotional fulfillment, creativity, and contentment, from falling passionately in love with a person or an ideal to following a spiritual calling or artistic pursuit. Pregnancy and motherhood are also indicated because the overflowing chalice of the Ace symbolizes ultimate femininity.

Thursday
Three of Cups: Love grows and a relationship moves up to a new level of commitment. A child may be born, or your creativity flourishes as new projects evolve and take form. This is a card of healing and happiness, with myriad opportunities for celebration, sharing, and the renewal of friendship. The Three also predicts healing, so you feel rejuvenated, physically and emotionally.

Friday
The Star: Inspiration and guidance; you have clarity of purpose and great potential now. The water symbolizes creativity and its flow, memory. As the past and the present flow together, so past experiences give you the wisdom to make a dream come true. This is a nurturing card, showing that you are tending your garden well. Ideas flourish as you create fertile conditions for success and happiness.

Saturday
Ten of Swords: The Ten indicates endings. In the suit of Swords, endings are dramatic, and may be shocking. However, on closer inspection of the facts, it's likely that this ending was predictable. A relationship or other arrangement is cut out of your life. The closure is harsh, but necessary; you will recover and be open to new opportunities sooner than you think.

Sunday
The Hierophant: It is time to take sound advice from someone you trust. The Hierophant often reveals an authority figure, such as a father, teacher, or other mentor. He symbolizes practical wisdom, so his influence can help you resolve a challenge. This card also denotes a spiritual dimension, so it can indicate that you are about to embark on a new course of learning that will bring you closer to your soul's purpose.

So that's my week sorted. Tomorrow I'm going to have some kind of fight, Tuesday I'll feel better about it, then on Wednesday I'm going to fall in love and get pregnant, and the baby's gonna arrive on Thursday. Time for a bit of gardening on Friday before it all goes tits up on Saturday (still it was nice while it lasted!). It all comes together on Sunday when my dad gives me some sound advice (use a condom?) and I sign up for parenting classes. I'll let you know how it all goes.

How do you decide what to do with your life? Do you decide? Or is it decided for us? Does something or someone else make these decisions for us? Or is it more a case of not deciding at all?

All these questions were going through my mind this week as I sat down with my "line manage" at work this week to discuss the possibility of my taking a career break.

Yes Man

We went to see Yes Man last week. As I mentioned in a post back in 2007, Danny Wallace’s book was made into a Hollywood Movie starring Jim Carrey. Well, that’s not strictly true. They have actually made a film that is inspired by Wallace’s book. The story is completely different. The book is based on a year in the life of Danny himself, and the consequences of him deciding to ‘yes’ to everything after a mysterious stranger on a bus suggested he should simply say yes more! In the film, the protagonist is Carl Allen, played by Jim Carrey. Carl decides to say yes to everything after attending a “Yes Man” seminar hosted by General Zod (actually a character called Terrence Bundley, played by Terence Stamp who played Zod in Superman). The essence of the film is the same of the book: look at what can happen if you start saying yes to life rather than saying no! But the book does it a damn sight better. Wallace’s story is more compelling, and has the added advantage of being true. The only thing the film has over the book is a score c0-written by Eels frontman Mark Oliver Everett and a soundtrack that features several Eels songs. Which is nice.