The Princess of Wands
A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping stone to the optimist. — Eleanor Roosevelt A story about the Tarot’s Princess of Wands suggests she had to learn to become so courageous, she could fly naked against all opposition. As the Princess crumbled all barriers to her goals, she dragged by the tail the giant tiger, the fears she’d slain. See Princess of Wands Stepping Stones are large, flat rocks that allow crossings of streams or rivers. They can also be turning points, highlights and moments of truth. If ‘Stepping Stone’ were a crossword clue, Wordplay’s Crossword Solver suggests ‘isle,’ a stepping stone for a giant. [Imagine being big enough to need an island-sized footpath.] If ‘Stumbling Block’ were a crossword clue, Wordplay’s Crossword Solver provides 30 solutions, including: roadblock, hurdle, snag, barrier and fly in the ointment. I hunted for some wisdoms about obstacles and found: Take a limitation and turn it into an opportunity. Take an opportunity and turn it into an adventure. – Jo Franz A new challenge keeps the brain kicking and the heart ticking. – E. A. Bucchianeri You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice. – Bob Marley Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. – Christian Larson More quotes about obstacles. So, how can obstacles be overcome? Psychology Today offers eleven ways, including: STOP: Stop. Take a Step Back Observe. Proceed Mindfully. Find Meaning. Ask: What lesson can be learned? Set Small Goals that can add up to a big achievement. Read more. While in his mid 40s, knowing he had six months of health left, CMU Professor Randy Pausch presented his last lecture. He said many fun and uplifting things. One inspiring reminder was: Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren’t there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want things. View Highlights of “The Last Lecture” [39:57] Succeed and Soar! Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Celebrate Saturday, October 16: National Dictionary Day Noah Webster was born on this date. Did you know that this teacher created the first dictionary in order to define the differences between American and British English? Beyond that purpose, learning words empowers. As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” [More words, bigger world.] Sunday, October 17: National Pay Back A Friend Day Bank of America created this day to remind that no matter how long it’s been or how much or little is owed, friendships are greater than any debt, especially since research shows money can be a key stressor in friendships. Monday, October 18: National Chocolate Cupcake Day Now, this is an event worth celebrating! Fabulous recipes. Sandra’s Gifts, my online shop at RedBubble.com, shares my art as mouse pads, phone cases and shower curtains, as mugs, dresses, journals, greeting cards and more. Everything is great quality and well priced. What beautiful and inspiring fun! Shop Here Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Of this post’s featured image, My daughters, grandson and I were exploring a remote part of the Lake Erie shore when I spotted this feather, left on the rocks after a bird took flight. My art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks!
Einstein Wisdom #10: Absurd, A Vital Ingredient
Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible. – Albert Einstein How did April Fools’ Day start? Some connect it to the Spring Equinox festival Hilaria, a Greco-Roman religious day requiring merriment, rejoicing and, well, hilarity. Grief and sorrow were forbidden. Others connect April Fools’ Day to the switch from the Julian to Gregorian calendar. This change moved New Years Day from the Spring Equinox to January 1st. Those who didn’t get the memo and kept starting their year in late March were called, ‘April Fools.’ In France, paper fish were placed on their backs, symbolizing young, easily caught and gullible fish, the ‘poisson d’avril’ (April fish). Read more. The Tarot’s first card is called ‘The Fool.’ It’s number is 0, the egg-shaped glyph symbolizes nothing, while holding a space for all possibilities. In this system, ‘The Fool’ represents life in early spring, a sunlit time of innocence when the ways of the world have yet to cast shadows and cause doubts. This April 1st, why not try something marvelously foolish. As Einstein also said of invention and creativity, “If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.” [Thanks for sharing, Marc!] Otherwise, here are 16 Fun April Fools’ Day Pranks BTW, March 31 is National Crayon Day. Start the fun early.
Einstein 6: Commencements
Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them. – Albert Einstein Did you know that the phrase “Toe the line” is a track and field term about staying behind the starting mark for races? In thinking about starting places, the Ace that begins the Clubs suit in traditional playing cards is re-presented as the Ace of [magic] Wands in Tarot decks. Meditations on that card — a staff, sometimes a torch — suggest fresh starts and invitations to advance, lighting ways to brighter self understandings and elevated self realizations, of facing limits and boundaries with Randy Pausch’s advice. In his Last Lecture about Achieving Childhood Dreams, the professor of computer science, human–computer interaction, and design at Carnegie Mellon University said, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” With Pausch and Einstein’s words in mind, know that March 2nd is Read Across America Day. Why not celebrate the joy of reading with these 10 inspiring short stories. ***** Google’s founders were willing to sell to Excite for under $1 million in 1999. Excite turned them down. Ronald Wayne was a third Apple founder who sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976. While a 2009 search for the Loch Ness Monster didn’t discover the dinosaur, scientists found over 100,000 golf balls.