Not going to take it anymore? Fine, then own that.

There's nothing like getting work cards on a Monday. Today's cards are: The Magician, the Nine of Cups, and the Eight of Swords. The Magician is a "go get 'em" card. He tells us to focus, find purpose, and plunge into the fray for we will win, if we just jump in and act purposefully. However, he also says that we must really, truly know what we want. If we just jump in without having a real clue as to our true goals, things will get majorly messed up. So, if you know what has to happen, if you've thought it through, if your heart is set on it, if you feel peaceful and like it's the one, true course of action, then go for it. Otherwise, sit tight and wait until things settle in and feel right.

Feeling trapped by circumstances will be troubling today. (There's the eight of swords rearing her troubling head.) If you feel like a good bit of your life is spent doing things you don't want to do, then you need to see where you can lessen those activities. They might be work, they might be home - it doesn't matter. What matters is that you need to cut away those things that make you unhappy. Take how you spend your time in your own hands and only do that which you want/need to do rather than what you feel obligated to do. It will give you a feeling of greater freedom.

The Nine of Cups is the happy merchant. It represents the person who is truly happy in his or her work. If you are happy, more power to you. If you aren't, today is the day to begin to do something about it. Again, though, this isn't about jumping up on your desk and screaming "I'm not going to take it anymore!" When we want to succeed, we often have to know those around us as well, or better than, we know ourselves. If someone at work is making your life harder, try to see beyond his or her work mask. Find compassion for what they are going through and you might find yourself no longer on opposites sides of whatever is going on. Now, it might not make a hill of beans worth of difference, but then again, it might. If the only difference is that you have a better understanding of what causes that person to behave this way, then it will still make a difference in how you approach your work environment.

So, ultimately, it looks like today is about taking charge of your time and work. If you want to move forward, do it from a knowledgeable point of view. If you want to stay right where you are, know that on some (most if not all) level, you remain where you are because you have chosen to do that. Own your decisions, own your current status and you will be shocked at how much more relaxed and peaceful you will feel.

The Marriage of being a visionary and a doer

The Star, The Moon (reversed) and the Three of Pentacles. Today, it's pretty simple. There's a time to be inspired and there's a time to put our noses to the grindstone and just do the work to make things happen.

Some people are idea people, visionaries. They see far and clearly. Their ideas are innovative, unique, and revolutionary. But, even with all those fantastic ideas, those very same people often can't put one foot in front of the other to actually make the things they so clearly see in their minds. Others are the nuts and bolts people who can take those ideas and turn them into reality. They know how to develop plans of action, they know how to take those steps to do the work to create and/or support the manifestation of the vision.

The key to success, I believe, is to have both inside us. We can't just have the brilliant ideas without the wherewithal to actually manifest what we envisioned. So we need to cultivate both sets of characteristics. The Star, the Moon, and the Three of Pentacles epitomize this state for me. The Moon is visions, ideas, inspiration, possibility. The Three of Pentacles is the nose-to-the-grindstone, buckle down and do the work card. And the Star is the synthesis of those two. It calls us to keep reach for the stars (dream, envision, inspire) while we keep our feet on the ground (plan, strategize, do).

That meeting of Earth and sky, that distant horizon, if you will, is where we need to go to achieve whatever level of success we decide upon. Ultimately, one cannot exist without the other. It takes partnering those two different parts of ourselves and strengthening the one that is more challenged.

So, which are you more like, the dreamer or the doer? Decide and then spend today cultivating the strengths of the other side. Are you a dreamer? Practice taking a step to plan and do. Make a list of what you wish to accomplish today and check each thing off. (Make it small and manageable or your dreamer side will rebel.) Try not to take on too much or you will get discouraged and might quit in frustration. Each small accomplishment will make room inside you to work on the bigger challenges. Are you a doer? Spend part of today finger painting, smelling roses, or just doodling and see where it gets you. I guarantee, it will get you somewhere wonderful.