9/28/12—Communicating With Your Pet

Today's Draw: The Gypsy Oracle from the Sideshow Tarot. Do you have good communication with your pet? Do you "hear" them say things...or "see" their messages? What kinds of things do they tell you?

Yesterday I said it was going to be Marble Week at the Daily Draw. So today's card is about the psychic communication dogs use to communicate with their people.  

In short, dogs put images in your head. Like you're sitting there and you suddenly think of that really cool park down by the river and think "geez, I haven't been there in a while. Perhaps it's time to go. I think I'll take the mutts with me." And you, innocent that you are, think YOU thought of that park, when really your dog implanted that visual in your brain using their special telekinetic mojo. Happens all the time. They let you think it's all your idea. 

It's just like when I saw Marble's picture online a week ago. I had all sorts of images of this pathetic, needy animal that could learn so much from Kizzie and Magick. For all I know, the little vagabond planted those images in my head so I would be the one to foster her. Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I'm a total gravy train for dogs. I mean, really, where do you get it better? I'm home all the time. I've got scheduled kibble and treat times. You get the run of the property. I have a lot of patience. I'm a total pushover. It's a wonder I haven't already bought her an entire wardrobe of winter sweaters yet. 

The more I think of it, maybe Marble is a Gypsy Oracle. I was out talking to the back yard neighbor today...a single lady and mother of two dogs, much like myself. And I told her that Marble keeps jumping up and nipping at my nipple. Really. She's done it, like, four times in the past two days. And it hurts! So my neighbor was telling me how to train the nipping out of her and, just then, her dog jumps up and bites HER in the nipple! The dog had never done it before! And she does it the moment I'm talking about Marble doing it. We concluded that Marble planted the image in the innocent pup's brain!

So today's entry is about her. And about dogs in general. I swear they do the visual implants all the time. And you can do it back to them. You do create a language with your dog over time...one that transcends simple commands. They're extremely intuitive. I think this is how they know you're coming home. You're on your way home and you picture home. They're so attuned to your frequency that they pick the message up and walk over to the window. 

So if you've never tried this intentionally before, just try showing them a visual of what you want and see how it goes. And pay attention the visuals you receive that have to do with dog things. From their perspective they've been trying to communicate with you FOREVER and maybe you've just been too dense to notice. 

9/1/12—9/2/12—Being a Rube

Weekend Reading: Three of Bottles from the Sideshow Tarot. In the world of the sideshow they know how to spot a mark. A mark is someone who is gullible or easily taken advantage of. And a really good mark is one that just keeps coming back for more...someone who truly believes the shell game is a game of chance and it's only a matter of time before they win. But, see, the game is rigged. And the gamekeeper can't be trusted. So bear that in mind this weekend and try not to be a mark. Keep an eye out for someone in your world who is really good at social, emotional or other kinds of sleight of hand. The more innocent and well meaning you tell yourself they are, the bigger the mark you'll become. And when it's all over, you can cry about being taken advantage of by meanies all you want, but the real culprit in this game is your gullibility...or your need to be liked...or your convenient denial. Nobody can take advantage of you without your permission. So don't give them your permission....and don't give more than you're prepared to lose. Consider yourself warned. ;)

4/2/12—Making The Sale

Today's Draw: The Blowoff (Judgment) from the Sideshow Tarot. Are you up front with the people in your life? Do you have things that no one will ever know about you? Is there someone you're painting a deceptively pretty picture for right now, whether it's intentionally or unintentionally?

In the sideshow world, the blowoff is when, at the end of a show, a carney calls out to the group and reveals that there's really something even more shocking to see. It will cost extra, but it will be worth it. For example, after seeing the tattooed lady, they might offer to show you more of her body. In everyday life, it's commonly called a follow-on sale. In the carney world, it earns the carnies extra money because it's all under the table.

This kind of reminds me how people reveal themselves to others. They reveal themselves in layers, with each layer ever more "shocking" than the last. And at each "point of sale" you have the option of whether or not to move forward.

This has probably happened to everyone in a love relationship at one time or another. And not necessarily intentionally or with ill intent. It makes sense that you would show your best side first, then slowly reveal the muddier corners. In fact, we are so socialized to that kind of reveal that we'd be horrified if we met someone who, on the first date, said "I have herpes, was once arrested for shoplifting and enjoy watching porn. What are you thinking of ordering? Because I'm thinking veal...even though it makes me a little gassy."

Now, none of those things may be deal breakers when revealed slowly over time by a person who is otherwise warm, supportive, smart, funny and kind. So it makes sense to reveal stuff like that over time. If we all showed our ugly side first, the human race would all die out in a generation or two because nobody would be having sex.

The same kind of thing happens in friendships. You know someone for a long time, but then a situation comes up that never presented itself before and you learn something new about them. It might be a good thing...that they're really supportive during tough times. Or it could be the opposite...that they make themselves scarce when you need them the most.

We always talk about how we hate it when people play games, but "games" includes behaviors along this line. It's not always nefarious, misleading, infantile or even intentional. Some of it's just the way we're socialized to be, whether it's pretty or not. We dislike the thought of misleading people, but in a way that's what we do when we put our best foot forward. We're all guilty of it.

The problem comes when it's less about the way people reveal themselves to each other and it's more about intentionally misleading someone about who you are. Worse yet when the person you're misleading is yourself. So give a little thought to this today. Where do you know you're holding back with someone in your life and what are your true intentions behind it?