New Year's Day

After talking about it here on the blog for the last few days, The Winter Solstice arrived at 5.30 this morning. As I travelled back home on the train from my boyfriend's in the dark, it began to get light, so I stood and watched the sun rise over the river once I had got off. It looked beautiful and made me smile. As I had time to stand there and photograph it, I guess I fell into my own place, finding five minutes to reflect on those things which are and are not important. It felt more like a New Year's Day than the one I am used to (which I never enjoy, year after year). Janurary 1st always leaves me feeling empty and sore about what I haven't achieved in the last year, where as today, the fire of the sun rising over the river energised me and I feel ready for my next steps.

Yesterday was pleasant. My mum's friend cancelled, but my mate still visited with daughter and dog. After a light lunch, her little girl, Eva, asked if she could have a piece of paper and pencil to do some drawing. I told her I could do better than that and brought in my massive art box that I had compiled throughout my work in schools. We pulled out card and stickers and pens and she got down to making four Christmas cards and a Get Well card for our friend's mother, who had been transferred to a hospital in London. It turned out that she has had a mild heart attack but is now on the mend. I was so impressed with Eva's work. She is a very bright and artistic 6 year old and has no problem with writing and spelling. She was very well behaved, and by the end of the dark afternoon, she, her mother and I were all drawing, sticking and gluing. My good friend in Canada recently flagged up an artistic technique called Zentangling, which I showed Charlotte. She absolutely loved it and spent an hour doodling a design, taking the paper and pen home with her to continue.

I really like the deck that today's card comes from. I am not entirely sure what it is called but it is often listed as the Sasha Fenton Tarot. It might seem a little too basic for some, but it is simple, to the point and attractive. I got it for a pound in a boot fair years ago, without it's accompanying book. It has one of my most favourite Knight of Cups in it.

For today, I see steps forward in the 2 of Wands, but I also see a coming together in the dual nature of the warm number '2'. I think it has something to do with the fact that the wands set in that ring remind me of a fondue set, which of course, is all about sharing. My boyfriend is coming over tonight and we are meeting friends in the nearest pub to me for a festive drink and something to eat. Now that I live on this side of the river, I am that bit more accessible to a few old friends than I was. The pub sits on a heath and has recently had it's restaurant area done up, so I booked a table for 7.30. There should be five of us getting together. I haven't seen one woman, who I used to work with, since the Summer. My boyfriend is staying over here tonight. I think work (or at least, the people he works with) has drained him this week and he needs to relax. He can park up and we will walk there together, which should only take about ten minutes. I am looking forward to it.


Illustrations from The Sasha Fenton Tarot by Sasah Fenton and Samantha Bale