Wow, my previous two posts look really weird on the page! I don't know why, but I am posting from a different computer than usual, up here in Vancouver. Still, it was funny to see how odd the layout looks.

My aunt and I went to the Picasso exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery today. It was mostly black and white etchings, and the overall impression it left with us was depressing and upsetting. So much of his subject matter was himself as the ruler of his world, with passive women to model for him and serve him, and with the artist himself naked, strong, and to be served. It got to be tiring after seeing so many of his etchings reflect that view. Thankfully, there were also a few paintings (color! yeah! after all those black and whites, the color was so needed) to balance out the relentless black-and-white on display.

Tonight I went for a one-hour tarot card reading with a woman who did my reading 21 months ago. This time I brought a little tape recorder so that I could just experience the reading and not drive myself crazy taking notes. I'll transcribe the tape tomorrow, but in the meantime I have some very positive impressions left from the experience.

The reading in a nutshell: I've come through some big struggles, made huge changes in my life, left behind some things I've chosen to leave behind, sat still to think about the possibilities, set a course (while staying open and flexible to other possibilities which may dovetail with what I'm trying to do). Now I'm moving forward, alone, quite sure of myself and able to withstand the questions and intrusions and challenges from others along the way. That's the gist of it.

I love the symbolism and the power in these readings.

She knew that I was visiting up here, so obviously I'm on a trip, right? But in the immediate future cards, in the card that represents approximately Dec. 21-Jan. 21, she saw another big travel time for me. She asked me if there was a possibility of my taking a trip at that time, alone...

I am, already planned and reserved. I'll be in California after Christmas for a week, solo. She showed me that card and how it reflects that traveling and venturing that I'll be doing alone at that time in the near future. Really cool!

Later in the evening, my cousin came over. He played some of his new composition for us, and then we took a bunch of photos and there were a couple taken of the two of us which were so funny, we laughed so hard we thought we'd die laughing. It felt great; God, I love laughing with family, don't you?