- Written by Annette Noyes
Interesting that this card should appear as spring blooms and Mother Earth works her magic to carry us into a new season of growth…. 
When the Six of Cups is upright, it brings us fond memories and soft nostalgia about our past. Reversed, we are given a more honest view of the past: those “good ol’ days” weren’t so golden after all. The so called Gilded Age had its own share of problems. Just ask your grandmother about washing clothes…or your great-grandmother.
If thinking about your childhood evokes “discomfort”, you may need a little assistance getting past some stuff that’s now getting in your way. This can mean a few sessions with a licensed therapist, but it can also mean taking swimming lessons if you’re afraid of the water, tennis lessons if you’re still mortified by your poor performance on the high school tennis team, etc. The point is to remove destructive unconscious thought patterns and replace them with new memories of success. Check to see if you’re still performing certain obligations out of habit, too, because those also fall into “destructive patterns.”
In a nutshell, this card is about facing forward with renewed trust in your future. Enjoy!
Happy April, all!
Annette Noyes
- Written by Tamera Crosby
by Tamera Crosby
Each of the stones listed for the month of April above have appeared on some list for birthstones or the zodiac gemstones at one time or another…(see listings under Birthstones and Zodiac stones elsewhere in blog). A few are a crossover from Aries into Taurus because the month is split and I wanted to address all of the stones associated with the month of April.
Next will be some definitions, uses, and possible gemstone lore for each of the stones above. There are probably other pages with the definition listings and uses for some of these stones throughout my blog pages but I will add them here for the convenience of viewing.
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BLOODSTONE -- Bloodstone is a form of Jasper. It is normally a mid to deep green with blood red specks or splatters throughout the stone and may even have streaks of ochre included. Bloodstone is a good balancer and is said to help with problems concerning the blood and the liver…(thus the colors of red and ochre with the green as the healing center). It is also said to help with stopping bleeding and is generally good for a whole body cleansing. A friend and mentor of mine always has his clients tape a bloodstone cabochon to their lower back for back pain/problems with a pretty good success rate last I had checked. This isn't to replace traditional medical treatments, it is just to help keep one going until treatment is available…(none of the suggested stone healing usages are to be used alone but in conjunction with traditional methods to help speed them along). Emotionally, Bloodstone is said to help one deal with and remove old anger. One slight warning on this part…I have a friend who stays away from carrying bloodstone because it tends to intensify her anger and even mood swings at inappropriate times…perhaps this is the way it helps one face and deal with that old anger, by bringing it to the surface to be faced and conquered. Gemstone lore associated with the Bloodstone is that the red speckles or splatters throughout the stone are drops of blood from Jesus Christ as He was being crucified.
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FIRE OPAL -- There are many types of Opal. All are good for emotional healing and helping one to look within. The Fire Opal is often listed as a Mexican Fire Opal and contains a brilliant fiery array of red, yellows, greens and oranges within a brownish stone. It consists of many layers within the stone and when polished, the entire fire can be lost by just a touch too much polishing. It is mostly a fragile stone because of the thin layers which is what prompted the lore about it being 'bad luck' to wear the opal if it wasn't your birthstone. It generally needs moisture to keep it from drying out and works very well with the oils from wearing close to the body…very similar to pearls being enhanced by wearing on the skin. Most of the fiery specimens used in jewelry today are called doublets or triplets which means they are layered between or under another stone, usually quartz for over the top and sometimes onyx beneath it, especially if they want a black background to bring out a certain color within the opal. This makes them more stable as a triplet and less likely to crack if dried out. Some opals do have the color without as much instability and the Mexican Fire Opal one of them.
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JASPER -- Jaspers come in many different colors and patterns, each with their own specific traits and areas of healing. Most are very protective and will work with their corresponding chakra by the color. A particular jasper sacred to the Native American Indians is the Red Jasper. Bloodstone is a form of Jasper. The Jaspers, besides protection help with the recalibration and balancing of the chakras as well as healing. With the Jaspers, use your own intuition as to which is right for you or which is needed at any particular time. Said to strengthen the liver, gallbladder, and bladder. Powerful healer with the main impact on the physical body. Represents the earth elements.
Tamera Crosby is in incredibly talented artist and gem and stone expert. She appears regularly at Great Conjunction Expos and can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I promise, no April Fool’s jokes here. You’ll be getting enough of those from other people. I’d like to share with you a long-running April Fool’s gag from my family.
When I was growing up, my grandmother would cook a big roast and we’d all go over to her house for dinner. One year, that dinner fell on April 1st. My father called her up and said, “Your roast is burning!” My grandmother panicked, hung-up the phone and raced to the kitchen only to find out that all was well with the roast. My father immediately called her back and announced, “April Fools!” and everybody had a good laugh. Subsequently, every April 1stthere after, he called her and told her that her roast was burning… and she fell for it. Well, at least for the next five or six years. But the called became tradition and everyone looked forward to it.
Another tradition in our family was the annual Easter basket hunt. It wasn’t a simple seek and find situation at all. It was a true challenge. Ever year my mom would hide my Easter basket and write a series of clues that I had to solve in order to find the treasure. She would hand me the first clue and once that was solved, it would lead me to the next clue and so on until I triumphed.
The hunt would usually take about an hour or so and sometimes the clues would be very easy or obvious, but there were always some that were real stumpers. But the event was one that everyone looked forward to, including all the adults. In fact, it was so much fun for everyone, one of my aunts begged to be allowed to participate, so the following year, we both had our own set of clues to follow.
One of my favorite clues was, “Go to the fork in the road”. Now, we lived on a small, long, straight road. No forks. But at the end of our driveway, along the berm of the road, Mom had stuck a fork in the ground and laced within the tines was the next clue.
Despite pranks and even without clues leading to chocolates, spring is a beautiful time of year. The trees are budding, the grass is greening and the flowers are starting to bloom. We can start opening windows to let the fresh air inside and going for walks. It’s magnificent!
Being that it’s April, traditionally we’re looking forward to the April showers that bring May flowers. And when it rains, we can get pretty wet. But we all have umbrellas and we carry them inside. That internal umbrella is joy. We all have it inside of us and we all know how it feels. The more we allow ourselves to feel joy, the better a place the world… and our lives… will be.
What’s my joy? It sure isn’t the big things in life. While the big things do bring some happiness, it’s the little things that bring the most joy. I experience joy when, for no special reason, my husband does something just a little special just because he wants to see me smile. And it’s not that special something I smile about… it’s his desire to see me smile.
For me, joy is feeling the warmth and the weight of my dog Helo’s head resting on my foot as I type this. It’s anticipating the blooming of the daffodils out in the yard and the taste of my lunch yet to come.
What brings you joy? Notice it. Celebrate it. In fact, let’s all celebrate our joy every day. Let the joy in you blossom.
And here’s hoping that your roast isn’t burning!
Joe Thornton
Great Conjunction Co-Founder
It’s March! And dare I say… time keeps “marching” on! Yeah, that was a pretty bad pun. But hey, there’s no charge for the floorshow!
Well, spring is almost here; it’s just a matter of days away. I grant you, it doesn’t yet feel like springtime, but it’s coming and with it all the reawakening, freshness and new possibilities.
Because of the odd weather we’ve been having in NE Ohio, for weeks now, the Daffodils in our yard have been sprouting. Soon the crocus start to appear and the grass will be turning green again. Trees will begin to leaf and the sun will shine warmer each day. Nature is coming back from dormancy to share its beauty.
While each season holds a beauty of its own, I find springtime a fascinating season. I’m intrigued by the contrast between the old and the new, the life coming back from a seeming death, the colorful against the gray backdrop.
This time each year, a poem that my mom taught me when I was a kid rings through my mind. I wanted to share it with you. I’m sorry, but I don’t know the name or the author.
Spring has sprung
The grass is riz
I wonder where the flowers is
We all know that the flowers are soon to come. And with them, let’s each of us set our hearts to blossom and bloom with them. Let the springtime fill you with joy and hope. Allow the kindness, warmth and love inside your heart to spread and flow freely to all those you meet.
Don’t leave all the color and beauty up to nature. Spread it around.
I also wanted to “plant a seed” with you about a couple of upcoming events we’re currently organizing for you. We’re going to have a very special guest speaker in August and they’ll be autographing their books afterward. We’re also going to be celebrating art in a very special way. Once all the plans are finalized, we’ll be making the announcement for these events. We’re excited and can’t wait to share them with you!
Now go out and blossom!
Joe Thornton
Great Conjunction Co-Founder
- Written by Annette Noyes
This card is about clearing the way and overcoming obstacles or opposition to your ideas and/or projects. Part of overcoming will be to stand firm in your convictions. Don’t allow group-think to carry you along with the herd. Rise above; it’s time for some individual action.
The Seven of Wands also indicates that your current “location” may not be best for you. Have you been thinking of opening a business and have a store front picked out? That spot may not bring you the traffic you need to be successful. Review all your research and/or leasing paperwork just to be certain. Alternatively, have you been thinking it’s time to move jobs? March would be a good month to set that change in motion.
Whether you stand up for your intentions, move jobs, or change business locations, it’s all going to be a bit frightening and you’ll struggle with insecurity and doubt. This. Is. Normal! A little trepidation tells you you’re paying attention and the project, business, or job matters to you. Remain calm, resourceful, and above all else true to your Highest Self.
Happy March All!
Annette Noyes