I used to be a fortune-teller – this is something only a few people know about me. I actually had a psychic practice in NYC, where I offered Tarot and other readings.
Fortune telling is an odd practice though. I don’t predict, for instance; it’s more an insight into the situation at hand and how it might develop. I try to guide the questioner back on the right path by letting the symbols resonate with them. I am merely the cards’ conduit or interpreter. Sometimes it feels more like therapy than fortune-telling.
I’m still called on at times by those who know I do this, and practice it regularly for myself. On New Year’s Eve I like to look back and look ahead. There’s something about this time of year that energizes the forces that work through symbols or intuition. I try to limit myself to one question or situation that I need guidance on. Today, instead of using Tarot cards, I take out my crystal ball. After about twenty minutes of focused meditation, a grey mist swirls across the surface and I am ready to ask my question.
Should I continue to write, or is it just a pretentious longing and nothing will ever come of it?
The answer comes as swiftly as a sword: Should you continue breathing or will nothing come of that?
So … that’s my fortune for 2010.
The worthwhile path is not always the easy path. It is hard to tell sometimes, if what we are pursuing is “it”. When I volunteered for the suicide and crisis hot line, years ago, we were told that crisis is an opportunity for change.
Dear Winslow, if you are in crisis over your writing career, that may be a good thing. I would ask you to think about this question: What does the world need to know that only I can tell it?
You love to write; this is clear. What do you want? Do you want to make money with your writing? Do you want literary recognition? Some writers/artists are not commercially successful during their life time and receive NO recognition while they live and breath.
It is clear that you can make money with your writing; but if this is your main goal, they you will have to write for the commercial market; whatever niche you can fill. If you want literary recognition; that is really a tall order; but possible. If you want to write what you want to write: go right ahead. I believe you are already doing that.
I collect quotes that inspire me. Here are two I thought you might enjoy:
Art is Long
Life is Short
Judgment Difficult
Opportunity Transient
Goethe
Great Works are preformed not by strength, but by Perseverance.
Samuel Johnson
Don’t be afraid to suffer and strive. It makes you feel alive.
Love to you.
Pualani
And you talk to me about being of many talents. Wow, you are just so awesome…
Bob