Category: Wisdom Cards

#Magic!ContemplationsMedicine BasketWisdom Cards

Learning is fun!!! (Well, sometimes…)

Posted on by sue boardman

From the moment I met Sally, Dick, and Jane, I’ve loved learning! Well, consciously. I suspect I already loved it, at least by the time I was learning to talk.

Sometimes, though, learning is less fun. We seem to be having one of those times in history, just now. For example… MS NOW ran a piece today, filmed at a food pantry in Minnesota, which said, basically, that people are hungry but too afraid for their safety to come get food.

I was horrified! You see, once upon a time, I was one of those people who was hungry. Young, single mom & nursing student, I needed help from Food Stamps to feed my pre-school son. I also needed student loans, scholarships, and HUD housing help. It was really hard. And, we made it.

Now, though, we have a whole lot of people in our country who are terrified. Not just that they won’t “make it,” but that they may not live through it.

Blessedly, I am still learning. In fact, I learned a new thing today. A whole new perspective. Well, consciously! First a bit of context… I’m taking a new virtual class that has to do with neurology and bodies and the whole eco-system of the planet.

We began with movement. Gulp! (Yes… this has not been my favorite thing for quite some time.) Blessedly, our leader was wise and kind and gentle.

The story is too long to share here. Let’s jump to the punch line… the part where the voice in my head claimed:

My body is calling me into new healing… new learning… new relationship… and change involves motion!

I suspect you’ll understand that realizing that was a whole lot more fun than flipping on the news afterward!

Let’s just say that the lunacy goes on.

The question is how we – you & I – get clear enough to claim what we love. What we believe in. What heals the world.

And we’ve never been “here” before. Well, most of us. And we have some learning to do. I have 3 immediate ideas… which may remind some of you of hurricane preparedness.

Non-perishable food & clean water. Back up energy. Determination to help. (Winter weather is headed our way!)

The fourth, big picture idea is HOPE… DREAMS! Kind of like learning to paint!

So why did I pay attention in my class about movement??? Because I have things to do. Things that matter to me and to the world my grandteens will inherit! Things I, frankly, didn’t imagine needing to know!

For now, though, we’re giving a deep freezer we no longer need to a family of folks who do. (And, yes… it also means more space!)

ps… if you have big questions, too… if you hear the sound of the drum… let’s talk! I have space for 2 new 1:1 dreamer/clients looking for some new tools and guidance along the way. Click here and the calendar elves will hook you up with 45 minutes, on me, to explore possible roads ahead!

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Old tune… new ears!

Posted on by sue boardman

I didn’t grow up with this one in my head. Not exactly top of the hymn list in mid-west Presbyterian churches or very Catholic neighborhoods, back in the early 1960’s.

In fact, I probably learned it in my summer camp years from Joan Baez, who might possibly have sung it for Dr. King. And, yes… that’s no doubt why it’s rumbling around my head just now. It’s called, Just a Closer Walk With Thee.

Then, there’s the news. The seemingly endless work still to be done. And, yes, it’s true…

I am tired. I am weak. I am worn…

Blessedly, there are more things which are true, as well. One of those is this…

I am determined!

Another is that…

I can’t do it all alone!

Neither, by the way, can any of us! Which is, no doubt, why the song begs…

…take my hand.

So, I let my very cranky neck choose a new pillow. The cover is in the washer as I type. It’s going to flunk all the Mom rules and nursing school rules for the right way to make a bed and I’m totally okay with that because, if I don’t take care of me, mattering is even harder!

I also had a BIG conversation about my next book and some ways to get the already-books out in the world, doing more good. (Prayers and good juju much appreciated!!)

Here’s the really cool thing, though…

The world needs what you have to share, too! The stuff that lives in the secret box labeled What you are called to do!

Paint. Write. Teach. Adopt abandoned pets. Sing. Feed people. Catch babies. Celebrate weddings. Give blankets to the local shelter. Preach. Vote… you hear me. And I want to hear you! Personally, my medicine basket is all a tingle over some about-to-begin learning in the land of Eco-Somatics and trauma release and regenerative wisdom!

In this moment, I’m looking for two brave souls ready to take a chance on claiming their own magic and putting it to work in the world. You see, that’s my magic! Naming visions and claiming next right things on the road from here to the place where we feel called. (And, frankly, “here” could use a whole lot of work just now!) So, if you’re feeling your special sign of ready – or even intrigued – let’s talk! Just click and ask the calendar elves to hook us up so we can chat. ​ No pressure. No expecting or directing. Just somebody to walk with you, with lots of possibilities and tools for your medicine basket.

And, I really only have space for 2 people!!! Short term. Manageable. Personalized. You’ll know if it’s you! Here’s a timely bit of music for musing…

ps… the first known recording of Just A Closer Walk was made by the Selah Jubilee Singers in 1941. Selah is a Hebrew word which implies intentional pauses – or lifting up – for mindfulness, praise, meditation, and connecting with faith or source!

Amen. Amen. Selah.

#Magic!ContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersGuardiansWisdom Cards

All the parts of us…

Posted on by sue boardman

You’ve probably met them, before, these old friends of mine. They live on a wall near my writing chair, in a room where there is often the noise called news coming from the TV. It turns out that they want to join the conversation!

We’ll skip the swearing and crying. I’m guessing you’ve got your version of all that covered. Let’s do introductions, instead.

Aslan. Matilda. (Or Boudicca!) And a cardinal bird named Elsie. Not so much intentional as demanding. And I’ve needed their messages a whole lot, lately!

You know Aslan, I suspect, from C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Wise and powerful. Benevolent, but formidable. You can probably guess why I find him appealing in this moment!

Then, Matilda/Boudicca. (The painting hasn’t made a firm decision yet, and she could assuredly be both!) Powerful women leaders in times when women weren’t permitted to be powerful. Matilda of Tuscany was my cousin. She is often described as one of the most important governing figures of the Italian Middle Ages. She was also a spiritual leader and a huge supporter of the arts.

Boudicca, hundreds of years before Matilda, was a warrior queen in ancient Britain, also considered a symbol of the struggle for justice and independence. It’s likely that she, too, was a relative.

The bird is named Elsie after my grandmother who told me, when I was about six, that cardinals were ancestors who’d gone on, coming back to check on us and encourage us.

And, yes… they’re livid about a whole lot of the news.

Here’s the thing that I’ve realized… these stories and images are powerful #Filters through which I’m engaging the context of this moment!

For today, I am claiming their wisdom and strength… still alive in my being and spirit. I’m also claiming their #inquiry…

What can you do – what do you need to do – so that what you love to do works better???

Yep! You. Now. In the midst of this context.

And, I have a plan, though it needs to wait until Friday. Watch for a special email! In fact, if you’re not on the email list just now, use the pop-up thingy and get the elves to fix that!

ps… Fairy Tales coming soon. And more Wisdom Cards! (It pays to listen to the walls!)

#Magic!ContemplationsGrandmothersMedicine BasketWisdom Cards

’twas the night before 2026

Posted on by sue boardman

…and all through the house, the people were waiting for news and pondering choices! You know…

If this, then ________________…

If that, then ________________…

And, yes, the multitude of elipses are this writer’s way of expressing, “What next?”

The challenge, of course, is that we don’t know, even when we think we do! And, it’s hard!

There are, however, some things we CAN know. Some things we CAN choose. And, yes… I like those! So, I chose a card! One of Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards, to be exact. Sometimes I just mix all of them together in a big heap, close my eyes, and pull one.

In this moment, though, I needed to narrow things down a bit. That meant the category known as Meta-what??? These have to do with big questions on the road to the place where you feel called. And, you know what? I got a very good fit for this moment! Here it is:

And, yes… a Tardis, like the one you see, above, is on the front. The magical door that opens to a whole new world! (It helps to love a sci-fi guy!)

So… time for meddlin’!

What could YOU set free???

Literal objects. Limiting beliefs. We always/We never…

Personally, I’m setting It’s too complicated free, and claiming Let’s see what happens, instead! Chances are, as the old story goes, I’ll learn something and you know how I love that!

And, there’s a bunch of stuff in my closet that’s eagerly awaiting an excursion to a local Clothes Closet!

Here’s the bottom line, though… what I’m really setting free is…

ME

And, no, I’m not at all sure what that will look like. I just know that it’s time! Me, and the Fire Horse who brings intense energy, innovation, and bold action to this year, now. I’ll figure the rest of it out!

ps… start your New Year with much love and a great new tool! Order 2 sets of MetaMod Wisdom Cards, shipped to the same address, and save 20%. Offer limited to in-stock supply. Just click here and the elves will do the magic! And wander… there’s lots of inspiring stuff!

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Of signs and wonders… and hope, even now!!!

Posted on by sue boardman

The awesome dude who helps wrangle the lawn/garden/downed tree limbs, etc. was here on Thursday, with his sweet puppy-buddy, Lily. We did a good bit of plotting and planning and made space for Charlie Brown and his friends because – you know – it wouldn’t be Christmas without them!

Rule #1 for this kind of magic is, support the environment! No chemicals. Leaves blown off the driveway and down the hill where they can happily compost without causing mobility challenges. More prep for new rose bushes. You hear me!

Similar tasks are in progress in the studio. Canvases stashed safely. Paint put away. Brushes cleaned. And 4 dining chairs reclaimed from the basement. Yep! Our kids are coming!!!

Let’s be real… there were already lots of things on our lists and this is – well – more. My shoulder dislocated, again. (It’s back, now!) And, then, there’s the news, which is decidedly less than jolly. Here’s the Red Thread that connects it all…

It’s all about the world our Littles are inheriting!!! And letting those leaves compost, etc. is a holiday gift, even without wrapping paper and bows!

Then there’s another sort of gift… the honeycomb you saw as we began. I found it, just at the base of the grape arbor, about 10 minutes after the garden guy left. Just laying there, face up, right by the driveway.

Now, I’m desperately allergic to bee stings and I’ve had enough practice to be really cautious, but that bit of nature was calling my name. I watched it for several minutes and saw no movement. I nudged it gently with my boot and nothing happened. And I longed to hear its message.

So, I brought it gently inside and searched on my phone for something along the lines of “preserving dry honeycomb”. It now resides, as directed, in a (re-used) plastic bag in the freezer, lest there be mites! (A couple days, according to the directions.)

I shared the photo with some wise on-line friends and one dear heart was curious, too. Here’s a glimpse of what she sent me, after a bit of research… (Yes, AI does have a few uses!)

Finding a dry or empty honeycomb often symbolizes a period of transition, the completion of a cycle, or a call to seek new sources of spiritual nourishment and wisdom. Here are some spiritual meanings associated with a dry honeycomb:

  • A Call for New Growth/Nourishment: The honeycomb typically represents spiritual nourishment and the “sweetness” of divine wisdom or pleasant words. A dry or empty comb might suggest a spiritual emptiness or a lack of fulfillment in your current circumstances, encouraging you to seek out new sources of guidance and enrichment.
  • Renewal and Rebirth: In nature, abandoned combs are often cleaned out by other creatures, leaving an empty cavity for a new colony to inhabit. Spiritually, this can symbolize the potential for renewal and the opportunity to build a new life or pursue a different path, free from past burdens.
  • Diligent Effort and its Rewards: The honeycomb is a powerful symbol of diligence, cooperation, and the rewards of hard work. A dry comb may serve as a reminder to reflect on your efforts; perhaps the rewards of a past endeavor have been fully harvested, or it’s a message to direct your diligence toward a new, fruitful pursuit.
  • Completion and Release: The absence of bees and honey can signify that a phase of life or a project, which once involved collective effort and abundance, has reached its natural conclusion. It may be a sign that it is time to let go and prepare for a new beginning.
  • A Search for Essence: The original honeycomb holds the essence of the bees’ labor and the sweetness of the honey. Finding an empty one might prompt you to look beyond the material or surface-level aspects of life and search for deeper, spiritual meanings or hidden truths (just as honey is “extracted” from the comb). 

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a boatload of that, just now! In fact, I’ve spent the last few days exploring just such an opportunity which happens to have a whole lot to do with wonders of the natural world!

And, yes… there’s more to come!

For this moment, my unhappy shoulder and I re-scheduled our Feminine Frequency Festival offering to December 31, at 1:20pm ET. Think of it as Magical New Year Prep!!! YOUR first step, still, is joining the Facebook group where the wonder is beginning on the Solstice. Just click here! And, stay tuned! And, spread the word! Love for you to share this post with friends and family…

ps… maybe she brought the beginning of this unfolding wonder! May we have ears to hear!

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She Takes Her Place Among the Matriarchs…

Posted on by sue boardman

You know how, sometimes, things that were familiar in the past seem to carry new meaning when the context changes???

This is just such a thing. My #Insight painting from 2021. And, yes, she appeared, in a dream early this morning, ready to meddle again!

#Insight is one of those painting adventures that’s supposed to mess with your mind! (In a good way!!!) Different strokes and shapes and positions. Symbols everywhere. A way to externalize and claim some of what matters on the road we call life. And, in my case, lots of prayer dots!

Turns out that hearing them in a dream can be just as influential as creating them in the first place!

I want to say this next bit as gently as possible… a bit of intentional vagueness, if you will…

There’s a whole lot of wild stuff going on in this world… in this moment… and it’s pretty much bound to shift some of our internal notions of always and never! And that, dear heart, takes some adapting to. Preferably of the conscious choice sort, rather than the frantic, reactive sort.

Part of my deeply personal adapting is practicing for my upcoming Feminine Frequency offering on December 21. If you’ve been hanging out a while you’ve probably heard me mention that there were some things we didn’t cover in nursing school or seminary. Solstice was, indeed, one of those things!

A literal – and symbolic – turning from dark to light. From death to rebirth, renewal, and hope. And I’m claiming it!!!

In fact, I’m calling you to join me! Let’s turn fear into courage, scraps into wonder, and calling into a path you can actually walk!

And, yes… I have a medicine basket overflowing with tools to do just that! Here’s the thing, though – I can’t do it for you. YOU have to show up for yourself. And for the world. And, yes… it can feel scary to claim our truth!

That’s why I put some blank cards in Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards! They look like this:

And, yes, the flip side is intentional space for you to claim you! In fact, we’ll make a draft of your first card in our Feminine Frequency circle! You’ll want a cuppa, and something to write on and with.

Where do you long to take YOUR place???

YOUR first Next Right Thing is to click here! Go ask to join the Facebook Group, which might take a day or two. And mark your calendar! Sunday, December 21 at 4:40pm ET. Think of it as claiming light, wherever you might be. And carrying the light forward!

We’ve got this!!! And, it’s free!!!

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Huge thanks… and a crazy-true story!

Posted on by sue boardman

First, though, a confession! When I woke up yesterday morning, I reached for my phone beside the bed to check the time and see what disruptive things my alarm might be plotting. And – as you may have guessed – the phone elves were NOT in a helpful mood!

Updates. Locks. Codes. Everything looking different. (I know some of you have had similar adventures, lately.) I was NOT amused. You see, much of my brain works on the “what finger do I move to make this happen” model of reality, and the way we’ve always done it wasn’t working!

After a bit of help from the Legendary Husband, I at least got the alarm turned off and a cup of tea made. (And, yes… I’m officially feeling Crone-like!) Next on the list is eliminating the new little noise it makes when I get a text!

There is, of course, more stuff going on in our house, much of it health-related.

My alter-ego, Glinda Good Trouble is on it! While she hasn’t yet pulled off any notable, literal, physical health-magic, she’s all over the perspective thing and she’s thrilled with her very own Medicine Basket! So, with a cuppa for each of us, we sat down for a chat. I was all ears as she began…

You’ve been here before… well, not exactly HERE, but very hard places that mattered a lot. And you made things better!

(In case you’re new around here, she was right!) Then, she started bossing me around! Art notebook, with the heavy paper. Best fine line markers. And (duh!) an #inquiry!

What does that #Magic #Filters thing have to do with what you’re feeling and the next right thing???

I can’t tell you the whole story just now, because it isn’t all my story. I can give you a glimpse:

Two words I haven’t traditionally stored in the same box!!! And, yes, they opened the door to about six next right things and, quite probably, a way better day.

Now, it’s time for the exciting part! Glinda Good Trouble and I will be speaking – along with a whole lot of really cool friends – during the Feminine Frequency Festival and you’re invited! Step one is to join the Facebook group so you’ll have access to all the info and the magic. Just click here!!! I really, really hope you will! And you can do that today. Now, even! (I’m speaking on day one… 12/21/25!)

When you get right down to it, I suspect we could all use a whole lot of good trouble in this moment! Especially the kind that actually works!!!

ps… want to be a bit ahead of the class??? Check out Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards, before they’re all gone! Put 2 sets in your basket and the obliging elves will joyfully give you 20% off!

pps… curious about some of the back-story? Wander about on the front page and click things!