What are you grateful for today?
A simple ritual inspired by the 9 of Cups
It always feels a little awkward saying “Happy Memorial Day.” It’s a holiday of remembrance for the many lives lost in service to our country. Today, Memorial Day is made more somber for my extended family, with sad news arriving this morning about the loss of my sister-in-law’s aunt, Maria Crawford.
Maria was a delightful, lovely, and exuberant person — the type who lit up the room upon entering. She was hilarious, beautiful, and kind. Though I didn’t spend very much time with Maria, I’ll always hold fond memories of her eagerly asking questions to get to know me better, enthusiastically telling funny stories, and emphatically bursting into the room at Christmas wearing a cheetah-print onesie.
I will be lighting a candle later this evening for Maria and praying for her peaceful transition.
Today is also the New Moon in Gemini — sorry I missed the last full moon — and the card I pulled made me think of a daily ritual J and I have been practicing. Every evening, when we sit down to dinner, I ask, “What are you grateful for today?” He shares at least three things, big or small, that made his day better before asking me the same question. It’s a great way to throw a little boost of gratitude into your day while shifting focus to the positive aspects of life rather than the little peeves.
If you need to pull yourself out of a funk, or even if you don’t, I highly recommend it.
On that note, here’s your card for this month’s new moon:
The Nine of Cups
Gratitude is a key element of manifesting, and that’s what the Nine of Cups represents. Counting your blessings is a surefire way to shift your focus from lack to abundance, which paves the way for more goodness to come your way.
This card indicates fertile ground in which to plant seeds of the wishes you want to bring into reality. The time is right to manifest the deepest desires of your heart, trusting that what comes of it will bring you closer to your highest potential, and that what’s aligned with your greatest good also supports the good of all.
And if you want to borrow my idea to sneak some extra gratitude into your day, I’m all for it.
That’s all for now, friends. I’m keeping this one brief because I’m feeling a lot of feels, and because I have a whole lotta gardening to do on this first fine day off work.
I hope your day is magnificent, no matter how you spend it.
Thank you for reading. Remember that life is short and precious. Love your people hard.
I love you,
Lauren