Dandelyon's Worlds

The holidays are always busy, and always fraught with food-danger. I lost most of Christmas Day to food allergies, but had a good Christmas anyway, getting to see family and being gifted with way too many Deirdre-safe cookies and even a pie by my daughter. Oh, well, those will keep.

But that put me behind on writing things, and I ended up working on a story far too late into the night today. But I did finish it by the deadline to submit it--and when I read it aloud after submitting it, found almost no typos. (I'd rather none at all, of course, but a 4000+ word story with only a couple of typos isn't horrible.)

So, here we are on New Year's Day, looking at a new year that, I hope, will bring better things to us all than the old one did. Come, visit a while, and I'll do a reading if you want.

As always, New friends and old are very welcome.

(Edit: I tried to put a picture in here and kept getting an error message. *sigh*)

About the readings,

You can simply ask for a single card (with the usual clarifying card for people who tip). The guitar case below is my personal PayPal link, featuring my own artwork, which still inspires me even though it isn't Tarot-related.

I am also offering a five-card reading for $25, or if you want a larger reading we can discuss costs. A signal boost for readings or for my Patereon will allow you to ask for a clarification card on some part of this reading, if you wish.

Regardless of the length of the reading, you may ask about real life or a creative project, even for a character you play in a game. I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. I can draw a card for your protagonist or villain, or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts, and I can modify a more-traditional five-card spread into a prompt for a story focusing on plot or characters or a little of both. Let me know if you have any particular request.

For free one card readings, you can pick from my decks, including the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, the Daughters of the Moon Tarot (one of the round decks), or the Shapeshifter Tarot. If you want a Guide to companion you in the new year or the holidays, the Susan Seddon Boulet or Fairies Oracle both work well. If you don't pick a deck, I might pick from any of the decks available to me.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration. Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

When you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your Paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $2 (Paypal charges fees). If Paypal doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something out.

I will reply to all requests, though with the holidays, there may be a delay in getting to you.

Thank you, Blessed Be, and may your new year be full of joy and dreams made happily true!

Status: Open!

As always, while I work hard to offer insight and inspiration, all I can legally promise is entertainment. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

Wow, it's autumn already. Well, the weather is more like August--yesterday I carried water out to the tomato plants because the pipes leading to my exterior water faucet have developed a leak and so that pipe has been turned off until I can afford to get it fixed. But it's getting dark earlier and earlier, and leaves are starting to change colors and drift gently off the trees, so I can't deny it isn't really summer any more.

The change of seasons, and the approach of the fiscal end-of-year has gotten me considering whether it's worth doing these readings so often. Am I sending enough good out into the world? Am I bringing in enough money to make up for my income being reduced by the policies of this administration, and the expected humongous increase in my Obamacare plan because the GOP is making the insurance companies nervous about whether the G-D government will follow the law and pay them? That makes me worry about what else can I do to bring in income. Should I start a Patreon? Do I need to reduce costs somehow Should I make plans to do even fewer cons next year, or cut costs some other way? It's not like I live a lavish life, and have lots of corners I can still cut--and I can't cut out stuff like the asthma meds or the food that doesn't make me sick (the food allergies mean I can't eat most cheap food).

So many practical questions that cannot really be answered ahead of time. All I can do is make some guesses and some commitments, do what I can, and see what happens. Like everybody else, of course. We're all in that boat, one way or another.

But feel free to weigh in, at least about the things you care about. Do you want to see me continue to offer readings so often? Do you want me to do more fiction or art in these pages? Would you consider following me to a Patreon, and if so, what would you most want to bribe me to do?

I love to hear from you.

And of course, whether or not you want to kibitz on my decisions, I'm here to do readings.

New friends and old are welcome.

I am continuing to offer a five-card reading for $25, or if you want a larger reading we can discuss costs. As always, a signal boost will allow you to ask for a clarification card on some part of this reading, if you wish. Alternatively, you can ask for a Torn World reading and get an in-character reading in Affamarg or the Breidalam Mountains using that world's standard layout for the divination disks.

Or, of course, you can simply ask for a single card (with the usual clarifying card for people who tip). The guitar case below is my personal PayPal link, featuring my own artwork, which still inspires me even though it isn't Tarot-related. I'm (still) thinking about doing an appropriate self-portrait. Not today--but should it be realistic or abstract? Me as I am, or me as I might be portrayed in a deck? But back to readings!

You may ask about real life or a creative project, even for a character you play in a game. I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. I can draw a card for a character or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts, and I can modify a more-traditional five-card spread into a prompt for a story focusing on plot or characters or a little of both.

For free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, the Daughters of the Moon Tarot (one of the round decks), or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide or for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. I don't need to know what your question is, but you are welcome to share it with me if you like.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Paid readings, short or long, also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, including but not limited to my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards and my Fantasy Showcase Tarot deck where each card was done by a different science fiction/fantasy artist.

Tipping can also be used to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card if the initial card (or paid multi-card reading) leaves you with questions. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and also earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card. (If you only signal boost, please do not ask for two cards to start with. A clarifying card, if the reading is unclear to you, is fine.)

I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration. Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

When you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your Paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $2 (Paypal charges fees). If Paypal doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something out.

I've written before about why I do readings and about some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this card draw by changing the status line below rather than risk leaving anyone without a response.

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

Status: Open to free one-card readings until I go to sleep Sunday night (which will doubtless be well after midnight) and open to tipped readings until this status message is changed.

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

Today, life is no focus and too much time in the bathroom. Probable culprit, by timing of onset, is tasting a bit of "the very last bottle anywhere" of a friend's most favorite wine ever.  Maybe two teaspoons worth.  *sigh*

I have a calendar note to start Full Moon readings today; I've moved that reminder to tomorrow morning. I have No Spoons today, and the GOP's attack on so many young people who had no choice in being brought to this country, people who just want to work to make our country great, well, that doesn't help me to feel any better.

In better news, while out Pokemon raiding Saturday, some of my fellow raiders found a queen bee and two males "busy" on the sidewalk, and once people were ready to stop filming them, I slid a piece of cardboard under them and moved them under a nice, bushy bush so they could continue without being stepped on.  I admit I was nervous to bother them--I really don't need a bee sting--but they totally ignored me except to grab onto the cardboard so I had to leave it with them.  (Sorry to the homeowner, for leaving cardboard under your bush!)  I hope by now they've found a nice safe place to start a hive.  I like flowers, thus, I am strongly in support of keeping our wild bee population healthy and numerous.

Oh, and when your GPS says it'll be faster to not take the expressway into Chicago on a holiday weekend, it's wise to listen. The drive will be much more pleasant.  And if you happen to stop near a tiny, nondescript country church and use the Pokemon app to help you reset your bluetooth's volume, you might catch a dratini.

I look forward to feeling better and reading cards tomorrow!

So, I got up today with the intention of posting this early, but my computer kept freezing. I closed it down and restarted it--repeatedly, with varied results. Eventually, when I couldn't even get the shut down menu to come up (much less work), I took it to the Geek Squad for a thorough internal scanning. Of course, the menu came up for them, but I think the hard drive is probably dying. The computer has been acting been flaky for a while, on and off, which prompted me to back up everything on it a couple of weeks ago. I added a bit to the backup before heading out, but there wasn't a lot that was new that hadn't been sent off via e-mail.

I might or might not have the old computer back, but not 'til this weekend at the earliest. In any case, I no longer trust it with my writing--I don't always have a beta reader to e-mail stuff to, after all. I also just started a new project, one that I actually have outlined (it's a cozy mystery, and mysteries seem, to my hindbrain at least, to need outlines) so I had planned to get a bunch of writing done over the next few days. I really don't want to lose momentum on it. So, when I dropped the old one off I crossed my fingers that nothing else will blow holes in my budget and picked out a new one.

Thus it is that I'm finally sitting down to offer to do readings, in between trying to get the new computer set up and changing passwords that the old computer knows (just in case). Here's hoping the full moon didn't bring you any similar surprises!

So, on to the readings.

As always, I hope to send some good energy out into the world, to spark some hope and creativity. You can ask about real life or a creative project, or even a game. I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. I can draw a card for a character or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts--starting something new is a traditional use of New Moon energy. But ask what you will, because now is always transforming into a new moment.

New friends and old are welcome.

For free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, the Daughters of the Moon Tarot (one of the round decks), or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide or for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. I don't need to know what your question is, but you are welcome to share it with me if you like.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Tips also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, including but not limited to my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards. Tipping ca also be used to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

Please consider dropping something in the guitar case below. Readings take time and energy, and even though the Milwaukee winter, like everything else, has been affected by global warming, winter heat is pricey and old houses always need repair somewhere or other.

Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and also earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card. I'd love to do a bunch of readings, under the circumstances!

I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration! Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

If you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $1 (Paypal charges fees). If that doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something out.

I've written before about why I do readings and some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this card draw by adding a clear note at the top of the post rather than risk leaving anyone without a response. However, I intend to stay open through the weekend, and longer for paid readings. The weekend will be busy, so if you get your request in after noon on Thursday, I may not draw your card until Sunday night. If that's all right with you, it's all right with me!

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

There was a full moon this morning, but also a Tammy Baldwin town hall meeting (more about that later, here or on FB), so I put off this post until after getting home and eating. I am once again offering to draw cards with the hope of sending some good energy out into the world, to spark both hope and creativity. You can ask about real life, of course, or about a creative project. For instance, I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. Alternatively, I can draw a card for a character or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts.

There is a Torn World Muse Fusion coming up later this month; if you want a taste of that world and if you tip, you can ask for an in-character reading in that world for yourself or for a Torn World character. These readings take me more time and energy, which is why I don't offer them for free.

Daylight Savings time "sprung back" overnight, so it isn't getting dark quite so early, always a welcome thing. My "green room" has little pots, some with seedlings and some without. My work space is currently cluttered with acrylic paints, brushes, and canvasses that hold some very incomplete paintings. But come in, be welcome, whether you've visited before or not. I won't try to resist showing off my in-progress work, which includes the very start of a painting inspired (but not required) by the last two readings. The frog has a sore foot, and I envision adding at least Ffaff the Ffooter, examining the frog. Or perhaps the frog is a statue, and Ffaff is doing something else here...I'm not sure.



If I get at least $50 in this drawing, I'll do a separate painting for this drawing, as I said. If not, the readings here might be used to expand my vision of the Frogg & Ffaff painting.

But it's time to put the paintings aside for a bit, pay bills, and if you drop by, do some readings.

Until Wednesday, for free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards, or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide, ask for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. I don't need to know what your question is, but you are welcome to share it with me if you like.

If I get $50 in tips, I'll use the cards I draw to inspire a painting, and I'll post progress drawings here for you all to see. So far I've received $17.50 of $50 for this drawing.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Tips also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

Please consider dropping something in the guitar case below. Readings take time and energy, and there are still squirrels that think my house is their home tree. I will soon need to pay someone to undo the winter's damage.

Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and also earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card.

I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration! Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

If you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $1 (Paypal charges fees). If that doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something else out.

I've written before about why I do readings and some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this card draw by adding a clear note at the top of the post rather than risk leaving anyone without a response.

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

With the current state of politics, I'm feeling more need for insight and inspiration than usual, and I'm thinking my friends might also be feeling the same. So I'm going to try to schedule card readings more often this year, hopefully at least once a month at either the full moon or then new (or possibly both).

It's a Full New Moon tonight, so I figure I'll offer to draw cards for a while. I am hoping to send some good energy out into the world, to spark some hope and creativity. You can ask about real life or a creative project, or even a game. I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. I can draw a card for a character or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts.

I hope you will stop by my garden. There's still some snow outside, so we'll pass through the frost-covered rose bushes and head inside. I have a little round glass table that's etched with a dragon design; we can sit there by candle light or turn the lava lamps on. You and I can share hot chocolate or tea and chat, and you can get a reading if you would like one. Both new friends and old are welcome.

For a day or two for free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards, or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide, ask for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. I don't need to know what your question is, but you are welcome to share it with me if you like.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Tips also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

Please consider dropping something in the guitar case below. Readings take time and energy, and even though the Milwaukee winter, like everything else, has been affected by global warming, winter heat is pricey and old houses always need repair somewhere or other.

Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and also earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card.

I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration! Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

If you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $1 (Paypal charges fees). If that doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something out.

I've written before about why I do readings and some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this card draw by adding a clear note at the top of the post rather than risk leaving anyone without a response. However, I intend to stay open at least through Saturday night, and longer for paid readings since, between the holidays and being in these days of low LJ usage, people may find the post late.

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

My heart is heavy today, what with some of the less friendly political comments I've been seeing, the horrible hate-massacre in Orlando, and some scary things happening in my neighborhood. So I'm feeling a need to send good energy out into the world, to wish one and all peace, joy, hope, creativity and love, or at least necessary lessons learned and changes for a better tomorrow. Also, it's the Strawberry Full Moon and Summer Solstice, which seems an auspicious time to send out good wishes to all.

So come, be welcome to my garden. We can smell the roses and then sit together in the shade and drink something cold, and you can see if you can find one of the first ripe mulberries. The local feral cats will doubtless stare at us from under the rose bushes. I keep trying to convince them I'm harmless, but they resist my guile. If we're lucky, we might see the cardinals courting in the big pine tree or some butterflies--I even caught a female Monarch on my milkweed a couple of weeks ago. We can chat, and you can get a reading if you would like one. New friends and old are welcome.

Today, for free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards, or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide, for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. You can also ask for a card or Guide for one of your characters or in some other way ask for advice or inspiration for a creative project.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Tips also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

I've written before about why I do readings and some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

Please consider dropping something in the guitar case below. Readings take time and energy, and even though Milwaukee isn't enclosed in the blizzard, winter heat is pricey.

Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card.

I understand all too well that sometimes people don't have cash or spoons, and it is generally during those times when people most need inspiration! Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

If you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your paypal information with your request.

Tips should be at least $1 (Paypal charges fees). Alternatively, you can tip in Torn World/EMG credits. If neither of these work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something out.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this One Card Draw (by adding a clear note at the top of the post) rather than risk leaving anyone without a response.

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

In fact, I can see it from my window. How cool is that? I won't get to watch the whole thing--the moon will drop below the horizon all too soon. Still, I got to see it with my eyes, and without the intermediary of a computer or television screen.

That's something I couldn't do during the last few eclipses due to cloud cover. I had to satisfy myself with other people's pictures, taken in other parts of the world. But just as there's a special magic in being able to do that, there's also a special magic in being able to see it here.

(pause for sleepy moon-watching)

So, I had to go to the attic eventually, since the moon dropped behind the houses across the street, and then watched it vanish--not at totality, really, just slivered to the point where the pre-dawn light and the tree limbs between me and it obscured it quite handily.

(pause to watch the total eclipse online, and to fall asleep on the couch, to be awakened by the wise advice that it's better to sleep in bed, and by a day's work of chores and errands)

I wonder, if I could live forever, or at least for thousands of years, would I reach a point where I was bored by things like eclipses, or tulips opening in the spring, or the taste of a perfectly ripe strawberry?

I don't mean, if I reach a point where I can't see or smell the perfect beauty of the first rose of spring, and can't taste the butter melting into my potato, and can't enjoy sleeping and waking due to pain and infirmity--it's not boredom if the body can't take in things properly, that's something else altogether.

But would I get bored if I were perfectly healthy, but had just experienced so many meals and flowers and strange phenomena that I didn't care?

I don't think so. It's a very personal answer, of course, but looking back, the times I didn't appreciate the little things as much as I normally do were all times, in retrospect, that I was sick or exhausted (and usually both). And even then, it was more like not seeing the sun rise because of the fog.

You'd think I'd remember this faster, when I'm having trouble focusing and finding the joy in getting things done, with all my experience with chronic illness--but that's the thing about chronic illness, it's sneaky. It's not like breaking your leg, it's like an eclipse. Things seem perfectly normal, then just a little off, and you never quite see a moment of discontinuity, a moment when there's a big change, it's just at some point, you realize not only have things been changing, but the change is dramatic and significant.

And unlike the eclipse, chronic health issues don't just go away. You have to do something about them.

But that's another post altogether.

This post is about appreciating the good things in life--the playfulness of a cat, the taste of halapeno jack cheese, the green smell of spring returning to the world, and soon, the soft gold of dandelions in the sun.

And stories--stories of cats and dragons and magic, of love and truth and kindness, and always, always, stories of people.

But for tonight--check out that moon! Isn't it cool?
( pictures! )

You can be too busy to think, distracted by grief and worry, dreams and plans, errands and chores, and more, and if you don't deprive them of basics like dirt and water and light, they do their thing:




These are some of the tomatoes that were on my upstairs front porch during the summer.  Yes, there's more than one variety; the colors actually are different, that's not just an artifact of taking pictures with a cell phone--though, on reflection, I also realize that the second picture's colors are affected by having a glowing grow light sitting there just barely out of the frame.  I turned off the grow light that's near the grouping of three.

This just goes to show that sometimes you have to rearrange things to achieve your goals.  Indoor tomato plants, actually bearing fruit.  I am pleased!

I'm working on rearranging other things in my life too; refinancing the mortgage, sorting through clothes (and other stuff) and designating some for donating and some for trash, trying to help the docs figure out how to get My Angel healthier, and more.  It's more and more clear to me that I need a writing/arting office, and I've known for some time that I need more time and space to be creative.  I think I will be able to make some big changes soon.  I hope.  Keep your fingers crossed for me while I work on making room and rearranging things.

In other news, the moon in the clouds was beautiful tonight. The pictures taken before I messed with the camera settings were stained pink by the color of my phone cover, but these two came out pretty well, I think:



Happy Full Moon, everyone!