Queen of Hearts

My grandmother was a quilter. She would take scraps of different cloths and put them together to make the most beautiful coverings. There was often a story behind each panel to explain why it was included in the quilt. The time and care it took to complete the finished product were reflected in the intricacy and detail of the display.



Think of the Queen of Hearts as a symbol for quilting. Deal the card when you want to blanket someone with comfort, color, or connection. Most of us are good at something. We have areas where we excel and operate with confidence and assurance. This is often referred to as our comfort zone. This phrase is used because there is no anxiety involved when we have to do anything associated with our strengths. However, in order for growth to occur, we have to try new things that are not as familiar to us. When a friend is in this situation, deal them the Queen of Hearts for a quilt of support and encouragement. Let them know that you believe in them and recognize the uncertainty attached to what they are doing.



Maybe someone is operating within their comfort zone, but doing so without being noticed. If you help to wrap them in a vibrant, colorful quilt, then their actions can be seen and valued by others. We are familiar with the line, "follow the yellow brick road", from The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was trying to return to her comfort zone of home. She was accompanied on the yellow brick road by knowledge (brains), compassion (heart), and boldness (courage). If you possess these traits, share them with a friend who may need help to shine in their comfort zone. Include a blue panel in their quilt to remind them that the sky is the limit.

The strength of the quilt, or Queen of Hearts, is determined by connections. You may not possess the comfort or color that your friend needs. If you can expand their network by introducing them to key people who can help them, it increases their exposure, opportunity, and support team. As you open doors for others, you multiply your potential for success. Deal a benevolent queen who rules with grace, wisdom, and purpose.

Queen of Spades

Queens are royalty. They issue decrees and proclamations. When they speak, people listen. Their statements are reported, repeated, and recycled. In other words, they generate quotes. For this reason, the Queen of Spades can be dealt when you want to share a meaningful quote with someone. Be sure to give the proper credit for the quote and attribute it to the correct person. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first inaugural address the now familiar phrase -"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". This would be an ideal quote for someone who needs a boost of courage.





Sometimes we may know just the right thing to say to encourage, comfort, thank, or bless someone. When this is the case, deal another card and use your own words. However, when what you want to express has already been said perfectly by another, deal the Queen of Spades and share the quote with them. Some popular sayings that may be used include:

• Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers
• Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison

• Determine to live life with flair and laughter. Maya Angelou

• The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up. Mark Twain

• There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Colin Powell

• People fail forward to success. Mary Kay Ash

The quotes don't have to come from politicians, poets, or philosophers. A line from a popular song might express what you want to convey. Maybe something your grandmother used to say applies to the situation. Regardless of the source, deal the Queen of Spades and share some words of wisdom.

King of Diamonds

I think of the King of Diamonds as a locksmith. He presides over a mine which contains stones (keys) to help you open various doors in your life. Deal the card to a friend who may need encouragement to discover hidden treasures already in their possession. For example, someone may need a confidence key to face an upcoming challenge. The symbolic key will serve 3 purposes by allowing you to:

Keep the focus on the ultimate goal and away from distractions

Establish a plan to monitor progress and success

Yield to opportunities for growth and development

Each time you deal the card, it may be for a different situation. However, each key should adhere to the above characteristics and unlock, or remove, self-made obstacles. It is important to have a virtual ring for these keys so that you can reuse them when needed. Some of the standard, or master keys, might be for creativity, motivation, stress relief, and persistence. These are some of the common stumbling blocks that we encounter on a regular basis. Deal the King of Diamonds to your friends and family when you feel they need a gentle nudge to continue moving toward their goals with optimism and determination.

Remember, you are also allowed to use the keys for your own benefit. Your fabulous future is waiting on you.

King of Clubs

Is there someone whom you consider to be a kindred spirit? You may have the same odd sense of humor or share a common view of current events. There is an unspoken language that can be conveyed through eye contact. Often times, you have similar backgrounds and goals. This is usually a small group. It is not that you exclude people. It's just that not everyone meets the membership criteria. You will have other friends, interests, and relationships outside of the unit. However, there will be a unique bond between the people in this particular circle.


The King of Clubs can preside over your meetings. Deal the card when you want to share an inside joke. It can serve as an unofficial membership card. Possession of it entitles you to certain benefits and privileges. The crew decides what those perks will be. Keep it simple and fun. Free lunch, tasty treats, movie cards, and key chains might be easy tokens to exchange. You can even share these things with others who are not part of the group. Be nice and issue temporary 1-day passes from time to time. When they see how much fun you are having, it will inspire them to form their own club.

Laugh often and always count your blessings. Send the King of Clubs to show that you are a cheerleader for your friends and family. Include a personal message to let them know they are part of your inner circle and tell them the reason why. There is probably a point you can highlight that only they will understand.

King of Hearts

It's February and Valentine's Day displays are everywhere that you look. The flowers, candy, stuffed animals, and greeting cards proclaim love and affection for the recipients. The King of Hearts can be used to represent the different expressions of the romantic, familial, and friendly overtures that characterize the significant relationships in our lives. For romance, kisses may be dispensed by the King of Hearts. If you are unable to physically be in the same place with your significant other, deal them the card and let them know kisses are included.

Don't forget to let family and friends know that they also occupy a special place in your heart. Random acts of kindness are a great way to show someone that you care. Sometimes the seemingly small efforts mean more to individuals than the grand gestures. Pay attention to what matters to them so that you will know how to best serve them. If they are always pressed for time, offer to run some basic errands for them (pick up dry cleaning, provide a meal for the family, etc.).

The King of Hearts is at your disposal. He is available to you everyday, not just on holidays. Use him to let others know that they are part of your royal family. He can issue any decree or declaration that you want. Maybe one day a month can be "No Kitchen Duty" for a friend. You can either cook or purchase the meals for them and their family for the day. Be creative and target to their specific needs. In this case, it really is the thought that counts.

King of Spades

Kings are rulers. They reign on thrones and over territories. They have authority. People listen to them and carry out their decrees. Our card this week, the King of Spades, will focus on the knowledge required to fulfill the office. For a king, both who they know and what they know are significant. Those two distinctions are also important for the rest of us. They help to identify the kings in our lives.


Who do you trust to make decisions that will benefit you? What have they done to earn the title of king? What wisdom and experience have they shared to increase your knowledge? The answers to these questions will help you determine who gets the King of Spades.



The word "king" allows us to do some fun associations. For example, "thinking" can be broken down to "thin" + "king". When we hear the word "thin", we tend to think of something that is lean, or bare, and without a lot of covering (thin ice, thinning hair, etc.). However, it should not always have a negative connotation. Thin can convey the absence of layers that obscure the true essence of a things. Since we have already established that "king" means authority, or ruler, then "thinking" might equal ruling with truth. Other words that can be broken down include:

• Parking = par + king = standard + decrees = governing according to high expectations
• Cooking = coo + king = talk nicely + throne = benevolent leadership
• Ticking = tic + king = involuntary movement + crown = changing priorities and alliances
• Ranking = ran + king = moved + ruler = communicating policy and law
• Winking = win + king = victory + authority = acceptance of power

Of course, these are not the actual definitions of any of these words. It is just a different way to show you how the word "king" plays such a big role in the English language. Deal the King of Spades to someone who has been a wise, benevolent, and significant authority figure for you. Remember, the focus is on knowledge so let them know what you have learned from them and how it has helped you.