Birthday spread.

1) What was the gift of my last birthday? 8p E.

2) What did I learn in my 50th year? Ace p. E.

3) What am I leaving behind in my 51th year? 3p E.

4) What am I welcoming in my 51st year? Emperor 4F.

5) What will I learn in my 51st year? Ace w. F.

6) What will I be most graceful for in my 51st year? 10 c. W.

7) What mantra would help me most throughout this year? The Sun 19= 1+9 =10 = 1 F.

1) The gift of my 50th birthday was the 8 of pentacles.

Teaching and learning.
I did both.
I taught Tarot classes. I hosted Meet Ups where I shared my experience. I also attended workshops and networked with other Tarot readers, observing, reflecting and learning.

In my 50th year I was equally eager to teach and to learn.
2) What I learned in my 50th year was the Ace of Pentacles.

Appreciation. I learned to dig deeper. I learned to ground better. I recognized how much I have accomplished. I learned to relax more and use what I have at my disposal. I learned not to be afraid to get a bit messy.
3) What am I leaving behind in my 51st year? 3 of Pentacles.

The need for perfection.
I am a Virgo. I like to be prepared. I like to have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. I hate the idea of embarrassing myself.

It only took me 50 years to understand that I am my worst critic.
My fear of embarrassing my self has prevented me in the past to try some things.

From now on I will strive only for my personal best.
4) What I am welcoming in my 51st birthday is the Emperor. 4F.

I have always liked the Emperor. With him you always know where you stand.

2014 Numerologically is a personal year 4 for me. Therefore 2015 is going to be a personal year 5. A year full of change.

I gather from the Emperor that my approach to all that instability will be organization.

I will try to plan as much as I can. I will avoid procrastination and confusion as much as possible.
I will keep order in my daily life to be able to deal the best I can with the aspects of life that I cannot control.
5) What I will learn in my 51st year is the ace of wands. 1F.

I will learn to dare and go out on a limb. Expand my horizons.
Take a calculated risk.
Follow my passion, seize the day. Live life fully with courage and fun.
6) What I will be most grateful for in my 51st year is the 10 of cups.

This is a beautiful card. It speaks of inner peace, joy and gratitude.

A Knowing that comes from within. It suggests living in harmony with who I am and with those around me.

It is like living with grace.
I love the sound of that.
7) What affirmation would help me most through my 51st year?
The Sun.

This card reminds me of Summer in Tuscany. That is where I was born and raised.

I think there is a message here.

In considering my new affirmation for the next 12 months, I need to remember who I am and where I come from.

In other words, my new motto should reflect who I am now, how I see life and the path that got me here.

Considering the presence of the ace of fire, I would say …

Live in the present.

Seize the day.

Look at the bright side.

See the possibilities.

Live life fully.

Be warm, be active, be a bright light.

All beautiful suggestions. I shall do my best.