I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Monday, March 18, 2024

Love is Like a Brick

From the Songs for the Journey Home, Second Wave Song (Two of Cups); from the Magic Neko Cards, the Eight of Diamonds:

Love is like a brick. You can build a house, or you can sink a dead body.
~Lady Gaga

This gushing fountain is topped by two cherubs. In the early versions of Greek mythology, Eros was portrayed as a cosmic force that brought people together which often led to tragedy. Gradually, he was brought under the control of Aphrodite, who allowed him to create relationships but without his chaotic impulses. By the time the Romans acquired the story, Eros had become Cupid, a cherubic little boy who followed his mother’s wishes to make people fall in love. I'm about to celebrate a 35th anniversary tomorrow, and our marriage has had the ups and downs like the story of Eros. Thankfully we both matured, and moved from being 'in love' to knowing how to love on a daily basis. The Two of Cups is a fortuitous meeting; what we do from there is up to us. The Eight of Diamonds shows a cat playing a video game and represents competition. Any relationship based on one person winning and the other losing will never have a happy ending.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

The Excitement and Anxiety of Leaving

This week I'll be using Songs for the Journey Home, a deck and book set created and self-published by Catherine Cook and Dwariko von Sommaruga. I'll also be using Stasia Burrington's self-published deck, Magic Neko. Today's draws are Flame Innocence (Page of Wands) and the the King of Spades:

You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place...like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again. ― Azar Nafisi

I imagine this girl thinking of leaving middle school for high school, and then possibly going off to college. I remember that mix of excitement about what the world holds and the anxiety of wondering if I had what it takes to succeed. But what I think of most is all the ways my ideas and beliefs were challenged and sometimes changed by being in a new place surrounded by so many people who were different from me. It felt good to stretch and use my wings, and it allowed my mind to develop and expand. The King of Spades represents self-sufficiency. As Michel de Montaigne wrote, "The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself." But part of that ability to know how to do things for oneself, is knowing when to ask for help when you're lost or confused!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Seven of Cups; from the Faeries' Oracle, Solus:

Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
– Paul O’Brien

When feeling bored and restless, it's not always the best time to make a big decision about what might make us happy. In that frame of mind, we're liable to choose a partner, career or goal that seems exciting because it is radically different. Then six months down the road, we find that what we thought was going to fill our cup only empties it as we deal with emotional drama, chaos and exhaustion. Of course there is no perfect choice, but using a balance of practicality and what makes our pulse quicken might allow us to live a more contented life. Solus arrives to help us with indecision, reminding us to burn away all the distractions, bling and fluff to see what lies underneath. Without the window dressing, our choice will be much easier to make. 

Friday, March 15, 2024

Emotional Sharing

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Three of Cups; from the Faeries' Oracle, Penelope Dreamweaver:


The companion booklet describes the Three of Cups as emotional sharing, one way we can manage our emotions so they don't manage us. As the proverb says, "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." Talking about our feelings with those we trust also develops closeness and strengthens relationships. As C.S. Lewis wrote, we find ourselves saying, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." Penelope Dreamweaver reminds us that inspiration can be subtle and may appear in the most ordinary encounters. Rather than trying to force it to happen, we just go about our day focusing on what is in front of us. It might even appear unexpected in our conversations with friends!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Removing Hindrances

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Sun; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Friends:

The teachings emphasize removing hindrances to seeing clearly so that one can abide in the clarity of reality as it actually is. —Gaelyn Godwin

In the Secret Forest, the thick canopy of trees shelters most of the woodland, but occasionally trees fall and open up an area to the Sun. The the darkness is replaced with a brightness that clarifies what once was seen only dimly. What are the hindrances that keep us from seeing with clarity? Buddhists identify five categories: 

1) Sensual desire (craving and grasping for what brings us pleasure)
2) Ill will (hatred, jealousy, self-righteous indignation)
3) Sloth and Torpor (laziness, disinterest, confusion, sleepiness)
4) Restlessness and Worry (an undercurrent of irritation, rumination, anxiety)
5) Skeptical Doubt (cynicism, as opposed to questioning doubt that looks for answers)

When we see reality as it is, we can make better choices with skill. The Friends card reminds me of a dear friend; like these two beings, we are very different in some regards (race, religion and personality). Yet our values bond us, and our differences help us see each other's blind spots. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Buy Yourself Some Flowers

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Six of Wands; from the Faeries' Oracle, She of the Cruach:

Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. —Veronica A. Shoffstall

Not all of us get a parade when we've met our challenges successfully. Instead, some of us find our best friend and go for a joy ride to celebrate. All of our striving and hard work have paid off, and now it's time to let off some pent-up energy. We don't have to wait for the world to acknowledge and celebrate our victory, we can do it ourselves. She of the Cruach is the yin energy of the Universe - creative, nurturing and receptive. She asks us to drink from her cup of acceptance and love, acknowledging our worth and our inner goodness.

Scarcity of self-value cannot be remedied by money, recognition, affection, attention or influence.
—Gary Zukav

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

The Way You Carry It

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Ten of Wands; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Topsy Turvets:

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.
― Lou Holtz

Snapping turtles hibernate during the winter months, and when they emerge, they sometimes unintentionally carry part of their winter home with them. Humans too can suddenly find such a weight on their shoulders, especially if they are in a caregiving role. Stress can show up in feelings of frustration, sadness, loneliness and anxiety as well as a strain on our physical health. It is important to realize that the caregiver needs care too. It also helps to remember: nothing lasts forever, humor can lighten the load, and we often find help when we ask others for it. The Topsie Turvets visit when we are in a mental muddle and give us a chance to see from a different viewpoint. They tell us to ask different questions and question our assumptions. There's always another side to every story.

When we cultivate mind in everyday life, we have to let go of everything we experience. We don’t need to add any more baggage. If you just keep letting go of everything and moving forward, you’ll reach the top of the mountain. –Daehaeng Kun Sunim