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

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Slow but Steady

The tarot deck I'll be using this week is the Hoi Polloi, a vibrantly-colored, simplified RWS clone, published by Hoi Polloi Inc.  Today's card is the Knight of Pentacle:
This knight wears oak leaves on his helmet and has adorned his horse's brow with them as well.  It takes an oak tree two to three decades from the time it is planted to grow large enough to provide significant shade.  Likewise, this fellow knows that to create strong foundations or reach one's goal requires patience.  He's not in a hurry, because he's a detail-oriented type of guy who is going to make sure he's laid the necessary groundwork before he proceeds.  Like Aesop's tortoise, he believes slow and steady is the best way to accomplish things without making mistakes.

     The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the I-Ching Pack, illustrated by Anthony Clark and written by Richard Gill.  Today's card is the trigram combination "Fire over Lake:"
As someone who grew up with four step-siblings, I instantly connect with this image.  Two birds sit on a branch, one chirping away to its mother.  A third bird sits apart, apparently the one who has caused a problem.  The meanings associated with this card are estrangement, disagreement, separation, opposition, and isolation.  Gill gives the basic meaning as: "Estrangement is serious: while it lasts there can be success only in small matters.  Take small steps, therefore, towards the warmth and joy of reconciliation."  Like the knight above, sometimes I have to move slowly when making amends or reconnecting with someone.  Over time, my actions will speak much louder than the "I'm sorry" that is so easy to say.  It takes dedication to mend a relationship; there are no quick fixes.

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