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

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Dogged Dedication

From the Fountain Tarot, the Knight of Coins; from the Devas of Creation, "Mercury:"
          Not too long ago I came across an article on the web about a French postman who started collecting unusual pebbles and rocks on his daily route. He decided to build a castle with them and spent the next thirty-three years creating an extraordinary example of naive art architecture. Cheval (the postman) was definitely a Knight of Coins kind of guy, a person who achieves success through dogged determination and dedication. The Fountain booklet's phrase for this card is "methodical victories." Passion that burns out after a few days won't get you far. This guy might move like a tortoise but at least he'll finish the race.
          Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. Being the closest to the Sun, it also makes the fastest orbit. It is named for the Roman deity Mercury, the messenger of the gods. This Deva's message is twofold. See how that knight is loitering under the arch? Mercury gives a prod to keep him from becoming so focused on details that he stops moving. Additionally, Mercury's role of messenger suggests that it might be a good idea to communicate and get feedback from others. Slow and steady is fine, just don't grind to a halt or isolate from others.

15 comments:

  1. I need some poking and prodding from Mercury myself! I feel like that Knight of Coins right now... Stuck in "contemplation mode" and no get-up-and-go. I think my muse is angry with me or something. LOL!

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    1. Be careful what you wish for... If I know your muse like I think I do, this is just the calm before the creative storm! :)

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  2. Gosh, these two decks work so naturally together. This is a very satisfying and encouraging pairing today, Bev. Your analysis is wonderful, the dance of Saturn and Mercury. My Mercury-self is taking note ;)

    The castle you linked is an astonishment of almost-impossible-to-believe grunt work and inspired vision.

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    1. It was a good reminder for me; I tend to be at full tilt or full stop. :D I need a balance somewhere in between the two.
      Wasn't that castle impressive? I can't believe it all started because of a stumble over an unusual rock. Some folks' perseverance is purely amazing.

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    2. Full tilt or full stop ...good description that I can identify with. I've learned to slow down and now I can afford to having the time. Extremes and spinning my wheels are over for me these days and I like it!

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    3. As I age I've found those extremes hard to bounce back from! :)

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    4. Definitely Bev, I try hard to avoid them but life has a way of presenting them. I choose how I respond to them these days, were as before, I never thought I had a choice.

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  3. I can relate to this tortoise feeling. I can even rest in my own comfortable house along the way. Mercury energy keeps us moving and flexible and open to suggestions.
    I am in awe of these two decks.

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    1. The tortoise who keeps plugging along will eventually reach his goal. But at times I can be like the box turtle - pulling in my legs and head and shutting myself off from everything. That's not a terrible thing if it is temporary, but sometimes I can get too comfortable in there!

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    2. Me too. Btw The Hermit form The Wild Unknown is a tortoise! :D

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  4. Being a Mercurial sign myself, a Gemini, makes for a figurative road running mixed up kind of lifestyle. In the past I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted to go forward or backward! Now I prefer the tortoise. Slow and steady, and straight ahead Fred, but I still like to mix it up, get out of my comfort zone spontaneously take the diverging roads sometimes, cause that's the adventure of the journey!

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    1. Being slow and steady sounds with a few exits and side roads every now and then sounds like a sane way to live. :)

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  5. I have to add, isolation is a killer. Our problems etc are always halved when we share them.

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  6. ha, and here I am, the biggest procrastinator on the planet, forcing myself daily to take one step forward, and then another! today, i actually asked for advice from someone outside of my normal daily chats too. funny how these cards spoke to me as well.

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    1. Talking to people outside my normal cocoon can often get me moving again after sitting in neutral. Good to see you BB!

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