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

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Inner Peace

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, created by Julia Jeffrey with Barbara Moore, and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be drawing from the Heart of Faerie Oracle created by Brian and Wendy Froud  and published by Abrams. Today's cards are the Four of Swords and the Hero:
          Moore writes that the stability of four creates a quiet resting place for the mind. In the chaos of yesterday, I didn't get a chance to do my regular sitting meditation or any journaling. It was a day when other matters took priority. But the butterflies around this young girl's head suggest I should keep things light today. There's no need for solutions to be found or ideas to be analyzed. My brain needs a break from being in stress mode. In the words of Harry Emerson Dosdick, "Peace is the gift not of volitional struggle but of spiritual hospitality."
          The title of the Faerie card seems to be at odds with the message of the Four of Swords. Yet the Hero is purposefully drawn as a young woman rather than a man to emphasize its feminine nature. Instead of seeing this card as representing the courage to fight, Froud recommends thinking of "love as a heroic force." I was reminded of another "hero," this one gray-haired and known as Peace Pilgrim. She constantly suggested checking to see if one's actions brought inner peace:
There is a criterion by which you can judge whether the thoughts you are thinking and the things you are doing are right for you. The criterion is: Have they brought you inner peace? If they have not, there is something wrong with them - so keep seeking! If what you do has brought you inner peace, stay with what you believe is right. ~ Peace Pilgrim



6 comments:

  1. I hope all is well after after the accident of yesterday. I don't know who broke hip but there is a lot of healing to be done. I love this four of swords. With all your thoughts of what needs to be done those butterflies could definitely be those thoughts flitting around.

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    1. My mother-in-law (who is 95) broke her hip but had surgery early this morning to pin the pieces of bone back together. She came through the surgery fine (a tough cookie), but will need time in rehab. A good outcome!

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  2. Sending you loving, calming thoughts my dear(((Bev))) How wise of you to feel what you need before going through the motions of meditation and journaling.
    Hugs

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    1. When I don't use the spiritual tools I have, I can feel the results rather quickly - especially under stressful situations! Thankfully things are looking up today!

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  3. Much food for thought from Peace Pilgrim today. Thank you.

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