Daily Practice

From the Prairie Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Medicine Cards, Armadillo:

Developing a resiliency, a grit, a level of poise, a composure, a level of perspective, confidence, courage, compassion. These are all things you can work on daily. 

–Aaron Gordon

When life's sea is tranquil and the people around us calm, it's pretty easy to be composed. But get lost in a big city while on a twelve-lane interstate with bumper-to-bumper traffic and see what happens. The King of Cups would advise us to practice composure daily, especially with small, unexpected things, in order to prepare for the bigger ones. The sea never stays peaceful for long. Armadillo, with its well-armored body, reminds us that we can decide just how much of others' upsets or negativity we allow to invade our mind. Even if we're in close quarters, we can choose not to be infected with another person's agitation or panic (but prepare by practicing).

Make Hay

From the Prairie Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Medicine Cards, Salmon:

When the sun shineth, make hay.

~John Heywood

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Wake up and get moving! The Ace of Wands is a sign that we've been inspired to create or motivated to act. But if we wait too long, our enthusiasm will begin to dissipate, and we'll start to second guess ourselves. If we're not sure how to begin, Salmon tells us to follow our inner nudges, just as it follows its way back to the waters of its birth. Start swimming and follow that inner knowing. 

Transactions

This week I'll be using the Prairie Tarot, created and self-published by Robin Ator. Paired with it will be the Medicine Cards, a deck and book set published by St. Martin's Press and created by David Carson and Jamie Sams. Today's draws are the Six of Coins and Snake:

I learned to value the small transactions as well as the large.

—Frank Lowy

Rather than an act of charity, this Six of Coins shows a transaction. Is this man buying just the horse or acres of land too? Either way, honesty and integrity are relied upon. The seller (or bank) wants payment in a timely manner, and the buyer wants to know he's not investing in something worthless. As one man reaches out to 'shake on it,' the other pauses to consider whether this is a deal he wants to commit to. Both parties need to do their homework before the deal is struck. Snake medicine represents the transmutation of poison into understanding and wisdom. Past lapses in judgment can help us be more wary of current transactions. As John Cena put it, " If you don't learn from your mistakes, then they become regrets."

80% Behavior

From the PetraK Tarot, the Knight (King) of Discs; from the Astrodice, Mercury/Sagittarius/6th House:

Personal finance is only 20% head knowledge. It’s 80% behavior!

– Dave Ramsey

This Knight (King) of Discs reminds me of the saying "keep your head above water." This fellow, who has enough earth to restrain his fire, knows how to manage finances when things are good or bad. Not a person to take risks, he is known for being prudent and practical. He concentrates on the tasks that need his attention and avoids unnecessary distractions. Besides communication, Mercury is also known for problem solving, which works well with the curiosity and desire to learn of Sagittarius. The 6th House deals with work and well-being. Together with the Knight of Discs, they suggest that we don't assume we're managing our finances and health wisely but to investigate the evidence. We need to be able to keep our heads up when waters rise.

McSteamy

From the PetraK Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Cups; from the Astrodice, Saturn/Sagittarius/8th House:

But your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Without, everything seems discordant; only within does it coalesce into unity. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes. ~Carl Jung

The steamy Prince of Cups is a combination of fiery passion and watery, emotional depths - the airy part of water. He is clever and open-minded as well as sensitive, creating a personality that is both introspective and expansive.  The Prince is learning how to shape his desires into reality. The 8th House, which represents what our relationships can bring us and how we can get the most out of them, is tempered with the curiosity and honesty of Sagittarius. It is further limited by the structure and discipline of Saturn. As Jung writes, we should not mistake our outer projections for reality; instead, we should dive within and explore the root of our desires to discover what will give our life a deeper meaning.

The Next Generation

From the PetraK Tarot, the Ten of Discs; from the Astrodice, Uranus/Taurus/4th House:

Legacy is not what I did for myself. It's what I'm doing for the next generation.

—Vitor Belfort

If we charted the way we spent our time, energy and money for a month, what would it look like? How we live and expend these resources will create the legacy we will leave for those who come behind us. We might like to judge ourselves by our intentions, but others will base their assessment on our actions. Perhaps following the Dalai Lama's advice would be wise: if you can't help, at least don't harm. Uranus suggests that, although we all have long to-do lists, we breakthrough our busyness for altruistic purposes (though Taurus reminds us not to neglect things that are actually necessary). The 4th House tells us to begin with home and family and work outward. 

Less "You"

From the PetraK Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Astrodice, Sun/Capricorn/4th House:

The less 'you' there is, the greater the level of awareness. ~Michael H. Brooks

What is missing from this card? A person. Selfing (selfishness, self-centeredness, self-referencing) creates blinders and filters that separate us from reality, distorting the decisions we make. The best choice for emotional fulfillment often gets overlooked by the options that appear to be more fun, might improve social standing or could be the easiest way to success. When the real world impinges on our fantasy, the veil lifts briefly. If we can take our "I" out of the equation, if only briefly, we might make saner choices. In the Astrodice roll, the vitality and drive of the Sun merges with the patience and hard work of Capricorn. However, the 4th House suggests these efforts be made toward our home and family rather than seeking contentment outside of our domestic refuge.