Deeds, Good and Bad

From the Classic Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the Constellations Deck, Piscis Austrinus:

The means we use will shape the ends we receive.

―Dale S. Wright

The sword in the center of this card is tied down, suggesting that thoughts have produced actions that won't get erased. The Seven of Swords represents secrets and hidden motivations - something we all have. But if we follow through on any of these less than altruistic ideas, then we have something to hide; in some ways, we lose the freedom simply be ourselves. It helps to have good and wise friends to discuss such thoughts with before we convince ourselves we're in the right. Piscis Austrinus is Latin for "the southern fish" and is a constellation in the southern hemisphere. The Egyptians told stories of this great fish that saved Isis, while the tales of the Greeks said it saved Derceto, daughter of Aphrodite. What do we want to be remembered for, the skeletons in our closet or our altruistic deeds?

The Challenge of Relationships

From the Classic Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Constellations Deck, Draco:

All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stunned by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, "Hi." They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.

―Augusten Burroughs

The Knight of Cups, like all the knights, is focused and single-minded. But this knight's interests are interacting with others and developing relationships. Yet how does someone who is shy and socially awkward do this? Draco, Latin for dragon, is a constellation in the far northern sky. In Greek mythology, the dragon Gigantes battled the Olympian gods for ten years before Athena killed it. She tossed it into the sky where it froze at the cold north celestial pole. Draco represents challenges, and in this case, in making friends or finding partners. For such a challenge, Eleanor Roosevelt is a wonderful role model. A shy, awkward child, she would learn to overcome enough of her anxiety to become one of the most outspoken First Ladies of the White House. She reminds us that part of the problem is where we place our focus: "Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. It’s your attention to yourself that is so stultifying."

A young Eleanor

Resourceful

From the Classic Tarot, the Queen of Coins; from the Constellations Deck, Auriga:

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ―Charles Darwin

As Elizabeth I proved, Queens were good for more than birthing heirs. The Queen of Coins nurtures her people by obtaining and providing what they need. Yet sometimes what is needed is not available, and she has to be innovative and resourceful. Auriga, Latin for the charioteer, was named for the mythological Greek hero Erichthonius of Athens. The son of Hephaestus who was raised by the goddess Athena, Erichthonius was credited with creating the four-horse chariot which he used to save Athens. As the saying goes, our greatest resource is often our resourcefulness. 

The Best Use

From The Classic Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Constellations Deck, Taurus:

Make the best use of what is in your power and take the rest as it happens.

―Epictetus

The five sectioned off coins are like little pockets of savings that are apart from our regular budget. However, this savings plan is not only about money. It also includes other assets that we often give little thought until they take a hit: our energy, health and time. Are we wasting or ignoring how we're spending these resources? Taurus is an earth sign that enjoys comforts, yet this is balanced by a greater desire for stability and practicality. Epictetus reminds us to be a discerning master of our desires: "It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them."

Lifelong Pursuit

This week I'll be using Lo Scarabeo's The Classic Tarot, with the original engravings of Carlo Della Rocca and printing by F. Gumppenberg Milan. I'll also be drawing from the Constellations Deck published by Carddia. Today's draws are the Knave of Coins and Pyxis:

The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see.

― Alexandra K.Trenfor

The Knaves are naturally curious, eager to learn and explore; in the Coins suit, the focus is on the material world, rather than concepts, feelings, or energy. This fellow proudly holds up a coin like a young man in 4H who won a prize for a melon. He obviously had a good mentor. Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name - Pyxis Nautica - is Latin for a mariner's compass. Whatever we're trying to learn, having an experienced teacher can guide us, helping us avoid blind alleys and dead ends. Their job is not to tell us everything, but to show us how to learn by doing. As Robert Hutchins wrote, "“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”

Friend, Not Faultfinder

From the Gaian Tarot, the Four of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, Freya:

To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.

– Robert Morley 

It's no wonder we're not always nice to people - we "do unto others" just as we treat ourselves. The companion book states that the Four of Cups/Water is about replenishing our emotional reserves - a big bar of chocolate or a box from Amazon won't cut it. Indulging in those things might offer brief pleasure but that lacks the same quality and benefit as joy. Connection with others, creative outlets, and the marvels of nature are some possible alternatives. Freya invites us to love and reconnect with our bodies. It might seem like this is easier for younger folks, who aren't dealing with wrinkles and the aches and pains of aging, yet they also focus on every flaw. However, it is our bodies that allow us to hug others, to craft and construct, and enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. Our bodies need us to be a friend, not a faultfinder.

It's a Journey

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ace of Water; from the Goddess Oracle, Demeter:

The gift of life is yours. It’s an amazing journey, and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.

―Dan Zadra

Can you imagine being this tiny salmon, suddenly hatched into a big world that is completely unfamiliar? We all go through this at some point, such as with divorce or a geographical move. Nothing seems the same, which can at times be exhilarating or terrifying; we may even grieve for what was. Yet there is the potential of new friendships and partnerships, of connecting and belonging, even if at the moment we feel lost. We must only keep our hearts open and pay attention to find them. Demeter is associated with emotions because of the kidnapping of her daughter. How we feel needs to be accepted and expressed appropriately rather than pretending to be fine. As Jason N. Linder reminds us, "Ignoring emotion is like tuning out essential signals to and from our body and brain, obstructing your success and ability to understand, take care of yourself, and act wisely and intentionally."