Calmness and Clarity

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, Temperance (Camellia); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Salmon:

Calmness is the cradle of power. —Josiah Gilbert Holland

Temperance advises us that mindfulness leads to clarity and the ability to discern appropriate action. Camellias are known for their lovely ornamental blooms in the fall, but Camellia sinensis is known as the ‘tea plant.’  It is the most common plant in the world to be used to make tea (green and black), usually from young leaves. Making and sipping tea gives us a chance to slow down and widen our tunnel vision. Salmon invites us to return to the internal source of an issue. As Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche suggests, " If an emotion or a disturbing state of mind is too painful to look at directly, seek the underlying condition that holds it in place. You may be surprised at what you discover."

It's Not Magic

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Seven of Earth (Oak); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Birthing Moon:

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.

—Colin Powell

Oaks are slow growers but are long-lived and strong. They teach us patience and fortitude when trying to 'plant' and cultivate a project or goal. The Birthing Moon is illustrated with a blackthorn, a densely branched tree with sharp thorns. Anyone who has borne a child or been beside someone during labor knows that birth requires blood, sweat and suffering. Just as we can't pick the sloes from the blackthorn without dealing with its spines that stab, neither can we expect to cultivate anything without patient labor. Endure now for the harvest later.

Drop by Drop

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Four of Air (Lavender); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Wood Mouse:

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

― Vincent Van Gogh

Lavender is so widely known, it is commonly found in grocery stores or pharmacies in the form of bath soaks, teas, sprays or simply as an essential oil. It often employed for stress and anxiety or restlessness and insomnia. The companion booklet's message is to calm the mind and the body; to calm the mind, we must often first calm the body. Wood Mouse suggests that we step back from trying to make big changes or handle immense projects and instead concentrate on the small tasks that can be done. As the Dhammapada states, "Drop by drop the water pot is filled."

Only Borrowed

This week I'll be using the Herbcrafter's Tarot, created through the combined efforts of Joanna Powell Colbert and Latisha Guthrie. The set is published by U.S. Games. Paired with it will be the Green Wheel Oracle, created and self-published by Danielle Barlow. Today's draws are the Ten of Earth (Horsetail) and Snake:

We have not inherited this earth from our parents to do with it what we will. We have borrowed it from our children, and we must be careful to use it in their interests as well as our own. 

—Moses Henry Cass

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a plant related to ferns and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. This herb contains silicon, which helps strengthen bone. For that reason, some modern practitioners recommend horsetail as a treatment for osteoporosis. The Ten of Earth represents solid and secure foundations that are often seen as an inheritance to pass on to others. But we have a responsibility to later generations not just for the money and material things we leave them, but for the condition we leave our planet that they will inhabit. Snake calls for sacrifice and shedding habits that are causing our 'foundation' to falter. As Lyndon B. Johnson stated, "If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it."

Because We Can

From the Tarot of the Master, the Nine of Coins; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Conjunctio:

There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you don’t do them.

 – Charles Gill

The keyword given for this card is a bit unusual - courtesy. When I noticed what appeared to be a serving tray at the bottom, I was reminded how often there are circumstances when we serve and help others not because we have to but because we can. Conjunctio (conjunction) suggests an intersection or convergence of forces that come together for a common goal. Do we cross paths with people so that we may learn from each other, and perhaps offer aid? These opportunities tend to change both parties in beneficial ways. I'm currently reading an older book titled "The Day the World Came to Town," an uplifting account of the many planes from around the world that were forced to land in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 and the kindness and support that was shown. A perfect example of these two cards. 

Well Used

From the Tarot of the Master, the World; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Acquisitio (gain):

Never rest on your laurels. Nothing wilts faster than a laurel sat upon. 

—Percy Bysshe Shelley 

We've overcome our trepidation, opened our mind to new ideas, and put our best foot forward. Finally, we've accomplished what we've worked so long and hard on. It's time to pause and appreciate the fruits of our efforts. Acquisitio points out all the new talents and traits we've acquired along the way: courage, commitment, perseverance, flexibility, self-discipline and the humility to ask for help when we need guidance. Such 'acquisitions' are like new tools - the more we use them, the more developed they'll become. Don't leave those tools out in the rain to rust - there are more adventures ahead!

A Reminder

From the Tarot of the Master, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Albus (white):

Reminding myself that life is not personal, permanent, or perfect has kept me from falling into sinkholes of despair and destroying rooms with rage. It invites me to pause and turn inward.

—Ruth King

Sometimes we reap a harvest for our actions or inaction, but often life just unfolds in unexpected ways because it is a constantly changing flow. There are times we get inundated with a flood while other times we delight in a babbling brook. Ruth King's reminder that it is not personal, permanent or perfect is wisdom to live by. Albus (white) represents "the bearded one" in some traditions, symbolizing a purity of wisdom that leads to clarity. It might suggest that in times of change, we should move to the hub or our center - to hold onto what is truly important and trust our spiritual compass.