Cleaning the Mirror

From the Gill Tarot, the Sun; from the Circle Deck, Sanctuary:

Only a child sees things with perfect clarity.

― Douglas Adams

There are so many things we hide in the shadows - what causes us pain or sadness, that which creates fear, and those matters we're just too stressed to deal with. But under the Sun, those shadows invite us to dance, to relate with them not as an enemy but as an ally that helps us see life with clarity and understanding. Its warmth soothes and its radiance releases the energy that we were using to keep everything concealed. Sanctuary is not meant as a place to avoid and hide from life; instead, it is a sheltered place to do such work with a feeling of safety. 

A Little of Both

From the Gill Tarot, the Princess (Page) of Swords; from the Circle Deck, Trust:

The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know… We know truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart. ― Blaise Pascal

Having a lot of knowledge and the intellect to wield it can be a dangerous thing if there is no kindness to balance it. Such intelligence has need of an ethical counterbalance (think of Sherlock's Watson). Whether we are weighted on the heart side or the logic side, the Trust card encourages us to give the other end of the seesaw some leeway. Our well-being and that of others depends on both.

Imagining

From the Gill Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Circle Deck, Moderation:

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. 

― Mark Twain

Imagination is a wonderful thing, allowing us to see beyond the reality of what is to the potential of what might be. Especially when we are looking for fulfillment, mental imagery allows us to try on different roles and put ourselves in diverse situations to see if they are a good fit. Yet the Moderation card cautions us not to get so excited about a change that we jump from A to Z. Better to dip our toe in before jumping in unknown waters - reality can be very different than we imagined it.

What is Given

From the Gill Tarot, Death; from the Circle Cards, Surrender:

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Intellectually, we all know that we will die, that we will lose the things and people we love one day. But knowing it doesn't mean our hearts will embrace it. Lemony Snicket wrote that it is always a surprise when it happens: "It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things." The Hanged Man tries to prepare us for those moments, giving us a chance to feel our powerlessness over certain situations. Thus, the Surrender card advises we need to stop fighting reality and accept it. If and when we do, we'll know to tread with more care and attention.

There's a Difference

From the Gill Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Circle Deck, Partnership:

There is a significant difference between encouraging people and enabling them. No matter what the situation may be, you can cheer them on, but you can’t carry any of their steps or lessons out for them. 

― Morgan Richard Olivier

Like the codependency her sister the Queen of Cups must avoid, the Queen of Wands understands how easy it is to get sucked into other peoples' passions. If she got involved in everyone's projects, she would quickly become overwhelmed and find no time for her own aspirations. Instead, she acts as a mirror, reflecting the heat and light of each person, supporting them through encouragement and suggestions only. Partnership implies an alliance that compliments strengths and offsets weaknesses but does not require one person to pull the ox's load. The Queens know that boundaries are needed because we have limits on our time, energy and resources. As Shawn Meghan Burn cautioned, "One way to think of it is that when it’s a pattern, it’s a problem."

Because It is Holy

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Swords and Caution:

When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix, I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve, I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

The Prince/Knight of Swords acts on what he sees as a miscarriage of justice or a perversion of truth. His ideas of how things should be (the yellow light of his sword) are made manifest (the yellow light from his hand). Yet the Caution card suggests a pause before acting. Are we trying to help when we don't really understand the circumstances and situation? Homeless people living in a car don't need us to buy them a new TV. To truly serve others, we must see them as equals, not as people who need to be fixed. As Remen wrote, "We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy."

Effort and Attention

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Four of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Anchor:

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.     

—Theodore Roosevelt 

This carpenter's hard work seems to be paying off in many ways. The tools in both his hands suggest his steady effort. Often known as the 'effort heuristic,' research shows we tend to appreciate and put more value on things we acquire through exertion and labor. Such success, even in the early stages, is so much sweeter. The Anchor button implies stability and being grounded. When we work hard for something and receive it, we then channel our effort into sustaining and caring for it. What is appreciated is not ignored and allowed to disintegrate from lack of attention.