Examined Lives

From the Fey Tarot, the Seer (High Priestess); from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Eight of Hearts:

An unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates

To "Know Thyself," as the ancient Greeks encouraged, means a practice of self-awareness and personal accountability. We see our strengths and limitations, our motivations, our patterns of behavior, and the defense mechanisms that protect our egos. The Seer/High Priestess understands wisdom and insight requires effort and practice. We're inclined to dismiss what others tell us much more often than when we suddenly see and understand things on our own. She would tell us to study with an open mind, but more importantly, find some time for quiet and stillness to observe and question our thoughts. The Eight of Hearts implies doing pleasant, relaxing things to help restore an optimistic outlook. Relaxing in such ways can relax our minds too, moving us away from future plans or reliving the past. It's a good chance to see where our mind naturally goes, and practice changing the channel if necessary.

Not an Easy Job

From the Fey Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Ten of Spades:

In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way. ― Tina Fey

Both of these cards show someone keeping an eye on things. Is it harder to hire people who want to do a good job vs. those who just want a paycheck these days? Lately I've seen a lot of restaurants fold, not because they didn't have a good product, but because they didn't have good management. Good managers manage the flow of business, keeping watch over the whole process while allowing skilled employees to do their job independently. They don't mind jumping into help, whether it's with a customer or a task, but only when it's needed. Yet they also expect their employees not to steal or be slackers (neither is a good way to "adjust" one's pay scale). Look for another job if the pay doesn't reflect the work required. Yet at the other end of the spectrum is the micro-manager (like the lizard on the fey's shoulder), who uses excessive supervision as a means of control and never asks for suggestions. I've been both manager and employee, and neither is an easy job.

Unnatural Compromise

From the Fey Tarot, Justice; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Ten of Hearts:

Those that first ask us to bend our principles a little will ultimately return to ask for more and more. They will, ultimately, require us to contort ourselves into utterly unrecognizable positions. Moral compromise is never a single act. It creates a precedent…and then another, and another.

—Ryan Holiday

Justice is blind - to outer posturing and ostentation. Her gift allows her to be impartial and fair so that truth is served and ethics are upheld. What is it that allows us to move away from these principles? Is it a desire to secure our own comfort, or perhaps to please someone else? As the Holiday quote notes, this is a slippery slope, and at some point, there will be consequences for our choices when balance is restored. The Ten of Hearts represents a constancy in our love for others. This is not to exclude ourselves, but to recognize that we are all a part of a whole - separation is just a mental delusion. Afflictive emotions - those that cause us misery - all begin with the seed of self-absorption.

Handful of Water

From the Fey Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Two of Diamonds:

That is what happens when the heart door opens- you become less yourself than part of everything. Many are the sentinels who guard that door...

― Roger Housden

A young fey makes an offering of a handful of water. It's like the shy smile offered in a group of strangers, a tendril extended to see if any heart responds in kind. That tentative exchange might be stifled by the memory of past relationships, yet we are animals who thrive on belonging and connection. If we are willing to take a chance and be vulnerable, we might find a friend or partner who can help us discover joy. Though I don't often write them, I do appreciate letters. They tend to be more thoughtful and less rushed, more conversation than just the facts. It is a relationship on paper, yet one that allows us to say what we might not otherwise. Letters and notes can be the handful of water that opens a heart.

The Kindness of Connection

From the Fey Tarot, the Queen of Chalices; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Five of Clubs:

Compassion manifests in us as the offering of kindness rather than withdrawal.
—Sharon Salzberg

The drops emerging upward from the Queen's cup are her version of texts, calls, and letters to see how people are doing. She is a listener, one who can empathize with kindness without self-identifying and drowning in the feelings of others. Compassion isn't trying to fix someone - which is often just a reaction to our being uncomfortable. While we may offer advice if asked for, it's more about bearing witness to someone's pain so they don't feel alone and disconnected. The Five of Clubs suggests good fortune that is created by our own actions. As St. Basil said, "They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love."

Plan Accordingly

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, a book and deck set created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem. This set was published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle I'll be using is the I Misteri della Sibilla, created by Ettore Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's draws are the Two of Wands and the King of Hearts:

The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. 

―Christopher McCandless

We all have experienced the restlessness that comes with wanting something new to learn or experience, a chance to broaden our horizons. But when the opportunity arises, do we jump out of our comfort zone or hesitate? The King of Hearts, a mature, often retired man, would suggest a pause. Excitement can make us impulsive, causing us to neglect investigating, planning and preparing. Having experienced much of life (including making his own mistakes), he might bring up McCandless from the quote above. McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska and entered the Alaskan bush with minimal supplies, hoping to live simply off the land. He was woefully unprepared and ended up taking shelter in an abandoned bus. A hunter later found his body; his cause of death was starvation. We all need new ways to explore our world, but there is a big difference between dreams and reality. Plan accordingly.

Learning and Supporting

From the Tabula Mundi Tarot, the Six of Wands; from the Words of the Brehon, "Three speeches better than silence:"

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. 

—Hal Borland

The Six of Wands arrives after a period of strife and challenge. Lessons were learned and insights gained that turned things around for us. The animals represent traits that were needed to get to this place: the lion represents strength and courage; the owl symbolizes vigilance and wisdom. It was much more than luck that got us here. The three speeches better than silence involve giving courage to those who are anxious, offering knowledge that might be of help, and praising someone for the skills gained through hard work. We are all struggling, sometimes with small things, other times with weighty matters. Offering words of support and encouragement can be the light that shines in the darkness of others.