The Pendulum Swings

From the Daniloff Tarot, Death; from the 100 Poems of Kuan Yin, Verse 18:

Death is only the end if you assume the story is about you.

—"Welcome to Night Vale" podcast

Today I feel as if I can breathe a little deeper, as when the oppressive heat of summer relents and finally becomes autumn. The MAGA party (formerly known as Republicans) got a thumping in the nationwide elections yesterday, returning both the House and Senate majority back to the Democrats. Depending on which side of the political aisle you sit, it may feel like a death or a resurrection. For many Americans and our patient allies, it is a glorious day. The 18th Verse reads:

The golden crow sinks west; the jade rabbit climbs the east;

Day and night have wheeled since ancient times.

This verse encourages us to live in accordance with the natural rhythm of things. We have control over ourselves and a little influence over outer things, but there's a lot we must accept. While I'm celebrating today, I know that there will be a time when the pendulum of politics will swing the other way.

Changing Direction

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the 100 Poems of Kuan Yin, Verse 66:

The Titanic hit the iceberg not because they could not see it coming but because they could not change direction. —Dean Devlin

Humans can be audacious and stupefying when it comes to stubbornly held beliefs. This fellow holds a sword across his shoulders in a self-assured, nonchalant way, as if he doesn't have nine other swords protruding from his body. Being a bit hardheaded, it will likely take a complete downfall before he changes his mind. The 66th Verse of the 100 Poems of Kuan Yin reads:

Like a battered ship that sinks in the stormy sea,

the sun fades into the evening sky.

We are asked to pause in forcefully airing our opinions, set aside what we expect or want to see, and wake up to what the facts and evidence show us. The yoni - a regenerative portal - awaits if we can listen and observe with an open mind. Otherwise, as this wall poster illustrates, our life purpose may be to serve as a warning to others.

Are You Worthy?

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the 100 Poems of Kuan Yin, Verse 29:

(Kuan Yin painting by Zheng Jian)

It's a relationship between equals. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.

—Pema Chodron

This fellow, weighing what he will give to the two starving people below him, stands apart and above them. Did he make them listen to a speech about his religious or political views before offering them anything? Pity is not generosity, but an interaction rooted in a perception of superiority or personal discomfort. The Stoics believed that any success or avoidance of disaster we experienced had nothing to do with our own superiority. As Seneca wrote, "In fair weather anyone can be a helmsman." Verse 29 of the Kuan Yin Poems says:

The holy sword gleams and glances, unsullied by dirt or grime.

In the hand of a noble man, this virtue arouses wonder and admiration.

The sword in this verse is a symbol of the mind that sees reality with clarity rather than being influenced by likes, dislikes and indifference. Relationships are horizontal rather than hierarchal, recognizing that all humanity is vulnerable to struggles. Generosity flows easily and sincerely from this perspective.

Moving or Getting Pulled

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using the100 Poems of Kuan Yin with Stephen Karcher's book, The Kuan Yin Oracle. Today's draws are the Chariot and Verse 35:

(Kuan Yin painting by Li Peixuan)

If we don’t have any restraint, we don’t have any control over where our lives are going. Anything that comes our way immediately pulls us into its wake. —Thanissaro Bhikkhu

We have an objective for which we plan and prepare, and then we take off, thinking all we need now is movement. But the armless charioteer lets us know this ambition is going to take resolute mental discipline. The griffin (vigilance and guardianship) and unicorn (purity and fidelity) that pull his vehicle alert us to an important attribute we'll also need - restraint. This quality means we can forego certain pleasures, not because we have to, but because they go against our principles, aspirations and priorities. The 35th Kuan Yin verse says:

A well-lit street stretches out before you,

where once there were thistles and thorns.

Many of the challenges and obstacles we face are because we become distracted by what we want or don't want that we notice. This verse tells us to clear our mental street and focus on what we value. As author Nir Eyal explains, traction is what moves us toward what we genuinely want, and distraction moves us further away from it.

A Warrior's Power

From the Tarot of St. Croix, the Ten of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, Warrior:

It is this tender heart of a warrior that has the power to heal the world.

―Chögyam Trungpa

This Ten of Cups might be a Winter Solstice/Yule party, honoring the longest night of the year and celebrating the returning strength of the sun. As the proverb goes, no hill lasts forever. It's okay not to feel okay, but if we want change, we must act. The (Spiritual) Warrior reminds us of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words: "Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." The Warrior looks within to discover his or her mental distortions of reality that are causing their suffering. They work to develop awareness, courage and discipline while cultivating the capacity to love and care about other people as well as themselves. As John Daido Loori wrote: "We can choose to get lost in our personal terror, but the fact remains that we are the only ones who can heal fear, anger, and pain by the way we use our minds."

Willing to Feel Some Discomfort

From the Tarot of St. Croix, the Three of Swords; from the Archetype Cards, Samaritan:

To grow in the ability to know what to do when an emotion grabs you, it’s helpful to remember three words: embodied, present, and kind. Drop into your body, bring your attention to where you are right now, and be kind. When there’s an upsurge of emotion, these three words can help you to deescalate. The main instruction is to stay conscious and, as Tsoknyi Rinpoche has said, “You have to be willing to feel some discomfort.” —Pema Chodron

It is not too surprising that researchers have found many of the same areas of the brain are activated when we experience social rejection or heartbreak as when we're in physical pain. We may feel that we not only lost a group or person, but part of our identity as well. The St. Croix card shows an unusual distinction - one of the swords has become a needle, sewing up what was broken. Samaritan indicates helping what or who you would prefer to ignore - in this case, our self. It's tempting to want to mentally replay every word and action, however this has the same effect as acid reflux. Instead, we can stay with the feelings in our body and be kind to ourselves. Therapists would suggest we seek support, develop a routine, and embrace this change as an opportunity for self-discovery. Like the stitches in the heart, our recovery will take time and won't occur in a straight line. 

Working Together

From the Tarot of St. Croix, the Three of Wands; from the Archetype Cards, Lover:

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

—Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Three of Wands is about expansion and looking toward new horizons. But the booklet suggests this hinges on visionary leadership. It's not enough to bulldoze toward one's target; such a leader must inspire rather than micromanage. As psychologist Daniel Goleman explains, "Visionary leaders articulate where a group is going, but not how it will get there – setting people free to innovate, experiment, take calculated risks." Lover symbolizes being devoted to someone, a cause or a goal. Activists of all kinds know that passion and connection is what sustains perseverance when challenges arise. With a united purpose, a network of support can keep us afloat.