Beyond the Threshold

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Spiritual Companions:

When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own. —John O’Donohue

Anna suggests her Knight of Swords represents a spirit of discord. He doesn't mean to be a stubborn, biting, kicking mule. It's just that he's found a small piece of truth and now defends it like it is the only Truth. But seeing the house he's just burned down (metaphorically), might have just put a big crack in his immovable mindset. Spiritual Companions represent those few people who know us intimately and care about us deeply. They are also our truest mirror, showing us ourselves - even the parts we don't want to see.  In this case (in the words of Yonaton Hambourger), the Knight is shown how "Familiarity itself begins to feel morally binding." Our anamchara ("soul friend") can be our guide in moving our attitudes and actions beyond the threshold we've been stuck behind. 

Making a Living

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Meditation Cards, Money Mind:

Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.

—John Wooden

The Nine of Pentacles is a time of contentment, the fruit of hard work and discipline. Instead of just making a living, we find time for enjoyment. Anna suggests that this wealth is inner as well; we realize just what a fulfilling life looks and feels like (and often, that has nothing to do with money). Money Mind shows up as a reminder that financial situations can easily change, like everything else. Do we become paranoid and begin to see every interaction as win/lose? Or do we draw on our inner resources that we developed from creating what we have? As Nelson Mandela put it, "I never lose. I either win or learn."

Replacement

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Empress; from the Meditation Cards, Dissolve Into Now:

The shallow satisfaction of having is always replaced by more wanting. 

– Eckhart Tolle

This plump, bodacious version of the Empress reminds me of the prehistoric Venus statues. Anthropologists suggest these well-rounded forms were symbols of prosperity and fertility: in harsh, freezing climates, being overnourished was a crucial asset.  In today's world, however, most of us do not live on the cup's lip of survival or oblivion. The Empress reminds us that we have enough, though the ads in media or comparing ourselves to others may influence us otherwise. Dissolve Into Now offers a verse by Thich Nhat Hanh:

When I drink tea, there is only me and the tea.

The rest of the world dissolves.

There are no worries about the future.

No dwelling on past mistakes.

Using our senses, what can we appreciate right here where we are in this moment? As Kristin Armstrong stated, "When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in."

Succor

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the King of Swords and A Drop of Succor:

We must always consider the consequences of our actions. Or inaction. It won’t necessarily change what we do, but we need to be aware of the effect. ―Louise Penny

The King of Swords is an intelligent and logical person, known for being a strategist. But what slips by many people when they describe him is that he is also concerned with cause and effect. He might have the ability to conquer a city, but will his resources spread far enough to add thousands more to his realm? He's not just thinking about what he might do or get, but also the cost or the repercussions of his actions. Succor suggests relief or assistance; it derives from the Latin word succurrere - literally translated "run to support." The quote for this card comes from Wayne E. Brickey: "The best time and most eloquent way to succor is to do so when need arises. After all, service is seldom convenient." While rearranging our plans is rarely convenient, it may be a small price to pay rather than abandon a friend who could use some support.

Invitation

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Knight of Cups (Chango); from the Diloggun Cards, Three Mouths (Ogunda):

Your problem is you are too busy holding on to your unworthiness.

―Ram Dass

The Knight of Cups, elementally known as Fire of Water, is a perfect pairing with Chango (Orisha of fire, thunder, lighting, and dance). His fire encourages us to move beyond passivity and express our heart's wish to build a relationship, whether with a person or a group. We might fear that we are not enough, that we don't have what it takes to be accepted. Yet the most meaningful relationships require only honesty, kindness, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a mutual respect for each other. The proverb for Three Mouths (Ogunda) says: "A little subtleness is better than a lot of force." Extending an invitation is much better than whacking someone over the head with it.  

On this Fourth of July, I couldn't help but post this quote, which I feel deeply:

"Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is."

—Sydney J. Harris

What Our Choices Reflect

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Tower; from the Diloggun Cards, Nine Mouths (Osa):

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. —Nelson Mandela

The Tarot Lukumi takes a different approach on this card than the RWS. Rather than living in an ivory tower, it shows slaves being freed from captivity by Chango (the Orisha of thunder and justice) along with other Orishas. This card heavily emphasizes the breaking of mental, physical and spiritual chains that hold us. It may be that we've made unskillful choices, allowed others to make our choices, or didn't choose at all. Sometimes, as Mandela points out, we let our fear or anger make decisions. Whatever the cause, the result is that we find ourselves with a choke collar and leash around our necks. Both the ethic and proverb for Osa (Nine Mouths) is worth reflecting on:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

We have an opportunity to escape that collar and leash by making some new decisions and acting on them.

No Grabbing

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Nine of Coins; from the Diloggun Cards, Eight Mouths (Ogbe):

The man who expects nothing gains everything. For he no longer waits — he creates.

—Napoleon Hill

Eleggua, guardian of crossroads and opportunities, leaves a trail of gold coins. He teaches that every choice is a path, and new openings should be approached with sincerity, humility, and an open mind. This chance is not about impulsively grabbing something but recognizing our responsibility in attaining it. The ethic for Eight Mouths (Ogbe) states: "Those who attain blessings are those who live by their wisdom. If we do not bear suffering that will fill a basket, we will not receive blessings that will fill a cup." We earn - skills, education, wages, etc. - through effort, not because we feel entitled to having them.