What Happened

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the World; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Tree Rings:

Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you.

—Aldous Huxley

This Earth Mother gives birth to all beings, but it is up to each one to do some learning for the sake of their own safety and well-being. There's no need to sign up for college classes, as life will offer lessons freely - from life-affirming and life-threatening to wonderous and horrible. We might not always take advantage of these 'classes,' but sometimes the best lessons come from bad judgment. Hopefully what is learned will open our heart and mind so that we begin to walk in the world a little differently. Tree Rings are layers of wood that reveal a tree’s age and past environmental conditions. It represents records and observations of the past, and reminds me of writing daily, whether a journal or blog. It's a way to take stock of our thoughts and feelings, but it also serves as a reminder of good times and times of resilience. 

Shaping the Mind

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Chariot; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Coral:

Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves. —Dhammapada, 80

This buddha-like charioteer pauses for the cause, taking a moment to let his emotions settle (holding the crab) so his mind will be clear. The booklet's verse reads: "I am the Chariot, which carries calm through torrent and tempest." Whether we're on a spiritual or physical journey, our mind has the ability to completely distract us or to keep us heading in the right direction. Being aware of our thoughts, we can turn them in a new direction if the mind is simply spinning plates rather than focusing on the task at hand. Coral reefs, though covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, support about 25% of all marine life.  These creatures form colonies by cementing themselves together with the calcium carbonate they secrete. This card suggests community, connection, and collaborative action. As Desmond Tutu stated, "The fundamental law of human beings is interdependence." We need to connect with others who will help us reach our goals - especially those who will point out when we've taken an exit ramp.

First, Listen

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Swords; from the Art Round Oracle, Snake Rattle:

A respectful dialogue with one's opponent almost invariably goes further than a harangue outside his or her window. If you want to change someone's mind, you must understand what need shapes his or her opinion. To prevail, you must first listen. ―Sonia Sotomayor

This Prince is known for his intellectual agility, capable of swiftly navigating through complex ideas and concepts. Fond of arguing for the sake of argument, he may morph into an idealist or a crusader when he thinks he has uncovered a truth. The attempt of his eagle to scrabble onto a rocky ledge implies his airy ideas can at times be disconnected from reality. The Snake Rattle warns us to be prudent and cautious. A rattlesnake doesn't want to bite anything unless it is threatened or there is a meal involved (it takes a lot of energy to make venom). Likewise, an exchange of heated words goes nowhere and only exhausts us. As Sotomayor states, first it might be wise to ask questions and listen to what has shaped the other person's ideas. We might find there are some holes in both arguments when it comes to applying them in real life.

Structured Chaos

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Peach Pit:

Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized. —Terry Pratchett

The Ace of Wands indicates a desire to create, build and grow; it might turn into a plan, but right now it's a hot mess. Our creative imagination can churn out a million ideas from how we want to begin to what we want the end result to look like. As unorganized as this process sounds, it is actually structured chaos. It's a place where we can easily adapt, adjust and change things before they become too concrete. The Peach Pit - designed to protect the seed inside - contains a potentially dangerous chemical called amygdalin which the enzymes in the gut can turn into cyanide. It represents the sweet and the bitter, the hard and the easy, that are all a part of the whole. Rarely is any enterprise smooth sailing, but if we can maintain a sense of humor, the chaos can be part of the excitement.

Old Pajamas

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Badger Claws:

Sometimes, when we are loved deeply and for a long period of time, we are foolish enough to forget what it feels like when we are lonely and unloved. —Jan Shepherd

Long-term relationships can become as comfortable as an old set of pajamas. They might not be as exciting as they once were, but they're stable. Yet stable can turn into stagnant if we forget to give them attention and voice our appreciation. Badgers have distinctive long claws, up to 2 inches in length, that help them dig burrows and find food underground. This Art Round suggests we need to dig deep and investigate. In the area of relationships, we might first look at ourselves: Are we looking for someone to entertain us, or are we developing our own interests? Then, we might work on daily actions, such as hugs, kind gestures, expressions of gratitude, and communication on a deep rather than superficial level. 

Planting While Dancing

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Endless Dance of Death; from the Art Rounds, Chestnut Tree:

Death is nature's way of saying, 'Your table is ready.'

—Robin Williams

The "Endless Dance" of this card suggests that death is not just about one's final breath; it includes all the stages beforehand as things begin to age and break down. If we're brave enough to face this constant companion, we might worry less and live more. We're all waiting to be seated at that table, but shouldn't we enjoy our dance while we're still upright? The fruit of the Chestnut Tree is contained in a pod covered with sharp spines called a burr. The spiny burr protects the nuts inside until they are fully ripe, then it splits open to release them. Likewise, our life will leave behind seeds in the form of actions and words. What will the later generations think of what grows from them?

Sliding to the Middle

This week I'll be using the Light and Shadow Tarot; the artwork was created by Michael Goepferd, its booklet written by Brian Williams, and its publisher is Inner Traditions. The oracle deck I'll be using is one I created called Art Rounds using pen and watercolor. Today's draws are Justice and Zinnia:

My relationship to reality has been so utterly skewed for so long that I don't even notice it anymore. It's just my reality. —Ethan Hawke

This Justice has the symbols for Alpha and Omega on her scales, the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. There is a continuum of thought and behavior, from one extreme to another, and sitting at either end for very long can quickly unbalance those scales. There are times when an extreme may be necessary, but we aren't meant to stay there. If we do, we begin to view life from a skewed perspective. Zinnia is an easy-to-grow, sun loving flower that bees and butterflies love. Available in a range of bright colors, it is a cheery addition in the garden. Zinnia represents warmth, beauty and joy; if we've been without any of these for too long, our attitude and outlook will end up on one imbalanced end or the other. It's time to make these things a priority.