Self-Preservation

From the Brady Tarot, the Four of Arrows (Swords); from the Citadel Deck, Aspirant:

The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you've lost it.

— Anonymous

The Aspirant advocates reaching for goals, which provides them with a purpose. But it is advisable that any ambition be balanced with self-care if we are to maintain our physical and mental health. There are many who have difficulties noticing imbalance - especially those who work to help those in need, or activists who work for justice and reform - until they keel over with exhaustion and stress. The Four of Arrows (Swords) suggests a time of temporary withdrawal. It is illustrated with a nightjar, a bird with excellent camouflaging skill. As Audre Lorde said, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation..."

Changing Roles

 From the Brady Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Citadel Deck, the Mascareri:

One man in his time plays many parts.

—William Shakespeare

The Hierophant is illustrated with a peregrine falcon, the fastest animal on earth and a symbol of a messenger between earth and the spirit realm. The ancient Greek roots of the word 'hierophant' literally mean "one who shows sacred things." Perennial wisdom has provided us with ethics, meaning and purpose while offering us traditions to find our way on a spiritual path. Unfortunately, humans want to organize and mass produce their particular brand, leading to the Way becoming the Only Right Way. The Mascareri ("mask makers") card suggests that we all assume or are given various roles throughout our lives. But we mustn't think that any role truly defines who we actually are; we can let go of those that no longer fit us. As Bridget Webber cautions us, "No one’s personality only consists of the qualities their roles suggest. They have facets to their persona and abilities that often go untapped because their roles limit them."

No Evading

From the Brady Tarot, the Son of Roots (Knight of Pentacles); from the Citadel, the Runaway:

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. 

—Abraham Lincoln

Brady describes this Knight/Son as someone who loses himself in the task at hand. Like the mole, he is not content with checking the surface of things; he's going to tunnel under and make sure all is well. He knows that it's the simple things we overlook that can turn into big things later if we don't attend to them. The Runaway is an expert at ducking and avoiding needs and responsibilities. But that unpaid bill, toothache, or lack of care for things we own can mushroom into a larger problem. We may think we're getting a pass, but responsibility has a way of finding us. 

Back from Cousin Camp at my mom's where we celebrated her 88th birthday. (Me and mom are the shorties in the middle.)

New Forms

From the Brady Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Citadel, the Miser:

Energy surges through all things, giving rise to them, sustaining them, and transforming them into something else. What remains beyond the birth and death of all things is the energy that bounds forth into new forms upon the demise of the old. ―Dale S. Wright

Eggs, a caterpillar, a chrysalis and a skipper butterfly represent different stages on the Web of Life. The Wheel of Fortune is about movement - physical, mental and spiritual. Where we find ourselves on it is meant to help us develop and mature using the energy of life we've been given. However, the Miser (who hoards not just material things but is unyielding in all things) demands that everything be frozen in time to his liking. Yet stagnation is not healthy for our well-being or progress. As Eric Fromm stated, "Often we, the individual or the people who make up a society, have the illusion we could stand still and not alter the given situation in the one or the other direction. This is one of the most dangerous illusions. The moment we stand still, we begin to decay."

Stick of Shame

This week I'll be using the Brady Tarot, created and self-published by Emi Brady with a companion booklet by Rachel Pollack. I'll also be using the Citadel, an oracle created by Fez Inkwright and published by Liminal 11/Sterling. Today's draws are the Father of Arrows (King of Swords) and Warrior:

Perfectionism in its true sense implies a crippling rigidity. 

—Dr. Sherry Walling

The Father of Arrows (King of Swords) is illustrated with a black vulture. This bird is smaller than the turkey vulture but doesn't have its keen sense of smell to detect decaying flesh. To find food, they soar high in the sky and keep an eye on the lower-soaring turkey vultures. Since they travel in groups, they can easily overpower the more solitary turkey vultures when a carcass is located. Likewise, the Father of Arrows prefers brain over brawn. He is hyper-intelligent - able to rapidly process information, see patterns, understand complex concepts, and skillfully solve problems. Yet the Warrior warns that his hyper-intelligence can lead to the dangerous trait of perfectionism. Constantly competitive, he may expect himself and others to be flawless. There's no wiggle room for the perfectionist, it's all or nothing. With this oppressive mindset, there is no peace or freedom; it rules with the stick of shame.

Sifting Information

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Sacrifice:

Indecision may come from an instinctive hunch that there's more you need to know - which means it's time to learn everything you can about the pros and cons of each option. You can continue on this track, however, only as long as you're unearthing genuinely new information. ―Martha Beck

The hands crossed on this woman's chest are a symbol of many meanings: a barrier (we many need quiet and solitude), a self-soothing tactic (we may need to let our emotions settle), deep thinking (we look beyond the surface), and humility (recognizing we are an imperfect human). All of these are important stations to pass through when we must make a difficult decision. Sacrifice brings to mind a humorous church sign: "You can't have your Kate and Edith too." As much as we might want to keep everyone happy or not limit our possibilities, choices generally require moving forward and leaving something behind. As hard as it may be at times, it's the way we grow (even if we make a mistake).

With Justice for All?

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, Justice; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Lucidity:

We've learned that quiet isn't always peace and the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always justice. ―Amanda Gorman

Justice should be fair and impartial; its laws should apply equally to all. Yet in the U.S. today, it has been corrupted by revenge, power plays, and bribes. Following one's conscience (if a person has a working one) isn't reliable either, since we easily twist its insights to fit our preferences and prejudices. That's why a jury of one is not advisable. Lucidity means seeing things clearly and rationally without being intoxicated by personal beliefs, selfish desires, opinions or emotions. Justice requires clarity, recognizing that we live in an interconnected, interdependent world. As Helen Keller stated, "Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained."