Starting Anew

This week I'll be using the Buckland Romani Tarot, created by Lissanne Lake and Raymond Buckland; this book and deck set was published by Galde Press. Along with it, I'll be using the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, created by Archie Fire and Chief Lame Deer; this deck and book set was published by Inner Traditions. Today's draws are the Ace of Bolers (Wagon Wheels) and Mitakuye Oyasin:

There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to meet them. —Phyllis Bottome

This particular Ace represents new beginnings in the material world: money, career, and health - the physical foundations of life. The abandoned wagon wheel covered with ivy reminds me of the changes that come with aging. I've collected a lot of exercise videos over the years, but recently got rid of a lot of them because I could no longer do them safely or without pain. Elderhood doesn't mean we need to give up but encourages us to find new things we can learn and do instead. This Ace is a reminder that opportunities still abound if we'll stop fretting about what was lost. Mitakuye Oyasin is a sacred Lakota phrase that translates to "all my relations." It acknowledges that everything is connected and a part of one family, that no part is greater than any other, and that our actions can affect the whole. Indigenous cultures have honored their elders, but our modern societies seem to find them more of a burden. Yet while those of us might not have all the technological knowledge that some younger folks do, we have a wider history that gives us a more panoramic view of life. It grants us a different sort of perspective, such as realizing WWII is definitely not the same as the current war we're in with Iran.

Concepts to Application

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Ten of Cups/Ixchel; from the Tattwa Cards, Air - Seed of Earth:

I shall become a master in this art only after a great deal of practice.

—Erich Fromm

Ixchel is the Mayan goddess of the moon, water, fertility, and midwifery; she is often shown tipping over her sacred jar of water to let the endings and beginnings of the world flow. The Ten of Water is about emotional fulfillment - not to be confused with being happy all the time. It means we stay grounded in meaning and purpose that allows us to feel the whole range of human emotions. The Air: Seed of Water card symbolizes putting concepts into practice by transforming ideas and knowledge into everyday actions. With regard to emotional fulfillment, we begin to recognize that moods are normal and transient rather than expecting to be cheerful all the time. As Mark Manson wrote, "The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience."

Two Minds

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Two of Fire/Hekate; from the Tattwa Cards, Air - Seed of Fire:

It takes two flints to make a fire. —Louisa May Alcott

Hekate is the Greek goddess of the crossroads, frequently seen striding through the night with two torches. She acted as a guide, leading others from one place to another, and as a tracker (she helped Demeter hunt for and find Persephone when she was abducted). Hecate tells us not to get tangled up worrying about making a wrong choice but instead focus on the new direction we want to pursue. Air: Seed of Fire combines the intellect and ideas of Air with the energy and transformative action of Fire. Sometimes dreams materialize because there is creative cooperation - an idea person with a vision and an implementer who can use them to produce something concrete (think Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith). Having a partner can help us make the leap from the routine to a new endeavor, as each person can encourage and inspire the other. As Oliver Wendell Holmes stated, “Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up.”

Live Like a River

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Six of Cups/Tefnut; from the Tattwa Cards, Water - Seed of Water:

Between the banks of pain and pleasure the river of life flows. 

—Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Tefnut is the ancient Egyptian goddess of moisture and dew - the life-giving water that sustained the desert land. As a representative of the Six of Cups, she asks us to water our own desert. Sometimes we must look back at what made us curious or awestruck, the simple hobbies or activities that brought us joy. Can we remember a time before all the stressful responsibilities and obligations weighed us down? Water: Seed of Water is about flowing and adaptability. It reminds us not to cling to the bank of pleasure and desire nor freak out if we bump into the bank of pain. Neither can hold us for long if we let go and accept what is present. As our memories will remind us, things come and go. Instead, we might live as John O'Donohue's words suggest: "I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding."

Not an All or Nothing Deal

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Amazon of Earth/Artemis; from the Tattwa Cards, Ether - Seed of Air:

Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in. ―Alan Alda

Homer called the Greek goddess Artemis the "Mistress of Animals" and "She of the Wild." Artemis explicitly refused marriage and chose instead a life governed by her own laws and natural rhythms. Her message is to forgo outside approval and live a life of independence and self-sovereignty. In Ether: Seed of Air, the flow of ideas and perspectives meets an expansive spaciousness. It's kind of like trying to find a shirt on a clothes rack that is tightly crammed together versus one that has plenty of space to see each shirt individually. Being independent doesn't mean we always have to handle everything alone, just that we can be resilient and resourceful when necessary.

Put on Your Life Jacket

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Hag of Fire/Maman Brigitte; from the Tattwa Cards, Earth- Seed of Water:

The person who will make your life better, who will change things, who will bring meaning and purpose when everything feels empty, has always been you. 

—Kristo Béranger

Maman Brigitte is a Haitian loa - a spirit who serves as an intermediary between mortals and the divine. She is a guardian of cemeteries, walking there at night, singing and dancing under the moon. She is a fierce protector, particularly of women, and she can be petitioned in matters relating to justice. Yet she asks us to do all we can on our own behalf first rather than simply waiting for someone to come save us. Earth: Seed of Water suggests boldness in a stagnant situation. Rather than remaining stuck, we move in an effort to change, like a stream flowing over a parched land. We do this even though we are afraid, as Erica Jong describes: "I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back."

You Need It

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Siren of Earth; from the Tattva Cards, Air - Seed of Water:

If you ever feel like life is too much to bear, remember this: sometimes you just need to laugh. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary. A joke, a smile, a little bit of mischief — it’s a form of resistance against the heaviness of life. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it lets you breathe through it.

—Deanna Riddick

Baubo is the Greek goddess of mirth, joy, and bawdy humor. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, went into a deep depression when she lost her daughter. Nothing grew and nothing was harvested. Baubo went to visit her and flashed her 'assets.' Demeter was shocked and confused at first, but it broke through her darkness; she laughed and was then able to do what was needed. Air: Seed of Water is given the keyword Stagnation. It brings to mind cloud seeding when water becomes scarce. Tiny particles are released by planes into clouds. These particles help moisture condense and fall as rain or snow. Sometimes it takes the introduction of the ridiculous and unfamiliar to lure us back into the world.