Tactile and Tactful

This week the tarot I'll be using is the Ellis Deck, created and self-published by Taylor Ellis. Paired with it will be the Brownies Oracle, created and self-published by Doug Thornsjo. Today's draws are the Page of Pentacles and Discretion:

What the hand does the mind remembers.

—Maria Montessori

The Page of Pentacles is a tactile learner, filled with curiosity. She relishes getting her hands dirty and getting sweaty if it means she can learn how things are put together, how they work and how to use them. Her diligence and focus reflect the traits of her formidable animal companion. However, she cautions that up leveling our skills will demand our patience and effort. Discretion, the quality of behaving with prudence and tact, is encouraged by the Brownies (in this case, they don't want to get eaten). If we are asking for someone to teach us, we need to listen and watch rather than trying to impress them with what we already know. As the Zen story goes, no one's teacup can be filled if there's no room left in it.

From the Prairie Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Medicine Cards, Moose:

Someone can decide it’s in their best interests to agree to something, but a choice is only really a choice if there’s a genuine alternative. Otherwise, it’s manipulation and it’s taking advantage.

―Jane Harper

As this deck is about the American West, I can't help but see this Three of Swords through this lens. First, in the way Native peoples were forced off their lands by U.S. government expansion, broken treaties, and forced relocations during the 19th and 20th centuries. Secondly, it made me think of the millions of American bison that were slaughtered due to government-sanctioned military strategy, and recreational sport. Moose are associated self-respect, which does not come from power but from connection, wise choices, and contributions to others. Its medicine would suggest we follow Pema Khadro's advice: "Deprive others as little as possible through your presence in the world, do not take what is not given and avoid squandering your resources. Cultivate great acts of generosity."

No Piggybacking

From the Prairie Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Medicine Cards, Skunk:

The reality is you probably can't solve what they're facing. Instead of trying to erase that uncertainty, help them tolerate it. —Angela Haupt

The Queen of Cups looks downward into a huge chalice. Intuitive and insightful, she is known for her emotional wisdom. She understands that most people don't want advice, they just want to be able to manage their intense emotions. She helps them see that their feelings are alerting them to something deeper that needs attention, patiently weaving them through the labyrinth to find what's at the center. It is her support and encouragement that helps them the most. Skunk reminds us that while helping others is commendable, we need to also know how to protect ourselves through boundaries rather than aggression. We must know how to separate our own emotional well-being from the need to fix or carry another's pain.

Telling the Difference

From the Prairie Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Medicine Cards, Alligator:

Discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right. —Charles Spurgeon

This fellow is obviously a more mature Page of Swords. Rumors and gossip (birds, dragonflies, leaves) swirl all around him, yet he keeps his sword tip in the ground. Half-truths and juicy tidbits can be easy to swallow if we aren't willing to track down reliable sources (without an agenda), ask questions, and uncover the facts. Alligators have a slow metabolism, so they digest food over an extended period; because they are cold-blooded, they lie in the sun to help increase their metabolism and digestion. Alligator's message is that we may have missed some important information in our assessment (it hasn't been 'digested' in our awareness). We need to check and see what we might have overlooked or consider if we may be unaware of a bias. It's been said that intelligence and wisdom rarely keep company, but if humility is thrown into the mix, we can consider that we might be wrong and recheck our judgment.

Worth the Effort?

From the Prairie Tarot, the Seven of Pentacles; from the Medicine Cards, Dog:

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. —Robert Collier

Short-term success isn't especially onerous - we make a big effort for a brief time to get what we want. But long-term success requires much more preparation and planning along with a consistent daily effort that continues over a longer period. Even then, conditions must be ripe for things to come to fruition. Dog represents loyalty - a lasting bond unbroken by betrayal or abandonment. Anything of worth, whether a partnership or financial endeavor, requires persistent effort and dedication of purpose. Yet Dog also warns that approval seeking is not a worthy motive for our exertion; even if we accomplish what we want, there will always be another hurdle to jump to stay in the other's good graces. As Mandy Hale wrote, "When you stand confident in your own worth, respect follows."

Not My Wishes

From the Prairie Tarot, Temperance; from the Medicine Cards, Prairie Dog:

If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. 

—Epictetus

This apothecary knows that only the right balances of tinctures make the medicine. Too much or too little might do more harm than good. I have a friend who is making some horrible life choices. I have gone through a range of emotions, from wanting to rage, wanting to fix or simply ignoring her (aversion, attachment, ignorance - the Three Poisons in Buddhism). Prairie Dog signals that it is time for rest and an internal quest. Self-awareness helps me understand what I can and can't control. Restraint allows me to recognize any reaction would be wasted energy and completely useless. The words of Jack Kornfield keep coming back to me: "The happiness and suffering of others depend on their actions and not my wishes for them."

Claws Out

From the Prairie Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Medicine Cards, the Badger:

Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty. — Henri Frédéric Amiel

A sword points upward toward a thunderhead, an anvil-shaped cloud that signifies a severe thunderstorm. Sometimes inspiration and creative concepts come quickly like a lightning strike. At other times, they build more slowly like a thunderhead. In the latter case, a collection of thoughts might amass, producing insights that bring great change. Badgers are known for their tenacity and fierce protection of personal boundaries. Ideas that produce change are often met with pushback from those who prefer the current state of things. Yet if such shifts will be beneficial for our well-being and won't cause injury to others, we need to dig in with determination.