Absence of Stability

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Moon; from the Marseille Oracle, Well-being:

Intuition cannot be trusted in the absence of stable regularities in the environment.

—Daniel Kahneman

We are a pattern-seeking people - our brains evolved to recognize structure and order to aid learning, decision-making, and survival. But what happens when we find ourselves in continual chaos, when confusion becomes the only constant? Then we're on the path entre chien et loup, between a dog and wolf, when things are too ambiguous to see clearly and accurately. Rather than wander in the fog trying to fix things, Well-being suggests we sit ourselves down and focus within. We practice self-regulation, a method to help keep negative emotions in check and allow us to think before we react. Mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques are useful for this, and a much better use of our time than worrying or raging.

Collaboration

This week I'll be using the Russian Lubok Tarot, created and self-published by Eugene Vinitski and Sergey Savchenko. I'll also be drawing from the Marseille Oracle, a deck created and published by Lo Scarabeo with a little booklet written by Isa Donelli. Today's draws are the Three of Pentacles and Hearth:

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community… Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. —Cesar Chavez

This Three of Pentacles shows three masters in their respective field working together to build a temple. The booklet brings up the term "sobornost" - a term that expresses the need for co-operation between people as an alternative to individualism and socialist collectivism (group goals over individual interests). With each person using the skills and knowledge they have, they work together; what is important is the result that is achieved. Hearth emphasizes that families need the same type of collaboration and solidarity to prosper. Unity with diversity is possible if we aren't consumed with just our own or our group's desires.

Take a Chance

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Ace of Coins; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Chance:

They say, ‘Look before you leap.’ So look. But do not look for too long. Do not look into the void of uncertainty trying to predict each and every possible outcome, to evaluate every possible mistake, to prevent each possible failure. — Vironika Tugaleva

The Ace of Pentacles offers us a tangible opportunity, something we can actually do. Maybe it is to buy a new pair of shoes, start an exercise program or check out a place new in our community. But we can get stuck in overthinking everything, ruining the possibilities before we even begin. Chance encourages us to take those small risks; even if nothing productive comes from them, it gives us an opportunity to try something different. Live a little!

A Powerful Addiction

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Moon:

Judging mind is a very strong addiction, and you don’t step out so easily when you have a powerful addiction. —Corrado Pensa 

One of the most valuable assets we can own is a stable and discerning mind. This kind of mind is inclusive of all the information available and does not act or make choices without calming the emotions first. The judging mind is based solely on what it hates or wants to avoid, what it craves or doesn't want to lose, and ignores information that doesn't affect it directly. Problems arise when the winds of reality begin bending our ideas; rigidity is a danger, and can send us to a dark, frightening place. The Moon shows its phases and emphasizes that our mind needs to be able to change its views too. An open mind, calm reflection, and a willingness to shift our perceptions so they align with the facts can help us stay out of those deep holes.

Forget the Prince

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from L'Oeil de Lotus, Healing:

If you look to others for fulfillment,

you will never truly be fulfilled.

—Tao Te Ching, 44

This image has the song from Disney's Snow White running through my head: "Some day, my Prince will come." Often our wishes are fulfilled, but then after a period of time we find the prince or princess we expected to bring us contentment failed to do so. Is it the other person's fault? Not if we thought it was their duty to make us happy and fill our emptiness inside. Healing comes when we discover we don't need another person to make us feel good about ourselves. Instead, we find a cause or a passion and dig into it. It is what we do and think that can make us feel whole. As Christina Grimmie said, "Confidence is not, 'They will like me'. Confidence instead is, 'I'll be fine if they don't'."

Gain and Loss

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Chariot; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Loss:

Those who are truly wise will remain unmoved by feelings of happiness and suffering, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, gain and loss.

—Buddha

This fellow, with his beard blowing in the wind, is making good time. But the faster we go, the less control we have, and the less we notice along the way. I'm celebrating my birthday today (my Medicare and Social Security debut, as my mother called it). At this point, I've lived more life than I have life left. So, while I want to keep moving and progressing, I don't want to do it at top speed. I want to appreciate the small joys and wonders that busyness didn't allow me to notice. Loss - a magpie with someone's piece of jewelry - is a reminder that aging does take some things and people away from us. Yet it can also bring gains in wisdom, if we keep our minds open, attentive and curious. 

Choose Another Door

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Protection:

Your triggers are pathways to your wounds. The stimulus is only a door.

―Sanhita Baruah

This woman shields herself from the swords stuck in the sand - they are mental triggers (untrustworthy thoughts) that can take her right off a cliff. As a mentor for women in recovery, I have borne witness to the wreckage of relapse. It doesn't matter what it is that yanks our leash, the trigger will set shame, stress, or fear in motion, causing the mind to reach for old habits to find solid ground. Protection - illustrated by salt and iron nails - suggests we need to find a ramp that lets us rise above our usual reactions. It will likely involve identifying and challenging negative or irrational beliefs and replacing them with healthier habits and coping strategies. We don't have to keep walking through that old door.