Multiple Choice

From the Ferret Tarot, the Two of Swords; from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Pumpkin:

Maintain an active mind: alert to the possibilities and mischievous in your pursuit of them.

―Stewart Stafford

The position of these two swords indicates that there is indecision because of a conflict between mind and heart. The mind is grounded in the facts it knows (but also the unknown it fears). The heart wavers between what it desires and the fear that it won't have the perseverance to accomplish it. Yet before we make any decision, we must acknowledge that change is possible and life can be both different and better. Pumpkin reminds us of the abundance of possibilities. We often see only one view, but just as this gourd can contain 500 seeds, there are many more options and potential prospects that we haven't even imagined. As Francis of Assisi said, "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

There's a Distinction

This week I'll be using the Ferret Tarot, created and self-published by Elaine Moertl. Along with it, I'll be drawing from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, created by Mindy Lighthipe and published by Schiffer Books. The cards for today are the Three of Swords and Coyote:

We must rediscover the distinction between hope and expectation.

―Ivan Illich

I read a monostich poem by Rafiq Kathwari this morning that illustrates the pain of the Three of Swords: "As I fling my arms wide, he extends his hand." As Illich's quote implies, we often set ourselves up for disappointment. Having hope is understanding that the outcome is a possibility (even if only a slim chance); it's not a sure thing. Expectation is a one-sided mental contract that we demand be delivered. And what happens when that doesn't occur? We think of ourselves as a victim, in anguish due to another's cruelty. We never consider that what we expected was never agreed to by the other person. Coyote is associated with adaptability because no matter how its environment has changed, it has managed to adapt to it. Coyote encourages us to live lightly - without taking everything personally and seeing from a self-centered perspective. We can have more joy untainted by resentment by doing so. 

In the Labyrinth

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Searching the Past:

You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present. ―John Green

What do we think will fulfill us emotionally, that pie in the sky that will finally bring us contentment? As Green points out in the quote above, thinking about it is much easier than putting our feet in motion and our hands to work. Searching the Past cautions us to look back on previous choices to see how they panned out for us. Perhaps money and fame led to constant worry about losing them. Revenge was likely sweet for only a moment, followed by the fear of reprisal. As Shakespeare said, what's past is prologue- if we learn from it, we can chart our future with clarity and wisdom.

Work Environments

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Soul Cards, Grace and Merit:

We all start with gifts. Merit comes from what we make of them.

—Jean Toomer

Three points always define a flat plane, meaning a three-legged structure will never wobble on uneven ground. Triads introduce diverse viewpoints and prevent stagnation that might afflict simple binaries. When expanding our horizons, collaboration and cooperation with others can help us develop a more stable and far-sighted plan of action. Grace and Merit refer to two different gifts - offering forgiveness, kindness, and patience (grace) or the rewards that come from ethical, generous actions and good works (merit). When working with others, the gift of grace can lead to the gift of merit. Grace fosters connection and respect, allows mistakes, and is more likely to produce work that benefits the whole. What a boon to be in an environment where each person feels inspired and believes what they do is meaningful and appreciated. 

Gifts of Gentleness

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Where Does It Hurt:

When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the suffering one, but on the contrary, come closer, as close as you can to her who suffers, and try to help her. —Leo Tolstoy

Friendship is about more than good times and laughter; it asks us to bear witness to each other's pain too. We make sure basic needs are met, nurture with gentleness (rather than aggressive advice), and extend hope through a lens that offers a different perspective. It takes courage, because our first inclination is to attempt to sweep away their pain because it also causes us to hurt. The Soul Card, Where Does It Hurt, reminds me so much of Warsan Shire's poem:

i held an atlas in my lap

ran my fingers across the whole world

and whispered

where does it hurt?

it answered

everywhere

everywhere

everywhere.

What do we do when the whole world seems to be on fire? We start with those around us, whether it's a stray animal, a neighbor or a stranger, and offer them a little compassion and kindness without ducking.

In the Light

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Held in the Light:

Let us then try what Love will do.

—William Penn

This King, when someone troubled shows up, will invite them out on the porch and offer tea or coffee. They'll sit in rocking chairs, and the King will allow them to pour their heart out. The emotions of others don't rattle him; he sees his purpose as a supporter and encourager rather than a fixer. Open-minded and nonjudgmental, he offers others a soft place to fall. The Soul Card made me think of the Quaker expression, "I will hold you in the Light." Philip Gulley explains: "To hold someone in the Light is to stand beside them when they are unable to stand for themselves...our willingness to work for the betterment and well-being of another." How different this is than asking if someone is right with the Lord! A calm, steady presence can help stabilize most folks much better than any reprimand.

Two-Way Rainbow

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, Judgement; from the Soul Cards, It Works Both Ways:

We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior.

―Stephen Covey

A woman slowly emerges from a pile of blankets as if they were a cocoon; like the butterfly, she's had an inner transformation. She now sees clearly her past mistakes, selfish choices and habitual patterns and vows to change them. There are no excuses and no one to blame - she alone is responsible for the course of her life. The rainbow in It Works Both Ways reminds me of a quote by Yonatan Hambourger: "The rainbow is often understood as a promise... But its deeper meaning is more demanding. A covenant is not only a guarantee. It is a boundary." Yes, we have rights, but we also have responsibilities to those with whom we share our world too.