Using Tools

From the Gill Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from The Circle, Growth:

Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is rather than as you think it should be.

—Wayne Dyer

The Wheel of Fortune is a call to embrace change, whether wanted or unwanted. It is a reminder to stay grounded whether we're on top of the world or feel crushed beneath it. Gill's illustration has the four suits around the wheel. Like the Magician's table, we have tools to use to help us stay tethered in this constant movement: the ideas and stories we tell ourselves; our social connections and relationships; our ability to be creative; and our health, home and finances. Growth indicates that we have ample opportunity to develop ourselves as we go through changes, such as cultivating resilience, gratitude, and connection. As Plotinus wrote, "Never cease chiseling your own statue."

Worker Bee

From the Gill Tarot, the Three of Wands; from The Circle, Prosperity:

It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish. — J.R.R. Tolkien

This card shows a wand piercing through an upper barrier. Planning is fun and exciting, but at some point, we must put our ideas into action. The Three of Wands represents the stabilization of creative energy which allows us to begin the work. With clarity and confidence, we cast aside our doubts and get busy. Prosperity shows the industrious honeybee on a comb, reminding us that patience and diligent effort brings sweet rewards.

I made it to Oxford, but it is not that I am particularly clever, much more that I am a worker bee.

—Emilia Fox

Beyond Dogma and Directives

From the Gill Tarot, the Emperor; from The Circle, Magic:

Structure provides freedom. It's not about rigidity. It's about creating a framework that allows us to move through the day with intention and purpose. —Diana Oehrli

The Emperor represents structure and stability enforced through laws or rules. He is a strategic thinker and believes in discipline, readily providing consequences for those who don't toe the line. If he is able to maintain a wide perspective, his established structure will offer freedom with a sense of security. But if his restrictions become too tight and suffocating, creative development will suffer. Magic refers to maintaining a sense of wonder and awe. As Socrates said, "Wisdom begins in wonder." With it, we appreciate the world around us. But wonder can also do things the Emperor might frown upon - it may encourage us to search for answers, question assumptions, and challenge established truths. It's our right and responsibility (no matter what we're told) to expand our world beyond the dogma and directives we've been given.

Filling Up

From the Gill Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from The Circle, Betrayal:

Here are your waters and your watering place.

Drink and be whole again beyond confusion.

—Robert Frost

Like the holy grail that offered healing and restoration, the Ace of Cups is the opportunity to partake of beauty and love. We all may have a place or a person that serves as our grail, or if not, we might find them if we slow down and take notice. These wellsprings flow into us if we are receptive, and once full, we can spread this delight and caring out into the world. Yet Betrayal warns us to be clear and honest about our motives. Does our giving of kindness flow from a place of love, or are there strings attached? Gifts are meant to be given, not used as bait.

Now and Later

From the Gill Tarot, the King of Wands; from The Circle, Flow:

Don't make excuses for why you can't get it done. Focus on all the reasons why you must make it happen. —Ralph Marston

The King of Wands is Fire of Fire, full of aggressive, dynamic energy. When he gets inspired, he uses his strong will to motivate everyone to step lively. He'd prefer to have everything done by yesterday and tolerates no slackers. On the plus side, he's like a lightning bolt - his burning enthusiasm only lasts for so long (which is a blessing to those working for him). Flow comes to remind the King and us that having things done NOW is not always possible; reality often intervenes. We can't always micromanage and force the results we want. Sometimes we must work with what we're given and allow time for things to develop on their own. As Matsuo Bashō wrote, "Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself."

Slow to Grow

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Prince/Knight of Pentacles and Balance:

Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. —Molière

The Prince of Disks is hardworking and imaginative when it comes to improving things. His groundedness makes him slow and steady; he believes in measuring twice and cutting once. He'll finish each task satisfactorily before moving on to the next. While the folks he works for are always telling him to hurry up, he knows that being patient and conscientious are the only way to avoid slapdash work. Balance shows up to remind this Prince and us that not all problems can be solved. We can work on things from every angle and still not find a solution. When we keep struggling with what is unfixable, we only cause ourselves stress and anxiety. We must let go of what is not working and begin anew. As Jana Kingsford wrote, "Balance is not something you find, it's something you create."

It Will Pass Through Again

From the Granny Jones Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the Button Oracle, Reindeer:

The point of joy isn’t to fix your life. It’s to remind you that your life isn’t only made of suffering.

—RJ Starr

Granny's Nine of Cups shows that emotional fulfillment can be about more than triumphs for the ego to roll around in. It can be about simple pleasures and comforts as well. This morning I sit at my computer with a hot cup of coffee in a house that was undamaged last night. After the destruction caused by the last hurricane that came this way, I fully expected to hear tornado sirens and trees crashing against the house all night long. And so, I'm reveling in the simple things I do each morning that I normally take for granted. Reindeer are thought of as guides for Santa, but in several northern indigenous cultures, reindeer serve as spiritual guides. This animal takes us through a doorway of new understanding - allowing us to fully enjoy wonderful moments rather than worrying about how long they will last. As RJ Starr writes, "Trust the rhythm. Even if joy leaves, it’s not gone. Even if it fades, it’s not a failure. You didn’t waste it. You didn’t ruin it. It simply passed through. And it will pass through again."