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."

Not Spoken

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, Temperance; from the Button Oracle, Lizards:

Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint.

―Daniel Webster

Whether we're fearful, angry, or despondent, Granny has just the right tea blend for whatever state of mind we're in. She doesn't want to suppress our feelings, but to lessen their force so we can respond rather than react. We need the freedom to think rationally, and that won't happen if our emotions have hijacked our mind. Lizards communicate primarily through body language: pushups, head bobs, dewlap displays, and tail thrashing. They warn us to be careful about what we say, especially when we're in the grip of an emotion like rage. While what we blurt out might seem necessary at the time, words can't be reeled back in. If the point is for the other person to hear us, the best strategy is to let our anger ebb until we can use good judgment before we speak. As Orson S. Card reminds us, "Among my most prized possessions are words that I have never spoken."

Compare and Despair

From the Granny Jone Australian Tarot, the Three of Buttons (Pentacles); from the Button Oracle, Skull and Crossbones:

Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but, most of all, endurance. 

―James Baldwin

If we're lucky enough to have opportunities available, we can develop a craft through knowledge, technique and applied skills. But nothing will develop fully if we aren't dedicated to focused practice and open to continued learning. Such a commitment creates the kind of talent that is noticed, admired and sought after. The Skull and Crossbones button symbolizes a dangerous hazard. In the world of craftmanship, the "compare and despair" syndrome can tank our motivation and confidence. Rather than comparing our work to someone else (or attempt to copy them), we can study their mindset and approach to see what tools might be beneficial to add to our toolbox. As Martha Graham encourages us, "There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique."