Circle Up

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hanged Bird; from the Gemstone Oracle, Aquamarine:

In a circle, there are no experts – instead there are stories, questions, tears, longings, dreams – and a bunch of equal people who trust their own wisdom and each other’s. 

—Heather Plett

Everyone knows someone who can be described as "never giving an inch." These folks believe their opinions are infallible and should always be heeded. But inevitably, the hard-liner meets reality head-on - hopefully realizing how little power or sway they have. Situations are rarely all black or white, so without knowing or understanding all the circumstances, we should avoid issuing any decrees. Aquamarine symbolizes a dose of common sense with a hefty helping of self-awareness. Can we see beyond what we think is right or wrong, and instead listen to others' experiences and just do something that might help?

A Second Look

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, Temperance; from the Gemstone Oracle, Pink Aventurine:

Sometimes the most significant power lies in what is left unsaid, in restraint, in timing, in the ability to pause. ―Egbearor Favour

This doe must feel a little bit squeezed as she walks through the trees growing so close together. It reminds me of being grounded as a teen, put on restriction for unruly behavior. Humans prefer to indulge their senses and emotions, not simply to satisfy but to submerge ourselves to the point of overflowing. Yet restraint is not a punishment, but a freedom; we don't allow our impulses to influence us irrationally and then end up being forced to deal with the consequences. Pink Aventurine is paired with Marcel Proust's words: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Restraint allows us to be resourceful rather than heedless. It allows us to find new, nourishing ways to create, say or do things that our impulses often overlook.

Wonder

From the Badgers Forest, the Kit of Badgers (Page of Swords); from the Gemstone Oracle, Moss Agate:

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. 

—Dorothy Parker

Curiosity is what gets this Kit/Page out of bed every morning. It's not so much that he craves certainty, it's just that the world is so interesting and surprising that it pulls him like a magnet.  He follows a mystery, asks questions and reads to find answers, only to discover another wonder to uncover. Moss Agate symbolizes growth and natural cycles. As Frederick Douglas said, "Inaction is followed by stagnation." Our minds work the same way - if we think we have all the answers, they become closed and inflexible. As Socrates said, "Wisdom begins in wonder."

Better or Worse?

This week I'll be using the Badgers Forest Tarot, a deck created and self-published by Nakisha VanderHoeven. Along with it, I'll be using my Gemstone Oracle (with actual stones). Today's draws are the Seven of Crows (Pentacles) and Blue Lace Agate:

Patience entails choosing not to respond reactively, allowing other possibilities to arise.

—Gil Fronsdal

What is it that we are waiting for to ripen - test results, an ongoing project, a package in the mail, or simply for traffic or the line to move? Impatience is anger on simmer, and it benefits neither us nor progress. For most of us, it is a habitual reaction - we just don't know what to do with our frustrated energy. The quality of patience involves gentle restraint, calm endurance, and acceptance of what is. If we want to practice it, we first need to distract ourselves, so we'll calm down. Blue Lace Agate embodies the qualities of patience and calmness (it's a great touchstone when we hit simmer). And the quote that accompanies it has sage advice: “Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse.” (Barbara Brown Taylor)

 

Effort + Encouragement

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Chariot; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Ansuz:

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. —Jesse Owens

Orcas are powerful, swimming up to 34.5 mph and armed with four-inch teeth. Our dreams can be just as potent and require us to stay firmly in the lane of reality rather than fantasy (imagination builds, fantasy escapes). When we hit roadblocks or delays, we might be tempted to wig out or give up, but creativity can be a great resource if we avoid those options. Ansuz represents communicated wisdom that inspires and guides. When we're in need of inspiration, we should choose our encouragers with care. As J.W. Goethe wrote, “Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."

A New Objective

From the Animal Totem Tarot, Justice; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Berkana:

Bravery is the choice to show up and listen to another person, be it a loved one or perceived foe, even when it is uncomfortable, painful, or the last thing you want to do.

―Alaric Hutchinson

Like the crane's beak, the sword of Justice points upward - the truth is more inclusive than any personal viewpoint. But lord have mercy, when I am in conflict with someone, it is hard not to feel that my understanding of things is the correct perspective. Yet these times of frustration, according to Pema Chodron, are teachable moments: "They're like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we're stuck." Maybe I'm not as open-minded as I think if I can't at least listen sincerely to the other person's full story before interrupting. Berakana symbolizes growth and new beginnings but warns that we must let go of our resistance before this occurs. The words of Peace Pilgrim are a good guide for resolution: "Have as your objective the resolving of the conflict, not the gaining of advantage. Be concerned that you do not offend, not that you are not offended."

Ready, Set, Fly

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Kano (Kenaz):

Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.

—Jack Welch

The Six of Swords is illustrated with a sugar glider, a small, gliding opossum with a predilection for sugary foods such as sap and nectar. Much like a flying squirrel, it can spread the membrane that extends from their forelegs to their hindlegs and glide up to 55 yards from tree to tree. With nothing solid to grasp onto, necessity is what launches it through the air. What makes us ready to leave the beliefs and mindset we cling to? Kano (Kenaz), symbolizing a torch, suggests that the darkness we've been hiding in (ignorance, denial or avoidance) has been illuminated. Wisdom convinces us that change and action is now a necessity.