Where Does It End?

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Dust Dervish:

Where does the rainbow end,

in your soul or on the horizon?

― Pablo Neruda

Grief is a natural response when there is loss, setbacks or misfortune. Yet, as Neruda asks, where do we place our hope? Do we place it in wishful hope that might somehow erase the past or bring back what we lost, or in wise hope that understands that even as we process our grief, change is happening? Dust Dervishes are small rotating columns of air that pick up dust, leaves and other light materials from the ground. They remind me of my daughter's delight as a preschooler when she would find one and dance with the spinning leaves. This card suggests we take Mark Nepo's advice and look wider than what hurts. We don't have to push away our pain, just make room for a bit of beauty, wonder, and joy to add to it. 

Poked with a Stick

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Soul Cards, Protective Shelter:

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

—Rihanna

"Come on, get up and get moving - people are counting on you." "But I'm tired... I just want this to be over." She pokes me with her stick. "I am the steady force applied. It won't get done unless you do it. Besides, you're not alone." Her cat gives me a soft bop on the nose with her paw. "While you are being a guide and support, there are others who are your umbrella in the storm. Do you see the broken infinity symbol on my arm? Just remember, nothing lasts forever."

Chilling

This week I'll be working with the Sasuraibito Tarot, self-published by Stasia Burrington. I'll also be using Soul Cards 1 & 2, created by Deborah Koff-Chapin and published through her company, Center for Touch Drawing. The Soul Cards have no titles, so the ones given here are my own. Today's draws are the Four of Swords and Star-stuff:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

—Max Ehrmann

To move placidly through the day means we are not easily upset or excited, which would be beneficial as the holiday rush begins. To do this, we need a spiritual practice that allows us to rest the mind and relax the heart. The blue face and lack of color in the chest of this young boy represents him doing just that - chilling out. It's not that he has stopped his thoughts or feelings, he just lets them be without feeding them stories, strategies or what ifs. Star-stuff reflects the words of Carl Sagan: "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff." But unlike stars, we can't constantly burn up energy without paying a price. There might be a lot to do, but we need to reach out, ask for help and support each other in the doing of it. 

A Few Kites in the Air

From the Ellis Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the Brownies Oracle, Attainment:

If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.

– John Maxwell

Ellis states that the Ace of Cups can include emotional healing and growth or a positive shift in attitude. We all have buttons that are easily pushed and an Achilles heel when it comes to our emotions. Growth involves being aware of these things and practicing a different response when we can catch ourselves. Although Attainment from the Brownies Oracle may seem to imply perfection, take a closer look at those kites they're trying to fly. Some of them are soaring, some in a tangle, and others still on the ground. Growth doesn't mean we're never angry, grieving or anxious, just that we're getting a little better at not repeating our same reactive patterns.

Voyage

From the Ellis Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Brownies Oracle, Plenty:

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. – James Allen

Thoughts can be sticky things, following us around and revving up our anxiety or anger. We generally don't realize we are the ones adding the glue, reinforcing them with assumptions, projections and a lack of factual information. Instead, we could treat them like a door-to-door salesman; we open the door, acknowledge their presence, then tell them we're not buying anything and swiftly close the door. This will have to be repeated often for a while. Plenty brings to mind the Buddhist concept of emptiness. Rather than being a void, it is a space full of everything - an infinite range of possibilities. What it is empty of is the limitations we impose on it with our beliefs and narrow focus. No one can navigate the world well with blinders on. It's time to open our mind and widen our perspective.

Acknowledged Success

From the Ellis Tarot, the Six of Rods; from the Brownies Oracle, Defiance:

We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them, and conquer them. 

―Victoria Arlen

This fellow, though there are no crowds to cheer him, walks confidently with his companion. He knows how to validate himself for the challenges he meets successfully. Now, if only the road ahead could remain straight and smooth... But as Nietzsche reminds us, "There will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how you use them." Defiance encourages us to remember our past accomplishments rather than becoming despondent when another problem arises. Self-confidence, based on what we have conquered already, can help us face present difficulties with optimism.

Stuck in Our Stance

From the Ellis Tarot, Temperance; from the Brownies Oracle, Revolution:

The people—confused and excited—hear only the strident voices of the audacious and refuse to listen to the voice of wisdom which, being wise, is temperate.

― Lloyd C. Douglas

When holding an extreme view - and we're so focused on being right, we rarely see it as such - we automatically close our mind to any other viewpoint. We think that to mix our opinions with another perspective only cancels them out, yet we actually cut off any avenue to the wisdom of reality. An open, temperate mind doesn't dump one view for another but sorts through, examines, and finds the best of both. Revolution suggests change, which will never happen (even beneficial change) if we can't soften our beliefs and attitudes. Who know what we might be missing by staying stuck in our stance?