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."

Not a Drop

From the Granny Jones Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Button Oracle, Teddy Bear:

You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the ocean in a drop.

—Rumi

When we come to Granny Jones as the High Priestess, telling her we seek deep wisdom and guidance, she chuckles. She tells us it's not as mysterious as it's made out to be; it is a matter of slipping past the ego that craves control and filters our reality. Once we do, we find that self-absorption has dissipated and our feeling of separation has disappeared, leaving us with a sense of both spaciousness and wholeness. Teddy Bear represents comfort and reassurance; slipping the grip of the ego won't leave us in danger. Ego is simply a mental habit of organizing our life around a solid, permanent sense of "me," and "mine" that must be constantly defended or improved. We can see a lot of possibilities when we are free from those barriers. 

A meditation from Leo Babauta. 

Defined or Strengthened

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Five of Buttons; from the Button Oracle, Eagle:

When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let is destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you. ―Theodor Geisel

When we see folks who have a run of bad luck, we automatically try to figure out what they did to land there. It's a way to make us feel better, as if we can prevent it from happening to us. But sometimes we find ourselves in a landslide of difficulties, no matter how savvy we think we are. Do we let these things define us as someone who never gets a break, as someone who always gets a raw deal? You can bet our lives will begin to resemble exactly that if we do. Yet Eagle reminds us to take a broader view of things and to use discernment in our situation. First, we may find allies who can offer advice or help. We may learn to pay more attention to red flags we ignored before. If we look wider than our own pain, we will see troubles come to all and develop compassion. If we zero in on what we can do (rather than what we can't control), we may take a small action that has a domino effect of good results. 

Before They're Easy

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Two of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Dragon:

All things are difficult before they are easy. 

—Thomas Fuller

When we decide to move out of our current state of affairs and cross into unknown territory, it can be both an exciting and scary transition. Like the cat keeping his balance on the clothesline, we no longer have what was familiar as a safety net. There are new skills and knowledge to acquire as well as new people to connect with. We must let go of the old methods and put our energy into this new version of life. Eastern dragons are portrayed as good, kind, and intelligent, and so the Dragon button represents preserving our well-being. Learning new ways of doing things can make us feel incompetent and awkward, but we don't need think we're burned-out light bulbs. Instead, we can be kind to ourselves, recognizing that mistakes are natural as we adapt and get the hang of things. 

Take Along Your Wise Mind

This week I'll be using the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, created by Rebecca Jones and published by Kangaroo Press. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Button Oracle, a set I made from a collection of buttons. Today's draws are the Seven of Wands and Cactus:

Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives. Judge not by their words but accept advice based on the evidence of actual results. 

—Anthon St. Maarten

Let others know about a great change in the making or a goal that is strived for, and you can bet a laundry list of likely obstacles and objections will be voiced. In some cases, these critics may feel insecure about their own choices; discouraging us may give their egos a boost. Yet a few may have some genuine concerns and advice that might help rather than hinder us. Rarely do we reach any dream on a linear, level path, so some of these nuggets may be beneficial. The Cactus Button cautions us not to adopt a prickly attitude when everyone is not on board with our plans. We need to be careful that we don't inadvertently antagonize our allies as we huff and puff in frustration. As Karyn Hall encourages, "Wait for your wise mind to be in charge. Your wise mind can take in new information, be flexible in considering alternatives, and be creative in thinking of solutions."