It Tends to Stick

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Manipulation:

Beached under the spumy blooms, we lie sea-sick and fever-dry.

―Sylvia Plath

It's not just our own rigid beliefs that can beach us; being manipulated by the lies or half-truths of another can do the same. Why do we believe what is false? Prefactuals - information we hear before facts are known is a key. Our expectations can override the evidence we are presented with later (climate change is a hoax, for example). Researchers have also found that misinformation is likely to stick when it conforms to our pre-existing political, religious, or social point of view. In other words, we prefer the bonds of our tribe to the truth. But wouldn't it be better to row alone, away from a sinking ship?

Still There

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Patience:

I am still every age that I have been. This does not mean that I ought to be trapped or enclosed in any of these ages...but that they are in me to be drawn on.

―Madeleine L'Engle

My eye is drawn to the smallest girl in this painting who holds the back of her sister's dress. It's as if she finds reassurance and security when looking down at such a great height. I lived with my grandmother as a preschooler, and enjoyed having my three, slightly older cousins next door as my companions. When my mother remarried and we moved, I had to find reliable anchors in other places, such as classmates and neighbors. I am still that little girl in some ways - I find it helpful to have friends that bolster, inspire and encourage me. Patience's card looks feathery and light, reminding me that it is a trait that might begin as a sigh of frustration but ends in tender openness. Surely the human anchors I've been fortunate to have over the years have had this trait in spades.

Innovative Roles

This week I'll be using the Victorian Romantic Tarot, created by Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony with Magic Realist Press as publisher. I will also be drawing from Dreaming in Color: The Luman Deck, created and self-published by Mindy Hope Sommers. Today's draws are the Knight of Pentacles and Emotion:

Innovation thrives where doubt meets courage.

― Marion Bekoe

The Knight of Pentacles must at times think outside the box when trying to bring what is envisioned into reality. Britomart was a young woman who fell in love with a knight seen in a crystal ball; Merlin informed her that he was in trouble. Being an innovator, Britomart disguised herself as a knight (turns out, she's very skilled and strong) and goes in search of Artegall. Along the way, she frees maidens from their captors but eventually helps her soon-to-be husband. Emotion asks us how we feel when people step out of their defined roles. But aren't these roles simply constructed by humans (often with an agenda) rather than prescribed by nature? At some point, need may force us all to step into a new role. Yet it can remind us that we are more whole and diversified than what we've often been told.

What Happened

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the World; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Tree Rings:

Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you.

—Aldous Huxley

This Earth Mother gives birth to all beings, but it is up to each one to do some learning for the sake of their own safety and well-being. There's no need to sign up for college classes, as life will offer lessons freely - from life-affirming and life-threatening to wonderous and horrible. We might not always take advantage of these 'classes,' but sometimes the best lessons come from bad judgment. Hopefully what is learned will open our heart and mind so that we begin to walk in the world a little differently. Tree Rings are layers of wood that reveal a tree’s age and past environmental conditions. It represents records and observations of the past, and reminds me of writing daily, whether a journal or blog. It's a way to take stock of our thoughts and feelings, but it also serves as a reminder of good times and times of resilience. 

Shaping the Mind

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Chariot; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Coral:

Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves. —Dhammapada, 80

This buddha-like charioteer pauses for the cause, taking a moment to let his emotions settle (holding the crab) so his mind will be clear. The booklet's verse reads: "I am the Chariot, which carries calm through torrent and tempest." Whether we're on a spiritual or physical journey, our mind has the ability to completely distract us or to keep us heading in the right direction. Being aware of our thoughts, we can turn them in a new direction if the mind is simply spinning plates rather than focusing on the task at hand. Coral reefs, though covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, support about 25% of all marine life.  These creatures form colonies by cementing themselves together with the calcium carbonate they secrete. This card suggests community, connection, and collaborative action. As Desmond Tutu stated, "The fundamental law of human beings is interdependence." We need to connect with others who will help us reach our goals - especially those who will point out when we've taken an exit ramp.

First, Listen

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Swords; from the Art Round Oracle, Snake Rattle:

A respectful dialogue with one's opponent almost invariably goes further than a harangue outside his or her window. If you want to change someone's mind, you must understand what need shapes his or her opinion. To prevail, you must first listen. ―Sonia Sotomayor

This Prince is known for his intellectual agility, capable of swiftly navigating through complex ideas and concepts. Fond of arguing for the sake of argument, he may morph into an idealist or a crusader when he thinks he has uncovered a truth. The attempt of his eagle to scrabble onto a rocky ledge implies his airy ideas can at times be disconnected from reality. The Snake Rattle warns us to be prudent and cautious. A rattlesnake doesn't want to bite anything unless it is threatened or there is a meal involved (it takes a lot of energy to make venom). Likewise, an exchange of heated words goes nowhere and only exhausts us. As Sotomayor states, first it might be wise to ask questions and listen to what has shaped the other person's ideas. We might find there are some holes in both arguments when it comes to applying them in real life.

Structured Chaos

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Peach Pit:

Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized. —Terry Pratchett

The Ace of Wands indicates a desire to create, build and grow; it might turn into a plan, but right now it's a hot mess. Our creative imagination can churn out a million ideas from how we want to begin to what we want the end result to look like. As unorganized as this process sounds, it is actually structured chaos. It's a place where we can easily adapt, adjust and change things before they become too concrete. The Peach Pit - designed to protect the seed inside - contains a potentially dangerous chemical called amygdalin which the enzymes in the gut can turn into cyanide. It represents the sweet and the bitter, the hard and the easy, that are all a part of the whole. Rarely is any enterprise smooth sailing, but if we can maintain a sense of humor, the chaos can be part of the excitement.