Below the Obscurations

 From the Anna K Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Meditation Cards, Wholesome vs. Unwholesome:

Mind is eclipsed by many different obscurations; if they are removed, mind’s fundamental nature, like the sun shining brightly in a clear, open sky, can manifest all the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and a Buddha’s abilities. ― Kalu Rinpoche

The High Priestess knows that within each of us is a luminous mind that sees with clarity, wisdom and compassion. But the ego sets up roadblocks to it, determined to have its demands met no matter what. Being trained in meditation allows the priestess to sink below the rollicking waves created by its self-centeredness, down to a place of calm and spaciousness. Here is found a 'hidden' reserve of knowledge and intuition. Wholesome vs. Unwholesome refers to karma our thoughts and actions create:

What really makes it wholesome or unwholesome is not the content so much as the intention that gives rise to the content. (Narayan Helen Liebenson)

If we want to know whether we are listening to the luminous mind or the ego, all we need to do is look at what is behind the thought or action. Is it being fueled by some form of anger, greed or delusion, or is it triggered by kindness, generosity and wisdom? The first brings suffering while the latter benefits everyone.

Pushing Back or Accepting

From the Anna K Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Dividing Words from Deeds:

Liberation is a reconciliation that says: what is, is; it cannot possibly be any other way than it is right now; and there’s no one here to do anything about it. Resistance and arguing end when this is reconciled. —Salvador Poe

We've all had those sleepless nights filled with anxious, unanswered questions, wondering how we will deal with what's on our plate. The larger problem is that we humans like peace and pleasure, not disturbance and difficulty. Our minds push back against these disruptions railing against the unfairness of it all. Dividing Words from Deeds offers a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Don’t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. 

As the adage goes, actions speak louder than words. In the case of the Nine of Swords, the mind is busy churning out woeful and worrying thoughts while nothing is being done. It would be better to take the advice of the sage Shantideva: "If a problem can be solved, what reason is there to be upset? If there is no possible solution, what use is there in being sad?

The Closer

From the Anna K Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Meditation Cards, Overly Sensitive:

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

~Vidal Sassoon

With his determined stride, clenched fist and focus on what is before him, there's no doubt this king will finish what was started. Passionate about his work, he's capable of bringing visions and dreams to reality. Like the fictional Brenda Leigh Johnson, he is 'The Closer.' Yet as challenges and obstacles are likely to occur, the Overly Sensitive card suggests that calm endurance will also be a quality he needs. He might do well to remember Pema Chodron's words: "It isn't what happens to us that causes us to suffer, it's what we say to ourselves about what happens." Staying on an even keel will help him properly deal with what comes up instead of simply reacting to it.

Gifts

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the Empress and River of Humanity:

Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you.

—Aboriginal Proverb

Judging by the dangerous smile of this Empress, it's likely someone tried to hurt the ringtail hiding beneath her dress. She is the archetypal Mother Earth, supplying beauty and resources in abundance, yet she demands these things not be used indiscriminately or without respect. Like the typical mom, she loves to give but won't hesitate to dole out some discipline when it's needed. The quote for River of Humanity is written by Satish Kumar:

When we write a poem, we make a gift. When we paint a picture or build a beautiful home, we make a gift. When we grow flowers and cook food, we make a gift. When all these activities are performed as sacred acts, they nourish society.

Whatever we offer with an attitude of love is a worthy gift. And how we treat the gifts we're given shows our nature as being entitled or selfless and appreciative. 

Stepping Forward

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Queen of Wands; from the Diloggun Cards, Irete (16 mouths):

In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.

—Abraham Maslow

There's no throne for this queen; she's a "go and do, explore and create" kind of gal. She is represented by Oya, the orisha of the wind, lightning and storms. Associated with transformation, she brings change, wanted or not. It's no use blaming things on her when our comfortable life gets turned upside down. Change is as natural as the sun rising and setting. Irete (16 mouths) suggests we not constrict our kindness in reaction to any shifts in our life:

Ifa: Guard against selfishness; those who are selfish will come to bear their burdens alone.

Proverb: Enjoy breakfast all alone, share lunch with your best friend and give dinner to your enemy.

We don't want to push away the people who might help us adjust and adapt to whatever winds life sends our way.

His Own Petard

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Hanged Man; from the Diloggun Cards, Obara (six mouths):

For ’tis the sport to have the engineer

Hoist with his own petard;

—William Shakespeare (Hamlet)

The fourth king of Oya attempted to bring his divided kingdom together with sorcery but ended up burning everything to a crisp. Oba-kosa ("he sits on the flashes of lightning which are thrown") then hung himself. But his people liked the king in spite of his mistake and prayed for his return. He did in the form of Chango, the orisha of passion, fire, thunder and lightning. We might have to hang in limbo awhile, but people usually do forget our mistakes, especially if no harm was intended. The ifa and proverb of Obara (six mouths) read:

Ifa: One must be uplifted from poverty-stricken acceptance and state of mind. There is no virtue in being in poverty. Be industrious and accomplish your desires.

Proverb: Do not let what you cannot do tear from your hands what you can.

Self-pity and clinging to the hope that history will somehow change won't help anything. Instead, we can learn from our past missteps, making restitution and amends for any harm done while making more mindful choices. 

Accepting Help

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Queen of Coins; from the Diloggun Cards, Osa (nine mouths):

But then it occurred to him that any progress he had made on his quest so far, he had made by accepting the help that had been offered to him. – Neil Gaiman

We'd all like to have a little more stability and financial security for when life pulls the rug out from under our feet. Yet some of our ideas - like playing the lottery - will be unlikely to help. Oshun is an orisha associated with love, fertility, wealthy and prosperity. She was the only female primordial spirit sent with Shango to create the world, but the other male spirits excluded her. When their attempt failed, Shango forced them to respect her, as she was essential to creating not only the world, but all the life on it. Osa (nine mouths) also warns that rigidly following our own narrow ideas is not profitable:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

Wise friends can help us see where we slip and how we sabotage ourselves. It's in our best interest to sincerely listen and heed their advice.