Chasing Desires

From the Alchemical Renewed Tarot, the Magician; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Venus in Aries:

The discipline of desire is the background of character.

—John Locke

Place describes the Magician as the "soul of appetite, focused on the attainment of worldly desires." In the quote, Locke speaks of desire not as romance, but the way we want, take and consume. All desire starts in the mind, a focus that becomes a plan and strategy, that then manifests when we apply effort to create it. Venus in Aries is fiery, passionate, and unabashedly direct, approaching what is wanted with the zeal of a warrior. The booklet suggests we remain assertive but use gentleness and courtesy. As the saying goes, “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Desires are natural, but we need to be discerning about which ones we choose to chase - we might end up with something we didn't bargain on.

Embodied Abundance

This week I'll be using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed along with the book Alchemy and the Tarot, both created by Robert M. Place and published by Hermes Publications. Paired with it will be the Oracle of the Radiant Sun deck and book set, created by Caroline Smith and John Astrop and published through Eddison-Sadd Editions. The draws for today are the Empress and Adaptability (Moon in Gemini):

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.

—Wayne Dyer

Many indigenous cultures view the land not as a resource, but as an active, living being. It is not surprising that the Empress is seen as an embodiment of the land, a symbol of natural abundance. While there are many who do live in poverty, there are also those of us who have plenty yet live with a mindset of scarcity. Often this is because we get caught in the comparison trap, but we may view resources as a means of control. We may mistakenly think they can protect us against all of life's uncertainties. Moon in Gemini folks process emotions through talking, thinking, and analyzing to understand them fully. Rather than live in fear of never having enough, this card asks us to take a logical look at what we have and how our needs are being met. We may discover that we are rich in ways we never considered.

 

A Flow

From the Fey Tarot, the King of Chalices; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the King of Spades:

Think of freedom as a way of experiencing life itself - a continuous flow in which you meet what arises. —Ken McLeod

The King of Chalices is all about equanimity - not indifference or avoidance, but meeting what arises calmly. Of course, he experiences a full range of emotions, but he doesn't get hooked by the mental stories they create. He allows the physicality of them to flow through and out of his body without adding mental fuel. The King of Spades in Sibilla decks can represent a priest, scientist or judge; each of these professions are guided by a particular method: a sacred text, empiricism or the law. When we find ourselves in a rip current of emotions, what method can we use? We let go of putting ourselves and what we want first. Then we attend to what is in front of us.

Examined Lives

From the Fey Tarot, the Seer (High Priestess); from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Eight of Hearts:

An unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates

To "Know Thyself," as the ancient Greeks encouraged, means a practice of self-awareness and personal accountability. We see our strengths and limitations, our motivations, our patterns of behavior, and the defense mechanisms that protect our egos. The Seer/High Priestess understands wisdom and insight requires effort and practice. We're inclined to dismiss what others tell us much more often than when we suddenly see and understand things on our own. She would tell us to study with an open mind, but more importantly, find some time for quiet and stillness to observe and question our thoughts. The Eight of Hearts implies doing pleasant, relaxing things to help restore an optimistic outlook. Relaxing in such ways can relax our minds too, moving us away from future plans or reliving the past. It's a good chance to see where our mind naturally goes, and practice changing the channel if necessary.

Not an Easy Job

From the Fey Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Ten of Spades:

In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way. ― Tina Fey

Both of these cards show someone keeping an eye on things. Is it harder to hire people who want to do a good job vs. those who just want a paycheck these days? Lately I've seen a lot of restaurants fold, not because they didn't have a good product, but because they didn't have good management. Good managers manage the flow of business, keeping watch over the whole process while allowing skilled employees to do their job independently. They don't mind jumping into help, whether it's with a customer or a task, but only when it's needed. Yet they also expect their employees not to steal or be slackers (neither is a good way to "adjust" one's pay scale). Look for another job if the pay doesn't reflect the work required. Yet at the other end of the spectrum is the micro-manager (like the lizard on the fey's shoulder), who uses excessive supervision as a means of control and never asks for suggestions. I've been both manager and employee, and neither is an easy job.

Unnatural Compromise

From the Fey Tarot, Justice; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Ten of Hearts:

Those that first ask us to bend our principles a little will ultimately return to ask for more and more. They will, ultimately, require us to contort ourselves into utterly unrecognizable positions. Moral compromise is never a single act. It creates a precedent…and then another, and another.

—Ryan Holiday

Justice is blind - to outer posturing and ostentation. Her gift allows her to be impartial and fair so that truth is served and ethics are upheld. What is it that allows us to move away from these principles? Is it a desire to secure our own comfort, or perhaps to please someone else? As the Holiday quote notes, this is a slippery slope, and at some point, there will be consequences for our choices when balance is restored. The Ten of Hearts represents a constancy in our love for others. This is not to exclude ourselves, but to recognize that we are all a part of a whole - separation is just a mental delusion. Afflictive emotions - those that cause us misery - all begin with the seed of self-absorption.

Handful of Water

From the Fey Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Two of Diamonds:

That is what happens when the heart door opens- you become less yourself than part of everything. Many are the sentinels who guard that door...

― Roger Housden

A young fey makes an offering of a handful of water. It's like the shy smile offered in a group of strangers, a tendril extended to see if any heart responds in kind. That tentative exchange might be stifled by the memory of past relationships, yet we are animals who thrive on belonging and connection. If we are willing to take a chance and be vulnerable, we might find a friend or partner who can help us discover joy. Though I don't often write them, I do appreciate letters. They tend to be more thoughtful and less rushed, more conversation than just the facts. It is a relationship on paper, yet one that allows us to say what we might not otherwise. Letters and notes can be the handful of water that opens a heart.