I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

One Trillion Odors

From the Fairytale Tarot, the Five of Wands:
The tale of Kintaro tells of a young boy with unusual strength and the ability to talk with animals. His power was discovered by a general as the boy and his animal friends playfully wrestled in the forest. The leader offered Kintaro a chance to become a samurai warrior, which he gladly accepted and eventually became a great hero. Normally I would interpret this card as a battle of wills, with each person promoting why something should be done their way. But with the monkey in the foreground, I couldn't help thinking of the term "monkey mind" - a Buddhist phrase for a restless, indecisive mind. It will be my own mind jousting within itself today, as I try to choose the best course of action.

From the Tree Affirmations deck comes the "Wild Quince:"
I am in tune with the subtle fragrances of life.
The oily skin of a quince fruit exudes a delightful, fresh apple smell. I read the other day that humans have 400 types of scent receptors and can detect at least one trillion odors. Mind boggling isn't it? Yet as spring arrives here, the subtle but lovely scent of tea olives can stop me in my tracks. Though this shrub and its flowers are quite ordinary in appearance, the understated fragrance it releases in fall and spring make it stand out from all the other plants. As I try to make a decision today, I will notice which choice is superior not for its overpowering boldness but for its soft distinction.

2 comments:

  1. I have to admit I've never ever seen or tasted a Quince fruit I can understand what you mean though. Most of the time it is not the loudest, most impertinent monkey which is right. That is often the ego yelling. Perhaps our higher self has the sound of budding blossems

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    1. "the sound of budding blossoms" - now that sounds like a Zen koan! :D

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