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

Saturday, March 14, 2015

The Right Roots

From the Japaridze Tarot, the Seven of Gardens (Pentacles); from the Holitzka I Ching, hexagram 35 "Progress:"
This gardener at rest made me think of an Emerson quote: "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." Seedlings have to be given time for a root system to develop; roots anchor the plant and help them survive environmental stress. If fish emulsion (high in nitrogen) is dumped on them to rush leafy growth, the plant won't develop the underground support it needs to thrive. The Tao Te Ching states:
Rushing into action, you fail.
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
Forcing a project to completion,
you ruin what was almost ripe.
The I Ching card suggests another way to make progress is to put aside selfish desires and act with a cooperative and harmonious spirit. Moving with rather than against the natural flow without trying to manipulate the outcome will give the best results.

4 comments:

  1. Gosh, that Seven of Pentacles is lovely! I've looked at this deck but thought it might be a bit too busy for me. But I've really enjoyed your week with it.

    As for today's combo the first thing that struck me was the similarity between the way the Gardener is resting his head in his hands and the way the two figures in the Oracle card seem to be leaning into each other. There is a nice mix of Sun and Moon here, for me. Furthered by the great swirls of energy at the top of the cards, the white clouds and moony feeling of the Seven of Ps and the vibrancy of the bright red disc above the Oracle. With your Tibetan lineage perhaps this is also resonant to you as the sacred red and white energy.

    I've been struck this week by the synchrony of your pairings. Always food for thought that kind of inexplicable stuff :)

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    1. I agree, these two decks have been like peanut butter and jelly - a great combination. I did notice the two figures in the I Ching leaning on one another, but didn't think about the gardener resting on his hands too. I really appreciate you sharing your ideas and what you see, Rose!

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  2. Ha! P&B! Great analogy. I agree with Rose this deck is really very beautiful;so rich in colour and full of interesting images.

    Being rooted makes all the difference to life and death. Patience sure isn't an easy thing to have, and we sure aren't born with it. Slowing down, maybe sleep on it, to take care and forethought, this nurtures my patience so I can make the right decisions. I've loved your posts with this card combo Bev!

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    1. I'm really sad to put these two decks back on the shelf! They have really "spoken" to me this week. :)

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