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

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Blinded by Choice, not Light

From the Fountain Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Devas of Creation, "The Source:"
          This woman looks overwhelmed; the booklet describes this Cups card as "lost in choice." My friend Sharyn sent me a dvd about dealing with dementia, and one of the suggestions in it had to do with choice. For instance, instead of asking the person what they want for dinner (open-ended question) just give them two choices (chicken or fish). We expect and demand a buffet of choices, but when we have them we're indecisive. What happens if the wrong cup is taken? Unless the choice is a one-way ticket with no return options, go ahead and risk a mistake. Even if at first taste is bitter, it might become like warm honey over time. Sip, savor and learn.
          The Source card looks like a blinding light, and Conway refers to it as Awareness and Being. According to Lurianic kabbalah, the Infinite contracted itself in order to make a space for creation. When the vessels of creation were completed, it filled them with Light (not your normal lightbulb kind of light). The vessels shattered, unable to contain it. Yet each piece of the vessel (you, me, Pluto, a mountain, etc.) still contained a shard of light. In other words, we contain something greater than our egos, something that looks with compassion at the whole of creation. That glowing ember is selfless and kind toward all (including oneself). Maybe if the Seven of Cups woman stills her body and quiets her mind, she might find that light and be led out of her foggy confusion.

13 comments:

  1. "Sip, savor and learn". That is a good advise. I am trying this to bypass my own insecurity about how to make the right choice.
    I used the two choices method with my girls when they were young. And now and then with my husband too when things get to complicated for him. Maybe if we would narrow our choices down to two for ourselves too (the're to many to's in this sentence) life would become a lot more easy.
    "To be or not to be?"

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    1. Funny how easy it is to help someone else make a choice, but so hard for us to do ourselves! :) Even with just two choices I can overthink things.

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  2. This combo of cards makes me think of the line from that old Timbuk3 song, "The future's so bright I gotta wear shades" lol.

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  3. :D I think I was hearing Springsteen's trippy song "Blinded by the Light" playing in my head when I came up with the title.

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  4. "Funny how easy it is to help someone else make a choice"
    Ain't it the truth...

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    1. ...of course we don't have to deal with the consequences. :)

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  5. In this day and age with all the different electronics, and gadgets, it is no wonder we become blinded. We have so many things to choose from that we can sometimes forget to narrow down our choices by seeing the things that are important. All the rest should fall to the way side. This also reminds me of my future goal, to live a minimalist life. I suppose if I have a tiny house and everything I own is out in the open, it will be good motivation to keep my house clean! LOL

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    1. That's a good point - sometimes we choose everything (when it comes to stuff). Then we have another quandary when we have to figure out what to keep and what to give away. :D

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  6. On the other hand, the Consciousness card could represent a moment in which the choice becomes blindingly obvious and the confusion disappears. :)

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    1. Yes, she uses that inner light instead of the ego to make her decision. :)

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  7. As a Youth Care Worker and an art teacher the most constructive and beneficial options were offering two choices. Works for all of us I think. Too many choices we can't make decisions, and listening to that still quiet voice for discernment is essential for me. And if that doesn't work sometimes just making any choice period is the only way to find out what works and is what I want and need.

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    1. Yes, I think we want gobs of choices, but we end up just more confused. I agree about that still quiet voice - it is a light out of the tunnel.

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    2. Yes Bev You are right I avoid the gobs these days!

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