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

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Undiminished Overflow

This week I'll be using the Vision Quest Tarot, a deck created by Gayle Silvie Winter and Jo Dose (Illustrator); it was published by AGM Müller. I'll also be using Bird Cards, a deck and book set by Jane Toerien (Author) and Joyce van Dobben (Illustrator); it was published by Altamira-Becht. Today's draws are the Three of Water (Cups) and "Cuckoo:"
The mind constricts and love unbinds. The mind says, "Don't let go or overflow." Love says, "Be free without formality." ~ Rumi
          Inside myself is a small, tightly capped container labeled "conditional joy and love." Like a million dollar bottle of wine, it is shown off but never shared; its purpose is to try and support my self-worth when it is sagging. If the bottle ever breaks, all is lost. But there is another vessel inside, one that is more like a hollow tube. Joyfulness flows in and out without ceasing or diminishing, because its source is not based on external conditions. The overflow begs to be shared, to be offered "without formality." Like the breath, it seems only natural to send out what has been freely received.
          The only information I've ever learned about cuckoos is that one of them really loves Cocoa Puffs. As the Bird Cards book is full of New Age ideas but no practical information, I did a bit of research about these birds. I found that the cuckoo family gets its common name from the call of the male Common Cuckoo (goo-ko) - no connection at all with breakfast cereal. The feathers of the cuckoos are generally soft, and often become waterlogged in heavy rain. As a result, they must sun themselves to dry out and relieve the heaviness. This card reminds me that emotional treasures aren't meant to be hoarded. As Reba McEntire sings:
Smile's not a smile until it wrinkles your face,
Bell's not a bell without ringing;
A home's not a home when there's nobody there,
A song's not a song without singing;
Love isn't love till you give it away.

10 comments:

  1. We seem to be on the same page today! Have loving lovely Sunday Bev!

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  2. We have a song we sing here...The Magic Penny (versions on YouTube by Malvina Reynolds are authentically fab!). It's hokey and wonderful when the whole family breaks out into this one aka 'being free without formality' ;)

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    1. (Sings along) "if you give it away, you end up having more" - indeed! :D

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  3. lovely deck pairing. We now know the same amount about cuckoos. I'm not even sure I've ever thought about them being a real bird, not clock chimes. Are they found in the US or Germany?

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    1. There are lots of types of cuckoos; from what I've read, they are found somewhere in every continent except Antarctica (so not just on Cocoa Puffs). :D

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  4. The Vision Quest was the first Thoth-alike I ever took to. Didn't know that artist had done another deck, though your description of the companion book puts me off.
    Love your description of the jar and inner tube, hope love overflowed throughout your day! :)

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    1. I think it might have been my first Thothy adventure too. :) The Bird Cards deck is gorgeous, but I'm not patient enough to wade through the New Age ramblings in the book. I like my interpretations of animals to come from the animals themselves (behavior, appearance, etc.) rather than be based on their "energies."

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  5. So, too much of a good thing causes the feathers to feel heavy. LOL I liked your info about the bird, and am quite happy that I won't be forever stereo-typing it with a box of cereal! I appreciate your research. I too would prefer using the bird's real behaviors as the card's interpretations. I find it difficult to wade through a lot of "new age-ee" type books.

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    1. I think the good things should be shared in order to multiply the joy. :)
      I waiting for the New Age wisdom to be balanced out with some good old common sense. :D

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