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

Friday, October 30, 2015

Fail Better

From the Prairie Tarot, the King of Coins; from the Medicine Cards, "Salmon:"
          Now this is quite a pairing: the hands-on King of Coins with the wise and tenacious salmon. I can imagine this man traveling west, expecting to find land to cultivate. Instead he discovers dry, arid soil that isn't very hospitable for growing crops. Does he try anyway, beating himself over the head with that mallet when he fails then fails again? I don't think he gives up, but he is wise enough to know his agricultural plan will not bear fruit. I'm guessing he began prospecting for gold and found success through this new endeavor.
          In a commencement speech at Naropa University (where her granddaughter was graduating), Pema Chodron said:
There is a lot of emphasis on succeeding. And whether we buy the hype or not, we all want to succeed, especially if you consider success as “it works out the way I want it to.” You know it feels good in the gut and in the heart because it worked out. So failing, by that definition, is that it didn’t work out the way you wanted it to. And failing is what we don’t usually get a lot of preparation for... not just going down the tubes with it but actually taking responsibility for what is happening to you and having some tools about how to work with painful feelings, raw feelings. So fail, fail again, fail better. It’s how to get good at holding the rawness of vulnerability in your heart. 




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13 comments:

  1. RoseOctober 30, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    Pema names it so beautifully, doesn't she! Thank you for sharing this quote, Bev. It resonates today.

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    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 30, 2015 at 9:11 AM

      And how great that she encouraged a bunch of graduating university students not to be afraid of failure! :)

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  2. EllenOctober 30, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    I am grateful you have introduced me to the wisdom of Pema. She is truly a wise and remarkable woman.
    Failure: you'd think I got it by now :)

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    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 30, 2015 at 11:13 AM

      I love that she sees it as something normal rather than something to be ashamed of. :)

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  3. Sharyn Mallow WoerzOctober 30, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    I once heard someone say Little House On The Prairie was only a success from the distance. Her Pa never actually had a successful farm :)

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    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 30, 2015 at 11:15 AM

      Now that's interesting. I had an ancestor who claimed an acreage in North Dakota by promising to grow apple trees on it. It didn't go well (and he froze his tush off), so he hoofed if back to Kentucky after a year of trying without success to keep them alive.

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  4. UnknownOctober 31, 2015 at 8:20 AM

    Some are fearful of failure, some fear success. Either one has positives and negatives.The fear that cause paralysis and confusion is the destructive part.

    This King of Coins reminds be of The Dude...he knew how to relax. ;) I'm all for that!

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    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 31, 2015 at 8:26 AM

      Relax and be with what is, instead of reacting to it - I can see the Dude doing this well!

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    2. UnknownOctober 31, 2015 at 11:28 AM

      You know when you think about these three characters in the Big Leibowski, they are examples of personality types. Donny and Walter they are the extremes Donny's timid and passive on the other end Walter is temperamental and aggressive, and The Dude he's even keel.

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    3. thesycamoretreeOctober 31, 2015 at 12:29 PM

      My husband almost has that movie memorized he's seen it so many times! My favorite character is the cowboy. :D

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    4. UnknownOctober 31, 2015 at 2:08 PM

      Sam Elliot...love him too! He was actually here in Advocate Harbour many years back before my time...just passing through. I would love to meet him. I have the movie pretty well memorized and am an adherent to Dudeism for sure!

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  5. Inner WhispersOctober 31, 2015 at 12:24 PM

    I loved your description of the King of Pentacles. Accepting failure and still willing to move on to something else, rather than giving up entirely :)

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    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 31, 2015 at 12:28 PM

      I think he and Pema would have lots to talk about. :D

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