The Old and the New

From the Primordial Tarot, the Era of Blood (Seven of Wands); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Conscious:

          Moore describes this Neanderthal warrior as driven by instinct and survival. However, as communities developed, his war-like solutions would probably not be appropriate in all situations. There may be times when it is necessary to tap into that energy, but many impulsive behaviors need to stay in the past. The Conscious card asks us to be aware of when we are triggered to react from old patterns when a more beneficial solution is available. In the words of Leo Tolstoy, "Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins." 

New World, New Path

From the Primordial Tarot, the World; from the Wisdom of the Forest, Initiate:

          Moore writes, "we are new creatures in a new world." Yet while our knowledge, skills and technology have brought us many innovations and gains, we are beset by greed, self-centeredness and hatred at an unmatched level. Years ago if a natural disaster or some sort of violence occurred, we rallied to help each other. Now it seems we are made up of warring tribes who are quick to point the finger of blame while gleefully enjoying the others' calamities. Our ethics and spiritual practices have not kept pace with science. Initiate shows a trail in the forest, inviting us to begin walking a new path. It is not enough to make a resolution, we must act with purpose and intention.

Good resolutions are like babies crying in church. They should be carried out immediately.

― Charles M. Sheldon

Just the Weather

From the Primordial Tarot, the Moon; from the Wisdom of the Forest, Open:

          Moore maintains that although people say the Moon changes, she actually remains whole. It is only the amount of light that shines on her and the perspective from which she is viewed which makes her appear to change. Like the Moon, outer circumstances that create strong emotions can alter our ability to see the whole of reality. It is helpful to remember the words of Pema Chodron: "You are the sky. Everything else – it's just the weather." Open suggests we make an effort to unfurl our constricted bodies and minds that challenging situations often cause. The sky is much wider and more more spacious than my small view of it, as is reality. 

Devotion with a Side of Discernment

From the Primordial Tarot, the Two of Soul (Two of Cups); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Strength:

The problem with the practice of seeing everything the guru does as perfect is that it very easily turns to poison for both the guru and the disciple. ~Dalai Lama

          Guru, mentor, sponsor, teacher - regardless of what we call them, we've all been disciples of a sort at some point. The Primordial's Two of Cups (Souls) illustrates a relationship between shaman and human, a partnership based on trust. Yet even though they are highly regarded for their knowledge, insight and experience, they are human too. Even with all their wisdom, they are still people with their own challenges and shortcomings. Strength is a reminder that while we might not be a spiritual master, we all have a set of core values. Though it might be tempting to turn the responsibility for our lives over to another, it would in essence be turning over our power of choice to them. As Rob Preece put it, "We can offer respect and even devotion to our teachers but with a real capacity for discernment and personal responsibility."

Feminine Strength

This week I'll be using the Primordial Tarot, with art by Sergio Toppi and booklet by Barbara Moore. It was published by Lo Scarabeo. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Wisdom of the Forest, a deck created and self-published by Jessica Purser. Today's draws are Woman of Nature (Queen of Pentacles) and Give:

I vow not to take what is not given, but to practice generosity.

~Buddhist precept

          The stability of many families lies with its matriarchs, symbols of feminine strength and resourcefulness. Moore says, "Whatever she faces, she makes her way through it all with a core of strength, faith, and love." She doesn't act from the attitude of "what's in it for me," but follows the compass of "what's in it for us." Purser suggests that giving starts with kindness and compassion toward ourselves, then radiates outward. This practice is more than simply being nice or doing a good deed; it makes all involved feel seen and of value, connected to all the rest.

The best portions of a good person's life are little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.

~William Wordsworth

Inner Transformation

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Dreamer Five (Five of Swords); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Yew:

          Carding describes this Five of Swords as giving up or hope discarded. I feel this way with the anti-maskers and those who think a change from a Trump-led nation to a Democratic one will destroy America. Discussion isn't an option with closed-minded folks who cherry-pick random information rather accepting facts and spread misinformation on social media. What I've chosen to discard is any attempt to change their minds. Yet Yew, with its qualities of longevity and regeneration, presents a more positive slant instead of simply doing nothing. Even as the main trunk begins to die, low branches can root themselves in the soil and create a newer, healthier version of the tree. It reminds me that although I am powerless to change others, my own persistence in doing what is ethical and good (even when it feels overwhelming) can be transformative. 

Sowing Seeds

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Empress; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Fern:

One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.

― Friedrich Nietzsche

          Carding describes the Empress as a font of creativity, the fertile ground in which to plant one's seeds. Most of us would have plenty of excuses for not exercising our talent: we don't have enough time, we aren't artsy, or our imagination is on the fritz. But creativity comes in all shapes and forms, whether it involves solving problems, finding an efficient way to do something, or making ends meet on a lean budget. Both necessity and turbulence have been the mother of invention. Folklore is full of the magical properties of ferns, particularly their seeds and flowers, yet ferns produce neither. For this reason, the message of Fern is the importance of truth: we may not be Picasso or Emily Dickinson, but we do have some creative seeds we could plant and nurture.

Dream Language

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Moon; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Scots Pine:

People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.

― Neil Gaiman

          Our conscious minds can only handle so much information and sensory input at one time, so it falls on the unconscious to sort out the rest. Researchers propose that the function of dreaming is to consolidate memories, process emotions, express our deepest desires, and gain practice confronting potential dangers. Tangled up in trying to decipher what the symbols of dreams mean, it's easy to wind up down some dark, twisty rabbit holes. In the words of J.K. Rowling, "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." Scots Pine, the largest and longest-lived tree in the Caledonian Forest, is a keystone species upon which many other species depend. In the Highlands, they were often used as markers for burial places; in England they often marked the routes for droving livestock on foot from one place to another. It's message, paired with the Moon card, suggests we look for guideposts in the real world rather than relying only on information from the dream state.

Striving

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Chariot; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Spindle:

I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.

― Madeleine Albright

          The Chariot illustrates that moment when we are willing to step beyond hope and take action on our goals. We strive to make progress toward what we envision. Yet the Spindle offers a few questions to ask before galloping down the road. The wood from this plant was often used to make spindles - implements used in hand spinning to twist and wind thread from a mass of wool or flax. It suggests that there are things that need to be united in order to make them more durable (and able to endure the journey we're about to embark on). Is my goal something I believe in deeply or something I feel I should do to please others? My heart and my head need to be united if I am to succeed in my quest.

A Blessing

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Sidhe, created by Emily Carding and published by Schiffer. I'll also be using the Green Man Tree Oracle, created by John Matthews and Will Worthington with Connections as its publisher. Today's draws are Dancer Ten (Ten of Cups) and Honeysuckle:

Come and join our faery song,

Find the home for which you long,

Know that you have found your place,

Circle of the Dancer's grace.

          Connection - having a sense of unity and belonging with another person or group - is a basic human need. I've been helping look after the dog of an acquaintance who's been in the ICU and is now in a nursing home. Having a house full of cats and a busted up fence, she unfortunately can't stay with me. Although her neighbor and I have been feeding her and taking care of her basic needs for the past month, she is extremely lonely, anxious and sad. She desperately needs a human connection now that her person is gone. But today I'm meeting a wonderful woman from across the state line who is willing to foster her and give her a sense of belonging that's been missing. The sweet smell and taste of Honeysuckle is a perfect symbol for the generosity and kindness of this canine foster mom. May their new relationship be a blessing to both of them. 

True Center

From the Tarot of the Cat People, Temperance; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Human Canon:

          The swirls of color behind this woman mimic the mixing of her two pitchers (that cat must trust her steady hand to be up under them). Temperance takes two extremes and mixes them to find a middle ground. We cling so tightly to what we want and think is right, it may be hard to accept her mediation. A canon in the sphere of visual arts is a rule for proportions, so as to produce a harmoniously formed figure. For instance, a tiny head wouldn't be proportional to a large body. Temperance tries to teach the same idea: there can be no harmony where there are extremes.

Combine the extremes, and you will have the true center.

~Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

Swept Under the Rug

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Ace of Cups; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Discontinuous Proportion:

          Cats will often expose their bellies to people they trust (but unlike dogs, it has nothing to do with requesting a belly rub). It is their language of feeling safe around someone enough to expose a vulnerable side. Is it possible to care about someone without exposing oneself to harm? Discontinuous proportion means that the measurements making up different sets of ratios have no particular connection with each other besides the proportion itself. In this case, patterns are dependent on someone else's contributions that may not at first be obvious. There are plenty of controlling and abusive relations that begin so subtly, the person on the receiving end may not at first realize that things are abnormal and unhealthy. It may be time to take a closer look at what we've been sweeping under the rug.

A Few Nicks and Scratches

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Five of Swords; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Octahedron:

From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of being always right. 

–Samuel Butler

          It's easy to tell an abusive pet owner from a kind pet owner - the first type trains his animals to cower in fear, such as these cats are doing behind the rocks. Some people enjoy feeling smug and superior through intellectual conquests; they care more about being right than than how they are battering and destroying their relationships. The Octahedron is a polyhedron made of eight triangular faces. The natural crystals of diamonds are often in this shape, which seems to imply an extreme level rigidity and prestige, yet fluorite (a 4 on the Mohs Scale) also contains these crystals. Wouldn't it be worth a few scratches and nicks on our opinions and ideas to salvage our friendships?

Super Power

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Queen of Wands; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Tetrahedron:

Curious that we spend more time congratulating people who have succeeded than encouraging people who have not. ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

          This passionate queen who can think on her feet has a super power - encouraging other people. She understands that words of support can give someone the self-confidence and determination to work hard until their goal is reached. The Tetrahedron is a four-sided pyramid made of triangles. Because its stiff edges make it rigid, it is often used in truss-like frames that span large areas with few interior supports. Thus the tetrahedron symbolizes the ability to make things more stable and secure. The Queen of Wands knows that words should be used with discernment as they can encourage someone's potential or be critical and destroy it. As Abraham Joshua Heschel warned, "Speech has power. Words do not fade. What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed."

Passing the Cup

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Queen of Cups; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Point:

Genuine compassion is uncomfortable. It’s difficult. It’s maybe even a little bit scary. But this is why it is so important, and why it has the potential to be so powerful. ~Constance Kassor

          The Queen of Cups doesn't judge whether a person is deserving or not before she passes her cup of compassion to them. Her act of empathy and wish for the end of their suffering gives her joy and inner strength regardless of how it is received. She sees beyond outer appearances, knowing that everyone has a deeper value even it they are unaware of it. The Point is the jumping off place for something new; it suggests checking out the diving board we're leaping from. If it is full of unfounded expectations, we might want to reconsider. The starting point is just the place where we plant many seeds, but not all of them are guaranteed to grow.

Readjusting the Scales

From the Tarot of the Cat People, Justice; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Continuous Proportion:

          Justice expects a straight answer when she asks me where my ideas, attitudes and actions are out of balance. I suspect 2020 has made many people feel like a released, blown up balloon that flies haphazardly without direction. We've all had the rug pulled out from beneath us in one way or another, so it's no wonder our scales are atilt. But the Continuous Proportion card asks me to look a little closer. This principle involves a set of numbers whose ratios are related - the first to the second, the second to the third, etc. For example, 1:3:9:27:81. It suggests I ask myself what is related or corresponds to my imbalance. Is my physical tiredness associated with inadequate exercise, an unhealthy diet or a lack of sleep? Is my negative attitude because the people I'm listening to see everything bad and nothing good in the world? Is my mind mush because I spend to much time watching TV or on the internet? There's only only person who can even up those scales - me.

Shaping the Day

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Ace of Wands; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Cube:

          This Ace of Wands shows a firecat being birthed. I am reminded of how I have the opportunity to shape and form each day, as a potter at the wheel. I may not get to choose the type of clay I work with, but what I make of it is my doing alone. The Cube suggests the natural human response to each day is to smooth, settle and make things stable that are in flux. Yet it is impossible to set in concrete what I desire; each day's portion of clay must be shaped anew. 

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move through

each moment

mindfully

lightly

and with clarity.

a heart

bursting with love,

a mind

propped open,

may i shine

to lessen

the darkness

of

another being's

suffering.

~mary jane dodd

Staying Awake

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Cat People, created by Karen Kuykendall and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be drawing from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, a deck and book set created by John Michael Greer and published by Llewellyn. Today's cards are the World and Spiral:

The only thing truly within our power, may be whether or not we will behave in each moment with arrogance or reverence. —Lawrence Kushner

          Rather than someone dancing inside an opening, Kuykendall's card shows a dancer balancing the Earth on her fingertips. There are encounters and ordeals we go through that force us to see beyond our pet opinions and narrow perspectives. These experiences can briefly take us out of our self-centeredness so that we see how even small actions can affect the whole. As a result, our outlook and response to life may be transformed. Yet the Spiral indicates that the clarity and understanding that shines brightly will gradually fade. The daily trudge can dim what inspired us unless we make a conscious effort not to forget. The trick is to keep paying attention with an open mind rather than walking around in our sleep.

We lose something very vital in our life when it’s more important to us to be one who knows than it is to be awake to what’s happening. —Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Inner Reserves

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Nine of Fire (Wands); from the Bird Cards, Roller:

People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

―Leon Trotsky

          The Nine of Wands suggests we dig deep to find the strength and determination to push past our plateaus or impasses. Everyone has experienced adversity and struggles, which led us to new knowledge and additional skills (even if at times it was to learn how not to tackle something). These experiences deepen the reserves we have to draw from when times get tough again. The Roller is a colorful, crow-sized bird named for the acrobatic feats it performs during courtship or territorial displays. Its name brings to mind the phrase "roll with the punches," literally meaning to maneuver away from boxing blows to lessen the impact. In combination with the tarot card, it implies that instead of rigidly defending what we want, we choose our battles wisely according to what we can live with. Flexibility along with those reserves will lead to progress. 

The Work, Not the Results

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Star; from the Bird Cards, Gannet:

Wise hope is not seeing things unrealistically but rather seeing things as they are, including the truth of suffering — both its existence and our capacity to transform it. ~Joan Halifax

          When we feel beaten down, overwhelmed, and without hope, it is natural that we look for guidance. But often what we seek is something that will promise us what we want. Yet the wise hope Halifax refers to means we accept the likelihood that change won't rigidly conform to what we desire. The Gannet is a large bird capable of diving from 100 ft. heights reaching speeds of 60 mph to pursue fish at much greater depths than most seabirds. Its supposed capacity for eating large quantities has led to the term 'gannet' being used to describe someone with a voracious appetite. It suggests we ask ourselves: "Instead of what we long for, what is it that we actually need?"

Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea... ~Thomas Merton

Solid Ground

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Seven of Fire (Wands); from the Bird Cards, Shrike:

Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.

— Unknown

          Being Thoth-influenced, this Seven of Wands exhorts endurance and bravery. It asks us to face formidable situations, and instead of running and hiding, be true to ourselves, our values, and our needs. Here we take a stand with our integrity intact. The Shrike is also known as the butcher bird because of its feeding habits. It hunts large insects, small birds, frogs, rodents and lizards, then pins their corpses to thorns, barbed wire, or other available sharp points as a cache they can return to and eat what is left over later. Those sharp points are symbolic of swords and the truth they represent. When we stand against the allegations of others, we can skewer their words and see if they hold any truth. If what we find is false, we know we are on solid ground.

Allies

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Three of Water (Cups); from the Bird Cards, Canary:

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them? ~Rose Kennedy

          Can anyone confidently say that they would have made it through 2020 without companions to lean on and confide in? Not me. Whether the challenges were personal, national or worldwide, friendships helped me find humor in the darkness and upheld a light for coming change. What better time to celebrate than when surviving a difficulty (even if the rest didn't magically disappear)? Canary reminds me of its association with warning when it was used by coal miners. My companions can also sound an alarm when I start sliding under the waves with little awareness. In the words of Arnold Glasgow, "A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." As this year comes to a close and a new one begins, I will strive to generously offer the same kindness to others that I've received.

Drying Out

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Clown (Fool); from the Bird Cards, the Cormorant:

          In Native American culture, the heyoka (sacred clown) was more than just a prankster or contrarian. His behavior posed questions that made people think about things they had overlooked or see situations from a different perspective. Like the Fool, he encouraged people to take a leap outside their mental comfort zone. The Cormorant is a bird that sits very low in the water and is able to make deep dives after fish. But because his feathers aren't entirely waterproof, he will sit for long periods on rocks or land with his wings outstretched to dry out. He reminds us that we too can become waterlogged - we need to step away from what has us emotionally or physically soaked so that we can see clearly once again. A change is needed that we might not have been aware of until now. 

You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.

~Paulo Coelho

Well Water

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 Big Medicine Wheel (World) and Swallow:

Forward movement is not helpful if what is needed is a change of direction.

― David Fleming

          On this journey, things change, and hopefully our knowledge and perspective keep pace. The World card generally signals a completion of one chapter in our lives and the beginning of another. It also represents a new paradigm - a shift in our way of seeing and understanding things because of what we've experienced. We no longer have to rely on habitual reactions or an old set of patterns. Swallows dart gracefully over fields, meadows and water in search of insects. They originally built their nests in caves, but now build their cup-shaped mud nests almost exclusively on human-made structures. The creators of this deck suggest they symbolize finding your joy, which brings to mind a quote by Richard Wagner: "Joy is not in things; it is in us." Outer lives may change, but we still have an inner well to draw from if we choose to do so.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen

From the Stone Tarot, the Page of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 13:176:

How long can you wait here,

August sun branding your neck?

~Alison Stone

          Full of energy and excitement, this Page has rushed out to see, do and explore without thinking about protecting herself from the hot summer sun. Most folks who've ever been eager to get somewhere can relate to forgetting a few essential things. The head-to-toe sunburn she's likely to have later might be a good reminder to plan a little better the next time she sets off on an adventure. Yet the Dhammapada adds another warning about being impulsive when it comes to trusting others: "For people who speak falsely, who transgress in this one way, and who reject the world beyond, there is no evil they won't do." When people say what we want to hear and claim to be able to give us what we desire, it can be easy to forget to investigate before we jump in. If we do, we're likely to get just as burned as this Page.