Beginning Within

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Absurd, created and self-published by Jessica Rose Shanahan. I'll also be using another self-published deck, the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk by Masha Falkov. The draws for today are the Emperor and Waterfall:

          With his belligerent expression and stabbing finger, I can almost feel the big boot of this Emperor on the back of my neck. He's become overzealous in his law and order tactics and extreme in his attitude. There's no fatherly concern here, only a "my way or the highway" mindset. The Waterfall brought to mind something neuropsychologist Rick Hanson said: “We live life at the lip of a waterfall… our mind is forever trying to grab what has already disappeared over the edge.” Though we might like to put life in a box complete with all our labels and preferences, constant change is the natural state of all things. While this Emperor is busy trying to Gorilla glue his box tightly shut, the bottom has already spilled most of its contents out. Fear generally brings a hostile perspective such as his. The only cure is accepting that he can't control everything, especially change.

You can’t remake the world

Without remaking yourself.

Each new era begins within.

—Ben Okri

Slippery When Busy

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Two of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs, Crow:

          This woman balances on a slippery rock with waves lashing at her feet. Her only source of light comes from a lighthouse. Yet she seem confident and focused rather than overwhelmed. The companion booklet states: "Your life is a balancing act between worldly affairs and inner challenges, responsibilities and having fun." Yes, we can multi-task and do it all - but only briefly. Eventually something will get left out or shoved aside or we will collapse with exhaustion. Known for its intelligence and cunning, Crow has been seen as both a messenger and trickster. His message today would likely mirror that of Neil Armstrong: "when you get overconfident, that's when something snaps up and bites you."

On a personal note, I can see myself in this woman. Yesterday I was so busy with multiple tasks that I didn't have a chance to blog. Today I am worn out and ready for a break. Here's one of the more enjoyable tasks I was doing - helping with a Spring display for the library's display case:

The Precious Thing

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the Mystic Glyphs, Antelope:

          The Nine of Cups speaks of contentment found through one's own endeavors. Though emotionally fulfilling, the satisfaction it brings is found only in the moment. Just as the Antelope is known for its leaps and evasive maneuvers, so our happiness will return to neutral soon enough. Rather than worrying about our pink cloud floating back to earth, we can enjoy every second as it unfolds.

Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is. ― Eckhart Tolle

Rooted

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Queen (Sibyl) of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs deck, Place of Emergence:

Love's greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred.

~Barbara De Angelis

          This earthy, grounded Queen is in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Whatever she cultivates, she does so with the intention that it might benefit others, yet never at a great cost to another. She would likely agree with Wendell Berry: "There are no sacred and unsacred places; there are only sacred and desecrated places." Place of Emergence, with its small box surrounded by two larger ones, suggests a protected space where something has time to be nurtured, develop and then materialize. Whether we are beginning a spiritual practice or planting seeds, all new beginnings are served by a sacred refuge that will encourage the growth of their roots.

Be Bold

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Sibyl (Queen) of Wands; from the Mystic Glyphs, Butterfly:

          The Queen of Wands has a warmth and magnetism that draws people in like a hearth fire on a cold night. Most of that radiance comes from a realistic confidence in her abilities that she is willing to teach those who are ready to listen. She's at her best when she can inspire and support the creative spark in others. The Butterfly suggests a transformation has occurred (after weeks of munching leaves as a caterpillar). We've got our wings, but now what? It can be scary to step onto a new stage, but this Queen would tell us not to worry so much about making mistakes but rather to pay attention to what can be learned and applied. She'd likely pass along the wisdom from another Queen (Latifah): "Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self."

No Shortcuts

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Mystic Glyphs, Human Trail:

          Enthusiasm can at times make us overly optimistic, failing to see that we have neither the time nor the resources for what we take on. When we find ourselves with more burdens than we can carry, trying to hide from our obligations won't do any good; reality could care less that we're overwhelmed. But what might help is honesty - with ourselves and others. The Human Trail card shows a curvy path and a straight one. Humans generally want what is fastest and easiest, yet those curves in the trail that add time are precisely where we can also learn useful skills, add to our knowledge, and make contact with people who can be of assistance. However, we can make adjustments, correct our course, and try again. Just know that things won't get done by yesterday.

There is no shortcut to life. To the end of our days, life is a lesson imperfectly learned.

~Harrison Salisbury

Landfall

This week I'll be using the World Spirit Tarot, published by Llewellyn and created by Jessica Godino and Lauren O'Leary. The oracle deck I'll be pairing with it is the Mystic Glyphs; it was published by Red Wheel and created by Barb Rogers. Today's draws are the Eight of Wands and Night:

          Eight fiery wands fly through the night sky at a downward angle and will soon land. The companion book assigns the keyword 'opportunities' to this card, implying that the energy and effort that have been generated is now coming to fruition. While there is excitement about the possibilities that will become available, the Night card suggests there is much still hidden and unknown about this auspicious circumstance. No worries; no one knows what a gift holds until it is unwrapped. And even then, no one is obligated to accept it. But let's not jump to conclusions... 

To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.

~Benjamin Franklin

Restoration

From the Anna K Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Meditation Cards, Die Before You Die:

          This King isn't studying statistics, but reads to restore his spirit - maybe poetry or a sacred text. Although his job is to serve his kingdom, he can't do anything well if he is overtaken by exhaustion or succumbs to an inner hollowness. Perhaps he is reading from the Dhammapada: "Let none neglect their good for others’ good however great. Clearly perceiving one’s personal welfare, one should devote oneself to one’s own good." The quote for the Meditation Card comes from Elizabeth Kubler Ross:

It is the denial of death that is partially responsible for people living empty, purposeless lives; for when you live as if you'll live forever, it becomes too easy to postpone the things you know that you must do.

Acknowledging death, not just in an intellectual way but with the heart, can help us see just how precious and fragile life is. Another way the King can take care of himself is to see what is living in his mind 'rent-free' - resentment, envy, fear, etc. - that takes away from his own joy and his capacity to be of service to others. There's no need for anyone to waste time on those story lines.

Balanced System

From the Anna K Tarot, Temperance; from the Meditation Cards, Benevolence:

          Aristotle thought that the best way for humankind to achieve well-being was through cultivating moral virtues. He saw these virtues as the midpoint between an excess and a deficiency, which seems to be an apt description of Temperance. How easy it is to overdo what Westerners consider 'good,' such as overworking or over-analyzing, rather than resting in the sanity of the midpoint. The quote from Benevolence comes from the Japanese group Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai:

As a net is made up by a series of knots, so everything in this world is connected by a series of knots.  If anyone thinks that the mesh of a net is an independent, isolated thing, he is mistaken. It is called a net because it is made up of a series of connected meshes, and each mesh has its place and responsibilities in relation to other meshes.

When we take care of our own well-being, we are being benevolent to others. When we assist others in need, we take care of ourselves. We are all a part of an intricate, delicately balanced system - everything leans on something else.

Birthday Advice

From the Anna K Tarot, the Emperor; from the Meditation Cards, Heart Centered:

          The Emperor knows that every person and society needs some guard rails if they are to make progress without continuous setbacks. His solution is law and order, truth or consequences. But the black and white tiles in this card imply how easy it can be to slide from guidance to rigid control and black and white thinking. Today is my sixtieth birthday, and I feel this Emperor offers me some wise advice. The physical changes that come as the result of aging (as well as the prospect of death) can easily make a person who has no control over these things develop an inflexible perspective. A hard-line stance can give the illusion of being in charge and temporarily soothe the ego when life feels unstable and uncertain. Yet Heart Centered pulls me back to reality with a quote from  Al-Suhrawardi:

If words come out of the heart, they will enter the heart, but if they come from the tongue, they will not pass beyond the ears. 

This life, with all its joy and suffering, invites me to reach out to others rather than push them away. Such connections are what help us all stay sane and open-hearted on the journey. In the words of Ram Dass, "We’re all just walking each other home."

Rushing and Prodding

From the Anna K Tarot, the King of Rods; from the Meditation Cards, Just Be:

          Strong-willed and dynamic, this King doesn't leave much of an imprint on his throne cushion. He is full of ideas and energy, but unlike his knight, he finishes the projects he starts. There are times when his underlings might feel rushed and prodded (like Elaine's boyfriend on Seinfeld). He wants the job to be done well, but he wants it finished in a timely manner too. The quote for Just Be comes from Rumi:

I wonder

from these thousand of “mes”,

which one am I?

Is the King in perpetual motion because reflecting on his motives or feelings make him uncomfortable? Yet if he slows down, he could become aware of habitual patterns that cause him misery and have the chance to change them. As Blaise Pascal noted, "All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone." Sometimes we have to stop acting on the stage and watch what is going on inside of us.

Seed Check

 From the Anna K Tarot, the Seven of Pentacles; from the Meditation Cards, Drop of Succor:

You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. 

~ Mahatma Gandhi

          A man pauses to check on what he has planted after preparing the soil. I was talking to a friend the other night who had planted some avocado seeds that were now saplings. She commented that she probably wouldn't be around when they started producing fruit. Yet someone may enjoy her efforts in the future, which is a good reason to make an assessment of what I'm currently nurturing in my own life. It would be helpful to cultivate something wholesome and useful rather than kudzu and briers. The quote for the Succor card comes from Mother Teresa:

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

We all will leave a legacy for humankind; my focus needs to be on what will be harvested as a result of the seeds my hands are planting now.

Conscientious Compassion

From the Anna K Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Sword of Justice:

It has been well said that we do not see things as they are, but as we are ourselves. Every man looks through the eyes of his prejudices, of his preconceived notions. ~Samuel Silas Curry

          It would be easy to judge this woman as the 'bad guy,' having spurned her admirer's affections. But a close look at the haggard expression on her face implies that she takes no joy in walking away. We may see people at their best and their worst moments, but what we don't see is what goes on behind the closed doors of their minds and hearts. The quote for the Meditation Card comes from Bhikkhu Bodhi:

When compassion and justice are unified, we arrive at what I call conscientious compassion. This is compassion, not merely as a beautiful inward feeling of empathy with those suffering, but a compassion that gives birth to a fierce determination to uplift others...

Perhaps this woman has two ailing, elderly parents at home and it's all she can do to meet their needs. Instead of a lover, this woman might need a friend who could lend a hand. But her suitor will never know unless he looks past his own desires and asks about her needs.

Just Be

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the Ace of Pentacles and Harried Mind:

          The thrill of an unexpected gift or opportunity is nearly always welcome, whether it's a bonus check, a paid vacation, or an addition to one's family (pet or person). How will we spend our time, energy or money with its arrival? It often brings more questions and quandaries rather than answers. The quote for Harried Mind might provide a guide post:

Peace and clarity arrive through understanding patterns and the underlying nature of our minds, rather than through stopping our thoughts, achieving some special state, or having a particular experience. 

—Oren Jay Sofer

Pausing, finding stillness and quiet, can help slow the busyness of the mind long enough to sort the wheat from the chaff. And it gives us a chance to take the advice of Guillaume Apollinaire: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."

No Other Life

From the Lukumi Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Diloggun Oracle, Oyeku (two mouths):

          Six orishas party happily together; not even the Greek gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus managed such a feat. They seem content with the power they have rather than wanting what another has. People who look back at their lives and angrily feel like they deserve better and more generally are a miserable breed. They spend so much time in the past that they fail to seize the joy at hand. Oyeku's ethic and proverb read:

Ifa: The prevalence of temper outbursts and cursing are the causes of difficulty in one’s life.

Proverb: Ashes fly back in the face of he who throws them.

When we regurgitate the painful past we find ourselves with emotional reflux, a constant feeling of bitterness and unhappiness. We would do well instead to take Henry David Thoreau's words to heart:

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”

Gateway of Now

From the Lukumi Tarot, the World; from the Diloggun Oracle, Ofun (ten mouths):

          Eleggua, orisha of crossroads, paths, and doors, is used to illustrate this World card. He/she holds the keys of the past, present and future. Eleggua reminds us the present holds the key - this temporary moment is where we make choices that will shape our future. While we may learn from the past, the gateway of now is the place where we will construct our tomorrow. Ofun's ethic and proverb read:

Ifa: Do not speak of those who are ill of mind or crippled in body. Do not leave your home and speak badly of those in trouble.

Proverb: The skin of the leopard is beautiful, but not his heart.

The wisdom of Ofun suggests that instead of judging others, we worry about our own actions and thoughts. It is easy to impress people with external possessions and accomplishments, but what happens when they discover our true nature is something hateful and horrifying? The leopard might not be able to change his spots, but humans can if we are aware and willing.

God as a Cow

From the Lukumi Tarot, the Ace of Coins; from the Diloggun Oracle, Irete (sixteen mouths):

Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love him as they love their cow – for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. – Meister Eckhart

          Most Ace of Coins cards give an impression of health and financial opportunities, but this particular card gives the impression of a dragon's hoard. Which leads to the question, how much is enough? E.F. Schumacher suggested that materialism is an attitude that doesn't fit in this world because the pursuit of wealth is limitless but the environment in which it is place is indeed limited. Irete's ethic and proverb read:

Ifa: Guard against selfishness; those who are selfish will come to bear their burdens alone.

Proverb: Enjoy breakfast all alone, share lunch with your best friend and give dinner to your enemy.

The wisdom of the Diloggun makes an important point: Those who constantly crave for more always feel poor, but those who have enough to share will always feel rich.

Override

From the Lukumi Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Diloggun Oracle, Ogbe (eight mouths):

Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find.

― Walt Whitman

          Here is a new take on the Four of Cups; rather than focusing on the broken, useless cups, this family fully enjoys the one cup that overflows. Our minds are primed by biology for negativity bias, but we do have the ability to override that innate pattern. As Whitman encourages, we should seek and find the good that is available and revel in it. Ogbe's (eight mouths) ethic and proverb read:

Ifa: Those who attain blessings are those who live by their wisdom. If we do not bear suffering that will fill a basket, we will not receive blessings that will fill a cup.

Proverb: The heart of the wise lay quiet like still waters.

Part of the override involves recognizing and accepting that suffering -  in the forms of aging, sickness, and change/impermanence - is a part of everyone's life. Rather than stewing in 'Why?!' we can look for skillful ways to adjust and adapt. It's not personal, it's just how the natural cycle operates.

Put a Pin In It

From the Lukumi Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Diloggun Oracle, Ika (thirteen mouths):

          The Nine of Swords shows a chichereku, a magic doll used for spells. When we are intoxicated with fear, anger or some other emotion, most people have a tendency to look outside themselves for a solution. Some situation or person is often (we think) the cause of our misery. We want a doll full of pins to solve our problems. The ethic and proverb for Ika read:

Ifa: Ifa divination is to be performed so that the forces in one’s life be understood and controlled.

Proverb: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.

Divination is often a tool used to relieve the seeker of responsibility - "Tell me what to do," many querents request. But it works best (in my opinion) as a way to look inside of ourselves, to see what needs attention and requires change. It may seem like a miracle that by making small changes in ourselves, the rest of the world seems transformed as well.

Look Where You Slipped

From the Lukumi Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Diloggun, Osa (nine mouths):

          This Queen is represented by Oya, Orisha of Wind and Tempests. She believes in blowing down old, dead wood to make way for new growth. The Queen of Wands has the passion and charisma to make great changes, yet she must be wary that her agenda doesn't become so aggressive that she ends up 'salting the earth.' Nothing thrives in that kind of environment. The ethic and proverb for Osa reads:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

If this Queen does find the people she serves less than willing or stubborn, she must not automatically assume they are lazy or ignorant. If she looks at her behavior, she might find that she didn't listen to anyone else's ideas about the changes she wanted. And while her big stick might force someone to do her bidding, she might find it creates more upheaval and chaos than for which she bargained.

Poisons of the Heart

This week I'll be using the Tarot Lukumi, a deck created by Caelum Rainieri, Ivory Andersen and Raphael Montoliu. It is published by Dal Negro and the artwork was done by Luigi Scapini. The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Diloggun Cards, a digital set created through the use of art by Mase Lobe. Each card is associated with an Ifa ethic as well as a proverb, with information from a book by Ifa Karade called The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts. Today's draws are the Five of Cups and Obara (six mouths):

Shattered legs may heal in time, but some betrayals fester and poison the soul.

― George R.R. Martin

          A man grieves for those who have been poisoned by seeds from a fruit he gave them; his attempts at using sorcery to heal them failed. Humans have different ways their hearts get poisoned, such as loss or resentment. But nothing seems to close a heart quicker than betrayal. Everything in the injured party's life seems to revolves around revenge or swearing off relationships altogether. The ethic and proverb for Obara read:

Ifa: One must be uplifted from poverty-stricken acceptance and state of mind. There is no virtue in being in poverty. Be industrious and accomplish your desires.

Proverb: Do not let what you cannot do tear from your hands what you can.

Clearly the Diloggun reading exhorts those who have been hurt to avoid self-pity. The past cannot be changed, but we can look to see what action might be taken that may help us heal rather than give up or rage against ghosts of the past. We may even find a new appreciation for others and life itself. As August Strindberg put it, "There are poisons that blind you, and poisons that open your eyes."

Agency

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Chariot; from the Pictish Oracle, the Hammer and Anvil:

A person with a health sense of agency believes they are responsible for their thoughts, feelings, and actions. ―Jason Spencer

          The artist's use of one horse rather than two pulling in different directions made me think of the word 'agency.' In social science, agency is defined as the capacity to act independently and make one's own decisions. It is similar to responsibility, but also requires some knowledge and resources to be effective. If we don't understand that our emotions and thoughts are rarely indicators of reality, we have little ability to competently navigate our own chariot. We must first learn how to pause before reacting and sort fact from fiction. The Hammer and Anvil carvings are a nod to the craft of the smith, a person who was able to take rough lumps of ore and transform them into gleaming weapons or tools. We too must shape and transform old patterns of thinking and habits of action if we want to hone our power of independent choice. Like a talented smith, it will require a commitment to patience and practice. 

Avoid Bites

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Father (King) of Cups; from the Pictish Oracle, the Snake:

          The King of Cups has the ability to keep his heart open and listen attentively. He'd like everyone to be in touch with their feelings so they might realize how easily emotions can override common sense. Having experienced the brutality of war and the violence of family strife, he understands the damage emotional energy can do. It is a fire that can keep us warm and cook our meals, yet left unchecked, it can burn everything around it to ashes in the right conditions. The Snake has a complicated symbolism in Celtic lore; its ability to coil and strike produced fear, yet its habit of shedding its skin seemed to represent healing. Snakes are like emotions - both should be respected and watched carefully. The more we learn about both, the less chance we'll be bitten by either one. 

Emotions are really good at raising questions and really bad at answering them. 

~Zach Teutsch

Balance of Teachings and Tonic

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Mother (Queen) of Swords; from the Pictish Oracle, the Stag:

I don’t know the exact point in humans’ evolutionary history where a genetic mutation gave moms an extra set of eyes in the back of their heads, but it’s a given fact that they have them. ~ Jake Teeny

           This Mother/Queen does appear to have eyes in the back of her head, seeming to know what people are up to without being physically present. At first it's just to keep youngsters from killing themselves until their frontal lobes are more fully developed ("Do NOT jump off the roof onto that trampoline!"). Later it is to teach them them the importance of being impeccable with their word, the need for honesty and integrity. Her sharp perception and a belief in accountability have steered a few from crumbling cliffs. Yet at the other extreme is the Stag, a symbol of Cernunnos - the master of wild places and things. The Horned One was a symbol of fertility and renewal, but even he had limits. Just ask him about clear-cutting forests. 

We need the tonic of wildness...

― Henry David Thoreau

[Just take some common sense with you. ~Queen of Swords]

Freedom of Nonattachment

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Mother (Queen) of Pentacles; from the Pictish Oracle, the Double Hook:

          The Queen of Pentacles nurtures and protects what she has created, whether that is a project, a family, or a career. She is resourceful, capable and practical. Her only downfall is that she may at times substitute clinging for care and demand for devotion. The Double Hook is thought to be some type of clip or hook and thus has been assigned the meanings of attachment and relationship. No relationship (human or otherwise) remains unchanged; clips can be unhooked. Children leave the nest, employers lay off workers, and groups disperse. A look at the motives behind the participation and care we offer can determine whether our actions are selfless or self-serving, allowing us to let go and move on when changes come.

I have found freedom: it is the freedom of nonattachment, the freedom to not cling and to not resist. 

—Ananda Baltrunas