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

Monday, May 31, 2021

The Character of Flaws

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Five of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Liberty Bell:

"Progress not perfection" is a comforting thought because for many of us being perfect was a part of our problem. ~ Kathy L/BellaOnline

          Rather than a bunch of guys brandishing sticks, Granny's card shows one lone fellow trudging up a very steep hill. There are no people with competing ideas; this creative problem sits in our own laps. It may be writer's block, not being able to find the materials we need, or simply not understanding the next step we should take. Such frustration can make us throw up our hands in despair or just pause and reset. The Liberty Bell's keyword is 'imperfection;' some officials wanted to repair it for the centennial celebration, but its custodians felt like the crack had become part of the bell's character. We may prefer that our creative endeavors flow smoothly and flawlessly, but those obstacles we face may just turn us in a new direction even better than the one we were headed toward. Cracks in our perfect plans can pluck our work out of the monotonous lane and give it some character.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

5,4,3,2,1 Go!

This week I'll be using the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, created by Granny Jones (Rebecca Jones) and published by Kangaroo Press. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Button Oracle, a set I made myself from a collection of buttons. Today's draws are the Chariot and German Shepherd:

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
~Ellen Glasgow

          Granny, accompanied by her feline companions, energetically pedals her bike. Perhaps she is going to visit a friend in need who lives in the vardo down the road. Hopefully she centered herself before her journey or her frantic anticipation may have caused her to forget something important. I once got a call that my mother (who lives in another town) was being taken to the emergency room. In my anxious and hurried state to get to her, I packed a suitcase full of socks and no underwear. The German Shepherd, long used in search and rescue as well as narcotics and explosive detection, has been assigned the keyword 'investigation.' Being able to work regardless of distractions, this dog encourages me to sharpen my focus in order to discern the moment's needs. I recently came across a grounding exercise (called 5,4,3,2,1) that is quick but useful for such times of anxiety:

  • Name five things you see around you.
  • Name four things you feel.
  • Name three things you can hear.
  • Name two things you can smell.
  • Name one thing you can taste (taste currently inside your mouth).
  • For any 'blanks' you draw, substitute something you are grateful for. 

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Feelings are Okay

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Witch of Water (Queen of Cups); from the Tattwa Cards, Fire > Seed of Water:

Every stream ends in the sea, to rise anew. 
~Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

          Haya-Akitsu-Hime, a Shinto sea goddess, was found where the tide met the rivers. She purified the contamination and corruption of the water and of the people who sought her help. This Queen reminds me of therapists, anam caras, and others whose work involves helping people develop better mental health. The tattwa card's keyword is 'vaporization,' the transition from liquid to vapor. Likewise, our emotions change from one form to another as they change in intensity. The goal is not to battle them and destroy them but to learn to work with them in healthy ways. 

The basic premise that children must learn about emotions is that all feelings are okay to have; however, only some reactions are okay. ~Daniel Goleman

Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions



Friday, May 28, 2021

Softening Hardness

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Siren of Earth (Knight of Pentacles); from the Tattwa Cards: Water > Seed of Fire:

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations, and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place. –Mark Twain

          Baubo, the Greek goddess of bawdy belly laughs, shows how to move forward without aggression. Her sexual levity (never used at another's expense) took the unyielding rigidity out of those she entertained. The tattwa card, with the key phrase of 'creative tension,' parallels this rigidity. Such tension is a result of the gap between our vision and reality. It reminds me of a water drop: water molecules on the surface contract and the drop behaves as if its surface were covered with a stretched elastic membrane. Likewise, we can contract and cut ourselves off when our creative ideas don't flow with the rest of the world. Yet as Baubo encourages, we can build a bridge between reality and our vision if we'll let humor and playfulness release our tension and soften our fixed demands.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Personal Agency

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, The Morrigan (Emperor); from the Tattwa Cards, Air > Seed of Water:

Never surrender what matters most.
~Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

          The Morrigan, great Queen of the Celts, is associated with war and fate. She reminds us that we should cherish our sovereignty (the right to make our own decisions) while realizing we are responsible for those choices. There are times when we may wish to abdicate our own throne, but this goddess warns that personal agency is what allows us our independence and freedom. Yet the keyword for tattwa card - 'stagnation' - offers another caution. Sometimes we can fall under the illusion that we are an expert on everything and refuse to listen to others. Our opinions and beliefs keep us trapped from seeing the bigger picture. Yet sincerely considering the ideas of others only offers us more options to choose from.

If you cannot be open-minded, then you do not possess your ideas, your ideas possess you.
~Bryant McGill


Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Just Dance

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Three of Water (Cups); from the Tattwa Cards, Fire > Seed of Earth:

Not everything that makes sense works, and not everything that works makes sense.
― Rory Sutherland

          Mami Wata is an Igbo goddess of water and ardor. The core of her worship is dance. Most celebrations feature music and movement - dance is the body's way to express joy and lightness (even if it's a simple twirl). It's nearly impossible to harden your heart when your feet are moving and your body is swaying. The keyword assigned to Fire: Seed of Earth is 'alchemy,' the transmutation of one thing into another. Alchemists wanted to remove impurities in order to refine and improve things, whether that involved metals or humans. Sometimes finding our joy works the same way - combining things with a little energy, like music and dance or singing. It may not make logical sense, but who cares if it works?

To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful… This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking. ― Agnes De Mille


Tuesday, May 25, 2021

A Gentler Approach

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Five of Water (Cups); from the Tattwa Cards, Earth > Seed of Earth:

After years of being taught that the way to deal with painful emotions is to get rid of them, it can take a lot of reschooling to learn to sit with them instead, finding out from those who feel them what they have learned by sleeping in the wilderness. 
~Barbara Brown Taylor

          La Llorona was a beautiful woman who married a rich conquistador and bore him several children. Her husband cheated on her, and in her rage and grief, she drowned their children. Consumed by guilt for what she had done, the woman then killed herself. Afterward, she was condemned to walk the earth looking for her children. This Five of Cups asks us to look at how we avoid dealing with our pain, and the long and short term results of such behavior. The keyword 'foundation' is assigned to Earth: Seed of Earth. It encourages us to look at the beliefs of how we should deal with our emotions: suppress them, distract ourselves with busyness or lash out. Few of us were schooled in emotion well-being and maturity. Women are too often held to an idealized archetype - expected to selflessly care for others no matter the cost to themselves. It would be much more beneficial if we could support each other and take Darlene Cohen's advice: "We must treat our pain gently, respectfully, not resisting it but living with it."

To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves - there lies the great, singular power of self-respect. ~Joan Didion

Monday, May 24, 2021

Remembering History

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Hag of Earth (King of Pentacles); from the Tattwa Oracle, Ether > Seed of Earth:

Remember history or more will be lost.
~Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

           The legend of Tsagaglalal tells of a female chief who worried about the fate of her people. Coyote turned her into a petroglyph so she could always watch over them. But how hard that would be - to watch without being able to physically do anything! The companion book reminds us that the world is changing, and it is our responsibility to bear witness and carry the story forward so others don't forget the consequences. As Yehuda Bauer stated, "Time has come to strengthen [the 10 Commandments] by three additional ones, which we ought to adopt and commit ourselves to: thou shall not be a perpetrator; thou shall not be a victim; and thou shall never, but never, be a bystander." The keyword for Ether: Seed of Earth is 'gestation' and suggests it is not only what is around us that we need to be aware of, but what is being planted. We are often heedless of attitudes and assumptions that have seeped in and taken root, eventually producing something harmful. 



Sunday, May 23, 2021

Mature Love

This week I'll be using the Dark Goddess Tarot, created by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince and published by Arnell's Art (now available from  Schiffer Publishing). The oracle I'll be using is the Tattwa Cards, based on the teachings of John Mumford. Today's draws are the Lovers and Air > Seed of Ether:

Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.'
Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.'
―Erich Fromm

          Freya, Norse goddess of love and beauty (as well as chief of the Valkyries), had an abiding love for her husband. When Odr mysteriously disappeared, she searched all over the world for him. At the end of the world and the end of time, she finally finds that he has been transformed into a sea monster. Even this does not change how she feels about her beloved. The companion book suggests that when we meet a challenging situation, we choose a spiritual response - giving more love and creating more beauty. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world a new world." King's statement reflects the keyword for Air: Seed of Ether - transformation. In order to do this, we need to drop the distractions of what is irrelevant and choose to see beyond our labels and opinions. We then can begin with a fresh perspective.

If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. ―Shunryu Suzuki


Saturday, May 22, 2021

Positive Action

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Queen of Koshes/Whips (Wands); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, The East:

I like to encourage people to realize that any action is a good action if it's proactive and there is positive intent behind it. ~Michael J. Fox

          Don't let this sultry beauty fool you - she's definitely not a damsel in distress. She knows how to crack that whip in her hand and get people moving. But her first choice is to use her warm personality and charisma to nudge people along, encouraging them each step of the way. Yet the East, a symbol of clarity, suggests we pause long enough to see how deep and what's under the water we're about to dive into. As Greg Berlanti stated, "We're such a reactive culture... It takes a certain strength to be patient and have a plan." Some mental quiet and physical stillness may help us see what we might have missed.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Power of Giving

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Six of Bolers/Wheels (Pentacles); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, Wind:

If you knew, as I do, the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass
without sharing some of it. ~Buddha

          The king of the Romani people has shown up to buy some wagon wheels from people who could use a few coins. It's likely the king has someone who would make the wheels for him without him heading out to the rural areas to 'shop.' But this way, his benevolence is not seen as charity but as a transaction by the receiver. Generosity is powerful. As Beth Roth wrote: "It is a profound antidote to the strong habits of clinging, grasping, guarding, and attachment that lead to so much pain and suffering. Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression: we experience joy in forming the intention to give, we experience joy in the action of giving, and we experience joy in remembering that we have given." Yet Wind (a symbol of change), offers another reason to develop generosity. At some point, that king might have to depend on the kindness of others, and it's likely that they will happily offer help because of his past benevolence.


Thursday, May 20, 2021

To Heal a Wound

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Three of Chivs (Swords); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, Stone:

To heal a wound you must stop scratching it.
~ Paulo Coelho

          When my heart hurts in response to the words or actions of another, my pain can quickly get channeled into anger. Anger lets me trade in my feeling of being powerless for power, as rage and thoughts of revenge provide a distraction for my sorrow. But like the icy steps on that vardo, resentment is a slippery slope. No amount of spiteful payback will erase the history of what happened, but it sure will keep that river of hate and pain flowing. Instead of this strategy, Stone suggests I seek a more stable foundation that will provide a sense of groundedness. Melvin McLeod writes: "Emotion is ego’s best ally. How do I find freedom from difficult emotions? Enjoy your life. So much changes when you enjoy life, day by day, in simple, wholesome ways. You are happy to be on this earth. You cheer others up and show them they can enjoy life, too. You are not driven to hurt people by your own unhappiness. Far from being selfish, enjoying your life is the best gift you can give."


Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Living in Balance

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, Temperance; from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, the Sacred Pipe:

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism. 
―Carl Jung

          The companion book states that what may need to be tempered is the line between our idealism and mundane reality. Ideals are a standard of perfection, and while there is nothing wrong with aiming to improve things, to rigidly adhere to ideas with no leeway can bring any progress to a halt. Life is not all or nothing; we need to be flexible enough to agree to move in increments toward our goal without demanding to jump there instantly. The Sacred Pipe represents communication between the Sacred and humans, used both in personal prayer and collective rituals. White Buffalo Calf Woman gave the first pipe to native people, explaining the necessity of living in balance with nature. The pipe implies a pause to see if our demands and desires are in balance or if they are simply to benefit ourselves or a particular group. 

His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them. ―Patricia Briggs


Tuesday, May 18, 2021

And In the Seventh Cup...

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, the Tree of Life:

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. ~Henry David Thoreau

           Funny how age affects what we think will bring us happiness. When I was a kid, I was enthralled by Jacques Cousteau and desperately wanted to be an oceanographer. This young woman, on the verge of adulthood, imagines what will bring her joy - money, a home, beauty, a handsome partner, good fortune, or revenge. Of course whatever is chosen is still subject to change and transience, including our desires as well. Yet the Tree of Life suggests a solution. "The Creator has planted a Sacred Tree under which they may gather, and there find healing, power, wisdom and security. ...The fruits of this tree are the good things the Creator has given to the people: teachings that show the path to love, compassion, generosity, patience, wisdom, justice, courage, respect, humility and many other wonderful gifts." (Sacred Tree, Four Worlds Development Project) A spirituality, practiced and applied, can help us accept and adapt to change while offering wisdom to act with an appropriate response. [Whispers to young girl: "Choose the one with the handkerchief over it."]


Monday, May 17, 2021

From Bead to Cord

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Sun; from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, the Spirit of Man:

In the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.  — Albert Camus

          When life gets hard, we hunker down and build walls that separate us from 'them.' We shut out the sunlight of clarity, warmth and creative energy, allowing our ego free rein. As Sean Feit Oakes described, our little self "is defined by what we crave, who we hate, and what we believe to be true." Yet within each of us - and all creation - is a luminous cord that links us to each other; it can move us from the darkness to the sunlight if we pay attention to it. This luminosity shows us that we are neither omniscient (all-knowing) nor omnipotent (all-powerful), but interconnected and dependent on the 'other.' It helps us see beyond imperfection, recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary. 
          For me personally, I see this luminous cord not as a far-off deity, but as an experience I share in when I acknowledge the wonder and beauty of Nature, when my heart is touched by kindness, or when my heart softens because of someone's suffering. This is where my inner strength lies. We are like beads on a never-ending cord; our physical bodies and the labels we choose for ourselves create our specific bead. Although each of us is different, that cord of goodness and wisdom exists within us all. Through my spiritual practices, I seek to move from bead to that cord. 



Sunday, May 16, 2021

Not a Happy Feeling

This week I'll be using the Buckland Romani Tarot, created by Lissanne Lake and Raymond Buckland; this book and deck set was published by Galde Press. Along with it, I'll be using the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, created by Chief Archie Fire Lame Deer and Helene Sarkis; this deck and book set was published by Inner Traditions. Today's draws are the Five of Bolers/Wagon Wheels (Pentacles) and Prayer Ties:

Compassion, in and of itself, is decidedly not a happy feeling.
~Constance Kassor

          These two cards, one implying destitution and the other social conscience, reflect what is all around me. People are on every main thoroughfare or near large businesses holding cardboard signs asking for help. Are they in real need or are they addicts or con artists? Either way, compassion asks that I not turn my head and pretend not to see them but to acknowledge their suffering with a wish to remove it. Yet compassion has some 'near enemies' - actions that appear positive on the surface but are actually unhelpful. The first is pity, when we feel so sorry for the poor person we see. But pity separates us from them; it allows us to think we could never be in their shoes. The second is enabling, when we try to fix the other person and their problems (according to what we think they need). Unfortunately, this offers no long-term aid for the other, it only relieves our short-term discomfort. Finally, despair happens when we self-identify and drown in the sorrows of another. Rather than extending a helpful hand, we both find ourselves in an emotional rip current. Genuine compassion requires an equal measure of kindness and wisdom. It acknowledges that not every problem can be solved, but still endeavors to keep the heart open with a resolve to act with kindness.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Acquisitions

From the Ferret Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Monarch:

          All animals, including humans, have innate instincts that drive them to safeguard one's well-being, preserve one's species/race, and engage with others socially. Yet under this umbrella, humans have a wider group of instincts (enhanced and guided by emotions), as this chart by psychologist William McDougall shows:


Notice that acquisition is on that list - not a problem unless taken to extremes. As Bill Wilson wrote, "Every time a person imposes his instincts unreasonably on others, unhappiness follows. ...we are set in conflict not only with ourselves, but with other people who have instincts too." Enjoy your success little ferrets, but be careful not to mindlessly step on the paws of others. 

 

Friday, May 14, 2021

Contemplate/Activate

From the Ferret Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Owl:
There has to be breathing in as well as breathing out. We need to have both the active and the contemplative. —Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

          Regardless of what social media says, the purpose of meditation is not to escape the world but learn to live in it with wisdom and compassion. We first cultivate purposeful attention (concentration) that allows our normally discursive mind to calm and stabilize (along with our body). Once we are anchored, things seem more spacious rather than constricted. Then we can begin experiential inquiry, looking deeply and questioning the habitual patterns of thought that lead to unhelpful, reflexive action. We start to realize how often we misperceive, assume, and generalize; we come to understand the suffering we cause ourselves and others. Yet the Owl appears with more wisdom to offer. Knowledge might be power, but it is action that will produce change.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Room to Fly

From the Ferret Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Feathers:

A good director creates an environment, which gives the actor the encouragement to fly.
~Kevin Bacon

          A Marine sergeant can take many people and resources, create order and strategy, and move them all toward a goal. But if you're looking for a director who has the skills to organize and mobilize, who will also support and encourage, look no further than the Queen of Wands. As Bacon stated, such a person allows others to creatively engage with situations - a great way to develop minds that see obstacles as challenges, enabling unique and original solutions to be found.

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.
~John Maynard Keynes


Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Love What is Left

From the Ferret Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Rose:

Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. ― Edna St. Vincent Millay

          To live is to know loss. The initial knowledge of it is like being stabbed with an icy-cold dagger followed by a numbness that makes the rest of the world seem foggy and unclear. Then comes the ripping open of the heart, as the mind finally accepts what has happened - that who or what we loved isn't coming back. Grief can help us heal, unless we are look at life through a straw, focused solely on our loss. Rose is a reminder to love what is left; it can make the pain much more bearable.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Love is a Verb

From the Ferret Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Hummingbird:

Love is a verb
It ain't a thing
It's not something you own
It's not something you scream.
~John Mayer

          This lovesick ferret spends his days fantasizing about romancing the ferret of his dreams. But if these moments only exist in his mind, they are castles made of sand. To paraphrase Paige Braddock, when you're riding the wave of romance, it will eventually wash up on the shore of reality. The Hummingbird, a blur of energy, suggests he step out of his head and show his beloved how he feels. Better yet, he could figure out the "language of love" his partner speaks and (if she's receptive) take action:
  1. Words of Affirmation
  2. Acts of Service
  3. Thoughtful Gifts
  4. Quality Time (Undivided Attention)
  5. Physical Touch


Monday, May 10, 2021

The Mountain of Myself

From the Ferret Tarot, the Chariot; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Crane:

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
~Edmund Hillary

          There is a young lady in my neighborhood who walks her two dogs daily - one who is large and one who is small. The dogs have two different paces and seem to be interested in sniffing different things. It's amazing that they make it around the block without incident. The owner is quite like the driver in the Chariot who is pulled in different directions. Likewise, I can be tripped up by my desire to rush forward (missing important details) or stymied when there is a conflict between what I want to accomplish and my inner 'should' list. Add emotional turmoil to the mix and I may end up in a tangle. As Edmund Hillary stated, sometimes the real obstacle to deal with is my inner mental and emotional state. Origami cranes have long been a symbol of hope and a wish for good fortune. Wishful hope has expectations for a specific outcome, but wise hope sees only a potential for change without any constricting boundaries. Wise hope advises the chariot driver to accept that the journey and the end destination likely won't look as I imagined it to be.

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Savoring Satisfaction

This week I'll be using the Ferret Tarot, created and self-published by Elaine Moertl. Along with it, I'll be drawing from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, created by Mindy Lighthipe and published by Schiffer Books. The cards for today are the Nine of Cups and Fish:

We frame the moment, give it our full attention, savour and hold it,
in an awareness that the moment will pass. ― Louisa T. Brits

          Whoa buddy, you might not want to chug-a-lug that drink of contentment quite so fast. Moertl describes the Nine of Cups as the satisfaction of the simple pleasures of life. This is a moment to soak in and enjoy rather than gobble down and grasp. It will pass, but if we pay attention, we'll have a lovely memory to recall when we need to lighten our day. The Fish card has been assigned the keyword fearlessness; most fish don't have eyelids (and if they do, they're transparent), so their eyes are open always. Fear is an innate part of our biology that we can't get rid of, but acknowledging it without feeding it can help us respond wisely rather than react. When those Nine of Cups moments pass, we can keep swimming forward, staying mindfully in the present. 

Do not fear things that arise in the mind; question them, know them. The truth is more than thought and feelings, so do not believe and get caught by them. See the whole process arising and ceasing. This understanding gives rise to wisdom. —Achaan Chah

Friday, May 7, 2021

With Friends

From the Deirdre of Sorrows Tarot, the Page of Wands; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, Tea and Coffee:

          This cheeky Page may be dressed to impress, but he can't hide his childlike enthusiasm over a message he bears. I imagine if he was a GIF, he'd be jumping up and down. Good luck reading that note in private! If the Tea and Coffee card is a hint as to what's inside the envelope, it appears that an invitation to a chin wag with friends is being offered. Even when I'm tired and worn out, a small group of relaxed friends always lifts my spirits. As Betty Ford said, “You can make it, but it’s easier if you don’t have to do it alone.”