Seeing the Whole

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Seven Stars:

The creators of this tarot suggest that finding emotional fulfillment has nothing to do with the external - finding the perfect mate, friend or community group. Instead they suggest that it comes from a virtuous mind, one that does not covet, entertain thoughts of malice, or hold distorted views. Those that do these things never can seem to find any contentment because their focus is always on what isn't right in the world. The Seven Stars (part of the Ursa Major) was considered the seat of the gods by the ancient Chinese; it symbolizes creative imagination. Our imagination often creates our reality, seeing it either in a good or bad light. But reality is full of joy and sorrow, birth and death, hatred and kindness. Better to see the whole (and undistorted view) rather than just a part. 

If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine.

~Morris West

Fulfillment, not Filled Pockets

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Sword:

If we are making spiritual progress, don’t judge by how many visions or kind of lights one sees. What we have to look at is how one behaves. Have I become less selfish? Has my world narrowed down or has it expanded? Do I feel bad for the child next door or is it only for my child?

— Sri Madhukarnath ji 

          The booklet suggests this King represents spiritual fulfillment from earthly endeavors. In other words, he's looking for something more substantial than self-indulgence; he knows that pleasurable feelings lasts about as long as a lightning strike. He represents the middle way when it comes to our resources, neither asceticism nor excess, but a meaningful use of them. But the Sword card - symbolizing a dilemma - suggests what happens when when find ourselves with a surplus. One part of the brain tells us to go crazy and splurge, and the other says to save it for an emergency. The King would tell us to use some, save some and share some. But only if we are looking for fulfillment rather than a momentary high.  

Earthy Heaviness

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Water:

          It is thought-provoking that the creators of this deck use elephants for the suit of pentacles. These earthy animals can also symbolize the heaviness of responsibility we incur from our earthly gifts. The more we have, the older we become, the weightier our obligations. It is no wonder that the booklet suggests meritorious action for those of us with such gifts, which fits nicely with the symbolism of Water. Merit in Buddhism is something done to purify and improve the quality of the mind and actions that will bring harmony to one's life. There are ten such merits under the umbrella of three categories: Dana (Generosity), Sila (Morality) and Bhavana (Meditation). Having generosity as the foremost merit isn't a surprise. Being willing to share one's resources, including time and energy, with others helps keep stagnation and heaviness at bay.

Cradler of Secrets

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, the Dragon:

Being a cradler of secrets has, as the years have passed, made me gentler and more accepting.

― Irvin Yalom

          The Queen of Cups nurtures by being able to listen deeply and compassionately without judgment. She's not in a hurry to give advice or fix. She would agree with Vicki Lannerholm about the role of counseling: "Sometimes what we need is time. Time to feel what we are feeling until our emotions run out of energy and we can resurface for air." The dragon - a symbol of good fortune - is a remind of how fortunate we are if we have a friend who can keep our secrets, listen to our pain, and provide comfort just by their presence. May we never take them for granted.

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. 

— Carl W. Buechner

Great Awakening

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, Judgment; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Bamboo:

All beings are Buddhas,

But obscured by incidental stains.

When those have been removed, there is Buddhahood.

 —Rangjun Dorje

          The creators of this deck call Judgment the Great Awakening, when the ego sheds its illusions and our true nature is revealed. Every sentient being contains this seed, but like clouds that hide the sun, our luminous mind is hidden by our habitual patterns of thought and action. Yet nothing we do can tarnish it; it is there waiting for us to open to its infinite clarity, compassion and wisdom. Recognizing our patterns is the beginning to finding our inner sun. Bamboo has been admired in China for its many uses, including for paint brushes and pens. Thus it is connected with writing, learning and scholarship. It points to the need for instruction in waking up, as we often are so good at hiding even from ourselves what hinders us. How often have you read a book and suddenly been gobsmacked by a statement, realizing, "Yes, that describes me"?

At its most practical, our Buddha-nature affords us the potential to grow, evolve, and embody our genuine goodness. When we understand, and eventually through meditation experience this as our essential nature, there is less room for getting sidetracked by our unexamined destructive emotions and thoughts, and more room for living compassionately from within an interconnected whole.

—Scott Tusa

Snap Judgments

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Tiger:

We only need 10 percent of stimulation from the outside world. It is our brain that experiences, figures out, anticipates, and projects what might happen, that leads to our experience. —Guo Gu

          The Three of Wands implies that we have taken our creative inspiration further, expanding beyond the status quo into something new. But the instruction booklet encourages us to be fully conscious of our experience rather than taking a glimpse and automatically filing it into a preset slot. The card's three lotus blooms show one in the bud stage, one beginning to open, and one fully open. It may appear that the center one is the 'best' at first glance. But we may not be fully conscious of all that is involved. The Tiger of Mah Jongg symbolizes authority. In this case for example, someone with more knowledge (even a book!) might help us realize that these are different types of lotuses that bloom at different times. 

The next time you make a snap judgment about a situation, take a few moments to understand an opposing viewpoint. —David J. Lieberman

 

Broken Glass

This week I'll be using the Roots of Asia Tarot, created by Amnart Klanprachar with Thaworn Boonyawan and published by AGM Müller. I'll also be using the Mah Jongg Oracle, created by Derek Walters and published by Thunder Bay Press. Today's cards are the Three of Swords and Carp:

          Where there was once a head and trunk, now there is only a pierced heart in this painting. When we have been betrayed or hurt, our world can begin to rotate around our pain. The booklet suggests this card is about coping with sorrow caused by the loss of something in which we were emotionally invested. We desperately crave for things to be different, to go back to the way they were when we were happy. But the more we funnel our thoughts in this direction, the worse it gets. It's as if we accidentally step on broken glass in bare feet, then continue walking back and forth across the sharp pieces. The Carp symbolizes inner calm and contentment, a time when troubles might not be over, but we have come to terms with the situation. How do we move from a place of suffering to acceptance? As Bodhipaksa writes, we focus on self-care rather than the mental story we've constructed about the situation. 

Once we’ve practiced by turning toward our pain and offering it care, we often find that things shift radically. The sacred pause of mindful compassion becomes a conduit for wisdom and other inner resources that we sometimes aren’t aware we had. 

—Bodhipaksa

Entrenchment

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Inward Oracle, Kapha:

          A salamander waits and watches from a rooted wand topped with a golden orb as flames lick up around it. The salamander's association with fire came from long ago; when wood from a stack was placed on a fire and salamanders (who were using the wood to hide in) scurried out, people thought they were born from fire. In Pen's illustration, I can almost see little salamander shapes appearing in the flames. No matter how inspired we get to create or change something, nothing happens until we feed that fire with action. Kapha is a dosha in Ayurveda. A dosha is a combination of elements (with one primary) believed to be responsible for a person's physiological, mental, and emotional health. Kapha is mostly earth with water being secondary. When in balance, Kapha people are strong, steady, patient and loving. When out of balance, they are stubborn and resistant to change. The roots on the salamander's wand suggest something has become too entrenched. What needs to be burned up in order for a new phase to begin and make progress? As John M. Keynes said, "The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones."

May Require Some Thought

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Inward Oracle, Closure:

          A man walks barefoot over hot coals carrying a heavy load while attempting to get to the burning tower in the distance. This card reminds me of the 9/11 First Responders as well as the EMTs, nurses and doctors dealing with the ongoing pandemic. In such cases, the motive to save a life can push us beyond exhaustion and hunger (and I bow with gratitude to all of these folks). Yet there are other times when we pick up the heavy load of others, taking on their obligations that should be their responsibility. This makes as much sense as trying to carry all the luggage we find at the airport carousel, even if the tags don't have our name on them. But do we have the right to take away the challenges of others that can help them learn to be responsible and accountable for themselves? The Closure card shows a seated twist, a pose said to energize the spine and improve posture. The booklet journal prompt asks: "What are you holding onto that is weighing you down? What would it feel like to put it down?" Stand up straight, take a deep breath, and just say 'No more.'

The oldest, shortest words— "yes" and "no"— are those which require the most thought.

― Pythagoras 

The Unexpected

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Tower; from the Inward Oracle, Purpose:

No matter how organized we are, or how well we plan, we can always expect the unexpected.

~Brandon Jenner

The look of shock and fear on these faces is one I know well. No matter if we pay our insurance, eat healthy, put away some savings and take care of what we own, life can still throw us a curve ball. A hurricane can rip up the house we've paid off with thousands of dollars in damage. A mammogram can show some growths that weren't there before. We spend so much time in protection mode, we forget to cultivate our dealing-with-reality mode. The Purpose card shows a woman doing a Reverse Warrior Pose, a challenging asana that can  release tension in the muscles around the ribs, allowing for a freer deeper breath. The Purpose card asks me what my objective and aspiration is for my life. Is it merely to hide and attempt to avoid the hard, unpleasant stuff, or is it to embrace it all as a spiritual warrior? 

A warrior is always on a journey, and a main feature of that journey is fear. This fear is not simply something to be lamented, avoided, or vanquished. It is something to be examined, something to make a relationship with. ~Pema Chodron

Here Kitty, Kitty

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Chariot; from the Inward Oracle, Compassion:

Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later.

― Mary Bly

          Having been a cat owner for several decades, I realize that while I may consider them a pet, they have me (and the rest of the household) well trained. Lia, who can cry more pitifully than a baby, gets instant results. Likewise - as I consider the beams connecting the dragons and the charioteer - I wonder who is pulling the strings. Is his mind well-trained enough not to be pulled to and fro by his instincts and emotions (the dragons)? The Compassion card shows a heart-opening yoga pose of exposed vulnerability. Compassion comes from a tenderness and warmth of the heart in response to suffering, either our own or someone else. When the habits of my mind make me say and do unkind things, compassion rather than shame can help me improve. Of course that doesn't negate the responsibility of making amends. But can I see how others get yanked about by their own mental habits (often without awareness), and have compassion for them as well while still holding them accountable?

Lia

Critical Appraisal

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Seven of Discs; from the Inward Oracle, Integrate:

A woman comes to assess the ripening fruit of a tree that she has nurtured to maturity. She holds out her skirt to catch those ready for picking. If you've ever planted seeds, it can become a daily thrill to see how they are growing, checking to see if they have enough sunlight or water. Humans relish feedback on their actions and words, but often we don't want to hear anything other than praise. Like worm-eaten fruit, we tend to toss any comments that to us may seem negative. Yet Integrate suggests another approach. The forward bend illustrated here can be calming, but it also may be tough for tight hamstrings or backs. But flexibility is something that comes with time and practice, just as it does with our acceptance of constructive criticism. Like physical discomfort, it can show us where we need to make adjustments.

He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.

~Abraham Lincoln

Bridging the Gulf

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Page of Discs; from the Inward Oracle, Love:

          With her pup by her side, this sweet Page holds a freshly painted shield of the four seasons. This Page is often known as a student, but she does more than just study and learn. She must take what she has learned and apply it in daily life, whether it is practicing artistic skills or taking care of a dog. In the Love card, a woman practices restorative yoga by lying back on a bolster in a heart-opening posture. Another woman uses the energy healing of reiki on her resting companion. Just as the Page knows to apply what she's learned, so too is how love is supposed to be practiced. Understanding love is not the same as showing love to ourselves or another person. Knowledge is not action. 

One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Legacies and Letting Be

This week I'll be using the New Liminal Tarot, created by Penelope Cline and self-published through Make Playing Cards. I'll also be using the Inward Oracle, created and self-published by Rayna Graham.  Today's draws are the Ten of Discs and Trust:

That is your legacy on this Earth when you leave this Earth: how many hearts you touched.

—Patti Davis

          Cline's card shows an elderly couple alone on their estate. Perhaps they have no children or are empty-nesters. But if you were to walk inside their home, I'm sure you would see pictures of friends and loved ones on their mantel. They have learned to live mindfully - appreciating what they have - but also feeling a deep gratitude for those who've shared the journey with them. When they die, they may leave money and goods to others, but more importantly they will leave hearts that are full and brimming too. In the Trust card, a woman stands on her head, elevating her heart about her head. When I worry, my mind busily churns out thoughts about a future that I am trying to outmaneuver as if it will arrive just as I imagine it. What might be a better option is to feel my emotions without feeding them (imagining the worst) and being tender and gentle with myself. Clarity needs two wings to fly, compassion and wisdom.

When we open to our feelings as they arise, we create the causes and conditions of mental and physical health. This is what acceptance-based inner awareness entails; it is not a practice to put off, any more than breathing, sleeping, or consuming nourishment.

― Josh Korda

Looking Widely

From the Daniloff Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 42:

 

Kuan Yin painting by Wendy Wiese

With a dark wing and a light wing on his shield, the King of Swords is asked to judge between goodwill and ill intent, between what is harmful and what is beneficial. His discriminating intellect looks for truth as he seeks to provide fairness and equality. Yet the Aquarian water bear on his shield is a reminder not to forget his humanitarian side, the side that sees the way conditions and causes shape people; labels tend to be self-fulfilling. The 42 verse reads:

You are showered with heavenly gifts

and live in an earthly paradise,

whether you realize it or not.

Our emotions color our entire world, if we let them. Anger can make us see everyone as living an entitled life without a drop of kindness. Sadness can color even a rainbow in gray scale colors. While we might feel a certain way, it doesn't represent reality. There is goodness, beauty and joy if we are willing to look widely.

Fear-Inducing Responsibilities

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Empress; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 59:

          Alexander's Empress is more queen of her kingdom than a Mother Nature archetype. While her husband might be more concerned with law and order within and military might on the borders, she focuses on protecting others in more nurturing ways. She wants the realm's children to be educated, her people to have enough to eat and drink, and for everyone to have sufficient shelter from the elements. She has to be strong enough to take on the king when his desires try to roll over the needs of others. The Kuan Yin verse speaks of how fear can take over our common sense: "it makes about as much sense as holding your breath when you are trapped in a thorny jungle." The adrenaline surge of fear can make us want to hide, run or cover our eyes and ears. But fear is simply a messenger, suggesting we search out available resources and put them to use while adapting to the situation at hand. 

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. 

—Achaan Chah

Investment Returns

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 5:

Happiness is not a goal. It’s a by-product of a life well lived.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

          People go from therapists to fortune tellers trying to know what will make them happy and fulfilled. The irony is that the answer is not 'out there' but inside ourselves, in the way we choose to relate to the world. If our attitude and outlook are dismal, no perfect mate, job or recognition will ever be enough. The Kuan Yin verse reads, "To find a spring, dig deep beneath the grassy surface. Without effort, you will not win the prize." What we seek lies where we stand in this moment. As the saying goes, "Nature can only return to you what you plant."

The Offering of Friendship

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 57:

          A young man offers a flower to a young woman, suggesting the beginning of a relationship of some kind. Friendship is the offering of an open and vulnerable heart; it requires time, effort energy and attention to someone other than oneself. I feel so sorry for those who think friendship is based on a number on Facebook. It is something much deeper and more meaningful than that platform even begins to touch. The 57th verse reads:

Destiny is giving you abundance,

Go on your way

with happiness and success as companions.

Leave the cares and sorrows of the past behind.

So many of my most cherished friendships are those that occurred when random paths crossed and connections were made. But it can be easy to sabotage budding friendships if I assume that people in my present will be just like those in my past. All those labels can damage and destroy any chance of allowing a new relationship to flower. It is imperative that I keep my heart in the present if I want to enjoy the presence of another.

Cautious Communication

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 8:

Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.

~Don Miguel Ruiz

          The inclusion of the skull in this Ace of Swords suggests a memento mori ("remember you die) warning. Am I mindful of my tone, choice of words and timing when I communicate with others? Do I listen more than I speak? Am I curious enough to ask questions or do I simply dole out my opinions and judgments? The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Pine and cypress grow and flourish,

Rain, snow and frost cannot harm them.

One day, people will use their wood.

They are the beams and pillars of our world.

With my words, I plant seeds that will grow and produce effects long after they've been spoken. Will these words create harmony and provide encouragement, or will they cause hostility, shame, or harm? I would do well to pause and consider my motive before communicating, choosing to be silent rather than speak unskillfully.

Self-Will Run Riot

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from Stephen Karcher's book The Kuan Yin Oracle as well as from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the Magician and Verse 3:

Kuan Yin Painting by Tilly Campbell-Allen

          With the mask hiding half his face, this Magician sends up an immediate red flag. He has accumulated knowledge that he's turned into some amazing skills, but he gives off a vibe that he's hiding some criminal motives behind his cloak and table cloth. It always amazes me how people with such talent choose to use their gifts in nefarious ways (the recent corporation hackers are a good example). Recovery folks use the phrase "self-will run riot" to describe those who use their volition in self-centered and selfish ways without regard to those they hurt in the process. The Kuan Yin verse describes a swallow that returns to her nest during a storm only to find that it has fallen apart. The only solution is to begin again, having learned something from the experience. When I'm on the receiving end of the 'con wand,' revenge and hatred will only keep me in a whirlpool that doesn't allow any forward progress. Instead I can take the swallow's example, focusing on what's important; I can rebuild, being more discerning instead of an easy mark.

Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.

― Aaron B. Powell

Seeing the Blue

From the Golden Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Yantra Deck, Love:

Love is space. It is developing our own capacity for spaciousness within ourselves to allow others to be as they are. That is love. And that doesn’t mean that we don’t have hopes or wishes that things are changed or shifted, but that to come from a place of love is to be in acceptance of what is, even in the face of moving it towards something that is more whole, more just, more spacious for all of us.

—Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams

          A woman sits with her journal, consulting it to discover the 'why' behind her pain. "Why did she betray me?" "Why did he leave me?" "Why was what I loved taken from me?" She will find no answers that heal, only create more thoughts that hurt her. Instead, she might ask, "What now?" Love means being vulnerable, exposing the soft sides of our hearts. When we are hurt, it is easy to constrict our minds and hearts to only the situation or person that triggered our suffering. But our hearts and minds are much more spacious than that. If given the chance to look at the whole rather than one small part, we might find the blue sky behind the clouds.

Action and Acceptance

From the Golden Tarot, the Six of Wands; from the Yantra Deck, Nonresistance:

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

          There is a time to take action and a time to accept. It helps to remember the words of Reinhold Niebuhr: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice. ~Maya Angelou 

Purposeful Giving and Receiving

From the Golden Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Yantra Deck, Support:

Purposeful giving is not as apt to deplete one’s resources; it belongs to that natural order of giving that seems to renew itself even in the act of depletion. 

—Anne Morrow Lindbergh

          The rich man in this card seems a bit detached as he doles out his coins to the poor. I doubt they care about his attitude, as filling their bellies and staying out of the elements are their primary concern. How sad though, that this man allows himself no joy in his giving. Amy S. Grant suggests there is a reason: "...our obligation is borne out of guilt and we don’t like to feel guilt, so we hide it and call it something else entirely." The Support card indicates that we all rely on others in a variety of ways, even if we have never met these people. The coffee I'm now drinking came from beans grown, harvested, and packaged by many others. Even Nature herself provides gifts to support and sustain us. Such thoughts can be humbling, making it easier to give and receive with a light heart. As Lindbergh writes, exchanging resources is part of the natural order that can help prevent the extremes of excess and scarcity.

Go to your fields and your gardens, and you shall learn that it is the pleasure of the bee to gather honey of the flower,

But it is also the pleasure of the flower to yield its honey to the bee.

― Khalil Gibran

Giving Back

From the Golden Tarot, the Ten of Coins; from the Yantra Deck, Kindness:

At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back. – Denzel Washington

          The abundance of the Ten of Coins reminds me of my little flower garden. Several of the zinnias I planted early in the spring are already going to seed. It seems Nature understands the best way to keep the planet healthy and thriving is to give back, not withhold. Sharon Salzberg taught me that loving-kindness means 'unconditional friendliness.' Rather than following the neurotic paranoia of the ego that insists holding on to everything is necessary for survival, this type of kindness opens the mind and heart fully. It doesn't mean I give away everything I own, or that I sacrifice my health trying to help others, it just means I give what I can when I can. In the words of Tom Brokaw, "It’s easy to make a buck.  It’s a lot tougher to make a difference."

Neither For nor Against

From the Golden Tarot, Justice; from the Yantra Deck, Exhale:

The great Way has no impediments;

It does not pick and choose.

When you abandon attachment and aversion

You see it plainly.

~Seng Ts’an

          A demon pulls on one side of this angel's scales of justice, and angels on the other. How do we determine what is good and ethical and what is corrupt and destructive? Generally by whether the person whose behavior is in question is on our 'team' - someone who agrees with our philosophy and perspective. But Justice could care less about team colors, only the actions taken and the results caused. The Exhale card advocates a letting go of our preferences and prejudices in order to be objective (and to find peace). Such clarity allows us to see reality without all our opinions attached. As Seng Ts'an wrote, "If you want it to appear before your eyes, cherish neither for nor against."