Flying Low

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 62:

Like a bird, do not fly too high or attempt too much because this will lead to disaster. ~Diana F. Hook

Though battered from his encounters with life, this guy is still standing with an expression that says "Bring it." He knows that getting knocked down is not an issue as long as you're willing to get back up and learn from your experience. Yet Hexagram 62 - Safety in Smallness - suggests a bit of humility is essential. It is good to be confident, which can give us the courage to act. But when we are overconfident, we lose our alertness and willingness to learn, falling easily into complacency.   

Pandemic of Paranoia

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 34:

Our mind creates our world. An angry mind sees an angry world. A fearful mind sees a threatening world. But when mind is stable, we see a world as that world is. We see a world that is open, fluid, workable, movable. ~Tim Olmstead

I woke up in the middle of the night with the realization that our world has been infected by something more horrific than the coronavirus. We are in the middle of a pandemic of paranoia, an undercurrent of belief that others are 'out there' waiting to destroy what we love. It seeps out of us in the form of anger and aggression or depression and hopelessness; it separates families, neighbors, and nations. The only cure for this disease is discernment - realizing that much of what we think is true is actually misinformation created by our emotional and opinionated mindsets. While I can't change another person's mind, I can certainly take a closer look at what thoughts I'm allowing free rent in my own head. The 34th hexagram's key phrase is 'great power,' and I can't think of a power more influential than that of the mind. As neuroscientist Rick Hanson explains: "What you think and feel, enjoy and suffer, is changing your brain." Yet, he offers some good news: "Neurons that fire together, wire together. This means that each one of us has the power to use the mind to change the brain to change the mind for the better. To benefit oneself and other beings." 

Mind Expansion

This week I'll be using the Hoi Polloi Tarot published by Hoi Polloi Inc. The oracle I'll also use is the I Ching Pack created by Richard Gill and Anthony Clark, and published by Thorsons. Today's cards are the Page of Pentacles and Hexagram 42:

One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things. – Frank Herbert

The Page of Pentacles is often known as the student; it's not that he is forced to learn, it's that he has a great enthusiasm for it. We are lucky in today's world that we have so many options besides formal studies - from books to podcasts to online classes. We can dig in and enjoy whatever inspires or excites us. Yet this Page goes beyond surface learning by practicing and applying the knowledge he's gained. He wants more than a brain full of data, he wants a full life too. The 42nd Hexagram has been assigned the keyword 'expansion.' The Page is well on his way with his studies, but like the man shooing away the birds from the grain, he needs to be wary of distractions. However, he might also expand his perspective by moving beyond the teachers and books he prefers. As Marvin Minsky put it, "You don’t understand anything until you learn it more than one way."

An Unfreedom

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Two of Earth (Pentacles); from the Curious Oracle, the Arch:

...hurrying, multi-tasking, and feeling pressured trigger essentially the same hormonal and neural mechanisms that helped our ancestors run away from charging lions. At the heart of it all there’s an unfreedom: you can feel chained to obligatory tasks. ~Rick Hanson

This fellow is intensely concentrating on keeping the board and rocks balanced on his head. Yet such intensity isn't something that we can keep up over a long period of time. It will eventually begin to take a toll on our well-being, affecting our physical and mental health. While we all have situations when we need to briefly carry a heavier load, we still need to be aware of the rocks we add to our board. The Arch suggests a passage to a new way of thinking and doing, but the gateway may ask us some hard questions:

• Am I doing something because I care or because I feel guilty if I don't do it?
• Is there someone else who is abdicating their responsibility that I'm picking up the slack for?
• Do I think my self-worth comes from how much I do for others?
• Before I take on a new commitment, do I consider its costs?
• Am I holding myself to an impossible standard of perfection?
• Do I say yes because I am trying to get someone to like or include me? 

 Wisdom is choosing a greater happiness over a lesser one. ~Rick Hanson

Fuel Layers

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Five of Fire (Wands); from the Curious Oracle, the Crypt:

The real conflict is between truth and lies. ~Don Miguel Ruiz

In forest fires, the fire spread is dependent on the fuel layer on the ground: grass, timber litter, shrubs and slash or blow-down. If the fire doesn't have enough fuel on the ground, it likely won't reach the crown of the trees and become uncontrollable. The Five of Fire suggests conflict that often starts with 'mind litter' - misinformation, a lack of data, and opinions stated as facts. Perhaps it is time to do a controlled burn to reduce the fuel layer by applying concrete evidence. The Crypt is a burial vault; what 'sleeps' there won't awaken in this lifetime. I am well aware that even cold, hard facts won't sway some folks whose self-identity is tied up with their pet opinions. Life is too short to waste. As Ben Goldacre wrote, "You cannot reason people out of a position that they did not reason themselves into." Sometimes the only thing you can do is to get away from the fire and save yourself. 

Alone and Separated

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Curious Oracle, Twilight:

To borrow a metaphor from Kathy Mattea, this woman seems to be dying of thirst while afloat in water. I get it, though; loss and the grief that comes with it can drastically skew our perception, making us feel alone and separated from the rest of the world. But the two cups in her boat suggest that there are still a couple of folks she could rely on and honestly ask, "Can you just sit with me as I go through this without offering any platitudes or advice?" The Celts spoke of 'thin places' and 'thin moments,' such as where the sky, land and sea met or times at dusk or dawn. The Twilight card suggests these thin places and times can be helpful because the voice of the ego has been temporarily shut down by incredible beauty or immense suffering. If we open to this mysterious connection and are receptive, it can pull us out of self-absorption into a grounded awareness, widening our perspective and giving us hope. 

Spinning and Letting Go

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Seven of Air (Swords); from the Curious Oracle, Prayer Wheel:

When the snake decided to go straight, he didn't get anywhere.

~William Stafford

The deceit and disaffection of the Seven of Swords is shown by a crow's nest being invaded by snakes that eat her eggs. It is hard not to feel sorry for the bird, though a naturalist might remind me that it is a snake's nature to eat where there is opportunity. I recently posted on a forum in a few threads where I don't often venture. There is one member, known for her snarky comments (just shy of getting booted), who replied with snide and condescending remarks. Now I've got Al Wilson singing in my head: "You knew darn well I was a snake before you brought me in." I don't like to label people, but neither do I like to be someone's whoopie cushion. The Prayer Wheel is spun while saying a mantra, and is said to help develop wisdom and compassion in the practitioner. Forgiveness is necessary in this case, but not because she deserves a pass for her behavior (which she likely doesn't see anything wrong with). I need to let go of any bitterness so that it doesn't poison me.

Halls of Learning

From the Wayfarer Tarot, Judgment; from the Curious Oracle, Compass Rose:

Praise and blame,

gain and loss,

pleasure and pain,

fame and disrepute

are the eight worldly winds.

They ceaselessly change.

~Buddha

The long hallway looks like that of a school that has emptied out for the summer. It is a great symbol for the school of life we constantly attend. The open door suggests the question, "Are you putting into practice what you have learned to meet the vicissitudes of life?" Sometimes it seems easier to keep repeating the same behavior rather than making an effort to change, but doing and thinking differently moves us toward the sunlight. The Compass Rose cautions that we may need to keep checking our direction as we go along - distractions can easily take us off course from our spiritual principles. I find it helps to keep things simple, as the wise words of Jack Kornfield indicate: “In the end, just three things matter: how well we have lived, how well we have loved, how well we have learned to let go.”

Humble Packaging

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Emperor; from the Curious Oracle, The Sun:

This grandpa might look like he's taking a nap, but you can bet he's keeping a close eye on his grandchild as well as what's going on around him. He exemplifies the excellent leadership the Tao te Ching suggests: a person who is humble and open-minded, who creates a safe space for others to discover their own talents and passions, and who seeks to bring harmony rather than rush into conflict. The Sun implies clarity; in the Emperor's position, it signifies his recognition of interconnection rather than division. There are no 'mine' and 'your' labels - we're all in this together.

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership. —John Kenneth Galbraith

Residential Status

This week I'll be using the self-published Wayfarer Tarot, created by Stacy Salpietro-Babb with Margaret Shipman. I'll also be drawing from A Curious Oracle, self-published and created by Holly DeFount. Today's draws are the King of Water (Cups) and Echo:

Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.

~Mohsin Hamid

This King listens deeply and knows how to be empathetic and compassionate. He doesn't sink beneath the waves of emotional drama - he knows that wouldn't be of benefit to anyone. (Misery might love company, but stagnate water never flows anywhere.) Having a nonjudgmental person to listen and talk with can allow us to reflect on our habitual patterns and mindsets that keep us stuck. I'm currently taking an online class with Pema Chodron on the Six Realms (psychological mind states where we get stuck in emotional reactivity and lose our sense of perspective). The internal discussions we have in our minds help each realm take shape and thrive. Chodron asked us to see if we have been a long time resident in any of them:

• God Realm: “That’s just how it is, and I’m right.” (Blissful self-absorption) Because we are privileged to have many comforts (physical and spiritual), we grow attached to our pleasure and expect it to continue. We ignore anything that might upset our mood.
• Jealous God Realm: “I’m the best.” (Competitive yardstick) Even though we have it good compared to many others, we are driven by ego and envy to strive for recognition and a rise in position. We crave feedback, always trying to see if we measure up and are better than others.
• Human Realm: “If only I had…” (Longing for certainty) Our experience is a balance of pain and pleasure, never enough to settle into complacency. Our thoughts are rambling, a constant background noise, as we try to find solutions to make what’s external match our preferences. 
• Animal Realm: “I’m just trying to get by.” (Sticking to the ‘tried and true’) There is a rigid tendency to avoid anything that threatens established patterns. Routine, strict structure and dullness seem safe. Deliberate and defensive, there is a great effort to avoid all pain and discomfort.
• Hungry Ghost Realm: “There’s never enough. I’m never enough.” (Poverty mentality) We have a voracious craving to fill the empty void we feel inside us, but contentment is always just out of reach (regardless of our material circumstances). Our desires become an addiction, and we think of ourselves as a victim. Our life is colored by neediness while we remain blind to the fact that our indulgences will not satisfy us.
• Hell Realm: “You’re against me. Everything’s against me.” (Choked by hatred) There is a hostile attitude toward all others and a disgust of ourselves, enacted with rage and violence or bitterness and passive-aggression. Pleasure doesn’t exist, only uncontrollable anger or depression. Kindness extended to us is met with cynicism.

I've been a part-time resident in many of these realms; awareness is the first step in getting out. As we realize the misery we experience in these realms, we might also begin to feel compassion for the suffering of others who are still stuck there. 

Pacing Myself

 

Decided to take Ralph Waldo Emerson's advice and "Adopt the pace of nature." Taking a mental health break: I won't be blogging this week, but I plan to return next week. Sending a gentle hug to all who might need one.

Vacillation

This week I'll be using the Spirit Within Tarot, created by Steven Bright and published by Schiffer. I'll also be drawing from the Answer Deck, created by Nicky Zann and published by Running Press. Today's draws are the Two of Swords and Journey:

There is not a more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision. 

—William James

The blindfold on this young man as well as the Journey card suggests that he'll have to travel an inner path to get out of his current place of stagnation. It's tempting to go around asking others for their opinions, but that would likely leave him entangled in a thicket of views. A mindfulness meditation might help calm himself before looking at the facts. He could ask himself if one choice is meant to people-please, which will never satisfy him or anyone else. He might learn the difference between being led by his emotions (which can make him believe things that aren't true) and trusting his intuition (a visceral feeling without the thoughts attached). He could stop focusing on past failures and projecting them onto the future, instead viewing the present opportunities realistically. And lastly, he might ask himself what would give him meaning and fulfillment in his life. Yeah, it's never that simple, but it's a place to start.

With awareness come responsibility and choice. —Amanda Lindhout

Don't Forget to Breathe

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Three of Swords; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Opportunity within Uncertainty:

One day you’ll round a corner, your path is shifted.

In a blink, something is missing. It’s stolen, misplaced, it’s gone...

Your path, as though channeled through a spectrum, is refracted, and has left you pointed in a new direction. —Kevin Kling

When we experience loss, we often react in either one of two ways: we try to eliminate everything that reminds us of that person or thing, or we try to hold on to everything that does remind us of them. Neither trying to cling to nor shove away a loss actually helps us heal (though I suppose it makes us feel like we're doing something). Grief is a process, a slow progression that allows us to gradually let go of what was and accept what is. Opportunity within Uncertainty suggests that even in our despair we can continue to embody compassion and kindness (for ourselves especially). We can look for beauty and embrace gratitude, even while we shed our tears. And as we do this, we pay attention to any small ray of light that may appear in our darkness; perhaps it can lead us back into the sunlight.

To survive we must return to our senses, touch, taste, smell, sight, sound.

We must let our spirit guide us, our spirit that lives in breath.

With each breath we inhale, we exhale.

—Kevin Kling 

Empowered with Intention

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Eight of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Intentions:

Boss up and change your life.

~Lizzo

Is this not an empowering image? This lady is leaving what she's known behind without a backward glance. She's determined and invested in finding a life that liberates her and allows her to create the joy she's been lacking. She's not worried that it will be a hard road; even the unknown is better than the hell she's been living. The Intentions mandala looks like a compass of the four directions. It implies that we need more than goals (which come and go) - we need guide posts to keep us headed the right way even when our objectives change. Intentions can be based on core values, personal ethics or a chosen spiritual framework. As Joanna Macy explained, "Uncertainty, when accepted, sheds a bright light on the power of intention. That is what you can count on: not the outcome, but the motivation you bring, the vision you hold, the compass setting you choose to follow."

What We Leave Behind

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Ten of Pentacles; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Surrender:

Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.

—Peter Strople

A gnarled hand gently touches a younger one, a simple symbol of passing a legacy to the next generation. As I get older, I'm beginning to see that the wisdom we pass on to others is as great a resource as land, a business, or other material possessions. My peers and I (and those before us) have been so busy procuring that we've not given enough thought to caring for and sustaining the earthly foundation that supports us. We've lost sight of our interdependence with other beings. The Surrender card is a reminder that we can't tell the next generation how to handle their affairs. But we can admit our mistakes and plant some seeds of wisdom that perhaps might grow. As Chuck Palahniuk said, "The goal isn’t to live forever, but to leave behind something that will." Hopefully that will be something more beneficial and longer lasting than material goods. 

Messenger

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Seven of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Speak from the Heart:

There's nothing wrong with giving your imagination some time to play, but it's another thing to completely ignore all the facts. An ungrounded life of fantasy is a life of stagnation - there's nothing available for traction to actually get us anywhere. In dreamland, there are no real life choices to be made and no proactive actions to be taken. We exist in a state of wishful hope, with plenty of expectations yet nothing concrete to build upon. Speak from the Heart suggests communicating with kindness, only motivated by a wish for the other's well-being. When someone is stuck in a destructive pattern, we can gently tell them what we see as a witness, not to judge only to caution. They may become angry and resentful no matter how tender our communication. Yet that seems a better choice than letting them crash and burn, then later asking, "Why didn't someone tell me?"

Think about the best way to communicate your message beforehand or get ready to do some damage control afterward. ―Frank Sonnenberg

Add Humility

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Ten of Swords; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Leadership:

This pair of cards seems to ask who should lead - the one with wisdom/knowledge or the one with life experience? It's easy to make a snap judgment either way, but it's wiser to dig down a little deeper. Years ago, I had a doctor who adamantly told me there was nothing wrong with me when my body told me otherwise. My cousin, who has suffered with a disease for years, had an older doctor she loved with an excellent bedside manner. He retired and was replaced with a much younger doctor who completely changed her medications, explaining that those medications are no longer used for her disease. Since then, she's felt better than she has in years. Both those with knowledge and those with experience can get stuck, assuming what they know or what they've experienced makes them the better decision maker. But if they have a closed mind or closed ears, neither is the better choice.

There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage. —Fuchan Yuan

Digging In

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Nine of Cups; from the Nature Mandela Meditation Cards, Generosity:

Whatever positive facts you find, bring a mindful awareness to them—open up to them and let them affect you. It’s like sitting down to a banquet: don’t just look at it—dig in!

~Rick Hanson

If I asked you to recall something that was upsetting or made you angry last week, it would probably take less than a minute. But what if I asked you to remember something wonderful that gave you joy? Thanks to our biology, we have a built-in negativity bias that makes our brains focus on what's bad. This innate tendency is more stressful than helpful now. As Rick Hanson put it, "Staying with a negative experience past the point that’s useful is like running laps in Hell: You dig the track a little deeper in your brain each time you go around it." But like this lady taking the time to smell the flowers in each of her cups, we can choose to make it a point to deeply absorb moments of joy and contentment, and when we're having a bad day, we can relive them (and retrain our brain). The Generosity card reminds me of a tonglen meditation where we send out thoughts to others who may be struggling, wishing that they might enjoy the happiness we're currently experiencing. Not only does this practice stave off self-centeredness, it also helps us be mindful and grateful of the full cups we currently savor.

Relationship with Power

This week I'll continue using the Tarot of the Abyss, created by Ana Tourian and published by U.S. Games. I've paired with it the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, created and self-published by Michelle Wallace. Today's draws are Strength and Connect with the Light:

Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself. 

—Elie Weisel

Tourian's lion does not in any way resemble a domesticated feline; he looks like he could eat someone without blinking. We all have this power within that can be used without restraint, repressed or honored and engaged with creatively. What kind of relationship do we have with it? It isn't evil or something of which we need to be ashamed; it just happens to communicate through strong emotions when it delivers a message. Connect with the Light implies a call to clarity and a wide perspective. In the middle of an emotional tsunami, how do we find these things? Pema Chodron suggests feeling your feelings, first physically, then emotionally, but without the mental story-line (thoughts that escalate things). The point is not to transcend, but to connect. Place your hand over your heart as you do this, telling yourself, "It's okay. I'm here for you." Settle in and be fully present with tenderness and kindness rather than judgment. Calm will eventually come, and when the emotional waves subside, we'll have a much clearer view of the horizon.

Chaotic Creation

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Empress; from the Lantern Oracle, Gatekeeper:

Rather than the demure, serene Empress often seen in decks, Tourian's gal is windswept with swirling energy. Most forms of creation are chaotic and messy rather than ordered and sedate. Just look at all the crumpled first drafts of writers or the trashed test runs of inventors. What seems turbulent and uncontrolled is actually a process of insight and self-discovery that will become an expressive formation. Yet there will always be critics or hecklers who want to dismiss or deride what we've created. The Gatekeeper is a symbol of assertively protecting what is important to us. She doesn't need to ride out into battle (or post snarky memes on Facebook), she just needs to nurture and safeguard what is necessary and essential for a fulfilled life.

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

~Pablo Picasso

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - 

things I had no words for. ~Georgia O'Keeffe

She Holds the Keys

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the High Priestess; from the Lantern Oracle, Voice:

During meditation, we create a refuge in which we can better discern and understand what’s going on in our constantly shifting private landscape. —Lauren Krauze

I appreciate that Tourian's Priestess also has a set of keys (often assigned only to the Hierophant). Her yin-yang symbol applies to the aggressive self-will of the ego; it wants to do what's best for us but it lacks essential information because its strategies were formulated at a young age. This mental construct looks for pleasure and avoids discomfort, unaware that horrible consequences can come from some pleasures and good things may come from discomfort. Yet we each have a higher nature - which the priestess helps us access through meditation. It sees with clarity, without preference or prejudice. The Voice card is a nudge to speak one's truth, and so I will give my personal thoughts on meditation. There is a mindfulness movement that seeks to bring calm and comfort to people, to help them de-stress and experience bliss. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, unless it is passed off as a spiritual practice. McMindfulness serves the ego, wanting only what feels good. A meditation practice helps us discern the habitual thought and emotional patterns that create suffering in our lives and in those around us. It requires us to change, not sink back in our comfy recliners.

None of us dreamed that mindfulness would become so popular or even lucrative, much less that it would be used as a way to keep millions of us sleeping soundly through some of the worst cultural excesses in human history, all while fooling us into thinking we were awake and quiet.

—Clark Strand

Do No Harm

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Two of Cups; from the Lantern Oracle, the Unknown:

When most people are single, they crave partnership. When others are in committed relationships, they crave independence. ~Kendall Wood

Tourian describes this card as a meaningful relationship, one that is interdependent but not co-dependent. Their tails resemble the caduceus, a symbol of healing and the vow to "do no harm." It is easy to see new partnerships in a rosy light, but once they are out in the bright of day all the imperfections are seen. Can we still embrace the other without being harsh and critical? The Unknown card suggests that when we experience something new, we fear change. But when we have been in a stable situation, we may feel constricted and stagnant. Yet are either of these judgments true? Or is it simply wanting things and people to be the way we want them to be, according to our will? To change if we change, and to be settled when we are comfortable? Relationships, being composed of two people who've been shaped by different conditions, will always have an air of mystery if both partners feel free to grow and rest in their own natural cycles without the other partner feeling left behind or judged. 

An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person's main task in life - becoming a better person. ~Leo Tolstoy

No Amount

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Two of Pentacles; from the Lantern Oracle, Assistance to Access:

A woman is seen with a pentacle pendulum, shown at different times of the day. She has many obligations to fulfill and tasks to complete, and she's well aware of how thinking about one while doing another can lead to distraction. If she is to maintain her health and balance, she needs to deal with what's in front of her, not what lies ahead. Assistance to Access suggests needing help to get through a passage or part of our life. We may fear we look vulnerable, needy and inept if we ask for help, but actually it is just a sign of humility.

The truth is that no amount of money, influence, resources, or determination will change our physical, emotional, and spiritual dependence on others.

― Brené Brown

Turning the Attention

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Five of Cups; from the Lantern Oracle, Radical Self-Love:

Yep, this is me checking the new cases of viruses - 41 new cases yesterday (a lot in our small rural-metro area). Already the hospital is worried about the overflow, especially since we were a hot spot when Covid started. Yet the two full cups remind me that not all is lost. We have vaccines, and though they're not perfect, they are keeping people from an extended stay in the ICU. And while our governor isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, at least we don't have Florida's fellow (where the cases are sky-high). He is a Trump-wannabe who just signed an executive order keeping any city or county from passing a mask mandate. Pure insanity. The Radical Self-Love card is not meant to encourage self-pity or self-indulgence, but kindness and compassion towards oneself. I would not want to live on a diet of junk food, so why should I feed my mind an unending diet of how awful the world is? It has it's problems, but there is still beauty, joy, and love to be found if I turn my attention in the right direction.

Misaligned Values and Actions

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Five of Pentacles; from the Lantern Oracle, Misalignment:

          Two people are cast out of their lodgings in the dead of night. What did they do to deserve their eviction? I can't help but think of the eviction moratorium that went into effect with the pandemic, but with the arrival of August has expired. The worst part is this caveat: "As of August 1, 2021 tenants will owe their landlord any unpaid rent and any fees, penalties, or interest as a result of their failure to pay rent during the period of the CDC order." Who in the world would be able to make past due payments as well as pay rent too? Misalignment makes me think of how overworked back muscles can pull vertebrae out of line, creating a lot of pain. Our actions may also be misaligned with our values - saying we believe in kindness but acting with intolerance and mercilessness, for example. I understand that landlords must pay property taxes, housing repairs, and their own bills, but wouldn't it benefit both parties to just start on a fresh page?

Dangling in Front of Us

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Abyss, created by Ana Tourian and published by U.S. Games. Paired with it will be the Lantern Oracle, created by Angelina Mirabito, illustrated by Yuly Alejo, and published through Blue Angel. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and Creative Power:

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. 

– Thomas Merton

          This young man napping in the branches of a tree seems exhausted. A vacation with others, the end of a big project, or the day after a celebration can leave anyone feeling worn out in body and spirit. A bit of solitude for restoration might work wonders, but what if the apathy persists? The Creative Power card suggests this has to do with generating ideas and producing them creatively. Every artist or craftsperson has probably experienced a block that seems to keep them in neutral gear. Focusing on how bone dry we are won't help us make any progress. Pablo Picasso stated, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." I'd probably change 'working' to 'playing.' Whatever creative work we do, can we try doing it just for fun, not to make something that fits our judgment of 'good'? Or perhaps we could try another form altogether - writing, sewing, painting, woodworking, etc. - just for the heck of it. When we lose ourselves in play, we might just find the thread to our creative power dangling right in front of us.