Who's Using Who?

From the Osho Zen Tarot, Conditioning (Devil); from the A'HA Oracle, Serpent with Eggs:

In psychology, conditioning refers to a person being shaped to respond to something or someone in a certain way. We are all conditioned from the time we are born by the people we are around and listen to, the books we read and the things to which we're exposed. It's almost hilarious that Americans love to shout about freedom when our ideas have so thoroughly shaped us, you could press any emotional button and predict how we'd react. Our opinions have become our choke collars and leashes, not doors to freedom. The Serpent with Eggs shows a snake protecting her nest, but what happens when her eggs hatch? She doesn't continue to stay curled around them. Likewise, when we take a clear, honest view of the results of our ideas and opinions, we might not find anything we should continue to protect. A teacher (Tim Olmstead) recently asked, "Are you using your thoughts and emotions, or are they using you?"

Unfreezing Reality

From the Osho Zen Tarot, No-thingness (Hierophant); from the A'HA Oracle, Place of Power:

And when we cling—to our firmly held ideas, beliefs, roles, and identities—we freeze-frame reality, turning flowing water into frozen ice, and then we find ourselves pinched and bound, locked into tiny cells. Our cold, sharp edges become a prison.

~Pamela Weiss

Draw a circle and most Westerners would call it a zero - nothing. But Buddhist cultures consider the circle a symbol of wholeness and totality. It is related to the idea of interdependence: all things are in a dynamic relationship, arising and passing away. So this 'wholeness' (or emptiness) is full of potency and unlimited possibilities, not one concrete, unchanging thing. As Haemin Sunim explained, "This reality is like a huge and all-encompassing ocean. There may be different kinds of fish and seaweed and rocks, but they’re all contained inside one ocean." Humans like what is solid and separate (especially ideas and beliefs) because they give the illusion of certainty and control. It's no wonder our religious ideas of God fit in a well-defined box that has no room for boundlessness, only limitation. The Place of Power card indicates a physical, sacred spot. Where do you go to remember your interconnection, that you are a part of something greater than can be imagined?

Worldly Winds

From the Osho Zen Tarot, Transformation (Death); from the A'HA Oracle, Omniscience:

Endings are generally always transformative; either we open and become more receptive to life, or we shut down and build an impenetrable wall. Even the stubborn - those who refuse to acknowledge an ending - will find no escape, discovering in their clenched fists only dust. The Omniscience card refers to the capacity to know everything. It is like the response of some people to another's loss when they ask, "Didn't you know? Why didn't you do anything before now?" While in some cases there might have been some blind spots, humans are simply incapable of knowing and predicting all things. It brings to mind the Buddhist Four Worldly Winds: Praise and Blame, Gain and Loss, Success and Failure, Joy and Sorrow. No matter how well we sail and navigate life, everyone will have to deal with them regardless of faith, education or science. 

Learning to sail the worldly winds involves learning when we need to give up on our desires, adjusting them to the reality of the situation. Whilst matching our desires to the world will be difficult, expecting the world to match our desires is utterly futile. ~Vajragupta

Surrendering

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the A'HA Oracle, the Temple of Gentle of Reasoning:

Just as this drop of water surrenders to gravity as it falls off the lotus leaf, so there are times when we need to surrender and let go emotionally. To fail to do so (trying to freeze reality in a specific place and time) will eventually become exhausting, creating a person we no longer recognize. Letting go doesn't mean we become cold and uncaring, nor does it mean we can't be sad. It just means the place where we can plant our seeds and watch them grow lies elsewhere. The Temple of Gentle Reasoning is not a building with a defining creed; it is within ourselves, the ground of our being. Beyond the ego's beliefs and opinions, it is a quiet place of clarity, wisdom and compassion. This temple is a good place to visit when we are reeling from the grief of letting go and in limbo about which direction to turn. It may provide us with the spiritual nudge and guide posts we need.

Squared Away

This week I'll be using the Osho Zen Tarot, created by Ma Deva Padma and published by St. Martin's Press. I'll also be using the A'HA Oracle, created and self-published by Linnie Lambrechtsen. Today's draws are the King of Swords and Heart Urchin:

With his sharp, geometric angles, it's clear this King likes things squared away and sharply delineated. On the plus side, people know exactly what is expected. Yet seeing things in grayscale leaves no room for mercy or kindness. To reduce life to a monochrome photograph leaves out the dynamic, colorful causes and conditions that constantly shape people's decisions and actions. It might make judgments easier, but it certainly doesn't make them fair or appropriate. The Heart Urchin looks like a sea-dwelling hedgehog with its dense covering of small spines. But after death, the spines fall away, leaving the inner skeleton which has a slight heart shape. This card suggests we follow Walt Whitman's advice: "Be curious, not judgmental." Like glancing at the title and cover illustration of a book, we often assume we know what's inside. But behind each of us is a deep story; if we don't know it, we won't really know the other person.

Cups of Light and Darkness

From the Hidden Realm Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the Heart of Faerie, the Gift:

Someone fills the cup in front of us.

We taste only sacredness.

—Jelaluddin Rumi

With their long bodies, webbed feet and insulating underfur, otters are made for swimming. The river otter uses the water mostly for hunting or traveling, but often engages in other activities for the sheer enjoyment of play. While the human element is in both air (intellectual) and water (emotions), many of us who've had our hearts hurt often prefer to stay on land, closing off our feelings in an attempt to protect ourselves. Yet this is an essential part of us that keeps us connected and gives us a sense of belonging. The Gift is an offering of recognition and wisdom. I am sure this fairy would suggest we see all the cups we've sipped from as a way to grow, learn and develop kindness and compassion (even if it was not extended to us). 

Someone I loved once gave me

a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand

that this, too, was a gift.

—Mary Oliver

Quality of Care

From the Hidden Realm Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, Temptation:

The Three of Wands card represents a return on efforts expended: a couple finally gets a chance to adopt a child; multiple job interviews eventually result in employment; an overseas service man or woman gets released from duty to return home. These moments are filled with relief and gratitude, hope and enthusiasm for the future. The Temptation card, however, suggests a moment when our desires override our common sense or when our emotions drown out our ability to be rational. We forget the joy of what we have and reach desperately for what we don't. We no longer want an adopted child, we want one that sleeps through the night. We aren't satisfied with our job because our boss always correct us more than he praises us. The military spouse needs to go back overseas because they create more domestic duties which take up more time. Rather than feeling discontent, perhaps it is time to consider the words of Frank Sonnenberg: "If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, chances are it’s getting better care."

Moving Forward

From the Hidden Realm Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the Faerie of Youth:

High atop a mountain, a woman lets the clean, brisk air clear out the mental rubbish that has been cluttering her mind. Much like people who plan a garage sale and find they want to hold on to many items, she doesn't want to let some of her ideas go. Yet she realizes that if she wants to be as free as the eagles that fly above her, she must do so. Her moment of clarity and insight confirm this truth. The Faerie of Youth represents playful enthusiasm and positive expectations. She makes me think of the quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be." My recent wellness visit uncovered some issues that I'd rather not deal with, especially since I have a healthy lifestyle and think I shouldn't have to deal with them. But genetics and age are not something I can control, only how I move forward. Might as well have a playful, positive attitude about it.

Never Apologize

From the Hidden Realm, the Moon; from the Heart of Faerie, the Lady of Unicorns:

Both of these cards seem to question what is a result of our longing and the what is result of  our conditioning from the past. We may feel as if we need to move in a new direction, only for those old pockets of memories to slap our wrists and tell us resoundingly, "No!" This dissonance reminds me of a poem by Nikita Gill:

Some days

I am more wolf

than woman

and I’m still learning

how to stop apologizing

for my wild.

Carved Cup

From the Hidden Realm, the Nine of Swords; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the Lady of the Forest:

Moore describes this young fairy as someone who has been running and fighting for so long, she has forgotten what stillness and rest was like. I think anyone who has been through a traumatic experience knows what it is like to have an overly sensitive, inner trip wire. Nearly everything can trigger us, causing a fight, flight or freeze response. Our survival instinct keeps us from seeing that not everything that sets us off is an actual threat. The Lady of the Forest symbolizes the feminine, embodying the characteristics of creativity, compassion, connection, courage and receptivity. She would likely tell this fairy that what she is running from is the threat within her mind, not something tangible that surrounds her. Perhaps with the help of a therapist, she could learn some self-soothing techniques and train her mind to listen to her body with gentleness and intimacy. 

The “mud” and mess of our most painful experiences can become the fertile ground for the blossoming of our understanding and self-compassion. This is a hard truth to accept if we are resolved to seeing a good life as consisting only of positive events. It is true that the cool waters of happiness are sweet and precious, but it is suffering that carves our cup.  —Sister Dang Nghiem

Savoring not Consuming

From the Hidden Realm Tarot, the Empress; from the Heart of Faerie, the Shadow of the Past:

What a tender look this Empress gives to all creation, whether the apples she cradles in her lap or the butterfly that lights on her sleeve. I think Americans have become excellent consumers, but rarely do we savor and take time to appreciate what we have. We don't worry about using up, only about satisfying our next desire. What if we began to savor our moments as a wine connoisseur does each sip of wine? Could we not build a gratitude practice in this way? The Shadow of the Past refers to relationships that haunt us like a bad case of acid reflux. If the past is foremost in our mind, there is no way we can attend fully to what surrounds us now. In a sense, we are consuming rotten food while the fresh goes unnoticed. Instead, we could train the mind to stay in the present by catching ourselves when we ruminate and tenderly turning our focus to what is beautiful or good right where we are, no matter how small or simple. The Empress would remind us that since we create our mental pathways, and we can always change them too.

 

Dot of Light

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, created by Julia Jeffrey with Barbara Moore, and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be drawing from the Heart of Faerie Oracle created by Brian and Wendy Froud and published by Abrams. Today's cards are the Seven of Swords and Bright Spark:

A young warrior pauses to look to the stars for guidance before deciding to engage in battle. Who will his actions benefit ― himself, a select few, or all? What might the long-term consequences be? Is he being driven by his own passionate views or led by the frenzy of the group? The choice he makes can alter his future. Bright Spark symbolizes those small moments of inspiration or illumination that we may miss because our minds are so busy trying to out-think and out-maneuver what lies before us. Yet in the stillness and quiet, spiritual nudges may come from the luminous mind (the non-egoic wisdom within). Follow that inner light. 

May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Do You Hear What I Hear?

From the Victorian Fairy Oracle, the Herald of Winter (Page of Swords); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Man/Mannaz:

As I drew this Page/Herald this morning, the carol "Do You Hear What I Hear?" came to mind. In this song, what is seen, heard and known is passed along, beginning with the night wind and ending with the king. While obviously a carol, Noël Regney wrote this song as an appeal for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last stanza has the king proclaiming, "Pray for peace, people everywhere!" The rune Mannaz is generally translated as 'Man' (humankind); the poems suggest its meaning includes both the joy and connection humans feel as well as separation and death. Both of these cards suggest I pay attention beyond my self-absorbed box of desires, worries and resentments. There is joy, warmth and beauty around me, if I would only open my eyes and ears (and mind) to them. Though changeable and impermanent, it would be a shame to miss out on these gifts and wonders. 

Get Moving

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Chariot; from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Rit/Raidho (Riding):

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move. ―Benjamin Franklin

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ―Dale Carnegie

I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants. ―Zig Ziglar

It's not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities. ―Kristin Armstrong

Nighttime Movies

From the Victorian Fairy Oracle, the Moon; from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Tyr/Tiwaz:

A fairy sleeps deeply in a bed of thyme surrounded by moonflowers and luna moths. Weatherstone suggests this card represents dreaming, when we must understand things on a more primal rather than rational level. Neuroscientists believe that dreams serve as a data dump — a clearing of the day’s useless memories (from the hippocampus) and a caching of the valuable ones (to the cerebral cortex). But as memories get compared and sorted, our dreams help the brain do other things:

• We experience 'fire drills,' or imaginary dangers to keep us sharp and rehearse for possible emergencies in the future.
• As emotional memories are stored, dreams help us modulate trauma and fear as well as regulate our moods.
• Dreams can help us have creative breakthroughs or solve problems that require vivid visualization.

The rune Tiwaz is connected to the story of Tyr and the Norse gods. The gods knew the wolf Fenir would cause great ruin and decided to trick him into being tied up with a small cord, then he could show off his power by breaking it. The cord was magical, and though Fenir didn't know this, he was no dummy and agreed to by tied up if one of the gods would put his hand in his mouth. The cord held but Tyr lost his hand. Tiwaz thus implies success that will require a sacrifice. Dreams can be terrifying and bizarre at times (the sacrifice), but they are there to help not harm us.

Melting Snow

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Seven of Winter/Swords; from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Eoh/Eihwaz:

A fairy and his rat henchman have broken into a family's store of food for the winter. The Seven of Swords brings up the question of ethics: Can a wrong ever be considered right if it is done to correct an unfair imbalance? We all have a moral code that influences our conduct, but we often judge others by it as well. Stealing is never okay in my code, but neither is hoarding or a lack of generosity. Yet still I harbor a subtle "Is he or she deserving?" in my mind. The rune Eoh/Eihwaz relates to the yew tree, a plant that is evergreen and also poisonous. Its symbolism of both death and life points to an initiation that brings transformation and illumination. Such an initiation is not for the faint of heart; it requires that we "die before we die," a process of stripping ourselves of our pet concepts and opinions as well as our preferences and prejudices. It is only when our ego relinquishes control that we can see the world with clear vision.

Be melting snow.

Wash yourself of yourself.

~Rumi

Shared Blessings

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Ten of Summer (Cups); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Feo/Fehu:

The fairies look like they are having what some neighborhoods call a block party. Weatherstone describes this Ten of Cups as representing heartfelt love of all kinds. What could be more fulfilling than knowing you have someone to love and care for and that you in turn are surrounded by love? The rune Feo/Fehu is generally translated as 'livestock' or 'gold.' While it might seem an auspicious rune, it comes with a warning:

Money is the strife among kinsmen

and the fire of the flood-tide

and the path of the serpent.

(Old Icelandic Rune Poem)

Both wealth and the power it brings can be as intoxicating as an unlimited supply of alcohol. But we all know what it's like to deal with a drunk person, regardless of what's got them intoxicated. There's a reason clubs hire bouncers. Blessings of any kind are meant to be appreciated and shared, not flaunted and held in a vise grip.

Ears Up

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Knight of Spring (Wands); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Not/Nauthiz:

The Knight of Wands is much like his mount, given to zig-zagging all over the place rather than going anywhere in a straight line. Anything new is a distraction, and any adventure must not be postponed. This is the son the Empress never sent to the store for any need. He doesn't do this on purpose; he's just too full of energy and excitement to be tethered in any way. Not/Nauthiz is often translated as 'need;' the Old English Rune Poem implies that it is not necessarily destitution:

Need is constricting on the chest

although for the children of men it often becomes

a help and salvation nevertheless

if they heed it in time.

In this case, the rune cautions us to slow down and pay attention to what our body, mind and heart is trying to tell us. There is something important that needs our attention so that it doesn't become a bigger, more problematic issue.

Price of Freedom

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Eight of Winter (Swords); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Ing/Ingwaz:

Weatherstone's Eight of Winter/Swords offers a stickier situation than most. What happens when you're just 'the help' and have no authority? Here a maid/nanny is run ragged by ill-behaved children who all have cabin fever. Does she dare discipline them in any way and risk losing a job she depends on? Having worked with many children years ago, my guess is that she could punish them as long as it wasn't corporal punishment. The rub is that most parents don't care, they just don't want to hear about how badly behaved their offspring are. She can continue to be passively subservient or shake everyone up by claiming her worth and demanding respect, regardless of the consequences. Ingwaz represents Freyr, who was once a warrior god but after falling in love, swapped his sword for an antler to become a fertility god able to marry. He eventually was slain in the battle of Ragnarok, but I personally like to think he did not regret his decision. Paired with the tarot card, this rune seems to point to a seed of potential that will require some sacrifice. What are we willing to give up for our freedom?

Dips and Twists

This coming week I'll be using the Victorian Fairy Tarot, created by Lunaea Weatherstone with Gary A. Lippincott and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Haindl Rune Oracle, created by Hermann Haindl and published by U.S. Games. As an additional resource, I'll be dipping into The Serpent and the Eagle by Chris Travers. Today's draws are the Ace of Spring (Wands) and As (Ansuz):

Work your way to the ending and see what comes up. ―Andy Weir

The kite in this Ace of Wands makes me think of all the dips, twists and turns it takes when rising high in the sky. Similarly, when we are inspired with an idea, our mind shoots all over the place. No wonder mind mapping (a visual diagram used for organization) has become popular. The excitement and enthusiasm that inspiration causes can make us want to pole vault from the starting line over to the finish line, but As/Ansuz asks us to pause. This rune has been translated as both 'mouth' and 'estuary,' both of which have things that flow from them. An estuary is a transition zone, a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with rivers or streams flowing into it as well as a connection to the open sea. This in-between place suggests that we should first spend time working on our ideas, seeing what is functional and what isn't, before we race off with a spark yelling 'fire!' 

Feeding the Spark

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Jade Oracle, Tlaltecuhtli:

The Thoth keyword for the Ten of Wand is 'oppression,' suggesting our vital spark is being smothered by rigid standards. Perhaps our self-identity is so intertwined with what we do, we fear losing who we are if we lay down any of our staves. Decort encourages to learn to adapt and be flexible when we are overwhelmed rather than stubbornly sticking to what we think we should be doing. Tlaltecuhtli is the maw of life and death, the mouth that is womb and tomb. She who is the incarnation of the earth asks us, "What needs to die so that something else can flourish and live?" 

In the silence of love

you will find the spark of life

― Rumi

Grounded Awareness

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the King of Pentacles; from the Jade Oracle, Coatlicue:

Whatever is happening right now is exactly what we need to be receptive to.

—Koshin Paley Ellison

This King of Pentacles prefers to have his eyes and hands on what he protects and sustains rather than listening to someone read a report about how things are going. That's part of what helps him stay in the moment and at peace in his own skin rather than caught up with worries or regrets. He knows each moment is full to the brim and dynamic if he's attending to what is around him right where he is. Coatlicue - 'She of the Serpent Skirt' - is a goddess connected to the fertility of the earth and its natural cycles. Both of these cards imply a sense of being aware of what is happening in the present even as change occurs. To be grounded implies that we are centered in the moment, without bias or reactivity. We let our body and mind connect to what is under and around our feet, rather than being hooked by the past or future.

...response emerges from the whole of oneself, grounded in the whole situation, with each element assuming its true size and shape. In responding we’re not doing something about a situation, but participating in it. —Joan Sutherland

Where Are You Going?

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Hermit; from the Jade Oracle, Ometeotl:

You can't really know where you are going until you know where you have been.

~Maya Angelou

Shiva's trident/lantern held by this Hermit is a reminder to pause and consider the past, present and future. We can't know how we got to the present unless we take a close look at our past, and we can't make an educated guess about our future unless we honestly examine our present actions and beliefs. The seeds planted in the past through our thoughts and behavior are coming into fruition now. If we don't like the results, we can stop nurturing them by making changes. If we want a different future than what our present shows, we need to plant and nurture different seeds. But as the Hermit's hourglass indicates, there's a time limit, so we need to get moving. Ometeotl means 'deity of duality' and was comprised of a husband and wife duo that created the universe. This card emphasizes the importance of the yin/yang balance in all things; we can't just think about change, we must practice it. Such changes will be both internal (our thoughts) and external (our actions). 

Truce

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Jade Oracle, Chalchihuitl (Jade):

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. ~Leo Tolstoy

Americans (or at least its politicians) are fond of having a 'War on' many things - drugs, crime, poverty, terror, etc. But it seems from past results that a battle on anything creates more of the problem, not less. The Thoth keyword for the Four of Swords is 'truce,' a rest from fighting and making strategic decisions. Such a respite, when done sincerely, can help us see the situation with clarity and become receptive to other viewpoints that we've been blind to before. Jade was considered a precious stone by the ancient Mexicans; the color of vegetation, it symbolized life and the joy of living. It asks us, "Are you fighting for an opinion or an assumption, or seeking something that will bring the joy of life to everyone?"

Begin Again

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Universe; from the Jade Oracle, Chalchiuhtlicue:

Decort uses a take on the Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), a form of the Hindu god Shiva. The person underfoot represents spiritual ignorance. Shiva is known as The Destroyer; he tears down in order to build again. I have a friend who is a retired Episcopal priest who explained to me that when a priest retires, he is supposed to attend another church rather than the one he has served. This is so that when the new priest comes, he or she doesn't feel like they are standing in anyone's shadow - everyone starts afresh. While it seemed harsh at first, it began to make sense. When I complete something, I don't continue turning back to add final touches. I move on, taking what I've learned with me. Chalchiuhtlicue - She of the Jade Skirt - is the guardian of terrestrial waters who sustains and cleanses. She was present in rituals performed by midwives who washed newborns, and thus symbolizes a time for me wash away the old and embrace the new that awaits. 

Each of us has that right, that possibility, to invent ourselves daily.  —Maya Angelou