Mimic Water's Movement

From The Classic Tarot, the Fool; from the Constellations Deck, Hydrus:

Unlike the RWS, this Fool is not a jester but a homeless wanderer. With his strange clothes (and missing a shoe), people were afraid of his eccentricity - enough to send a dog to chase him off. But on another level they envied his ability to travel life lightly, both in terms of material possessions and emotional contentment. He doesn't grasp at outer things to create his happiness; his wonder and enjoyment of life does that for him. The Fool's card is without a number, suggesting freedom and unlimited potential. Hydrus is named for a water snake, a group of snakes that spend a significant time in or near fresh water. I recently had an encounter with a red-bellied juvenile on my backporch (likely washed up from the storm drain); I used a pine cone gripper to relocate him elsewhere. Whether on land or in water, the snake's undulating movements mimic the movement of water. Both these cards offer the advice that we can glide through life happily if we don't get stuck by our demands for life to be a certain way.

Most emotions do not arise out of the immediate moment, but are generated by our self-centered demands that life be the way we want it to be. 

— Charlotte Joko Beck

It's Not a Question of How Many

From The Classic Tarot, the Queen of Staves; from the Constellations Deck, the Monoceros:

"Well, now that we HAVE seen each other," said the Unicorn, "if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?"

~Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

Because she is so fierce in following her own passions and creative inclinations, the Queen of Staves has a gift for encouraging others to do the same. She will prod, cajole and support us so that we believe in our abilities enough to take a leap of faith. Sometimes her enthusiasm and confidence in us is enough to motivate us to give something a try. In today's world of competition and looking out for one's self, her dedication is as rare as the mythological unicorn for which this constellation is named. The thing is, we all have the ability to nurture the talents of another. And though our encouragement might not always have an effect, there might be a few for which it makes a huge difference - much like the story of the little boy tossing the starfish back into the ocean.  

Your Inner Bear

From The Classic Tarot, the Nine of Staves; from the Constellations Deck, Ursa Major:

There are no symbolic flowers or vines on this card, emphasizing its pragmatic, no-frills nature. The Staves represent assertive energy used to accomplish an objective, and nine of them means this has been an extended, on-going effort. Tenacity sounds like a wonderful trait until you've been slogging through metaphorical mud and muck for days on end. Ursa Major (Latin for 'great bear'), however, encourages us to look within to find our strength and power to persevere. Endurance is not used up when we stay in the present moment, dealing with the current task, rather than looking for problems in the future. And our source of power may come when we consider why we are doing this - a deeper, meaningful motive - beyond any self-aggrandizement. 

Patience and tenacity are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.

~Thomas Huxley

 

Precious Gift

From The Classic Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Constellations Deck, Lacerta:

The Queen of Cups extends her chalice, an offer to nurture and encourage us on an emotional and spiritual level. The lid on the cup symbolizes the sacredness of its contents - her compassion, tender gentleness, deep listening and kindness are a valuable offering to others. Do I realize just how beneficial and necessary this act of benevolence is to my well-being and the well-being of others?  Lacerta ('lizard' in Latin) suggests soaking in the sunlight of such an offer, even if the delivery is a bit clumsy, and to remember to pay some of that sunlight forward. That cup of kindness has the ability to sow a feeling of belonging in both the giver and the receiver, something the world really needs.

A generous heart is always open, always ready to receive our going and coming. In the midst of such love we need never fear abandonment. This is the most precious gift true love offers – the experience of knowing we always belong. —bell hooks

Uneasy Lies the Head

This week I'll be using Lo Scarabeo's The Classic Tarot, with the original engravings of Carlo Della Rocca and printing by F. Gumppenberg Milan. I'll also be drawing from the Constellations Deck published by Carddia. Today's draws are the King of Swords and Pavo:

Shakespeare wrote, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." I'd say this was true for any leader that leads with his brain instead of bravado, as does the King of Swords. He has the authority to lay down the law, but he does it thoughtfully (with intelligence) rather than emotion. The only problem with facts and figures is that it removes us from the reality of things, sometimes missing the heart of the issue. As Cassie Chambers explains in Hill Women: "Outsiders who rush into the hills don’t always take the time to see that mountain people are a creative, resourceful lot. They don’t understand that Appalachians can be—should be—partners in the effort to make their lives better. They don’t grasp that, if given the right resources and opportunities, these communities are capable of saving themselves." The constellation Pavo (Latin for 'peacock') is a caution not to let our need to be an expert override the truths of daily existence. Instead, just as the male peacock spreads its eye-adorned tail feathers, we might spread our perspective and personal experience a little further. 

With the Same Tenderness

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Bat:

It's pretty easy to know when our body is exhausted - it will just refuse to budge at some point. We are generally willing to rest our body when it is necessary, even when there are still things to do, because we realize it is going to collapse if we don't. How I wish we were as willing to do the same when it comes to our mental health! We all need a routine mental break from feeding our mind with outside information or inner thoughts that create unneeded pain. Bat, flying out of its cave, shows up to encourage us to bring our mental health into the light. Our minds need the same tenderness and care that we'd show an aching, worn-out body.

Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.

— Fred Rogers

Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.

— Matt Haig

An Essential Part

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Wild Herdsman (Devil); from the Beasts of Albion, the Wolf:

Oscar Wilde wrote: "We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell." I suppose on some level the early Celts recognized this, so they had no need of a Devil in their mythology. Instead, they had the Wild Herdsman (aka the Horned God) who saw it as his sacred duty to protect the natural world from those who would abuse it. Of course those who did were humankind, and it only got worse when religion underscored the belief that humans were given dominion over the earth. The Wolf was the longest surviving large predator in Britain, yet the Celts looked on this wild animal favorably. Merlin, Cormac, Brigid and Cernunnos were all said to have a wolf as a close companion. As a result, the wolf came to symbolize companionship and cooperation. It's appearance suggest we see all of creation (not just humans) as family, recognizing they are an essential part of us.

For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it. —Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Stuckness

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Swan:

The tarot's Eight of Swords symbolizes feeling trapped and overwhelmed by outside forces; those embedded swords emphasize our 'stuckness.' Feeling powerless to create change is frightening. Yet the more we focus on our worries, the more tangled in their net we become. What we generally don't pay attention to is the kind of thoughts we're having, and how our emotions have influenced them to the point where they no longer reflect reality. This is not an encouragement to embrace toxic positivity - using false optimism to diminish, ignore, or deny actual problems. But can we take a step back from our spinning mind and simply observe without judgment what actually has happened? The Swan is often used in tales of transformation, where people are turned into these birds or swans are returned to human form. Even The Ugly Duckling is about such a major shift. It is possible to do this with our thoughts, to make the mind more spacious by reminding ourselves that we just don't know. As Kaira Jewel Lingo put it, "When we let ourselves hang out in the space of not-knowing, there is enormous potential, and life could unfold in innumerable ways."

Like Food and Shelter

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Beasts of Albion, Owl:

There are friends, there is family and then there are friends that become family.

~Unknown

I just cannot imagine my life without friends - they rank right up there with food and shelter. Probably because they feed my spirit and provide a safe haven for my heart when life is buffeting me about. My friends are not a multitude, but a small group, and several live far away. They listen, offer wise feedback, remind me how to laugh, and stand by me when I'm afraid or uncertain. There are not enough 'thank yous' in the world to repay them for their unfaltering faithfulness. In Celtic legend of the Quest for Olwen, the Owl was sought for help as he was considered one of the oldest and wisest of beasts (others being the stag, blackbird, salmon and eagle). What would Owl say about friendship? Since an owl's body can't digest fur, bones, or teeth, it coughs up pellets formed from these. Owl would advise me that holding on to resentments is as harmful as refusing to expel a pellet. How many deep relationships might I have missed out on because I was so sensitive and took things personally?

To Put My Senses in Order

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, the Butterfly:

The Page of Pentacles is often called 'the student,' but he's not really the bookish sort - he's a student of the natural world. He observes, listens and tests what he thinks he's learned against reality. His first line of inquiry is always "What is this and how does it behave?" rather than "How does this affect me and of what use is it?" He'll be the one that writes the books others read. As he matures, he'll likely see the wonders that once caught his eye as resources, but for now at least he just soaks up everything the earth and its inhabitants have to teach him. The Butterfly, in its metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged insect, symbolizes transformation and rebirth. Adulthood can make us all a bit self-focused as we concentrate on survival, but Butterfly suggests that we can still 'find our wings' back to the wonders of the natural world. And what better de-stressor is there?

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.

—John Burroughs

An Unusual Strategy

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Chariot; from the Beasts of Albion, the Hedgehog:

Manawydan, son of Llyr ("the sea"), was an unusual god who was humble, patient and preferred to use his brain rather than his brawn. As a result of his resourcefulness, the spell over his home was lifted and his wife and stepson returned. The Chariot symbolizes training our emotions and instincts to pull in tandem with our rational intellect so that we make progress toward our goal. Rather than smash through roadblocks (ending up in a ditch) or turning around to go home in a huff, we develop patience and the ability to adapt to our changing circumstances. Such adaptability is what the Hedgehog represents. Miranda Gray writes, "The Hedgehog's agility, good memory for places, acute hearing - which can pick up even the sound of a worm moving underground - and solid defensive spines have allowed it to adapt readily to modern life." This little animal is a reminder that force has limited power when we're dealing with reality; it is much more beneficial to develop the ability to change.

A More Effective Action

This week I'll be using the Llewellyn Tarot, created by Anna-Marie Ferguson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Beasts of Albion, an oracle deck created by Miranda Gray and published by Aquarian. Today's draws are the Four of Pentacles and the Lion:

I often think of the Four of Pentacles as the Spending Sabbatical card. There are many things we can 'spend' - time, energy (health), and money. Such a pause is a practice in prudently using our personal resources. To Albion (ancient Britain), tales of lions seemed just as extraordinary as those of unicorns and dragons. The Lion soon became a symbol of courage, strength and guardianship, especially in the sense of self-sovereignty. It's ironic how many enablers seem to magically appear when a person decides they want to limit ____ (fill in the blank). However, as David Cain encourages, we can guard ourselves by training to replace a reflexive action with a more conscious and empowering one. He lists several examples of mindful consideration: in rock climbing, when you want to pull with your arms, try pushing with your legs; in chess, when you see a good move and you want to make it, try looking for a better one first. "That’s what all training amounts to, as far as I can tell — conditioning ourselves to take a more effective action at a certain moment than the impulsive one we start out doing."

True Love

From the Norse Tarot, the Ace of Cups; from the Wolf Pack, Rejoice:

Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.

~Erich Fromm

To draw the Ace of Cups (a card of joyful relationship) and the card Rejoice seems a lovely coincidence as today my husband and I celebrate our 33rd anniversary. While our hair is much grayer and our bodies achier, I have to agree with Henry Ward Beecher about older love:

Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.

Before I got married, a friend told me she was at first concerned because my husband-to-be was sort of a strange and unusual fellow. But then she said since I was pretty weird too,  she thought we'd probably be okay. So I had to laugh when I came across the quote by Robert Fulghum:

We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness — and call it love — true love.

No Smooth Ride

From the Norse Tarot, the Tower; from the Wolf Pack, Healing:

There is something aggressive about that approach to life, trying to flatten out all the rough spots and imperfections into a nice smooth ride. ~Pema Chodron

The Norse gods established order and restrained the forces of chaos, but at Ragnarök ("Fate of the Gods"), these forces broke free. The inevitable, massive battle resulted in the cataclysmic destruction of the cosmos and everything in it. I suppose it is human nature to want to have our ducks in a row, to fix what is broken, and to create stability where there is insecurity. But as Chodron states, life is never going to be an unending smooth ride. People, places, and things just never stay in perfect condition or continue to perform in the way that pleases us. Anger, fear or grief nearly always follow what is unexpected. While there's nothing wrong with these emotions, we can get stuck in them if we feel we've been unfairly and personally attacked. Healing suggests giving ourselves a time out to come to grips with reality. Instead of battling what is, we rest with what is, allowing us to view it over time with a bit more clarity and perspective. 

Common Sense Sacrifice

From the Norse Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Wolf Pack, 'Be Alert:'

A lover of wisdom and knowledge, Odin hung himself on the world tree, pierced himself with his spear, and gazed in the Well of Urd for nine days and nights. At the end of the ninth night, he perceived in the water's depths the runes, a sacred alphabet. The Hanged Man in Odin's case was about personal sacrifice for the greater good. This seems appropriate for my travels today to my mother's home. I've promised her a full day of labor, to do the things she can no longer do. In this case, my sacrifice is a labor of love. Be Alert provides a needed warning when traveling or working. I recently had a near-fall from a ladder because I was exhausted but tried to keep working. Getting hurt would negate the benefits of any sacrifice, so attention and common sense are especially needed today.

Worth a Fight?

From the Norse Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Wolf Pack, Prayer:

With homes burning in the background and menacing sword-wielders up front, this appears to be a very confrontational card. Way more than an argument, this encounter seems designed to intimidate and overpower. Is this a battle that needs to be fought, something worth standing up for? Or is ruffled feather resistance based on self-importance or arrogance? Prayer suggests connecting to something greater than my ego, an attempt to grasp and understand a wider perspective that includes the well-being of all. From that viewpoint, what I need to do will become much clearer. 

...it all boiled down to a fundamental difference in the way we perceived life, the context within which we defined ourselves and our world.

―Azar Nafisi

A Risk Worth Taking

From the Norse Tarot, the Devil; from the Wolf Pack, Risk:

Loki was a trickster in the Norse pantheon; though occasionally helpful, he was mostly frustrating. The more harm he caused, the more the other gods sought to punish him. Loki's vindictiveness from his punishments eventually grew into a malicious desire to destroy them all. When his deception caused the death of Baldr, the wisest of the gods, he was bound to a rock with a serpent overhead that dripped venom on his forehead. His wife held a bowl to catch the venom, but eventually would have to empty it. Unprotected, Loki's writhing from the touch of the venom caused earthquakes. The Devil is about attachment - not a form of healthy devotion, but a feverish desire to have something that goes beyond all reason and dips into delusion. It always causes suffering, especially to the person clinging to their ideas. Risk in relation to the Devil may be less about something that is dangerous and more about something that only feels that way. In the words of Michael Wenger: "We have a choice. We can complacently watch life from the sidelines, or we can risk our pride, our ideas, and whatever else we use to separate ourselves from others and leap fully into our life."

Downside of Deep Commitment

From the Norse Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Discs; from the Wolf Pack, Guilt:

This Prince knows that to really see the land and know the soil, you have to have your feet on it and hands in it. Constantly moving over it on a horse is not going to cut it. To know something is to appreciate it, and appreciating something leads to taking care of it. His patience and pragmatism has been learned from spending so much time in nature, and these traits serve him well in his endeavors. Guilt suggests a normal reaction to something we did or failed to do. It generally leads to remorse and restitution or amends and passes relatively quickly. Neurotic guilt, however, is guilt that has stopped serving as a useful moral compass and has started to become aggression turned against oneself. Rather than a guide for good, it becomes a cross to bear with no way to atone. To be deeply committed like this Prince is a wonderful thing, but it must be balanced with the understanding of how little control we have over situations external to us. We can only do what is feasible and make peace with the rest.

Companionship and Connection

This week I’ll be using the Norse Tarot book and deck, created by Clive Barrett and published by Aquarian. The other deck I’ll be drawing from is the Wolf Pack, created by Robert Petro and published by Windspirit Productions. Today’s cards are the Three of Cups and Fulfillment:

Not passion but compassion.

Com—means "with."

What kind of with-ness would that be?

― Anne Carson

My husband once hit a hole-in-one while playing a solitary round of golf. He was at first thrilled, but that feeling evaporated when he realized there was no one to witness and celebrate his feat with him. Humans like to celebrate milestones and accomplishments with others; we even gather to honor and commemorate lives lost and other endings. No matter how different we might otherwise be, we can still recognize and identify with the joys and sorrows of others. Fulfillment suggests that when our life is shared, contentment and meaning are easier to find. Experiences that others can relate to can give us a sense of companionship and interconnection.

We have a chance to remember what matters in this fleeting, fragile life – our connections, our loves, our families, friends, communities and our host, this endlessly beautiful and constantly changing Earth.

—Elizabeth Monson

Equal Parts

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Knight of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, Tower:

The Knight of Staves is ambitious, constantly looking for a way to broaden his contacts and try something new. He's not very comfortable with comfort; he'd much rather stir up some excitement. This Knight doesn't contain even a teaspoon of prudence, and his impulsiveness can create chaos rather than anything useful. But no one would call him boring. From a tall watchtower, sentinels would keep a sharp lookout for anyone that might present a threat. It reminds me of the stories my dad would tell about working with the Miami highway patrol - hours and hours of tedious driving that could lure one into a stupor yet might unexpectedly change into something dangerous in an instant. The Knight of Staves and the Tower have opposite aims: the Knight seeks adventure but is undependable while the watchman sticks to duty but is likely stressed and a little neurotic. Surely there is some balance that could be found between these two.

Life should be equal parts responsibility, and fun.

~Acura commercial

Master or Minion

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, Fortitude; from the Viking Lenormand, the Child:

The dictionary defines Fortitude as the "strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity." It is a bit like emotional temperance. Controlled anger or fear can give me the courage or incentive to take the action that is needed rather than hide or fly into a rage. But it takes a lot of work to manage those emotions, becoming their master rather than their minion. Without management, I lose all clarity and fail to understand what would be most beneficial; I attempt only to make those uncomfortable feelings go away. The Child suggests simplicity - I don't have to complicate things by over-analyzing them. As Pema Chodron encourages, "Feel the feelings and drop the story." It's my story about things - my opinionated judgment - that causes my distress and clouds the issue. Rather than react to that energy, I can attend to its physical sensations as it passes through my body and dissipates. I can become the curious child who watches rather than the expert.

Minus My Opinion

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Nine of Coins; from the Viking Lenormand, Clover:

There is such simplicity in Jackson's Nine of Coins: a home that shelters, food enough to fill the belly, clean clothes to wear, and a companion to keep company with. There can be comfort found in 'enough' rather than a constant searching for 'more.' This fellow seems content with what his hard work has produced, which is an attitude many know nothing about. If his circumstances change, his modest life will serve him well in adapting. Andy Boroveshengra writes in his book on Lenormand that joy is the essence of the Clover card. I've been reading a book of talks given by Charlotte Joko Beck, and what she said about joy really resonated with me: "Happiness is the 'up-up-up.' Joy is the peace in what is. Joy is what's going on, minus our opinion about it."

It's Not the Absence

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Viking Lenormand, the Scythe:

The way those swords are woven together imply just how hard it is to change a mindset. And as many wise people have said, the same mindset that created a problem is unlikely to create a solution. In recovery circles, there is a phrase known as a 'geographical cure.' Rather than taking a close look at our own ideas and subsequent actions, we assume it is the other that is the problem. So we change neighborhoods, jobs and relationships in search of the one that suits us. The danger of the Scythe warns that we will continue to run into sharp attitudes and responses, not because the world is mean and awful, but because the root of the issue is within us.

Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.

~Charles De Montesquieu

Error in Attribution

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Devil; from the Viking Lenormand, Mice:

When you blame others, you give up your power to change.

~Robert Anthony

Samael, Prince of the Demons, was an important figure in Talmudic literature, where he appears as accuser, seducer, and destroyer. He was regarded as the principle of evil that brought upon Israel and Judah every misfortune that befell them. His goat-like appearance in many illustrations is likely linked to the 'scapegoat' that Hebrew priests designated to be cast into the desert to carry away the sins of the community. Humans have built a powerful structure of blaming something outside themselves for all misdeeds and problems. The Mice card represents loss, sometimes by theft, but also through ignorance, arrogance or carelessness. Together these two cards express the same idea as Anthony's quote: Without taking responsibility for ourselves, we fail to have any way to change things for the better. 

Excess and Deficiency

This week I'll be using the Nigel Jackson Tarot, created by Jackson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Viking Lenormand, created and self-published by my talented friend Carole Beasley. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and Mountain:

The Four of Cups is a study in excess and deficiency. Whatever we've been doing at breakneck speed, whatever constantly fills our days, suddenly comes to a screeching halt. We become disenchanted and exhausted, finding no pleasure or meaning in what we normally do. Our psychological see-saw - with one end tilted up for so long - now comes crashing down. The antidote to the issue is to start doing what we have neglected for so long and keep what we usually do at a bare minimum. The Mountain of Lenormand suggests barriers and complications. It recognizes that we've been so dependable at whatever we normally do, we've trained people to expect us to continue doing it nonstop. While it may be easier to train a feral dog than retrain a human, consistency and tenacity can be our allies. 

If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

― Paulo Coelho