Into the Light

From the Tylwick Tarot, the Hermit; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Ring:

The time will come when diligent research over long periods will bring to light things which now lie hidden. ―Seneca

A fountain statuary of Seneca is seen in a garden wall niche. Seneca was an enigma, living a life of riches, politics and ambition while also taking time for philosophy, introspection and self-awareness. As a high-ranking financial clerk, he was exiled by Claudius. Years later, he would be hired as a tutor for Nero, whose paranoia would later demand Seneca's death. The Ring suggests his commitment to his philosophy, no matter if he was the recipient of accolades or condemnation. He knew how easy it was for humans to hide their motives (including himself). As he wrote, "we don’t want to change because we believe we are already excellent." The potential for compassion, wisdom and goodwill is definitely there, but without any type of self-reflection and willingness, we won't be likely to find it.

  

Intelligence Doesn't Always Mean Wisdom

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Lily:

The Knight of Swords is elementally Fire of Air, so there are symbols of both fire (fireplace, phoenix statues) and air (peacocks, bellows). He's intelligent and well-read, as well as being an eloquent speaker when it suits him. He sees himself as a truth seeker. Unfortunately, he can also be as impulsive as his knight cousins. At times, that bellows can fill him with hot air, and what he might pass off as knowledge is simply pure opinion stated as fact. When his ego is involved, his tongue can cut as sharply as any sword, and many will be intimidated enough to go along with him. The Lily has been associated with the fleur-de-lis of heraldry, and thus it is sometimes interpreted as the wisdom of elders. While the Knight might be full of knowledge, there is something to be said for life experience, an open mind, and a willingness to learn from others with different skills and training. Intelligence does not always reside in the same container as wisdom.

Its Beauty Only

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Fool; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Bear:

Taking a walk

I saw

a wildflower.

Not knowing its name

I saw

its beauty only.

—Ok-Koo Kang Grosjean

This Fool/jester is about to step through the mirror into another reality. His greyhound waits, anticipating the adventures ahead. The featureless artist mannequin suggests someone not yet shaped by the conditions of life, someone with a beginner's mind. The Bear (from a 1690 illustration of Ursa Major) implies power. What is the Fool's power? His mind holds no preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. As such, he sees things as they are, without the contamination of fear or demands. What a great way to start a morning!

All Shapes and Sizes

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Lovers; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Key:

The painting in the Tyldwick card is based on a sculpture of Diana that originally topped a fountain. It is interesting that the bust on the mantel below it is that of Hermes. Diana/Artemis remained a virgin goddess, though she did have platonic companions like Orion. Hermes, however, had many lovers - both male and female, mortal and divine. This Lovers card emphasizes just how different love can be in all its guises. The Key implies that if we make the effort, what we desire is in reach. Do we want a fun fling, a deep friendship, or a relationship based on a commitment? What we are willing to invest (and how we define a relationship) is likely to forge what we find.

Projects with a Purpose

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the King of Staves; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Tower:

The King of Staves is, elementally speaking, Air of Fire. His airy nature allows him the ability to see with clarity, speak persuasively, and discern whether an innovation is useful or just a waste of money. His fiery nature brings a love of challenge and the ability to motivate people to action and get projects completed. The four staves by the window suggest a stability rather than the impulsiveness seem in the knight. The French horn, an offshoot of the hunting horn, implies that he enjoys the adventure of leading a 'hunt' with a practical purpose. The Lenormand Tower shows the beginning of the construction of the Eiffel Tower, used as the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair. This card can represent an institution or organization that serves others - in other words, one that has a practical purpose. Had the 'Iron Lady' been built by the King of Staves, he'd be happy to know that it now serves as a tourist attraction, the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world. 

Mind Training

This week I'll be using the Tyldwick Tarot, created and self-published by Neil Lovell. I'll also be using the Antiquarian Lenormand, created and self-published by Maree Bento. Today's draws are the Chariot and the Lady/Ace of Spades:

This charioteer is missing a few limbs - a signal that his efforts will mainly be a mental effort rather than a physical one. The tapestry behind him ("The Boar and Bear Hunt") emphasizes the charioteer's hunt for what he desires. The statue itself is that of a Greek ephebos - meaning an adolescent male who was of age to train as a soldier. His 'horses' are Naxian sphinxes; they were seen as merciless guardians of tombs and sanctuaries. In this card, they warn that we need to guard the mind well. The Lady is represented by Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and she is the only woman to win the award in two different fields (physics and chemistry). She managed her many accomplishments while married with children. The Lady is a reminder that we should not let gender, class, or any other label stand in the way of the goals we want to reach.

A gender line... helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

~Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Tie Your Camel

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Fool; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, The Danaides:

There is an Islamic saying that goes, "Trust in Allah but tie your camel." It would serve the Fool well; while he can follow his heart, he should also not neglect common sense (consult the dog). The Danaides were fifty daughters whose father promised them in marriage to the fifty sons of his twin brother for protecting their city. However on their wedding night, their father ordered them to behead their husbands. All the daughters but one did so and were condemned to spend eternity carrying water that simply poured back out. It might not be wise to trust a solution that came from the same person who caused the problem in the first place. 

Long Arc

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Lovers; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, In the Peristyle:

Commitment is one of those words that is a noun but has an active element. As In the Peristyle shows, we take turns 'feeding' each other in different ways when we commit. At times that support and nourishment might seem lopsided - as with a mother who takes care of a child or a spouse who moves her home and career in order to follow her partner's job. But where commitment's vow of compassion and honor truly shines is when life turns things upside down: the adult child now cares for her aging mother or the husband who now cares for his wife with Alzheimer's. Sometimes the long arc of commitment can only be seen from a wide angle lens.

Memory Prompts

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, Sweet Idleness:

One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. Photos are a great memory-prompt, and because we tend to take photos of happy occasions, they weight our memories to the good. —Gretchen Rubin

Can you think of six happy memories? I imagine going through some old photos might help us remember quite a few. Or even better, we could get together with an old friend and talk about the craziness of our youth. Sweet Idleness, however, offers a caution. Our minds are wired to gravitate towards the negative rather than the positive; it was useful for staying aware of saber tooth tigers, but not so beneficial in today's world for those who suffer from depression or anxiety. Letting our minds drift on their own could steer us to emotional quicksand. So find (or make) a set of photos or other pictures that help shine a light when things get dark.

No Do-Overs

From the Touchstone Tarot, the King of Wands; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, The Remorse of the Emperor Nero after the Murder of his Mother:

While the Queen of Wands might encourage us to engage in something creative or productive, the King is all about making sure we carry it over the finish line. Beginning and abandoning projects is a colossal waste to him. Yet The Remorse of Nero suggests we might want to check our intentions and what's driving our motives before we even begin. Nero's mother opposed his affair with Poppaea Sabina (seeing her ambition to become empress). Even though his mother had been a stalwart proponent of his, Nero had her put to death. Some choices get no do-overs, so before we take any action, we might be aware if our emotions are in the driver's seat (which generally always leads to wreckage of some sort).  

Your Menu, Ma'am

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, The Siren:

Like a waitress with a menu, a woman holds a sheet and asks us to choose what we think will bring us happiness and fulfillment. The inside joke is that there is no 'thing' which will bring us endless joy. Fun and pleasure are nice, but they aren't fulfilling. We live in flux, so even our desires and goals don't stay the same. The Siren shows a singing enchantress looking with complete detachment as a sailor (drawn by her voice) drowns. Ask those who live at death's door what they think would bring happiness, and their answers would be very different from those who who have forgotten life has an expiration date. Perhaps they might long to breathe painlessly with ease, to see another sunset, to hug those they love, and to spend more time doing good in the world rather than chasing the next pleasure.

Curveballs

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, Ophelia:

Many of us have minds that are constantly planning and prepping, trying to stay one chess move ahead of whatever curveball life might throw at us. We're often not aware we're on automatic pilot while performing these mental gymnastics. At times we need a sanctuary from all of our intellectual efforts. As the acronym HALT reminds us, we need to make sure we don't get to hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Ophelia was a Shakespearean character who was innocent and naive young woman until she was driven mad by Hamlet discarding her and killing her father. She slowly drowned after falling in the river while picking flowers (making no effort to save herself). Our mental and emotional health do not depend on external events, but how we take care of our own needs. When we practice self-care, we'll be much better prepared for life's curveballs. 

Vapor Trails

This week I'll be using the Touchstone Tarot, created and self-published by Kat Black. Along with it I'll be using the John Waterhouse Oracle, created and self-published by Elaine Wilkinson. Today's draws are the Queen of Cups and Mariamne Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod:

Emotions are really good at raising questions and really bad at answering them.

—Zach Teutsch

The Queen of Cups is the personification of compassion. She informs us that neither detached pity nor drowning in despair will help someone in pain. To be beneficial, compassion must be balanced with the wisdom of clarity, of being able to see a wider, realistic perspective. She tells us (in the words of Katy Butler), that emotions are "the vapor trails of unmet needs." Yet she cautions us not to think the trail is the answer - it is the finger pointing to the moon, not the moon itself. The painting of Mariamne illustrates the story of King Herod sentencing his favorite wife to death after she was accused of being unfaithful. In reality, Mariamne's sister Salome got the king worked up and convinced him of the truth of her lie. As Teutsch's quote emphasizes, emotions aren't very good at answering questions or solving problems. But if we follow their trail backwards, we might find the root of insecurity.

Leaning Post

From the Brady Tarot, the Five of Arrows (Swords); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Between:

This stranded, emaciated polar bear represents those moments of feeling powerless, when it seems as if we have no fight or strength left within us. The Between card suggests such times are when we feel betwixt and between - in other words, between a rock and a hard place. It is easy to feel alone and abandoned, even if that is not truly the case. But unlike this bear, humans can communicate their needs and ask for help. As Toni Bernhard encourages, "Open your heart to your suffering. [Focus on self-compassion rather than self-pity.] Often people are just waiting to be asked to help but won't make that first contact." We all need someone to lean on at various times in our life; no one can truly be an island.

Partners

From the Brady Tarot, the Two of Horns (Cups); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Guardian:

Two Laysan Albatrosses have formed a partnership for life. Whether based in business, marriage or friendship, unions bring people together for a common purpose. However, a partnership does not mean one consumes the other, meaning they must have the same viewpoints and do things exactly alike. Their differences can actually be an advantage, as it can help them adapt more readily to change. The Guardian card suggests what a good union does imply - that we have each other's backs. Whether one partner is going through a challenge or whether he or she needs to pulled out of illusion and back to reality, partners support and encourage each other with kindness.

No partner... should feel that he has to give up an essential part of himself to make it viable.

~May Sarton

Nature's Wisdom

From the Brady Tarot, the Daughter of Roots (Page of Pentacles); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Conceal:

          The curiosity of this bear cub reminds me that as long as we're interested in learning and understanding the world around us, we'll never be bored. While the Daughter/Page of Roots/Pentacles doesn't hesitate to read to expand her world (a secondary source), she much prefers direct access to the subject of her research (a primary source). The experience for her is deeper than just obtaining knowledge. The Conceal card doesn't mean that we hide what we learn, but rather we use the experience as sacred time to renew ourselves and perhaps later as self-reflection. As William Wordsworth encouraged, "Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher."

          The following is an article I wrote on "Nature's Spiritual Wisdom" that may be of interest to some:

It's a By-Product

From the Brady Tarot, the Seven of Horns (Cups); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Light:

Beavers in the wild hate the sound of running water. If they hear it, they will work long hours to locate and repair any leaks in their dam. The illustration of these two beavers sleeping while their dam slowly breaks is a strong commentary on wasting our time in a fantasy world of wishful hopes. There is a big difference between using our imagination and simply fantasizing. Imagination is goal oriented while fantasy is free-floating and does not require principles of science and nature to stand. The Light card suggests we need clarity - we see reality as it is rather than as we think it should be. Hopefully we'll discover that happiness isn't something that can be chased down or bought.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Soft Celebration

From the Brady Tarot, the Three of Horns (Cups); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Soften:

This Three of Cups card shows the migration of snow geese, who breed in the arctic and subarctic regions of North America and Russia during spring and summer. These geese spend more than half the year on their migration to-and-from warmer wintering areas - no wonder they are celebrating! Having a small group or community to commemorate special occasions can make it more enjoyable. Otherwise it's like hitting a hole-in-one on the golf course with no one around to witness it. Yet sometimes these occasions are bittersweet; while a cycle or challenge might have ended, there may have been losses incurred too. Soften suggests tamping down a rowdy celebration but still being appreciative of the good. As Pema Chodron stated, "The challenge is to let it soften us rather than make us more rigid and afraid."

Lightness of Heart

From the Brady Tarot, the Daughter (Page) of Cups; from the Wisdom of the Forest, Joy:

There are some children who are inherently concerned about how others feel, whether they are okay. Like this pronghorn who dips some water to share with a bird, they are tuned into aiding those who might be suffering. But if they don't learn to do the same for themselves, they burn out quickly as adults. It helps if our actions follow wu-wei - a natural, effortless movement that isn't forced. As Indigo Ocean writes: "We do not stop caring. We do not stop helping.We simply do it with a natural equilibrium, like water flowing from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. No one needs to tell water where it ought to go; its nature is to simply flow." Yet Joy implies this isn't enough; we must also cultivate a lightness of heart, moments when wonder, beauty and the warmth of others lift us up. This is what will refill our cup over and over again.

Rich Seedbed

This week I'll be using the Brady Tarot, created and self-published by Emi Brady with a companion booklet by Rachel Pollack. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Wisdom of the Forest, a deck created and self-published by Jessica Purser. Today's draws are the Magician and Grow:

The Magician utilizes a combination of intellect, intention and the resources at hand to manifest what he desires. Our first attempt at something might fail dramatically, yet a second attempt might move us closer to our goal. The Grow card suggests that we learn from each experience, whether good or bad, rather than rigidly repeat our mistakes. (Crows never forget places, faces, or what happened with either.) Perhaps we don't have all the knowledge we need or we're not using our resources correctly. But if our mind and plan are flexible, we have a better chance of figuring things out. As Krishnan Venkatesh wrote, "Mistakes and failures make up the rich seedbed of self-reflection and improvement."

Humble Pride

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Chariot; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Pride:

Judy Lief might have some good advice for this chariot full of fairies: "pay attention to the difference between having a goal and being taken over by your hopes, fears, and speculations." When working toward an objective, we should focus on what is in front of us, what needs to be attended to at the moment. If we get distracted, we may miss what's important. Pride can either be a virtue or a vice. Psychologist Charles Carver explains: "Hubristic pride tends to be associated with a fragile ego, and with anxiety and aggressive tendencies as people strive to keep up the illusion of competence and control. Authentic pride, on the other hand, is associated with increased social support, lower anxiety, and a greater desire to help others by sharing one’s expertise." David DeSteno clarifies: "For pride to work, it must be paired with humility — a humility to know that no matter our skill set, each of us depends on what others have to offer."

Rethinking

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Serenity:

I've always felt a little sorry for the fellow on the Nine of Cups who seems happy but alone. I guess I was under the influence of thinkers like George Gordon Byron who said, "To have joy, one must share it." Getting older has made me rethink this philosophy. While it can be nice to share many moments with others, the Serenity card reminds me that sometimes it's nice to just enjoy them on my own. I don't need to post the sunrise I'm viewing on Facebook or call a friend about an insight I had as I was reading. Instead I can just be mindful of my enjoyment while it's in front of me.

Stolen Property

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Chaos:

The backwards glance on this man's face can be easily read: "Have I been found out?" Yet we may take something more costly than anything material. Secrets told in confidence, snippets of gossip, an act observed without knowing the context - these can all be stolen goods when we share them with another. Chaos implies that some of us enjoy stirring the pot simply because we love the turbulent excitement and drama it brings. Thoughts of how the fallout might hurt others never occur. But every choice and action has a consequence - that we can't run away from.

No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues. 

~Bertrand Russell

Integrity as a Co-pilot

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Two of Wands; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Pettiness:

Many people view integrity as some form of duty. Integrity is not a duty. It is a means to improve the probability of being successful and happy. ―John Allison

Salisbury Greenhouse states that the palm was a symbol of victory with integrity. Integrity suggests that our values need to be aligned with reality, and our actions should reflect both. This woman attempts to decide whether to stay or go, to expand or maintain. What is at the root of her restlessness? Perhaps she feels her world is too restrictive or that she's in a rut. Either way, a glance at her moral compass and the knowledge and evidence available to her might be of help. Pettiness is an undue concern with trivial matters, especially of a small-minded or spiteful nature. Any choice she's trying to make will get derailed quickly if she can't tell the difference between what is truly important and what is immaterial. 

Swinging Doors

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, Judgment; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Duality:

In this Judgment card, the king and queen of the fairies bestow a laurel to a human couple. Awakening to reality should be celebrated; it takes a lot to willingly let go of blind beliefs and rigid opinions so that we can perceive with insight. Ignorance isn't bliss, it just creates suffering. Duality - separating things into this or that, subject or object - may be necessary to get along in the world, but it creates divisions that can harm when we don't realize they are superficial. In Buddhism, emptiness means that all things, from people to planets to thoughts, are empty of permanence and inherent existence (everything is created and temporarily sustained by certain causes and conditions). All that exists is interdependent on other things. What a drastic transformation this could cause if we could understand it with the heart instead of just the intellect.

Our usual understanding of life is dualistic: you and I, this and that, good and bad. But actually these discriminations are themselves the awareness of the universal existence. "You" means to be aware of the universe in the form of you, and "I" means to be aware of it in the form of I. You and I are just swinging doors. ―Shunryu Suzuki