Saying No

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Nine of Coins; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Influence (Mercury in Libra):

The investment of discipline and effort have produced a tree that now bears the fruit of prosperity. Because the tree is steadily nurtured rather than neglected, it will continue to naturally provide. However, with good fortune comes those who will try to persuade us how we should spend it, as the Influence card implies. It may be a good time to ask ourselves what their motivation is in telling us what to do with our money, time or energy. And before we immediately answer 'yes,' we should check to see if we are simply trying to please rather than being discerning.

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. 

~Abraham Joshua Heschel

Without Praise

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Queen of Coins; from the Radiant Sun Oracle, Discovery (Mercury in Sagittarius):

This Queen holds a cornucopia and looks toward the Discovery card. While her husband's joy comes from making money and finding resources to run his kingdom, his wife has discovered the happiness in sharing that abundance. It's not the amount given that's important, as she tends to give what is appropriate and needed, but to give without expectations. The Queen of Coins knows that material things can satisfy the body's needs, but being seen and cared for can nurture a person's spirit. 

The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.

― Carol Ryrie Brink

Appreciating the Light

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, Judgment; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Lust (Venus in Aries):

Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.

–Madeline L’Engle

Challenges, hardships and pain are a darkness easy to become trapped in, an absence of light that can harden hearts and minds. But for a few, it is such darkness that brings them back to the light. Touched by the philosophers' stone of insight, they emerge with a new understanding that opens minds and hearts. Yet Lust is a warning not to let go of our discernment as we embrace this new way of being. There's a big difference between welcoming life in all its shapes and colors and trying to devour it. As Shaila Catherine wrote:

Equanimity contains the complete willingness to behold the pleasant and the painful events of life equally. It points to a deep balance in which you are not pushed and pulled between the coercive energies of desire and aversion.

A New Face

This week I'll be using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed along with the book Alchemy and the Tarot, both created by Robert M. Place and published by Hermes Publications. Paired with it will be the Oracle of the Radiant Sun deck and book set, created by Caroline Smith and John Astrop and published through Eddison-Sadd Editions. The draws for today are Death and Generosity:

Alchemists often used skeletons to signify putrefaction, a complete breaking down of matter into a black ash. It was considered the first step on the pathway to the philosophers' stone. Symbolically, it is a clearing away to make room for something else. Humans experience it when careers are ended, family and friendships disappear, or our beliefs and ideals are turned upside down. We rarely welcome such a clean sweep. Yet the Generosity card (Saturn in Leo) suggests it offers an opportunity, a chance to use this new space to grow something good that will be useful to others.

In spite of all similarities, every living situation has, like a newborn child, a new face, that has never been before and will never come again. It demands of you a reaction that cannot be prepared beforehand. It demands nothing of what is past. It demands presence, responsibility; it demands you.

―Martin Buber

Thinking Update

From the Fey Tarot, the Wheel (of Fortune); from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Merchant (King of Diamonds):

Two Fey sit and work on a spiral, the younger focused more on building in the center while the elder's attention is more on removing items on the outer arc. It is the older fey who has the wider perspective, who is able to see how things come and go, how things constantly change. She knows this is the natural order of life, so she doesn't get in a twist over unexpected turns. The Sibilla's Merchant repeats this cycle through buying and selling. As a business man, he is very connected to the ebb and flow of things, sometimes operating in the red and other times in the black. He knows it is insanity to expect things outside of us to meet any requirements or assumptions. As Peter Drucker stated, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”

The Mind's Deception

From the Fey Tarot, the Seer (High Priestess); from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Great Consolation (Seven of Clubs):

Where there is perception, there is deception.

―Thich Nhat Hanh

It would be interesting to step outside the mind and see its commentary on all that we learn. As humans, we naturally filter information, choosing some as important, ignoring other parts, and labeling what we don't agree with as erroneous. The mind wants to function efficiently, so it will generalize, delete and distort to keep things running smoothly. But the Seer suggests we let the mind become quiet and calm so that we can peek behind the door of the ego. What the ego decides to keep and use may not actually be useful in the long run. The Great Consolation Sibilla card shows a man counting his blessings. It's possible he listened to his luminous mind rather than his ego. He would realize that he doesn't have to pretend to be someone else to find a mate; he doesn't have to cheat to be honored; and he doesn't have to lie on his tax returns to be prosperous. In fact, that's probably why he's able to take a moment to relax and enjoy his life.

Fear and Hope

From the Fey Tarot, the Two of Wands; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Lover (Queen of Hearts):

Natural intelligence is always accessible to us. When we’re not caught in the trap of hope and fear, we intuitively know what’s the right thing to do. If we’re not obscuring our intelligence with anger, self-pity, or craving, we know what will help and what will make things worse. 

—Pema Chodron

From the safety of his nest, a fey peers at the beautiful valley below. It's spring and a time for change, but he is conflicted about whether to stay or explore. He wavers between hope and fear. The Lover of the Sibilla cards - lounging and eating cherries - would suggest he stay where he's comfortable and secure. She's a kept woman with little obligation or responsibility, enjoying the pleasures of her married lover. But what happens when she gets older or he gets bored? Any commitment to something different requires effort, but it can also widen our perspective, help develop new skills, and provide an alternative foundation, which might be needed if unexpected change comes (the nest gets blown away).  

Laps in Hell

From the Fey Tarot, the Magician; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Older Woman (Two of Spades):

A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.

~Marcus Aurelius

The Magician is often associated with keywords like 'will' or 'volition,' meaning the power to choose or determine. Our life is shaped by our mind in that our thoughts create our experiences. What we focus on will paint the color and texture of our perspective of the world. It doesn't mean that meditating on an apple will cause one to appear, but doing so consistently might convince us to buy a bag then next time we're at the grocery store. We need to be aware of our thoughts, or we might end up like the Sibilla's Older Woman, staring forlornly out the window and wishing life were different. As Rick Hanson wrote, "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."

Avoiding Quakes

From the Fey Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Servant (Jack of Clubs):

Most RWS style decks show the Seven of Swords as someone carrying off things that belong to others. This Fey, however, has only one large sword and seems to be blending into the masonry. Together with the Sibilla's Servant card (and the fact that the holidays are upon us), my thoughts go in a different direction than usual. This combination might suggest I could be of better service by keeping some of my opinions to myself, especially when airing them only serve my ego. If someone comments about a great book they finished and it's one I've also read, I don't have to rain on their joy by telling them I would have preferred more character development and less flowery descriptions. As Voltaire wrote: "Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes."

Unlocking the Chain

From the Fey Tarot, the Four of Pentacles; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Sickness (Four of Spades):

It's one thing to be a good steward of what we have, but quite another to be obsessively chained to it. Joe Lightfoot describes an ideology of wealth called 'HOEM' that has infected our society:

• Hollow - it creates an endless longing for more that can never be fulfilled through its own means. 
• Oppressive - it cares little for equity, justice or the rights of the downtrodden. 
• Economic - it is firmly rooted in notions of who owns what. 
• Materialistic - it places little worth on anything that cannot be physically grasped by acquisitive hands.

The Sibilla card, Sickness, is a good indicator of what will happen to our body when the mind is imbalanced with the kind of stress that materialism causes. As Dr. Bernie Siegel wrote, "The mind and body are not separate units, but one integrated system. How we act and what we think, eat, and feel are all related to our health." Pick up the key! 

Softening

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem and published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll be using is the I Misteri della Sibilla (The Mysteries of the Sibyl), created by E. Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's draws are Temperance and Messenger (Jack of Diamonds):

This Temperance card shows a mix of water, air, earth and fire - the elements flow together rather than work against each other. Here there is a restful softening, a receptiveness that doesn't grasp or push away but allows. This fey would explain that it is our rigidity that causes us to break. The Sibilla's Messenger indicates information that comes that we may or may not welcome. Will we remain soft and flexible or become unyielding in response? However if we take 'self' out of the picture and allow our emotional energy to dissipate without fueling it, the message simply becomes information that we can deal with appropriately. 

Destination Unknown

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, the Universe; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'Three preparations of a good man's house:'

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.

~Martin Buber

While a pilgrim journeys to a particular place, spiritual travelers know not where they're headed, only that they must go. Leaving behind what is known, they travel lightly with an open heart and mind. Yet in that vulnerable openness, reality is seen with clarity; truths are discovered and understanding is found. Here the Fool exits her portal, wiser than when she entered. Now there is a sacred pause to assimilate what she's learned and experienced. The Irish triad indicates that something must be built, a foundation for what must not be forgotten. This is not meant to be dogma (as things change and there is more to learn), but guideposts can help us maintain a path of wisdom. As Robert Aitken wrote, without such a guide our path "tends to become a hobby, made to fit the ego."

Loosely Leashed

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, Lust (Strength); from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'Three nurses that bring dignity:'

The Lust card emphasizes the need to employ our inner beast in helpful ways rather than suppress it or completely unleash it. The use of 'lust' rather than strength makes me think of bloodlust, a person's desire for ferocity and violence triggered by events around them. We all have those moments that can unlock our desire to act in detrimental ways. Dignity, or respectful conduct, derives from three sources according to the Irish triad. It entails three questions before acting: 

1. A good mind - Is my clarity being affected by emotional intoxication?

2. A good memory - What were the consequences for similar actions in the past?

3. A good soul - How might my behavior overflow, causing untended harm or hurt to others?

Integrity and Timing

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus, the Four of Wands; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'Three deaths that promise life':

The Four of Wands represents completion of a task or project, not from happenstance, but through a focused effort. The symbols of the compass and the square indicate what is needed for this stage. In building, the square ensures buildings do not lean and are structurally strong and sound; it represents honesty and fairness. In architectural planning, the compass is used for drawing circles and arcs; it represents self-restraint so that we live a balanced life. Basically this card says that outer accomplishments happen when our inner world is in order. The Irish triad's 'three deaths' refer to the changing seasons in life. As the writer of Ecclesiastes states, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Right timing is also a necessary ingredient of success.

No Magical Solutions

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'Three sounds of increase':

The Thoth keyword for the Seven of Cups is 'debauch,' a bout of excessive indulgence such as eating and drinking. Indeed, the color of the chalices gives the impression that too much of this emotional intoxication will make one green at the gills. These cups represent delusion or simply the wish to escape reality into a world of fantasy. The 'sounds of increase' referred to in the Irish triad all represent everyday work: milking a cow, the hammering of a smith, or the plowing of a field. Life can be hard, and humans would prefer an easier, softer way to deal with it's challenges than actually doing the work. But as Brad Warner wrote, "Our belief in magic solutions that may happen someday in the future keeps us from doing what we really need to do right here and right now."

Gusty Breeze

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, the 'Three renovators of the world:'

The airy swords like a fresh breeze and don't abide stagnation. Thus a raptor has attacked the dove while it was resting above its egg. Such strife (and defeat) create a gusty wind to knock us out of our complacent comfort. In a world that's constantly in flux, concepts and creeds don't fare well when we try to sink them in concrete. The Irish triad's three renovators mimic this movement. A woman can create life, the cow's milk can sustain it, and the smith's anvil (via weapons) can end it. In our world, life constantly moves through these three natural cycles. These cards seem to ask: are we trying to preserve an idea that needs to be replaced?

Without impermanence, nothing would be possible. With impermanence, every door is open for change. Impermanence is an instrument for our liberation. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Oppressed Thinking

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'The laughing-stocks of the world:'

The Thoth keyword for the Ten of Wands is oppression. Indeed, with the heavy anvil atop the flask, it gives a feeling of being trapped, a cog in a machine that has no choice but to keep going. The hammer and pick in the card are often represent mining, and working in the dark far below ground is an appropriate symbol. Feeling as if we have no free will, it's easy to become frustrated and hopeless. The Brehon triad suggests that those who are angry, jealous or miserly become laughing-stocks. The irony is that these people feel self-righteous about their reaction to the situation, refusing to widen their view. Yet isn't there more to life than these moments that cause us to feel this way? We have the power to step out of such self-identities. We might not be able to choose what we experience, but we can choose how we respond. And that can include leaving behind old patterns that only serve us in detrimental ways. 

Turning Point

This week I'll be using the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, created and self-published by M. M. Meleen; I'll also be using the Words of the Brehon Oracle, created and self-published by Olivia Wylie. Today's draws are the Aeon (Judgment) and 'Three maidens that bring hatred upon misfortune:'

In the alchemical flask, the symbolic dragon appeared at the beginning and end of the work - shedding what is useless and impeding in the process of purification. Likewise, the Aeon represents evolution dictated by the changing times. Insights (note the keyhole of light in the flask) have cleared away the fog that caused us to think and act without clarity or understanding. We acknowledge our mistakes, embrace this larger perspective, and direct our lives in accordance with what we've learned. The Brehon Triad indicates ways that people can add to misfortune through chatter, laziness and insincerity. People who are in pain or experiencing adversity aren't helped by gossip, platitudes or pity. When we understand that we are interdependent, subject to the same hardships and joys of others, how can be we anything but kind?

Survival?

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Maker Four (Four of Pentacles); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, White Poplar:

Carding describes the great canopy of this tree as taking up all the sunlight and leaving none for any plants that might try to grow beneath it. Similarly, many plants are allelopathic, meaning their leaves, flowers or roots contain chemicals that prevent other plants from growing near them. It's simply a means of survival in nature by eliminating some of the competition. Yet humans can do the same - just watch what happens at the grocery stores when there is an impending hurricane or when supply chain issues create shortages. Some may call their excessive hoarding a survival technique, but it is simply a selfish reaction to fear. Likewise, White Poplar is a tree that is useful in flood zones; its tolerance of salt has made it a wise planting choice for strengthening coastal sand dunes. But in non-native environments, such as the U.S. and Australia, it quickly becomes a weedy invasive. This tree asks us, "Are we taking or hoarding more than we need?"

Boons

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Dancer Nine (Nine of Cups); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Fern:

Then Nine of Cups is often called the 'wish card,' suggesting a person gets what they desire. Wishes are generally based on wants, such as a couple who wants another child or someone desiring to renovate their house. However, wishes have a different kind of energy when emotionally charged - the couple with a seriously ill child or a person hoping the tornado doesn't demolish the house they are sheltering in. Those types seem to be, when granted, the kind that keep gratitude around for awhile. Matthews suggests the wisdom of Fern is 'Truth is the preserver of life.' This selection is based on the many myths about finding a fern in flower on a special night and receiving a boon. The joke is that true ferns have neither seed nor flowers. Fern asks that we consider if what we're wishing for is simply an attempt to fill an emptiness that might be more skillfully filled with what we actually need.

The View from Here

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the World; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Beech:

"You all know," said the Guide, "that security is mortals' greatest enemy."

― C.S. Lewis

The spiral in this World card suggests that not only have we completed a circuit in our life, but that we should be able to see from a higher, wider view than when we first started. Though we may pause and reflect on what we've learned and experienced, there are more circuits to travel. Beech has been linked with wisdom as it was used to write upon before the development of books. In The Bach Flower Remedies, it is used against mental rigidity, fault finding, intolerance, and arrogance. Standing still, clinging to what we've learned, will not serve us well. There is always more to learn. 

Competitive or Collaborative?

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Maker Six (Six of Pentacles); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Aspen:

The Six of Pentacles offers a chance to practice generosity, creating more of a balance in resources so that no one lacks basic needs. Yet we can corrupt any generous offering by labeling others as worthy or unworthy of our gift, or by making a spectacle of our giving in order to look good in the eyes of others. We might find at some point, however, that we are the ones in need. Would we want to be treated as we have done? Aspens grow in large colonies that are derived from one seed but spread by roots. Each individual tree can live for 40–150 years above ground, but the root system of the colony is long-lived. It suggests that we are stronger when we support each other, and asks: "Is your mindset competitive or collaborative?"

Not Suitable for Recycling

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Star; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Gooseberry:

Sometimes the strength within you is not a big fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers ever so softly, 'you got this, keep going'. — Anonymous

Carding suggests that rather than searching the skies for hope and answers, we should look within for our own ember. There is some wisdom in this thinking - we must take responsibility for the direction we choose to go in. Yet, based on the Gooseberry card, we might take Krishnamurti's advice to "start as if you know nothing." Gooseberry was used centuries ago to ease the pain of childbirth. In the 19th century, gooseberry bush was slang for pubic hair, from which came the saying that 'babies are born under the gooseberry bush.' Rest, reflection and recuperation are needed now. But when it is time to begin again, perhaps birthing something new would be wiser than recycling old ideas.

Forgotten Strife

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Dancer Three (Three of Cups); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Hazel:

When the whole shines full and round

The three blithe dancers may be found.

Skipping for the joy of life,

For friendship and forgotten strife.

~Emily Carding

Somewhere in the last decade, we seem to have lost our joy of life. Perhaps it is the result of divides created by politics or religion, or maybe it is the stress of the rising cost of living or Covid still hovering in the background. How do we find our way back? Hazel has been associated in myth with wisdom, and it asks, "Can you let go of your knowledge and allow it to be replaced by wisdom?" Wisdom would suggest that we stop judging and start loving others who are different from us. It would suggest we learn to live modestly and begin looking for simple joys and wonders every day. Things won't change overnight, but a personal change in outlook and behavior can sure make the world look brighter.

Unraveling, Rewinding

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Sidhe, created by Emily Carding and published by Schiffer. I'll also be using the Green Man Tree Oracle, created by John Matthews and Will Worthington with Connections as its publisher. Today's draws are Dreamer Four (Four of Swords) and Spindle:

In stillness comes the Dream renewed,

With hope and healing her soul's imbued.

Her arms outstretched, she's whole once more,

What once was lost has been restored.

The Four of Swords is a reminder that no matter how resilient we think we are, when our load increases, there must be an equal response of self-care. The mind will try to tell us that rest is the last thing we need to do right now, but that is just a conditioned reaction that will grind us down if we listen to it. The Spindle's hard wood was used in the past for making spindles for wool-spinning. This small tree asks: "What has come unraveled? What should be united to make it stronger and more durable?" The mind must not forget the body's needs as the two are dependent on each other. Exhaustion of either serves neither one.