Doubts Are Traitors

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Knight of Wands; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Balance:

Our doubts are traitors,

and make us lose the good we oft might win,

by fearing to attempt.

― William Shakespeare

The Knight of Wands has enough confidence and charm to talk a fire elemental into helping light the damp wood of a campfire. Though he may find it hard to accept advice from others and understands that confidence isn't competence, this knight recognizes that self-doubt has the power to destroy many creative starts. The Balance card suggests there is middle ground between arrogance and timidity - both of which can hinder our ambitions. There is advice that helps, not just criticizes. And by beginning, we can make progress through both practice and learning from mistakes.

Facing the Future

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Ten of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Hope:

A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.

– Albert Einstein

There's no permanent rainbow or castle here, yet this woman joyfully pulls her partner along as they travel the bounds of their home. They focus on gratitude for all that is good in their life, rather than remaining centered on what they lack. Their secret is knowing how to find wonder, appreciation, and fulfillment in the simple and ordinary. The Hope card reminds me of a quote by Robert Schuller: "Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future." When we are grounded in joy rather than anger, in generosity instead of fear, and in openness rather than rigidity, what a huge difference it makes as we face the future. 

The Power in Intention

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Ten of Swords; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Intentions:

Nothing defines humans better than their willingness to do irrational things in the pursuit of phenomenally unlikely payoffs. ~ Scott Adams

We all have acquaintances who (even in the face of mountains of evidence) will believe their ideas are the right ones. Some can be like a preacher on a soapbox, shouting their dire predictions and conspiracy theories or hawking the latest get-rich-quick scheme or cure-all. They don't want discussion, they want conversion. These folks will eventually recognize their mental errors when life delivers a stinging backhand. When they reach out for help, do we give them a hand or tell them, "You've made your bed, now lie in it"? The Intentions card seems to point out two sides of the coin - the sincerity of the sufferer and the compassion of the helper. Dawa Tarchin Phillips offers this perspective: "there is great power in intention and how it can shape the present moment and even the future—because if you approach this present moment with wisdom, kindness, and a sense of responsibility, you won’t have to worry about the future. It will take care of itself."

Wisdom Blisters

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

Ignorance is bliss. Wisdom is blisters.

― Brian Spellman

Tourian's Three of Swords doesn't represent the heartache of betrayal, but the what happens when ignorance is replaced by insight. What was originally denied or avoided has now become an unveiled truth, one that can't be resealed in the bottle. Though we lost our beautiful illusions, now we can at least respond intelligently to reality as needed. This is what the Remember card suggests; insights must extend further than knowledge - they must also be applied. As Carlos Wallace explained, "shutting out your problems does not dismiss them. Ignorance is not bliss. On the contrary, it creates an opportunity for those problems to grow."

The Way of Harmony

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Six of Wands; from the State By State playing cards, the King of Spades - Colorado:

The Way of a Warrior, the Art of Politics, is to stop trouble before it starts. It consists in defeating your adversaries spiritually by making them realize the folly of their actions. The Way of a Warrior is to establish harmony.  ―Morihei Ueshiba

The leader in this Six of Wands obviously agrees with Ueshiba; violence doesn't lead to harmony but to resentment and eventually more unrest. Such a spiritual warrior has likely had their own heart cracked open, leading to tenderness and understanding rather than revenge. But since humans are fond of rights and not so keen on responsibilities, such a leadership can be tricky. The King of Spades illustrates the sport of snow skiing, an activity that a well-honed sense of balance. How one's weight is shifted from the front to the back of the foot and when it needs to be shifted from one foot to the other must be taken into account. A spiritual warrior who leads needs to be flexible, shifting concern and attention to each person as it is needed, rather than focusing solely on a group of favorites.

[Bodhisattvas] are highly altruistic beings who have the wisdom to realize that by dedicating themselves to the welfare of other sentient beings, the fulfillment of their own self-interest comes automatically as a by-product. ― Dalai Lama XIV

Adding, Not Subtracting

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the State By State playing cards, the Six of Spades - Wisconsin:

Forget bingeing on Ben and Jerry's and Netflix. There is nothing more stress relieving and joy inducing than hanging out with some close pals who have a sense of humor and love to have fun. It is as refreshing as standing in the cool spray of a fountain on a hot day. The Six of Spades illustrates what Wisconsin is often known for - it's cheese. The Dairy State's combination of fertile land and balanced climate allows milk production to excel; Wisconsin produces more than 350 varieties, types and styles of cheese–nearly double that of any other state. Cheese just seems to make a lot of meals better, and it is often added to some dishes considered to be 'comfort food.' Yet when we're feeling stressed or down, we often subtract the things that will make us feel better, whether good food, companions or something else. What do you need to add back into your life?

Thorns Have Roses

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the State By State playing cards, the Two of Spades - Illinois:

Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life.

–Joni Eareckson Tada

In this Ten of Wands, a man carries a heavy load while walking barefoot over hot coals. It's amazing how the mind can make our challenges larger than they are: our hardship can seem insurmountable and obstacles impassable. We don't need to undermine our difficulties, but neither do we need to allow them to mushroom into mountains. Abraham Lincoln illustrates the Two of Spades, and perhaps no other person has borne a weight greater than he. This quote illuminates his outlook, explaining how he could carry such a burden in reuniting our country: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

Ideal Partner

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Lovers; from the State by State playing cards, the King of Clubs -Massachusetts:

Too often we forget that an ideal partner is someone who enhances an already full existence.

―Mariella Frostup

The Lovers represents a choice, a union and/or a commitment. The choice might be based on a transactional motive – give to get – or it might be based on love and respect for another. The pastel clouds makes me think of the ‘pink cloud’ syndrome, an initial period of elation and euphoria when some novelty pings the reward center in the brain (increasing dopamine levels). Yet initial attraction can lead to discovering someone who inspires us and challenges us. We may find a complement: cake to their ice cream or peanut butter to their jelly. Our partnership then can develop as a joint effort. The King of Diamonds card reminds me of the saying, "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime." We all need healthy role models to show us what real love looks like (our parents might serve only as a warning as to what it is not). Watching such models can help us understand when its worth it to stick it out and when to run like the wind.

A Change Gonna Come

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Hierophant; from the State By State playing cards, the Seven of Spades - Mississippi:

Cline’s choice for the Hierophant immediately made me think of Peter Wohlleben’s book, The Hidden Life of Trees. The forester describes how trees communicate to each other through chemical release signals and through an underground fungal network that connects their roots, allowing an exchange of ‘news’ and nutrients. Wohlleben writes: “A tree is not a forest. On its own, a tree cannot establish a consistent local climate. It is at the mercy of wind and weather. But together, many trees create an ecosystem that moderates extremes of heat and cold, stores a great deal of water, and generates a great deal of humidity. And in this protected environment, trees can live to be very old. To get to this point, the community must remain intact no matter what.” Yet the Seven of Spades shows the Mississippi River, symbolizing flow and movement. As Sam Cooke sang, it might be a long time coming, but change is going to come. Communities of any kind will need to be flexible rather than rigid, able to adapt and embrace the changes that come.

Heart Expansion

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Page of Cups; from the State By State playing cards, the Seven of Diamonds - Missouri:

The happiness of others is itself my satisfaction; I do not expect another recompense.

~Śāntideva

It is said that first responders run towards danger rather than away from it. The Page of Cups does the same with intense emotions; her response is simply to help those who are suffering. The Seven of Diamonds is illustrated with the Gateway Arch of Missouri. The arch is 630 feet tall, and is a symbol that reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. Expansion of the heart is the Page of Cups' aim. She'd readily agree with Shantideva's words:

All beings, ourselves included, are in exactly the same predicament of wanting to be happy and not wanting to suffer. For this reason we must vigorously train in ways to develop the intention to protect others as much as ourselves, creating happiness and dispelling suffering.

The Weight of Apathy

This week I'll be using the New Liminal Tarot, created by Penelope Cline and self-published through Make Playing Cards. I'll also be using the State By State Playing Cards created by Wendy Cipolla Boccuzzi and published by U.S. Games. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and the Four of Spades - South Dakota:

"Okay," I said. "But remember, you can’t fix everything in the world for everybody." "However," said Ricky, "you can’t do anything at all unless you begin."

― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: Poems

Anhedonia - the technical name for the blahs - is an inability to experience pleasure accompanied by reduced motivation. That feeling of flatness can have a multitude of causes: a lack of sleep or exercise, burnout, feeling trapped or confused, a let-down, hormones, grief, or loneliness. It helps to have at least one friend whose will is stronger than the weight of one's apathy; their encouragement can help us dig out the root and make a change. The Four of Spades shows South Dakota's Mt. Rushmore with its colossal sculpture known as the 'Shrine of Democracy.' However, the area was considered sacred by the Plains Indians; the Treaty of 1868 had granted the Sioux exclusive use of all of the Black Hills in perpetuity. When the government offered them $102 million in compensation, the Sioux Nation said they wanted their land, not money. It's a stalemate that goes nowhere. Sometimes the greatest change we can make to get us moving is to adjust our perspective or expectations. 

One Shoestring

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, Temperance; from the Mahjongg Oracle, Fisherman:

Our true nature is like the infinite sky, unmarked by whatever drama temporarily appears in its vast space. —Kittisaro

Adulthood generally brings fixed ideas and behavior patterns, with a great divide between what we think is good and bad or right and wrong. Such is the foundation for a a feeling of discontent and unhappiness with the way things are. But instead of a chasm between what we cherish and what we abhor, imagine seeing them on a continuum - two ends of the same shoestring. The Fisherman is a symbol of patience and tolerance, qualities that are necessary if we are to see and hear the world beyond a rigid mindset. We rest in a mind that is as vast as the sky. Then we might follow Kofi Annan's encouragement to "confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity."

Seeing and Seeing Through

From the Roots of Asia, the Queen of Swords; from the Mahjongg Cards, the Sword:

I not only want to be seen, I want to be seen through.

—Rachel McKibbens

The Queen of Swords is not a woman who will pat you on the head and send you home with a platitude. Neither will a wise Queen razor off your skin with a sharpened tongue and leave you bleeding. She recognizes that there is generally some good in the worst of us and some bad in the the best. Yet she will not hesitate to hold us accountable for what we say and do, counseling us to either make restitution or forgive ourselves. The Sword symbolizes a severing of indecision or vacillation. The Queen would tell us it is impossible to walk to separate roads of selfishness and benevolence or self-respect and self-flagellation. But in order to retrain our mind and its habits, we first need to pay attention, as Carol Wilson explains: "When we’re not aware of what’s present in our consciousness, we’re looking through its lens and it colors everything we’re doing."

Dividing Lines

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Mahjongg Cards, Dragon:

Who we are in every aspect of the self - individual, family, community, culture - is defined by what we crave, who we hate, and what we believe to be true.

—Sean Feit Oakes

Being elementally Air of Air, this Knight is full of knowledge and eloquent in speech. And while he may think he's a defender of justice, who he works for is often selective based on personal preference. Though he might not admit he hates anyone, his actions and words clearly act as a dividing line between 'us' and 'them.' Dragon suggests good fortune, and in this Knight's case, it would be that he balance some of his intellect with compassionate wisdom. To understand our connection with the whole of humanity allows us to be a more complete human being, one whose life has meaning beyond our latest conquest. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Seven Supports

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Mahjongg Oracle, the Seven Stars:

We learn that our insistence that life, other people, and ourselves be other than they are has the immediate effect of intensifying the tangle. ~Christina Feldman

It can be bewildering when our philosophy of life makes us feel like we're on the opposite side of the fence from those we considered friends and comrades. What do we do? The keyword given for this card is equanimity. Equanimity is a relational way of being with life that takes an objective interest in whatever is occurring, allowing us to embrace extremes without getting thrown off balance. Gil Fronsdal offers seven supports to develop it: integrity (of words and actions), faith based in wisdom (a clear view of reality), stability of mind (mindfulness and concentration), self-care, insight into how conditions shape people (not taking things personally), remembering the nature of impermanence, and freedom from our reactive tendencies. The Seven Stars symbolize imagination, something humans do well, but mostly in a negative sense. Equanimity would ask us to consider that there might just be some good outcomes too.

Free of Hindrances

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Mahjongg Oracle, Carp:

Amoha is the alignment with that which is as it is without any spin, without any corruption of integrity. It’s this bold gaze at the truth, and the truth can be hard to accept if we’re emotionally invested in the truth being different than it is—and so often we are.

—Joshua Bee Alafia

The King of Swords is the king of clarity, yet he knows it requires him to first polish his own mirror. Otherwise, ignorance (not having enough knowledge about a situation), strong emotions, wishful thinking and rigid opinions can cloud his perception. Any judgments he makes must be free of these hindrances if he wants them to be balanced and objective. Carp symbolizes tranquility and inner calm, allowing thoughts and emotions to flow through and past us without reacting to them. As Willa Miller put it, "If you stop biting at the bait you won't get hooked." The King of Swords is likely adept as this meditative practice.

Through a Fool's Eyes

This week I'll be using the Roots of Asia Tarot, created by Amnart Klanprachar with Thaworn Boonyawan and published by AGM Müller. I'll also be using the Mah Jongg Oracle, created by Derek Walters and published by Thunder Bay Press. Today's cards are the Fool and the Pearl:

[Consciousness] photocopies experiences, and then the next time you encounter something similar, it shows you the copy and you think your earlier experience is happening again. But it's a copy, not the original. Reality has changed - it's always changing - and we're living in the photocopy.

—Cuong Lu

The Fool represents emptiness. Tsoknyi Rinpoche defines this as the "infinitely open space that allows for anything to appear, change, disappear, and reappear. The basic meaning of emptiness, in other words, is openness, or potential." This state is empty of opinions, rigid judgments based on previous experiences, preferences and prejudices. It simply sees what is as well as the multitude of possibilities that are available. There is a Chinese saying "a pearl in one's palm" that is very similar in meaning to the English phrase "the apple of one's eye." Both refer to something honored, something precious and loved. Such is the ability to see the world with this Fool's eyes.

In the End

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Five of Wands; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "Foreign Lands" (verse 58):

We all have personal opinions about how the group's money should be used, how to solve a sticky problem, or how to go about doing something in particular. The issue is not that there are a variety of ideas, but that we can be adamant that ours are the only right ones. The 58th verse reads:

Don't seek your luck in foreign lands.

There is no chance to better your lot there.

Be patient and stay right where you are.

All will come good in the end.

Do we leave the group when our ideas are not chosen? Perhaps no one wants to listen to ours because we don't sincerely listen to other's opinions. It takes patience to come to an agreement about most things. We'll never find the middle ground if we stomp off in a huff.

Even a Sparrow

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "Phoenix Feathers" (verse 93):

There are times when we must call a truce with our mind; we stop trying to force it to solve a problem or come up with an innovative creative idea. Otherwise, we're just a tire stuck in the mud, spinning and spinning but going nowhere. It is exhausting. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Even a sparrow does not respect a phoenix

whose feathers are soaked in the rain.

One day the heavens will clear

and her soggy feather will change back to a cloak.

Trying to fit those square pegs in the round hole can make us lose it emotionally, 'soaking our feathers.' It generally has the effect of taking our logical mind offline, which is when the mind truce is handy. We take a break or sleep on it, coming back to it later with a clearer, fresh mind.

Planners and Procrastinators

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Eight of Staves; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold" (verse 78):

Are you a planner or a procrastinator? Do you get started weeks or months beforehand, determined to have our ducks in a row when the deadline arrives, or do you wait until the last moment and spring into action? Either way, there's a good chance that things will happen differently than assumed. Yet the Kuan Yin verse suggests there is a middle way:

You shouldn't heat chilly water

until it turns to steam.

Not too hot, not too cold -

warm water is just the right thing.

Some preparation without over-planning and causing ourselves too much worry sounds about right. As Thomas Merton said, "Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." 

Rowing Away or Setting Fire

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "Ashes and Ruins" (verse 99):

Kuan Yin painting by Suzanne deVeuve

This is the second Six of Swords I've drawn recently that showed all the swords (ideas, opinions) being left behind. Clinging to our personal beliefs while railing against those of others will provide no peace of mind or harmony. We're obviously attached when our bias keeps us from accepting the truth even though the evidence is clear. But this fellow has chosen not to ride that elevator down to rock bottom (as in the Ten of Swords), and instead leaves his assumptions behind. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

A rider who whips his horse and lets go of the reins

will surely stumble.

A man who sets his own house on fire

will find only ashes and ruins.

Pride and arrogance embrace a scorched earth policy - a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. The problem is that if we don't wake up from our delusion of greatness, we'll end up burning down all of our own resources and relationships too.

 

Old Love

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Ten of Cups; form the Kuan Yin Oracle, "The Way to the Summit" (verse 85):

Every person your partner becomes is someone new to discover and to fall

more deeply in love with. ~Stuart B. Fensterheim ("Grow Old With Me")

In Daniloff's version of the Ten of Cups, even the blooms represent a cup. If you're lucky enough to have a long-term relationship with a good partner, you know how age can change what we fill our cups with. What once took priority years ago might now be in the compost pile, allowing other blooms to take their place. Sometimes we plant different things than our partner, but overall, we support the health of our garden together. The 85th verse of the Kuan Yin Oracle reads:

On the way to the summit,

the clouds part.

The way

is hidden in the mists.

All challenges have moments when we feel like we don't know what to do or which way to go; the way seems obscured. An aging relationship can be one of those challenges, but the words of poet Antonio Machado are helpful: "Traveler, there is no path, the path is made by walking." We make mistakes, change course, and try again. And we keep a good dose of humor handy.

It's Not the Same for Long

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, 'The Eager Bees' (verse 70):

Kuan Yin artwork by Greg Spalenka

The Hanged Man represents patience, sacrifice (often of the ego), and a lack of control. It usually occurs when something is just out of our grasp (like gain, praise, fame, or pleasure), or when we are trying to avoid something that won't go away (like loss, blame, insignificance, or pain). Yet the verse from the Kuan Yin Oracle suggests we surrender to what reality deposits on our doorstep:

Each morning the bees fly here and there,

diligently sucking nectar from the glorious flowers.

When the flowers fade, they no longer have a purpose.

Endless rain washes the spring away.

Life is about cycles and changes to which we must adapt. As May Sarton wrote: "Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember nothing stays the same for long, not even pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go."

Simple Awareness

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from Stephen Karcher's book The Kuan Yin Oracle. Today's draws are the Moon and 'Candlelight and Shadows' (verse 97):

The literal translation for the French phrase “Entre Chien et Loup” is Between Dog and Wolf.  A French linguist would describe this as that time of day when the light is such that is becomes difficult to distinguish between a dog and a wolf, between friend and foe, between known and unknown.

~Loftartists.org

The Moon represents those times when we are pulled like ocean waves - by our emotions, memories and subconscious. Just as high tide is not the best time for swimming, neither are these 'moon times' the sanest moments for making decisions or thinking in absolutes. The mind's illusions will eventually ebb if we don't add chum to the waters. The 97th verse for the Kuan Yin Oracle reads:

 

The candlelight throws shadows

that dance on the wind,

like flowers

scattered on green fields. 

Rather than focusing on flickering shadows, we might take the advice of Eckhart Tolle: "Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them."

A Powerful Combination

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Page of Pentacles; from the Archetype Cards, Avenger:

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. ~William Arthur Ward

To the Page of Pentacles, the world is full of mysteries and wonders. Learning about them is his passion, and one reason he is often called the student. His curiosity unlocks many doors that are closed to those who observe with assumptions rather than a mind of openness. The Avenger isn't out to seek revenge, but to seek justice for people or the planet. I am reminded of Greta Thunburg, a young lady who doesn't mind speaking the truth no matter how uncomfortable it makes some people or the negative comments she often receives. Curiosity and a passion for change are a powerful combination.

People are underestimating the force of angry kids. ~Greta Thunburg