From Atop the Mountain

From the Tarot by Caro, the Page of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 52:

We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.

~Iris Murdoch

Precocious and intelligent, it's easy for the Page of Swords to think she knows everything (which she'll gladly share, whether you want to hear it or not). Yet the clouds and blowing wind suggest her ideas about life are rather foggy. Our discernment can be skewed by opinions and prejudices, emotions, attachment to desires, or a lack of knowledge. Just because we think it's true doesn't make it so. Hexagram 52 is often titled the Mountain or Keeping Still. It suggests that it if we want to see with clarity we must still our mind and observe it. Are we making assumptions or seeing only a small slice of reality? What is at the root of our beliefs - evidence or something else? The Mountain gives us a higher, wider perspective of things rather than from a single viewpoint. 

Wipe out imagination: check desire: extinguish appetite: keep the ruling faculty in its own power. ~Marcus Aurelius

Looks Like Work

From the Tarot by Caro, the Ace of Pentacles; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 20

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. 

~Thomas A. Edison

The nice thing about many wildflowers is that they leave seeds for planting after they bloom. But these seeds must be put in fertile soil, watered and given enough sunlight for them to sprout. The Ace of Pentacles offers us a gift, but like the flower seeds, it must be taken and applied or used for it to be of any benefit. Favorable circumstances usually have a 'use by' date. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. put it, "Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor." Hexagram 20 is often titled either Contemplation or Observation. It suggests contemplating our motives: Are we looking only at the expected harvest rather than the effort that will be required? Perhaps we need to observe what is already on our plate and decide if there is any room for more work. 

Sailing in Storms

From Tarot by Caro, the Two of Pentacles; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 57:

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship. 

~Louisa May Alcott

While a tempest rages, a woman mindfully balances the coins she holds. Her bare feet symbolize her groundedness: she manages her emotions wisely and stays in the present moment. Doing so allows her to see with clarity and be discerning in the choices she makes. Though her feelings shout loudly, like a seasoned first responder, she realizes what must take priority. Hexagram 57 is called 'Gentleness' and suggests we must be willing to bend to continue with our progress. We focus on surfing the waves rather than demanding things settle around us.  

Polishing

This week I'll be using Tarot by Caro, created and self-published by Caroline Clarke. The oracle I'll be drawing from is the I Ching, illustrated by Klaus Holitzka with instructions by Marlies Holitzka; it is published by AGM Urania. Today's cards are the High Priestess and Hexagram 27:

Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart, and that depends upon how much he has polished it. Whoever has polished it more sees more - more unseen forms become manifest to him.

― Rumi

This woman tends her inner garden consistently, so much so that the pomegranate she holds has grown there. Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not very relaxing and blissful (especially for beginners), and it takes commitment to maintain. We want to battle all those thoughts and urges that arise instead of just allowing them to pass by without attachment. The High Priestess understands that receptiveness means to simply let them be without engaging. Eventually, without force, she will sink down below the ego where true wisdom and compassion is found. Hexagram 27 is often called Nourishment, and asks us what we are feeding our mind, body and spirit. How are we spending our time, who are we spending time with, and what are we putting in our body? What is wholesome, inspiring and strengthening is what will sustain us and help us thrive.

Motives Make a Difference

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Page of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Devotion (Hanuman):

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

―Alexander Graham Bell

Nakula and Sahadeva were twins who were exceptionally bright and knowledgeable in every field of study. Although they demonstrated their bravery during war, they were rarely in the limelight and were mentioned more as "supporting actors" in the Mahabharata. The young and overly ambitious over focus on rewards instead of the task at hand, but like the twins, we must all put in the effort and time in order to fully develop our skills before we receive acknowledgement. As researcher Dr. Agata Ludwiczak wrote, "High rewards are not enough to ensure people put in the effort they need to achieve their targets." When we're busy fantasizing about the fruits, we're not very diligent farmers. Devotion is illustrated with Hanuman, the Hindu god of the monkeys, devoted himself to the service of Rama (incarnation of Vishnu). Rather than looking for any reward, his dedication and assistance was based in devotion and faithfulness. Motives make a difference.

A More Lasting Harmony

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Six of Arrows; from the Land Sky Oracle, Aparigraha:

Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.

— Albert Einstein

Bhishma (aka Bheeshma) was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War. He did not become the king after the death of his father, having taken vows of celibacy. But he played a major role in the affairs of the Kuru kingdom, helping to guide and manage it to a relative state of peace. However, when peace of a kingdom (or peace of mind) is forced through subjugation, its stability will tenuous at best (as what eventually happened in his realm). Aparigraha is a moral guideline often translated as non-attachment or non-greed. We generally think of peace and contentment as getting what we want and keeping what we believe we are entitled to. But when our desires bump into the similar beliefs of others, a war of the wills is at hand. Would it not be better to use communication and compromise to achieve a more lasting harmony?

There can be no peace if there is social injustice and suppression of human rights, because external and internal peace are inseparable. Peace is not just the absence of mass destruction, but a positive internal and external condition in which people are free so that they can grow to their full potential.

— Petra Karin Kelly

Cornerstones

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Ten of Lotuses (Cups); from the Land Sky Oracle, Asteya:

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

–Marianne Williamson

Ardhanarishvara, a half-male and half-female deity (Shiva and Parvati), illustrates this Ten of Cups. This androgynous figure symbolizes interconnection of what appears to be opposites - wholeness is a sum of diverse parts. There's wisdom in the phrase "through good times and bad" used at weddings. Joy and happiness are not dependent on everything being wonderful, but on our ability to embrace all of life as it is.  Asteya is a social ethic that can be translated 'non-stealing,' yet it includes more than just taking what is not ours to take. Asteya implies the ability to be content with what we have which in turn allows us to practice generosity - two cornerstones for happiness.

Pivotal Moments

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Star; from the Land Sky Oracle, Shaucha:

There are certain pivotal moments in life when clarity replaces its opposite in the blink of an eye.

― Sol Luckman

Ushas is the goddess of dawn in the Vedas, revered as the bringer of light and new beginnings. Associated with cosmic order and moral harmony, she symbolizes the transition from darkness to light, and the awakening of the world. There are times we sprint hard and fast, holding our ideas and ambitions so tightly, we're only aware of them and not what is real. Others may try to warn us about the cliff we are heading for, but being blinded by our objectives, we don't heed their word until we are falling. The Star is our point of awakening, when we can at last see our obsession and arrogance for what it is. Clarity comes in that moment when we can become grounded and regain our common sense. Shaucha literally means purity, cleanliness, and clearness of mind, speech and body as well as our personal environment. It is not enough to understand; we must commit to the task of cleaning up our inner self as well as any mess we've made.

Humble Service

From the Sacred India Tarot, the King of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Remember (Mala):

Power is given only to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Garuda was an eagle-like god, king of the birds and known for his independent thinking, martial prowess and courage. He was extremely powerful and strong; it was said he could hold up a planet with his feathers. Yet he used his power for good - rescuing his mother from the serpent king, making allies rather than enemies of the devas, and becoming a vehicle for Vishnu. Garuda's life was dedicated to the service of others, a humble but noble choice. The Remember card shows a set of mala beads used to count mantras during meditation. It is a spiritual tool that helps one keep track and stay on track. Both of these cards imply remembering what is important - from a other-centered viewpoint rather than just a self-centered perspective. While individual goals are valuable and healthy, they should not override the needs of our fellow travelers.

Getting to Give

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Land Sky Oracle, Passion (Kali):

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

—Maya Angelou

After forty-four days of meditating, Siddhartha Gautama experienced an awakened mind - a wisdom, compassion and clarity that is now called enlightenment. It wasn't that he just had a great idea; he discovered why humans suffer and a way out of that suffering. He could have asked to be treated like a god and paid lots of money, but instead he offered his teachings freely. This card asks if we will control or be controlled by our money, possessions and time. As Amos Russel Wells wrote, "There are only two kinds of men among all that live, the men that live to get, and the men that get to give." Kali (Passion) is the fierce, protective form of the Hindu mother goddess. Her name is derived from kala which means time or death; she knows we have limited time to liberated from the ego's demands that cause our suffering. We must not be afraid to tear down so that we can build anew. 

Grit and Grace

This week I'll be using the Sacred India Tarot, a deck and book set created by Rohit Arya with Jane Adams and published by Yogi Impressions. Along with it, I'll be using Theresa Hutch's Land Sky Oracle: A Journey Through Patanjali's 8 Limbs of Yoga, now published by U.S. Games. Today's draws are Death and Brahmacharya:

In order to transition from one phase of life to another, we must be willing to sacrifice our greatest internal attachments whether they are fame, wealth, possessions, power or image.

–Dr. Richard Bellingham

This Death card is illustrated with Yama, a human who became a god because he was unafraid to learn the riddle of death by dying. He was tasked with being the guardian of the resting place of the dead, but he is also known as an impartial judge and a teacher of impermanence. The Mahabharata describes his region as a place where only truth prevails. The companion book states that this card represents a powerful gateway to transformation. With such a stripping away comes an opening of the mind that creates a spacious freedom. Brahmacharya refers to conduct consistent with being on a spiritual path and deals with self-control. It asks us to consider what our intentions are and where we are directing our energy. Brahmacharya's right use of energy encourages us to spend less time on fleeting pleasures and focus on what will bring us peace and happiness.

It seems to me that most of our beginnings require some grit; and most of our endings could use more grace. –Dr. Richard Bellingham

What We Hide

From the Legacy of the Divine, the Seven of Swords; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, the Mask:

Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.

― André Malraux

Both of the cards today point at betrayal and deception. There is a big difference between being honest (not telling a lie) and being truthful (revealing a full, 360 degree view of the matter). One part may seem to be insignificant and of little concern, but seeing the whole truth paints a much different picture. "I was inspired to write this essay," sounds nice; "I copied and pasted most of it from something I found online" does not. Most of us are driven to get ahead and to look good. But we can't do either of those genuinely if we are lying to ourselves and others - we have no tangible starting point for making changes or real progress. When our actions agree with our words we grant ourselves integrity, and our relationships become based in trustworthiness.

By Oar or Sail

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Horse:

Well, it's not far back to sanity

At least it's not for me

And if the wind is right you can sail away

And find serenity

—Christopher Cross

Both card draws today suggest movement, in this case, away from the status quo. One of the quickest ways to lose your sanity is to continue trying to solve a problem or communicate with someone over and over with no progress. No matter how many different tactics we try or how respectful our words, the situation or relationship remains unchanged (often only getting worse). George A. Kelly, considered the father of cognitive clinical psychology, defined a psychological disorder as: "Any personal construction which is used repeatedly in spite of consistent invalidation." When chaos is beyond our control, the best thing we can do is recognize that fact and move one (mentally or physically).

It's Just Energy

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Handcuffs:

I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions...

—Oscar Wilde

This Queen is at ease with her own and other's emotions, flowing comfortably among them as her koi do in their watery environment. She knows that emotional energy operates as a messenger or signal, alerting us when we need to be aware, helping us build relationships, and allowing us to process our experiences. But even she knows that when we self-identify with an emotion (as if the feeling is us), we can easily drown in despair and fear or become intoxicated with anger. But our emotions are simply like a phone call - they are an exchange of information that is not always accurate and will end when we quit talking (ruminating) about their source. Handcuffs suggest being restrained, and imply that we may attempt to ignore or suppress our feelings. But then we become like an insect trapped in amber, cutting ourselves off from the good in our world and from our wholeness as a human. In the words of Henry Shukman: "We all know both rapture and despair: the first may drop us into a vast love, while the second asks us to face our own deep wounds. It is useless to ignore either. The whole soul must know both light and dark, suffering and awakening."

Extra Work

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Two of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Spoon:

When we think we're multitasking we're actually multi-switching. That is what the brain is very good at doing - quickly diverting its attention from one place to the next. We think we're being productive. We are, indeed, being busy. But in reality we're simply giving ourselves extra work.

― Michael Harris

There are days and weeks when we are forced to multitask, such as when we must care for family or pets who are ill while continuing to show up for our job as well as handling the basic chores and needs of daily life. This fellow, pedaling away on his penny-farthing bike, focuses on one large coin while barely holding on to another. He does not even heed the direction he's headed in. This lifestyle is not sustainable for long without repercussions. Spoon is a tool that helps us stir and eat, thus it implies sharing and allocating duties to make things easier. Most of us have resources we could draw from when we're struggling to keep our balance if we will simply push our pride to the side and ask. We'll likely get much more done and do it better.

What is Precious

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Moon:

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.

—Thomas Jefferson

As the Cups arc to the Ten, a shift takes place among those who are older and wiser. Contentment no longer comes with a big price tag - having the latest smartphone, a huge house, a fancy car, thousands of Facebook friends and eye candy on your arm. Now, deep satisfaction and gratitude come from the simpler, more basic things like a few close companions, a full belly and a safe, warm home. As Willie and Merle sang, "We're lookin' for a homelife and clean smellin' sheets and all the soft places to fall." The Moon suggests cycles and phases, a nod to the limited time we have left to embrace life's joys. Even the resentments, regrets and jealousies we carried for years suddenly seem unimportant as we realize how precious time can be when we love and are loved. 

The Root of Reactivity

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Chair:

When you get reactive, get curious. You have a wound that is asking to be healed.

—Mark Groves

Boredom, apathy, burnout or discontentment - the Four of Cups could have any number of causes. Yet they are all a reaction to something. It could be unmet expectations, an empty spiritual well, a lack of self-care, overindulgence or a failure to accept life as it is. When we discover the root of our moodiness, we will find the solution for it, if we choose to apply it. The Chair suggests rest, but it also makes me think of the saying "pull up a chair." If we have been spending to much time alone, it's possible we might need to spend some time with a few friends. 

A Stimulating Life

This week I'll be using the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, created and self-published by Ciro Marchetti (now published by Llewellyn). I'll pair with it the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, created and self-published by Karin Dalton-Smith. Today's draws are the Nine of Coins and Ship:

In a lovely patio garden, complete with a reflecting pool, a woman lets a bird of paradise rest on her hand. Her gown and surroundings suggest affluence, and the bird represents a stimulating life rather than one of dullness. Yet her hairnet symbolizes a certain reserve and self-discipline - she did not get to this place of abundance without hard work and moderation. The reflecting pool implies that she also takes time for introspection and contemplation, otherwise arrogance and entitlement could be her undoing. The Ship in the Tea Leaf Cards signifies movement or commerce. In the world of business, the sea never stays calm but ebbs and flows with both losses and profits. This woman would likely follow the advice of Bertha Calloway: "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

Noise Begat Rhythm

From the Gaian Tarot, the Magician; from the Goddess Oracle, Rhiannon:

In the beginning was noise, and noise begat rhythm, and rhythm begat everything else. 

—Mickey Hart

Years ago I went to a seminar at an Episcopal church that was about connecting to Spirit through sound. It included a drum circle, with about 60 people of all ages, races and lifestyles. We had all types of percussive instruments, from claves and shakers to djembes and bodhrans. When the leader began the beat, it sounded like cacophony, but gradually a wave formed of amazing music that was conscious-altering and transforming. I think we all had moved from "Do I sound good?" to "Let's make something wonderful together." What motivates us determines what we create. Rhiannon, a figure in Welsh mythology, was duped when her infant son disappeared and she woke with blood smeared on her face. Others convinced her of her guilt and she was made to be a beast of burden; later her son would be returned, proving her innocence. The companion book suggests we replace our self doubt with self questioning, preventing doubt from disconnecting us to our sacred self (as opposed to the ego led self).

Our Salvation

From the Gaian Tarot, the Guardian of Air (Queen of Swords); from the Goddess Oracle, Changing Woman:

Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

~George Bernard Shaw

This Queen uses a crystal singing bowl to focus her thoughts and calm her mind. She tries to explain to others how just a tiny shift - in our perspective, opinions, beliefs or wishes - can radically change our world. All those concepts, expectations and assumptions we rigidly cling to don't affect outer things, but they sure can make us miserable. But those small shifts are like the clouds that suddenly move and uncover the sun; we suddenly see with clarity and understanding. Estsanatlehi (Changing Woman), a figure in Native mythology, is associated with cycles and teaches that natural shifts make things different, but they can also make them healthy. As Barbara Kingsolver wrote, "The changes we dread most may contain our salvation." 

Think Fun

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ace of Air (Swords); from the Goddess Oracle, Kuan Yin:

In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do not do what you should do—spiritual sit-ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery.

― Julia Cameron

There are reasonable ideas and solutions, and then there are great ones (which cannot be forced). This butterfly spent many days in the chrysalis before emerging - it had no choice but to go through the necessary process. In the same way, the information or answers that we seek must also go through a course of development. But instead of grasping at strategies and knowledge, we let our curiosity and imagination out to play. These will fill the well that what we seek can be drawn from. Kuan Yin's arrival encourages a focus on self-compassion rather than the goal of perfection, which will only stymie our quest. 

Don't Hide

From the Gaian Tarot, Strength; from the Goddess Oracle, Baba Yaga:

We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves. —Shirley Chisholm

If you're a young girl in the Deep South, it's likely you've heard all your life: "Be a good girl. Act like a lady." And from the church: "Be submissive to men." The inner beast that provides us with courage and strength is starved and abandoned if we act on such directives from others. Yet this woman has embraced her passion, her instincts and her wildness - not loosing them indiscriminately, but making friends with them. These are the things that will make her whole and help her to thrive. The Slavic goddess Baba Yaga reiterates this in her quote from the oracle companion book  :

I freely express my vitality

my sheer exuberant joyfulness

to please myself because it is natural

Trying to please others rather than being who we are is self-destructive. It is time to change the things we cannot accept. In the words of Michelle Obama, “Am I good enough? Yes, I am.”

Abundance and Fallow Fields

From the Gaian Tarot, the Gardener (Empress); from the Goddess Oracle, Kali:

Even beneath the lively bloomed flowers of spring, always lie the dead fallen leaves of autumn.

― Lakshya Chouhan

The Empress represents Nature's abundance - is there anything more sensual and creative than Nature herself? She tells us that we all are fertile with seeds of vision and innovation just waiting to be planted and promises to help us cultivate them, empowering us with nurturing and love. Unlike her husband, the Empress has no boundaries - her motto might be "More!" Yet Kali, the fierce form of the Hindu Mother Goddess, reminds us of impermanence and death. Both terrifying and tender, she teaches us to be free from fear, accepting that there is a time to plant and a time to plow under. Fallow fields encourage the development of fertile, rich soil, and allow us to sow and grow new seeds. 

Resistance is Futile

From the Gaian Tarot, the Priestess; from the Goddess Oracle, Vila:

The ego is a circular pattern of thinking.

—Adyashanti

Those who come to the Priestess for answers are told - as she splits open a pomegranate - that truth is not found in scholarly books and revered teachers but within. She points to the goddess of Malta figurine and explains that what is sought can only be discovered in stillness and quiet when we sink below our chattering mind. But before we descend into that calm spaciousness, we must heed the words of Adyashanti: "We must want the actual truth more than we want the truth that we imagine." Vila is the eastern European name for energy that moves through the earth in different forms of nature. Her shape-shifting ability calls on us to flexible with an expanded awareness rather than holding tightly to our illusions. Truth and wisdom do us no good if we resist rather than accept them.

Two Vehicles

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert (now published by Schiffer). I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are the Chariot and Freya:

Lose your mind and come to your senses.

~Fritz Perls

This Chariot is a canoe, paddled by a serious fellow intent on his getting to his destination. The eagle offers the medicine of fierce attention, the salmon tenacity, and the black and white orcas balance and harmony. His self-discipline and focus allow him to avoid emotional triggers and physical distractions, keeping him headed in the direction he desires. While such concentration is laudable, he might heed the message of the orcas and spend some time in his body instead of just in his head. The mind needs the vehicle of the body, and Freya (Norse goddess of beauty, passion and fertility) suggests we appreciate it and pay attention its wisdom too.