A Relative Path

 From the Restored Order Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Kuf (Qof):

Everything is relative; and only that is absolute.

—Auguste Comte

This Page appears to be fully absorbed in his pentacle; no wonder he is considered such a good student. But even this young fellow knows that although absolute truths and abstract ideas make us feel intelligent, they are a bit useless unless we can see how they relate to the world in concrete ways. This Page will do his own homework, testing out each theory in tangible ways. Kuf represents two opposite concepts, the spiritual world and the physical world. It's shape is like the eye of a needle, and numerically it represents completeness (100). It reminds us to find the holy and sacred (abstract and absolute) sewn into our relationships with the earth and all its beings. 

In order to make the leap to the realization of our absolute nature, we have to walk on our relative feet, on a relative path.

—Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

New Priority

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Four of Pentacles; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Zayin:

Self-care has become a new priority—the revelation that it’s perfectly permissible to listen to your body and do what it needs. ―Frances Ryan

When people see pentacles, they think of money and financial security. So it's easy to look at this guy and think he is a miser, obsessively protecting his hoard. But pentacles also represent this body that carries us around, the vehicle that allows us to love, create, and fight for what we believe in. We often take better care of our cars than our bodies, maintaining them far better. This fellow asks if I'm sustaining and nurturing my body, or if I've forgotten how precious it is. Zayin is a paradox. It means 'weapon' (and resembles a sword), yet numerically it is associated with the number seven (the day of rest). Sometimes the sword is not used for fighting, but for cutting a loaf of bread or (metaphorically) dividing our time so that we can rest and care for our bodies. 

You Have the Tools

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Magician; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Tet:

There are times where you have all the tools you need and all there is to do is to do it.

― Nnedi Okorafor

The Magician points upwards (inspiration and imagination) and downwards (the physical manifestation). Although his mind is full of ideas, his body is the conduit and agent of creation. Those tools on his table are the resources he needs; when combined with effort, he has the ability to bring an abstract idea to fruition. The Hebrew letter Tet is associated with the number nine, a symbol of goodness. Its shape suggests a pot or a bowl with an inverted rim. Tet's message is even when life is difficult, there is still hidden good. Our creations and projects don't always turn out as expected. We might want to keep in mind these words of an anonymous writer: "It is when our plans go 'wrong' that wonderful, unforeseen things are allowed to occur." 

Ain't Gonna Study War No More

From the Tarot of Restored Order, the King of Pentacles; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Mem:

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.

— John F. Kennedy

With his strong jawline (reminding me of wrestler John Cena) and the armor peeking out from the bottom of his robe, there's little doubt this King will fight to keep what he's created. He seems a little ill at ease in his new role of ruler rather than warrior, perhaps looking for someone to bonk with that scepter. But from the grapes and other lush vegetation growing around him, it looks like the worst problem he might have right now is kudzu. He would do well to heed the words of Yehudi Menuhin: "Peace may sound simple – one beautiful word – but it requires everything we have, every quality, every strength, every dream, every high ideal." Mem means 'water' and its numerical association is forty. Forty is the number of days it rained in the story of the Flood, and it is the number of days the Jews wandered in the desert. Mem represents a cleansing transformation, one that allows us to live at ease and at peace. As this King has learned, it doesn't happen overnight.

Data Filter

This week I'll be using the Tarot in de Herstelde Orde (Tarot in Restored Order), created by Rob Docters van Leeuwen and Onno Docters van Leeuwen; it was published by Servire. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of Kabbalah, a deck and book set created by Richard Seidman and published by Thomas Dunne Books. Since the Kabbalah cards are of the letter only and rather plain, I'll be using the illuminated paintings of Victor Brindatch. Today's draws are Juno and Alef:

Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in the new information society precisely because there is so much data. 

―John Naisbitt

The Tarot of Restored Order adds two cards to its deck: Juno (Intuition) and Jupiter (Truth). A temple to Juno Moneta (meaning “Juno Who Warns”) was built on Rome's Capitoline Hill in 344 BCE. According to Plutarch, the cackling of her sacred geese were said to have warned the Romans of an invasion of Gauls, allowing them to save the summit. Juno's card represents that spiritual nudge, bad feeling or intuitive flash that advises us to pay attention and take action. It helps us filter out the overwhelming amount of stimuli and focus on what's important in the moment. Symbolizing oneness or unity, Alef (Aleph) is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and means 'master' or 'leader.' When it appears, it suggests we recall what is primary; we need to strip away the superfluous and get back to basics. Both of these cards encourage staying grounded and not getting distracted by meaningless fluff. 

Depths of Wisdom

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Magician; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Mandrake:

Learn to discern the real from the false. Listen only to the Voice that is soundless. Look only on that which is invisible, and remember in yourself is the Temple...

~P.D. Ouspensky

The High Priestess shows us that the entrance to the depths of wisdom is an inner door, not an outer one. It is a place where the ego is quiet, allowing the luminous Voice within to grant us deep understanding. Yet the purpose of finding this door is not to descend into eternal bliss, shutting out the rest of the world. Instead, this knowledge helps us to navigate the world skillfully and compassionately, recognizing that the sacred is interwoven with the mundane. Mandrake is known for its root that resembles a human figure as well as the legend about its scream when uprooted. Its hallucinogenic and narcotic properties induce unconsciousness, and it was used in ancient times as an anaesthetic for surgery. This root asks us: are you trying to sleep through life or awaken to it?

Pledge Allegiance

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Druid Animal Oracle, the Dog:

Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?

―Charles Bukowski

This fellow is energetically asserting himself against those who would like to knock him from his perch. Goals take a lot of mental willpower and physical effort, but above all, they require us to stand up to our challengers and challenges. It's easy to evolve into the person who always asks "What should I do - what do you want me to do?" Instead we can look within, discover our own values and dreams, and pursue what we feel led to do. The Dog is a symbol of guidance, protection and loyalty. Yet the person we often let down the most is ourselves. Don't we deserve our own allegiance?

Seeing Clearly

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Sun; from the Druid Animal Oracle, the Fire Dragon:

No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.

―George Jean Nathan

Although I've seen this card multiple times, I don't think I've ever noticed that this little boy is standing in the stirrups, getting an even higher perspective. The horse is a symbol of freedom; when we are no longer desperately grasping at what we want, fighting off what we don't, or clinging to what we think will leave us, we see reality clearly. When our energy is no longer wastefully expended, we relax and are filled with a joyous vigor and vitality. We can deal with what is. The Fire Dragon represents the energy of transmutation, the state of changing a condition or form to another. When we can see clearly, we can make changes that create better circumstances rather than adding to the confusion and chaos.

The Poultice of Truth

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Yarrow:

You don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too.

― Anne Lamott

The Queen of Swords has an analytic, intelligent mind and is a lover of truth. She knows from experience that no one is truly free if they are bound by false beliefs, fantasies or the lies they tell themselves and others. While she doesn't believe in wrapping her words in cotton candy fluff, she is at her core a nurturer and takes Lamott's words to heart. She knows that judgmental or angry words will fall on deaf ears, so she often uses direct questions to lead her listener to the truth, allowing them to understand and see it for themselves. Yarrow, since ancient times, has been used to heal wounds, stop bleeding and reduce fevers. Living in a cocoon spun of lies may make us feel safe, but our delusions will exsanguinate us; instead, we can apply the poultice of truth. As Cornel West stated, "There is a price to pay for speaking the truth. There is a bigger price for living a lie."

Choice and Principles

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Lovers; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Bramble:

There are three constants in life… Change, Choice, and Principles.

– Stephen Covey

The companion book states that the embrace of love is at the heart of life.  Though this card could represent two willing partners, the Lovers might also symbolize integrating information and understanding within ourselves so that we become more whole. However it shows up, such love requires surrender, and surrender requires choice. While emotion might have us rolling downhill at breakneck speed, it would be wise to grab hold of discernment before we hit bottom. Bramble (what I know as blackberry vines) have sweet fruit that can easily make us forget its many thorns. It teaches us of boundaries, of understanding that even the most wonderful relationships need limits to protect our well-being and build respect between people. We can use good judgment without being judgmental.

Rhythm of the Universe

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Comfrey:

Everything in the universe has rhythm: The rising and the setting of the sun, the ebb and flow of the sea, the coming of the stars, the seasons. They go out in order to come in—rhythmical, measured order.

―Celia Caroline Cole

This Queen of Pentacles plays the bodhran, an Irish frame drum that is thought to have originated from an agricultural tray or sieve. Just as she keeps the rhythm of the music, she is in tune with the rhythms of the earth. She knows it is better to stay grounded in reality than trying to live in a fantasy world. Wearing summer clothes in the dead of winter won't make it warmer, it will just increase one's chances of freezing to death. Staying conscious of what is going on (whether pleasant or not) allows us to deal with it in skillful ways. Comfrey's early function as a poultice can be seen in its folk names - knitbone and boneset. Yet healing can only take place when we acknowledge that there is an injury that needs to be addressed. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Sometimes we just have to deal with what we've been given.

Me Too

This week I'll be using three decks, all created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and illustrated by Will Worthington. The Druidcraft Tarot and the Druid Plant Oracle were published by Connections; the Druid Animal Oracle was published by St. Martin's Press. I've combined the two oracles and will be using them as one deck. Today's draws are the Star and Stag:

Taking care of myself doesn't mean 'me first.' It means 'me, too.

― L.R. Knost

When I saw the Star card this morning, I had the thought "what is poured out will be returned." But pouring out - as in giving of ourselves in service - is different from being drained and squeezed dry. The Star shows Ursa Minor in the night sky, a 'dipper' for scooping or receiving. It is time for rest and healing, a time to be refilled not only physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. We must pause, reflect and listen to our inner wisdom and guidance that may have been ignored in our busyness. The Stag, which sheds its antlers in the autumn and regrows them in the spring, is a symbol of renewal and confidence as we make a new beginning. When we are whole again, our cup will naturally overflow.

Shaking Off the Yellow Leaves

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Six of Water (Cups); from the Tao Oracle, Approach (Hexagram 19):

Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. ― Rumi

In the Thoth system, the Six of Cups/Water is not nostalgia but unbounded joy after a crisis is past. Pieper's card shows children splashing and enjoying the fountain jets at a play park. It reminds me of our community emerging after the pandemic lockdown (we were a Covid hotspot in the nation with limited resources and many deaths). We were cautious at first, but then we were like kids running outside when school breaks for recess. Recovery after such an emotional trial brings a special kind of release and happiness. Approach (hexagram 19) suggests beneficial changes are happening and encourages us to move toward them. While we may drag our feet - being wary of vulnerable - it reassures us that this is a development that we should take advantage of without delay.

In the Zone

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Nine of Fire (Wands); from the Tao Oracle, The Arousing (Hexagram 51):

The zone is a state of mind which is marked by a sense of calmness. In addition, there is a heightened sense of awareness and focus. Actions seem effortless and there is an increased belief that your dreams or goals can become achievable and real.  – Dr. Jay Granat

Pieper illustrates the Nine of Fire (Wands) with an inside look at the National Ignition Facility - a laser based fusion device. When we are physically tired, we often must focus our will and mind towards the task at hand in order to reach completion. Fantasy-filled distraction will cause a leak to develop in our determination and discipline. As Julie Myoko Terestman explained, "That’s the sweet spot, where you’re not thinking about what you’re going to do next—you’re just in that zone where one thing is leading to the next thing ..." The Arousing (hexagram 51) suggests the jump scare of an unexpected crack of thunder and a flash of lightning. It has the effect of shaking us awake, out of our reverie and back into the present moment, back into the awareness of what is currently happening.

How We Respond

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Daughter of Water (Princess/Page of Cups); from the Tao Oracle, Conflict (Hexagram 6):

All conflict can be traced back to someone’s feelings getting hurt, don’t you think?

—  Liane Moriarty

The Daughter of Water is warm, compassionate, kind and tender. From an elemental standpoint, she is water of water; emotionally, she lives on a tiny isle of romance and joy. Responsive to the needs of others, people enjoy her sensitivity and attention. Because she guards her inner island of harmony closely, she does not handle discord well. Yet conflict does not imply that relationships are imperfect. Hexagram 6 speaks of a clash of wills about the rightness of their ideas or ways of doing things. It's easy to slip into brain-lock, being unable to hear and consider another point of view. However being open-minded doesn't mean giving up our values but making space to consider a wider, more expansive view; it means seeing a more complete picture of the situation. As Thomas Crum explained, "The quality of our lives depends not on whether or not we have conflicts, but on how we respond to them."

An Innate Ability

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Three of Water (Cups); from the Tao Oracle, Difficulty in the Beginning (Hexagram 3):

I see real love as the most fundamental of our innate capacities, never destroyed no matter what we might have gone through or might yet go through. It may be buried, obscured from view, hard to find, and hard to trust . . . but it is there.

―Sharon Salzberg

Abundance (Three of Water) indicates that there is a wellspring of love that does not turn into a trickle and stop. But this feeling of warmth and joy is based on outflow - it is shared without demands or expectations and depends on a willingness to be vulnerable to receive it. As Henri J.M. Nouwen explained, "Friendship and love cannot develop in the form of an anxious clinging to each other." Hexagram 3 - Difficulty in the Beginning - suggests a feeling of chaos and confusion around us or within us. Yet what is actually happening is that, ready or not, what we have outgrown is falling away. Though it may be difficult at first, this is a beneficial stage of growth that will benefit us later on. It is much like those beginning relationships that feel awkward at first and then later blossom into a deep and beautiful connection.

Support Group

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Tao Oracle, Pushing Upward (Hexagram 46):

God has given us many faiths but only one world in which to co-exist. May your work help all of us to cherish our commonalities and feel enlarged by our differences.

~Jonathan Sacks

The Hierophant is an authority of a belief system that instructs and guides; he or she tends to 

congregate people seeking spiritual wisdom. What's in it for the followers? If their leader is honest 
and kind, they receive helpful support for navigating a life that can be challenging. The group as a 
whole can also offer a feeling of belonging. Yet even the most sincere leader can make blunders; 
their knowledge may be advanced but they are only human. When in doubt of their advice, it may 
be beneficial to ask if following their counsel would result in relieving suffering or causing it (for 
others or one's self). Pushing Upward (hexagram 46) suggests we are making slowly making 
progress, helped along by support from a variety of sources and the past challenges we have met. 
Our backup and encouragement need not be based on just a single source but can originate from 

several streams.   

Building the New

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Mother of Fire (Queen of Wands); from the Tao Oracle, The Wanderer (Hexagram 56):

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ~Socrates

The inspirational Mother of Fire, combining the opposing elements of fire and water, is known for her independence. Pieper has illustrated this card with a Maasai woman, a people known for their colorful clothing and intricate beadwork. Historically, Maasai women have been forbidden from owning their own property and from accumulating their own worldly goods, but thankfully these long-held customs are slowly changing. Women are leading the charge to gain education, acquire land and develop a trade, enabling them to change their own lives and the lives of girls in the future. The Wanderer (hexagram 56) indicates the unfamiliarity and feeling of vulnerability that comes with change. Rather than bulldozing through the unknown, it encourages flexibility, humility and sensitivity as one find's one's feet.

Feeling the Power

This week I'll be using the New Era Elements Tarot, created by Eleonore Pieper and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using the Tao Oracle, created by Ma Deva Padma and published by St. Martin's Press. Today's draws are the Sun and The Gentle (Hexagram 57):

Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. 

―Oprah Winfrey

The Sun represents a power that energizes us and brings joy, creative growth and clarity. It's easy to get caught up in our daily duties and forget to lift our heads and look for what excites us. Yet even in our busyness, we can keep an eye out for that which inspires and stimulates us. As Ceri Evans explains, "Being internally driven feels different. Instead of feeling the weight of expectation coming down on us from the outside, we feel power flowing up from within." Yet The Gentle (Hexagram 57) encourages us not to get so excited that we inhale it in one bite. Instead, we go slowly and mindfully, appreciating each part while we maintain our clarity.   

Meaningful Change

 

Sometimes we think everything needs to change because it's easier than accepting that we need to change, and then doing something about it. ~Lori Deschene

The Seven of Cups suggests frustration and the emotional intoxication that results. Wishful thinking and self-delusion might help us escape reality for a short time, but eventually our illusory bubble will burst. To borrow a teaching from Shantideva, when we attempt to walk barefoot and sharp rocks hurt our feet, we become insulted. Yet isn't it easier to put on a pair of shoes than demand the earth be wrapped in leather? The Father card represents Joseph who took care of Jesus as a child. He represents the ability to be selfless and to do the work that must be done without the hope of reward or fear of punishment. When the focus of blame and grievance transforms into accountability for ourselves, we can create meaningful change.

Adjusting Desires

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Tower; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, the Son of Man:

Learning to sail the worldly winds involves learning when we need to give up on our desires, adjusting them to the reality of the situation. Whilst matching our desires to the world will be difficult, expecting the world to match our desires is utterly futile. ~Vajragupta

The companion book states that there are three builders of the Tower: ignorance, an overblown ego, and ambition. Its structure is supposed to protect us from blame, loss, failure and sorrow while giving us an advantage in obtaining praise, gain, success and joy. But these worldly winds come as a paired set of four, blowing in one direction and then its opposite; no one can make the breeze blow in one direction. The arrogance of thinking otherwise will eventually bring us to a Tower experience, not as punishment, but because we are trying to dam the natural flow of life. The Son of Man symbolizes a chance to discover that we are a part of rather than apart from. When we see that we are one part of a much greater whole, we have no need to protect our egos. 

Nowhere But Here

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Four of Disks; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, Here and Now:

A truly stable system expects the unexpected, is prepared to be disrupted, waits to be transformed.

― Tom Robbins

The Four of Disks is titled Power in the Thoth system, implying success, comfort and stability. It's a nice place to be if a person can enjoy it without an exaggerated need for security or a demand that things never change. In Buddhism, the psychological God Realm is a place of where bliss and happiness are experienced for a period of time. But because we are so attached to our luxuries and pleasures and bristle at anything that might disturb them, we usually don't stay in this mindset for long. Here and Now suggests we drop the memories and expectations we cling to and plant ourselves firmly in the present moment. Joy can't be found anywhere else but here.

Towards the Goal

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Chariot; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, Two Horses:

In racing, they say that your car goes where your eyes go.

– Garth Stein

After he has been influenced and shaped by those he's met so far, the Fool gets behind the driver's seat and begins assert himself in the world. He's a bit like a kid who's just received his driving license, feeling excited with an undercurrent of trepidation. He hears in his head the voices that tell him not to get distracted or a wreck will be inevitable. But he soon learns it's not just the outer disturbances that can make him lose his focus, but the inner ones as well. His urge for freedom and his ambition encourage him to move, but move mindfully. The Two Horse card refers to the 47th verse in the Gospel of Thomas: "It is impossible for a man to mount two horses or to stretch two bows." The Chariot can't travel down two roads at the same time; there is a point where a choice must be made. Which one is simply a distraction, and which one will take us towards our goal?

Seeing the Truth

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Knight (King) of Swords; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, the Prophet:

We give our time away all day long, to emotions that gain us no advantages, to people who do not value our time, to inefficient habits. 

― Stuart R. Levine

The conversations my mother and I have - prone to wind from here to there and back again - would drive this Knight/King batty. He's a keen observer, intelligent and clever, but those who ramble will be quickly silenced. He has no time for side exits, exciting tidbits or anything that sounds like an excuse. His likely response to such would be,"Cut to the chase, I don't have time to listen to irrelevant chatter!" While he may be a little intimidating, this is the guy you want to speak with when you need to see the heart of the matter. His perceptiveness cuts through all the distractions, finding the root of the issue with sharp clarity. The Prophet is based on John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Son of Man but also as a great spiritual teacher. This card encourages us to find people who can see through our self-assigned labels and our past baggage to the diamond underneath. Those with 'swords' can be useful for cutting through what prevents us from seeing the truth.

Great Energy

This week I'll be using the Rohrig Tarot, created by Carl W. Rohrig and published by Sirio. I also have a companion book written by the artist and Francesca Marzano-Fritz and published by Bluestar Communications. The other deck I'll be drawing from is called a tarot, but I'll be using it as an oracle: the Master Tarot. It was created by Amerigo Folchi and Mario Montano and published by AG Muller. Today's cards are the Prince of Disks and Twice Born:

Competent and steadfast, the Prince of Disks is described by Crowley as "great energy brought to bear upon the most solid of practical matters." Yet the Rohrig companion book offers a caution about this Prince's drive: he must consider "construction and its consequences." My eye is drawn to the measuring stick at the left of the card. In our eagerness to build, we may become caught up in outdoing and outpacing others instead of focusing on important details of the project itself. The Titanic, the largest liner of her time and built for luxury and comfort, carried 2224 passengers on its maiden voyage. Though it had the capacity for 48 lifeboats, it was only outfitted with 20 (and only 14 of those were regular lifeboats). A lack of mindfulness in its construction had serious consequences. Twice Born refers to Lazarus, who was brought back to life by Jesus. The lesson of this card is of entering a place of dark hopelessness and being willing to let someone help us back out. Skill and knowledge are wonderful talents, but we would do well to have open minds and ears when others offer us sincere suggestions.