Steadfast Work

From the Stone Tarot, the Eight of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 25:365:

What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.

―Stephen King

Those who have developed a gift for something - whether it's writing, carpentry or cooking - will soon find themselves in high demand. The sound of crickets chirping will be drowned out by phone calls of folks wanting those services, and they'll soon find steadfast work with few days off. Which brings to mind the words of psychologist Corey Wilkes: "It’s easy to focus on the prestige of 'arriving,' but lose sight of what the day-to-day reality of success looks like." The Dhammapadma quote reads:

One shouldn't scorn what one has received, nor envy others.

When we stop comparing our lives to others, we might discover we're happier and more content than we thought.

Judicious Buying and Giving

From the Stone Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Card, Dhammapada 12:166:

I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.

― Florence Nightingale

I am known as the 'practical' shopper in the house. I buy things because they have a purpose, either by being useful (and needed) or because they gladden the heart and are inspirational. The look on this Queen of Pentacles face suggests she's gotten a dull dust-around as a present. While she's grateful for the thought behind it, she probably would have preferred a gift card from Tractor Supply to buy some seeds to plant or feed the birds with. The Dhammapada quote deals with the flip side of the coin: generosity.

Don't give up your own welfare for the sake of others' welfare, however great. Clearly know your own welfare and be intent on the highest good.

In other words, we shouldn't be so generous with our time, money and energy that it leaves us unable to fulfill our obligations, in debt, or causes damage to our health. That would only create another person that needed to be aided. 

The Color and Weight of Lead

From the Stone Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 6:81:

The heaviness leaves, and if I'm patient enough it can be replaced by something I need, something that would fill instead of drown and let me breathe instead of bleed.

―Karin Lowachee

The colors in this card seem infused with lead; the light heart has become a heavy heart. An excessive emotional weight has a marked physical effect. Rather than the taste of something sweet, our connection now makes our lungs seem filled with sand and keeps our shoulders and stomach tied in knots. Sometimes taking the high road means letting go of our resentment while leaving behind the relationship. The Dhammapada quote reads:

As a solid mass of rock is not moved by the wind, so a sage is unmoved by praise and blame.

When we're in the middle of disentangling from a group or partnership, others may offer advice that either encourages or disheartens us. But what is their motive? Personal integrity demands that we follow our values and standards without being swayed.

Release

This week I'll be using the Stone Tarot, a self-published deck by Alison Stone. I may also dip into her book of tarot poems (Ordinary Magic), although it wasn't written as a companion book. The oracle I'll be using is the Buddhist Quote Cards, painted and published by Diana Altenburg. Even though she has spiritual quotes (from John Lennon to Lao Tzu) on the back of the cards, I have decided to pair each card with a verse from the Dhammapada (a Buddhist text). Today's draws are the Fool and Dhammapada 15:204:

Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.

—Jean-Paul Sartre

We all start life with a light load, but our innocence and trust take a hit when we tumble off the cliff into the real world. Yet that lighthearted sense of freedom is still carried within us, waiting for us to realize it is relative to that which we cling. As Joseph Goldstein wrote, "The mind of no clinging is open and vast. It is receptive to everything but holds on to nothing." Like the Fool, we can experience life without feeling the need to take everything with us, constantly pulling it all out to feed our worry, anger or sadness. The verse from the Dhammapada reads:

Health is the foremost possession, contentment the foremost wealth, trust the foremost kinship, and release the foremost happiness.

There are things in life that need our attention and deserve our gratitude. But when we find ourselves miserable, we should ask what we are grasping and refusing to release. Is it worth our freedom?

The Bottom Line

From the Out of Hand Tarot, Judgment; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Horseshoe Crab:

 

Everything is an education

If you just take the time

To open up your mind to the bottom line

―Atlanta Rhythm Section

The finger pointing to the trumpet seems to be more interested in how the message was delivered and who brought it than the message itself. We can be so easily swayed by our assumptions and assessments about the package that we fail to heed the message. But as Jamie writes, "The true gifts come when we learn to look within at why it bothers us at all." If we can just drop our opinions for a moment, we might be surprised by the wisdom at our feet. Horseshoe crabs are completely harmless to humans; even though their tails (called telsons) may look dangerous, they actually use them to flip themselves when overturned. Likewise, we don't have to 'approve' of the messenger, but it would be prudent to use the message to help ourselves.

What's in the Mix?

From the Out of Hand Tarot, Temperance; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Humphrey's Wentletrap:

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please. 

―Epictetus

Jamie sees Temperance as a bartender, asking what we want mixed together for our day. "Will that be neat - sitting on the couch in a funk all day - or would you like to add a slice of taking a walk and a splash of calling a friend?" In statistics, moderation occurs when the relationship between two variables depends on a third variable, the effect modifier. That modifier might be to consider how continuing to do what we are doing is going to make us feel in 24 hours. Will we feel better or worse? The Humphrey's Wentletrap has a succession of coils that have tall rib-like structures running up the sides. These ribs may offer some protection against other predatory snails, making it difficult or impossible to bore a hole in a shell with such obstructions. We often react to external situations as if we needed to shield ourselves from them. Yet what often hurts us more is the thoughts that drive our reactions to them. We may need to protect ourselves from the unfounded beliefs we think are true.

Different Feels Weird

From the Out of Hand Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Lightning Whelk:

So what happens when your universe begins to get off balance, and you don’t have any experience with bringing it back to center? ―Neal Shusterman

The King of Cups represents a calm, compassionate person who can bear witness to our emotions and help us find our center again without becoming untethered themselves. Learning to be grounded (staying in the present moment) and how to stay centered (having a reference point that brings us back to the big picture) are tools that we often must learn from others. Having them allows us to navigate the ebb and flow of our emotions so that they don't overwhelm us. The Lightning Whelk has a sinistral (left-handed) opening in its shell with lightning-like stripes that radiate along its sides. The vast majority of gastropod shells are dextral (right-handed), making this shell an anomaly. Living in emotional chaos and drama can begin to feel normal while practices that help ground and center us feel unnatural. Such change is not a goal to reach but a process of growth, which will feel more normal over time.

Keep It Personal

From the Out of Hand Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the Seashells Playing Cards, the River Nerite:

Truth has no special time of its own.  Its hour is now - always.  ―Albert Schweitzer

The Queen of Swords encourages us to look at the evidence in front of us and see the truth of it. It can be tempting to spend our time watching the changing seasons outside the window; while a nice distraction, this will not help us get to the root of our issue. The River Nerite lives in freshwater and brackish water (where freshwater mixes with seawater); its shell has a fishnet-like pattern. This snail reminds us not to have an 'all or nothing' attitude and to avoid getting bogged down in unimportant details. We only need to find our truth, not answers for everyone else.

It Happens

From the Out of Hand Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Keyhole Limpets:

Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans. 

―Margaret Millar

We are currently having to replace the storm drainage system in our city to prevent constant flooding when there are heavy rains. The main area of construction this past year has been downtown, the section where the hospital and many doctor offices are. Lately, there are days when I understand this fellow's frustration of having plans to get somewhere important and on time, then having them upturned. No matter how well we plan, life happens, putting things into play beyond our control. The conical shape and low profile of the Keyhole Limpet allows this sea snail to withstand waves that smash against the rocks to which they attach themselves. Humans tend to expect life to bend for them, but we are the ones who must shape our attitude to it by learning to respond rather than react. 

Vulnerable to Illusions

From the Out of Hand Tarot, the Moon; from the Seashells Playing Cards, the American Stiff Pen:

Cognitive psychology tells us that the unaided human mind is vulnerable to many fallacies and illusions because of its reliance on its memory... ―Steven Pinker

A hand holds a mirror that shows another hand holding the moon. What is real and what is illusion? Our minds have tripwires for anything in the present that even slightly resembles something or someone from our past. Once those wires have been triggered, our mind doesn't bother to register all the facts in front of us, it just fills in the blanks from our old memories. Strong emotions - good or bad - are often a hint that we are relying on unconscious information. The American Siff Pen anchors itself to the sandy seabed using a bundle of silky fibers called a byssus. This clam also can heal small holes or breaks in its shell. It suggests we ground ourselves while curiously examining what is factual and what is pure assumption. Then we can repair these 'holes' with the evidence we find. 

In Reflection

This week I'll be using the Out of Hand Tarot created and self-published by Jamie Sawyer along with her digital guidebook. I'll also be using the Seashells of the Seashore Playing Cards, published by OnPoint Specialty; the meanings assigned are my own based on research. Today's draws are the Hermit and Spiny Oyster:

It was funny how some things could be seen more clearly in a reflection than in reality.

― Eddy Boudel Tan

Sawyer writes, "There is much to be absorbed in the stillness of chosen solitude." Diving deep into our history and into our personal psychology, we see what we've inherited and how conditions have shaped us. In the light of this knowledge, is this the path we want to stay on? Has it helped us or just been a means of spiritual bypass? The Spiny Oyster is not a true oyster; the spines on its shell have resulted in it also being called 'thorny oyster.' Sometimes we uncover and bring to light things that make us resistive and defensive. This is likely a reaction to being afraid of criticism and judgment. Yet having that feeling does not mean we can't also be responsible for our behavior, especially if we seek to change that which has not been beneficial.

Crossings

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Six of Swords (Badgers); from the Gemstone Oracle, Carnelian:

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.

— Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Changing an attitude can feel as perilous and anxiety -producing as changing one's address. According to psychologists, an attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a particular object, person, thing, or event. To leave behind what we feel so sure of and what our identity is attached to can require a mighty big bulldozer. Sometimes we are able to accept new, factual information or we may be influenced by someone we love and trust. Other times, the discomfort of holding conflicting beliefs will sway us to another side. Carnelian represents courage and determination; it suggests that once we are bold enough to cross over to a new perspective, things will feel more peaceful.

Making and Breaking

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Emperor; from the Gemstone Oracle, Leopard Skin Jasper:

 

Obedience keeps the rules. Love knows when to break them. 

―Anthony de Mello

The bear - standing on his hind legs with his claws prominent - is a more aggressive form of the Emperor. This fellow believes he has a lock on what is right and how things should be done. His rules and laws are meant to keep things orderly and running smoothly like a machine. But humans are not mechanical robots. Leopard Skin Jasper encourages meeting one's basic needs and improving one's circumstances. Laws that don't take into account people's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs aren't going to work well for long. The 'parts' require care and attention if the whole is to function properly.
 

Tangled Up

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hanged Man (Bird); from the Gemstone Oracle, Rhodonite:

I wanted the whole planet put into stasis until I could catch up.

― Anna Sheehan

This little sparrow has gotten tangled up in a catbrier vine. VanderHoeven describes this card as stasis, a state of inactivity due to powers beyond our control. It can be maddening when we have an agenda and are prevented from carrying it out. Thoughts like "This is what I want to do" or "This is what I want to prevent" swirl in our minds and make us more frustrated. But if we can relax and look at things simply as they are (without our agenda), we might instead ask, "What is possible for me to do now?" It might be that we need to be patient, or we might need to start freeing ourselves from our 'shoulds.' Rhodonite suggests gratitude, which often reminds us of the resources we have instead of focusing on those we don't have.

As the Mind Allows

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Gemstone Oracle, Yellow Jasper:

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. 

―Japanese proverb

Burrowing as fast as he can, this badger is doing his version of getting in bed and pulling the cover over his eyes. Fear and anxiety often make us react in unhelpful ways like attempting to run, hide or deny. While all of us will have some serious concerns to deal with at some point, it's all the extras we pile on top that make us suffer worse. We make assumptions, imagine the least favorable outcome, and think we have no way to influence anything. We would do well to heed the wise words of Marcus Aurelius: "If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgement now." Yellow Jasper represents sacred space or a comfortable refuge. When we decide to face our fear, who and what we surround ourselves with can make a difference in whether we add to or lower our anxiety. 

Risks Worth Taking

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Fool; from the Gemstone Oracle, Labradorite:

I do believe women have different ways of taking risks, of ruminating a bit more before they jump to conclusions. ―Christine Lagarde

I'm not sure that gender has anything to do with slowing our roll before taking a risk. I'm inclined to think it is more the hard knocks we all experience. This little squirrel needs to figure out if there are more nuts available that won't be as dangerous to gather - there thoughtful risks and idiotic ones. While carefree and trusting, the Fool often must learn that ignorance is not bliss. The flash of Labradorite warns that we need to seek information about a situation before diving in. Dr. Arthur L. Costa and Dr. Bena Kallick, co-founders of the Institute for Habits of Mind, explain that while flexible people are compelled to go beyond established limits, they are not impulsive: "Their risks are educated. They draw on past knowledge, are thoughtful about consequences and have a well-trained sense of what is appropriate. They know that all risks are not worth taking!"

Start Afresh

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Ten of Badgers/Swords; from the Gemstone Oracle, Citrine:

You could think you were starting something afresh, when actually what you were doing was carrying on as before. ~ Rachel Joyce

Humans are great spin doctors when we have a cherished idea or belief we refuse to release. We cherry pick information to back up our opinion, carefully ignoring any evidence that contradicts it. All the while we spin stories and paint pictures with our words, as we attempt to prove we are right. But avoiding the facts of reality will always bring us to rock bottom, with nowhere left to turn. Citrine's message is that it is time for a fresh perspective and starting over from scratch. We're only done and dusted if we refuse to be openminded and embrace the truth. 

A Brain to Pick

This week I'll be using the Badgers Forest Tarot, a deck created and self-published by Nakisha VanderHoeven. Along with it, I'll be using my Gemstone Oracle (with actual stones). Today's draws are the Queen of Crows (Pentacles) and Aquamarine:

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.

— John Crosby

A friend's grandson and his wife are both well-trained, skilled RNs, yet they still call his mom for advice with their young children. No matter how much knowledge and experience we have, there is always someone who has more. When it comes to abilities like how to cook something, how to fix what is broken, how to build a kid's fort, or even directions to get somewhere, there are talented and generous people available to ask - as this little sparrow knows. Aquamarine suggests being prepared and using common sense. It helps in this regard if we can find a mentor or partner who is grounded and knowledgeable to guide or support us.

Heavy Loads

From the Animal Totem Tarot, Strength; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Ingwaz/Inguz:

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. 

—Lou Holtz

The ox in this card pulls a heavy load down a rocky path but doesn't seem to be snorting and stamping his feet about it. He just continues to take steps forward, knowing that the road won't last forever. Inner strength requires the same mentality: understanding that things change and that being angry or full of pity only adds to our load and suffering. The rune Inguz/Ingwaz means 'seed' and suggests being separated (planted) in order for transformation to take place. It can feel lonely and overwhelming when we think no one cares or that we have too much placed on our shoulders. But if we were to shine some light on our thoughts, how much is reality and how much is dramatic exaggeration? Both the pleasant and unpleasant in life is our spiritual path; we can choose to let it help us grow or keep us stuck in a rut.

Not Interested

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Four of Cups (Octopus); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Algiz:

 

Regardless of what initially caused you to feel so unmotivated, it’s your present-day outlook on it that now keeps you stuck. Your immediate task, then, is to alter this outlook. In short, you’re much better off focusing on how to fix what’s inside your head than what lies outside it. ―Leon F. Seltzer

An octopus swims without interest past a treasure chest that includes golden goblets. It sees nothing that is worth noticing. Apathy is an absence of emotion that leaves us feeling indifferent and unmotivated; it is a state that can feel like a hole too deep to climb out of. Algiz (Elhaz) is a rune that symbolizes elk sedge, a reed with sharp-edged leaves that cut. It represents protection and defense and asks us how we can relieve the funk we're in without making any impulsive choices. Dr. Leon Seltzer has some suggestions, though he warns us it will require forcing ourselves to act:

• Determine where your apathy is coming from and contest its underlying assumptions.
• Transition from passivity to problem-solving. What is the easiest, most do-able first step you can take? 
• Inject some novelty into your routine. 
• Challenge your apathy in every way you can. 
• Recall—and reawaken—happier times when you felt more enthusiastic and alive. 

Looking for a Fight

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Five of Wands (Honey Badger); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Mannaz:

 

In the end, the aggressors always destroy themselves, making way for others who know how to cooperate and get along. Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity. –Fritjof Capra

The only thing sweet about the honey badger is its name (it likes to eat bee larvae). With a massive skull, strong legs, sharp claws and skin that is tough and loose, it is made for fighting. A ferocious foe, it never starts a fight it can't finish. When someone in a group takes on this no-holes-barred energy to get their way, they usually only succeed in uniting the group against them. The rune Mannaz refers to human intelligence and is a symbol of self-awareness, improvement, potential. It is a reminder that nothing good will be created nor beneficial solutions found unless we are operating with respectful communication, an open mind, and a desire for what is best for all, not just ourselves.

Biting Winds, Warm Bodies

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Ten of Cups (Penguin); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Raido/Raidho:

The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food. —Dean Ornish

The emperor penguin breeds in the coldest environment of any bird species; air temperatures may reach −40 °F, and wind speeds may reach 89 mph. After laying her egg, the female's energy reserves are exhausted. She transfers her egg to the male to protect while she goes to sea to feed for several months, returning to help feed the newly hatched chick. During winter, a colony of emperor penguins forms a compact huddle with juveniles in the center. Those on the outside shuffle slowly around, giving each bird a chance to be out of the bitter wind for a time. The penguin's message is that our happiness and fulfillment is helped along when we are not only a part of a partnership, but also a trusted, supportive community. Raidho is a rune suggesting a journey, in this case, to find a group we can lean on as well as be leaned on when the winds of life become biting. 

Back Into the Flow

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Five of Cups (Capybara); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Kenaz:

It takes strength to make your way through grief, to grab hold of life and let it pull you forward.

~ Patti Davis

Shakespeare wrote, "Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it." It is an odd thing to notice that the world does not stop turning when a relationship ends. Grief can be immense and powerful; it seems that the polite thing for all humanity to do would be to stop and acknowledge our loss. But people have figured out that while grief may stop us in our tracks for a time, we must learn to move back into the flow of life, even as we carry it with us. The rune Kenaz means 'torch' and implies a search for understanding and clarity. Kenaz points out that everything in this physical world is constantly changing and impermanent, even relationships. When we lose the smaller things - a favorite mug broken, a flat tire, etc. - they are our teachers for learning to accept the larger losses that come. 

What Breaks Me

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Devil (Bobcat); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Ehwaz:

It's time to break the patterns that break me.

―Rohini Vibha

Rather than a card of bondage, this Devil is about freeing ourselves from what traps us. Blame will not be useful in liberating ourselves; only self-awareness and an effort to transform our habitual thoughts and actions will give us the freedom we seek.  As Robertson says, "Especially the ones you don't want to look at and own." The Rune Ehwaz is generally translated as 'horse' and suggests movement. While we might decide to start a new spiritual path, see a therapist or read a stack of self-help books, it is the movement of practicing daily what we learn that will create change. 

Portion Size

This week I'll be using the Animal Totem Tarot, created by Eugene Smith with a companion book by Leeza Robertson; the set was published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Blum/Gern Rune Cards created by Ralph Blum and illustrated by Gabrielle Gern with publishing by Connections. Today's cards are Justice (Crane) and Perth/Perthro:

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

―Oscar Wilde

The crane exhibits a posture known as an arch display: wings held high and back arched, beak pointed toward the sky, and the red patch expanded and displayed prominently. He felt his territory was threatened and reacted. It would be nice if Justice truly meant that everything was perfectly balanced, 'fair and square.' But there are too many perspectives and sides with numerous players in every situation for such exactness. Yet we all seem to feel entitled to demand what we think our 'share' should be. The rune Perth/Perthro suggests outcomes that we can't foresee. However, if we are patient and attentive, what has been hidden will come to light. Perhaps if we sincerely listen to other viewpoints and attempt to stand where they do, we might see that our portion doesn't need to be nearly as big as we thought.