Looking Over One's Shoulder

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Poems, Verse 11:

Stealing is basically taking what is not given, either without the knowledge or without the consent of the owner. ― Nathan Strait

How many times have we thought to ourselves, "I hope no one notices." It may have been when we stuck a handful of sweetener packs in our pocket at the cafe, switched a store sticker from a cheaper product to a more expensive one, let the cashier give us more change than we're owed, or borrowed someone's wisdom and claimed it as our own. We try to convince ourselves that it won't hurt anyone, yet it does. And it damages us as well, imprinting on us a habit that is hard to shake. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

It is strange to achieve something in the middle of a battle.

As if by magic, what seemed like bad luck turned to good.

Our mind often tells us things like, "No one will care or miss this. It's not a big deal." It can be a battle not to act on those thoughts, but when we avoid taking what is not given, we don't have to waste our life making excuses or looking over our shoulder all the time. There is freedom in that.

Stay on It

From the Daniloff Tarot the Two of Coins; from the Kuan Yin Poems, Verse 85:

Sometimes when you're overwhelmed by a situation - when you're in the darkest of darkness - that's when your priorities are reordered.  —Phoebe Snow

When we're trying to keep our balance while dealing with too much, it helps to have a sense of humor. This clown's barrel reminds me of rodeo clowns who must protect a thrown cowboy from a 2000 lb. bull until he can get to safety. They began using reinforced barrels to jump in and protect themselves when the bull turned on them. But his barrel is full of holes and water. This fellow needs a safe space to catch his breath too. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

On the way to the summit,

the clouds part.

The way is hidden in the mist.

Having too much on our plate can create a pattern of running back and forth from one task to another without getting much done. The wisdom in this verse tells us to pick a path and stay on it; the way will become clearer as we make progress.

Light Not Heat

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 as well as from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the Two of Swords and Verse 46:

One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat. 

―Woodrow Wilson

The two rocks on either side of this woman seem to indicate she is between a rock and a hard place - she faces a situation that doesn't have great options on either side. The blindfold and 'earmuffs' head covering suggest she is shutting out all the people trying to steer her in one direction or the other. She will rely on inner wisdom and intuition to make this decision. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Even a withered tree will bloom again one day.

Count on the rhythms of nature.

Stay still for now

and let things be just as they are.

Sometimes people or situations won't show their true colors unless we wait patiently instead of poking them. As Lao Tzu asked, "Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?" We must put our stirring sticks down if we want to see with clarity.

Highest Form of Prayer

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Ten of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, Messiah:

Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. 

—Alan Cohen

Do celebrations equal emotional fulfillment? While they can be pleasurable, they are without the ability to sustain good feelings for long. Contentment, on the other hand, is rooted in appreciation and gratitude, able to navigate the ups and downs of life. While it's always up for some fun or a new experience, it doesn't rely on them. Messiah archetypes are people who desire to humbly serve others. It may look like its shadow at first glance - people who never say no to anything that's asked of them. But such people are looking to feel worthy and needed (though they often just end up feeling used and resentful). True service doesn't look for anything in return - it has a well full of appreciation and contentment already.  

Anyone Listening?

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Five of Wands; from the Archetype Cards, Healer:

Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.

—Parker Palmer

America, in its present divided and volatile state, needs another leader to show people how to protest peacefully without resorting to violence. MLK, Jr., Thich Nhat Hanh, and Gandhi all showed that beneficial change is possible if we have patience and avoid letting our frustration turn to rage as we oppose injustices. Unfortunately, such a leadership position isn't often sought after, as the leader often ends us dead, imprisoned or exiled. Yet violence is inevitable if the voices of those who suffer go unheard. Healer suggests a way to soothe and heal relationships through communication, but this only works if both parties are willing to be open-minded and listen sincerely to another perspective. However, folks generally behave as Steve Covey described: "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." 

Doorways

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Archetype Cards, the Pioneer:

Sovereignty is deeply connected to personal freedom —the ability to live according to your own values, beliefs, and desires, rather than being swayed by societal expectations or pressures. 

—Kimberly Presley

Commitment and diligence in one's work as well as the ability to apply self-discipline when it comes to spending and saving can create a place of self-sovereignty. It doesn't mean we have a mansion with a butler and a maid, but it does mean we are at a place of material sufficiency; we now have more time to spend in pursuits that feed our spirit, not just our body. Pioneer asks us to embrace the innovative, to explore (internally or externally) areas that we've not had time to investigate before. Don't worry about making mistakes or learning about something that produces no harvest - they can also be doorways to discovery.

Stagnant Disposition

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Queen of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, the King:

It's a desperately vexatious thing, that after all one's reflections and quiet determinations, we should be ruled by moods that one can't calculate on beforehand.

― George Eliot

This lovely Queen of Cups does not try to dam the flow of water; she does the same with her emotions. She knows that when we listen to how our emotions speak through the body instead of winding them up with our thoughts, they will pass. But if the mind is permitted to create stories around our feelings, it turns them into moods, which can stick around a while. The King archetype suggests a leadership that is benevolent. Yet our mind can sit on either throne - that of a kindhearted king or a raving tyrant. Awareness is the key that can open another door - and turn our thoughts - so that we are not at the mercy of a stagnant disposition.

Narrow Focus

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Magician; from the Archetype Cards, Detective:

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. – Alexander Graham Bell

The companion booklet notes that the number of the Magician is the root number of the Sun and Wheel of Fortune. It is a hint that although we may have the resources to produce what we want, we also need a laser-like focus to get things to go the right way. Feeling like we have too much to do might cause us to try to multitask. Or, if our mind is on something more entertaining that we'd like to be doing, we might not be fully concentrated on the task at hand. Detective suggests that if things didn't turn out as expected, we might look carefully to see why. It might be that we left out something important, that our timing wasn't right, or that we simply need another pair of hands to help.

The Hive

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the World; from the Archetype Cards, Angel:

To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world.

–Salman Rushdie

The companion book states that the World speaks of wholeness and numinous revelation, showing us that we are connected to all that is. Regardless of outer appearances and the pride we take in our personal views, we are interdependent and thus connected. All things depend on other factors - causes and conditions - to exist. Pull one leg off of a table and it becomes unstable; remove another and it ceases to stand. To understand and embrace this connection is to step through a portal of awakening. Angel reminds us that kindness and a willingness to help those in need is a sane choice, not a weak one. As Marcus Aurelius wrote, "That which is not good for the swarm, neither is it good for the bee."

Release

This week I'll be using the Tarot de St. Croix, created and self-published by Lisa de St. Croix. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Archetype Cards, created by Caroline Myss and published by Hay House. Today's cards are the Five of Cups and Destroyer:

There is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. 

—Alan Cohen

I am in awe of people who make their living by creating - be it a book, a painting, clothing design, or architecture - and then release it to the world to be judged. It is a sort of relationship they have with the public, albeit a fickle one, sometimes with the result of being adored while other times made an object of ridicule. No matter what sort of relationship we've poured our heart into, it hurts to be mocked or told we are unworthy. This woman has grieved her losses and now heads to the bridge to cross over to the other relationships that await her. The archetype Destroyer is like a volcano, erupting to rid itself of what burns and boils inside. Resentments that are nurtured always hold us back from being truly fulfilled and content until they are released. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, "People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free, and we don't suffer anymore."

Checks and Balances

From the Urban Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the Principles to Live By, Simplicity:

An attitude to life which seeks fulfillment in the single-minded pursuit of wealth - in short, materialism - does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited. 

—E. F. Schumacher

Scott has illustrated this card with clips from the New York Diamond Exchange. She writes, "With each of the four tens, we see what happens when one of the elements is allowed to completely dominate and blot out the other three." Nature has seasons to balance times of growth and abundance with times of rest and decay, but wealth unchecked can become blind greed that pushes for power. Simplicity, or living a life that is straightforward and uncomplicated, might seem an impossible partner with wealth. Yet billionaire Bill Gates - who decided with Melinda that living such wealth to their children would not be beneficial - explains: “I can understand wanting to have millions of dollars... But once you get much beyond that, I have to tell you, it's the same hamburger.” Instead, he now has a new focus: “There’s so much opportunity to do good in the world.”

Actual Facts

From the Urban Tarot, the Five of Disks; from the Principles to Live By, Discernment:

In the long run, it is far more dangerous to adhere to illusion than to face what the actual fact is.

—David Bohm 

Scott writes that we are fragile beings living fragile lives. The Five of Disks is subtitled Worry; it indicates a threat to our financial or physical security. This card takes me back several months ago when my husband was told he had a cancerous tumor on his kidney. When our knees buckle with such news, it is important to rely on Discernment, the ability to see clearly and objectively. Our emotional reaction can cause us to expect the worst and fear that there is no hope for any sort of positive outcome. When everything seems too big and overwhelming, we need a wise, insistent friend or family member to point out other beneficial alternatives if we take corrective action. As Buddha said, “Good friends, companions, and associates are the whole of the spiritual life.” 

Learning, Inside and Out

From the Urban Tarot, Strength; from the Principles to Live By, Open-mindedness:

Who is wise? One who learns from all.

—Talmud

Scott explains that the lion statue in this card is based on the famous marble lions that guard the main branch of the New York Public Library. Mayor LaGuardia (1930s) named them Patience and Fortitude, qualities he thought folks needed to survive the depression. Strength does not represent the ability to crush and intimidate; instead, our inner beast invites us to learn courage, endurance and self-control. Open-mindedness is to be receptive to new ideas and viewpoints other than our own. We don't have to automatically discard our own beliefs and ideas, but we make space for new information. Being curious and open allows us to put a damper on frustration and fear in our relationships. Much can be learned (and a calmer mindset had) when we move from a defensive stance to an inquisitive one. 

Temperature was 15 F this morning. The birds are a little confused about why the birdbath isn't working!

Nothing Lacking

From the Urban Tarot, the Three of Disks; from the Principles to Live By, Contentment:

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

—Lao Tzu

The Three of Disks illustrates a concentrated effort enforced with determination and tenacity. We lean into what seems immovable, and slowly progress is made. It's not that things are finished, but our vision can be seen in the shape of what materializes. Such a project often requires a cooperative undertaking, like the construction of this building. The Contentment tile might seem as if to suggest that we don't need to be ambitious, but that would be a description of complacency. The root of the word contentment comes from the Latin contentus, which means “held together” or “whole.” This principle actually helps us be more discerning about what gives our life meaning, so that we can focus on what is important to us.

Waiting for Us

From the Urban Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Principles to Live By tiles, Acceptance:

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

—Joseph Campbell

Scott describes the Queen of Disks as the emotional center in the material realm. Like her husband, she appreciates what is tangible - her home, food, beautiful things and financial security. Yet because of her watery aspect, she also recognizes the resources she has in people, including family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers. How often has someone gotten a job because they knew someone who could speak up for them? Acceptance is being receptive to reality without fighting what cannot be changed. Many of us might think we don't have the perfect family or are a part of an unpopular social group, but wouldn't some of them help us in a crisis or support us when an opportunity opens? We may need to look at our connections from a wider perspective. 

It's Not Personal

From the Urban Tarot, the Knight (King) of Disks; from the Principles to Live By tiles, Equanimity:

There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally.

—Miguel Ruiz

Scott writes that the Disks court is a quiet group, determined and devoted, letting their work speak for itself. Resourceful is another description of this collective. Scott's Knight/King of Disks illustrates this trait, creating an amazing feast with what he has at hand. He knows how to improvise and think on his feet when an ingredient is missing or the unexpected happens. Such a situation is an appropriate transition to the Equanimity, a principle that represents the ability to remain calm and clear when we get the rug pulled out from beneath us. It doesn't mean we're indifferent to our circumstances, but that we are able to manage our emotions so that we respond rationally and constructively. 

Get Moving

This week I'll be using the Urban Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Robin Scott (though now published by U.S. Games). I'll be pairing it with an oracle I created called "Principles to Live By." Today's draws are the Chariot and Gratitude:

Ignorance is bliss. Wisdom is blisters.

—Brian Spellman

Planning and preparation are essential for any big task or project, but at some point, we must stop making lists and start taking action. It's time to start gaining ground before our way is blocked. I live in the bottom corner of the state of Georgia. Tonight, we have been warned that an Arctic blast is arriving that will keep nighttime temps in the low 20s (F) accompanied by 25 mph winds. It will stick around for a couple of weeks and likely bring sleet and possibly snow. Now in Canada or North U.S., this is simply called winter. But in an area that rarely drops below 30 F, we are sorely unprepared. Yet we have been hurriedly doing our best to get ready anyway. [By the way Southerners do NOT know how to drive in sleet and snow, so avoid this area until it thaws.] Gratitude is a reminder of the resources we do have, including a home in which to harbor from the storm. It's a principle that can warm the heart, no matter what the weather.

Valor

From the Gill Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Circle Deck, Consequences:

Know what's important and what isn't. Have the wisdom to know the right thing to do, the integrity to do it, the character to stand up to those who don't, and the courage to stop those who won't. 

—Mark Goulston

It's always a jolt to find oneself fired up about something - whether it's an ethical stance or a creative inspiration - and find a crowd carrying buckets of water to douse the flames. We can assume things are hopeless and give up or, like the Seven of Wands, we can burn brighter. Valor requires us not to fall under the intimidation of others, but to hold fast. Consequence implies that there will be repercussions for standing up rather than sitting down. We might lose some friends, or we might discover who our true friends are. We also might develop confidence in our own abilities as we attempt to create a kinder, more beautiful world.

Cleaning the Mirror

From the Gill Tarot, the Sun; from the Circle Deck, Sanctuary:

Only a child sees things with perfect clarity.

― Douglas Adams

There are so many things we hide in the shadows - what causes us pain or sadness, that which creates fear, and those matters we're just too stressed to deal with. But under the Sun, those shadows invite us to dance, to relate with them not as an enemy but as an ally that helps us see life with clarity and understanding. Its warmth soothes and its radiance releases the energy that we were using to keep everything concealed. Sanctuary is not meant as a place to avoid and hide from life; instead, it is a sheltered place to do such work with a feeling of safety. 

A Little of Both

From the Gill Tarot, the Princess (Page) of Swords; from the Circle Deck, Trust:

The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know… We know truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart. ― Blaise Pascal

Having a lot of knowledge and the intellect to wield it can be a dangerous thing if there is no kindness to balance it. Such intelligence has need of an ethical counterbalance (think of Sherlock's Watson). Whether we are weighted on the heart side or the logic side, the Trust card encourages us to give the other end of the seesaw some leeway. Our well-being and that of others depends on both.

Imagining

From the Gill Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Circle Deck, Moderation:

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. 

― Mark Twain

Imagination is a wonderful thing, allowing us to see beyond the reality of what is to the potential of what might be. Especially when we are looking for fulfillment, mental imagery allows us to try on different roles and put ourselves in diverse situations to see if they are a good fit. Yet the Moderation card cautions us not to get so excited about a change that we jump from A to Z. Better to dip our toe in before jumping in unknown waters - reality can be very different than we imagined it.

What is Given

From the Gill Tarot, Death; from the Circle Cards, Surrender:

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Intellectually, we all know that we will die, that we will lose the things and people we love one day. But knowing it doesn't mean our hearts will embrace it. Lemony Snicket wrote that it is always a surprise when it happens: "It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things." The Hanged Man tries to prepare us for those moments, giving us a chance to feel our powerlessness over certain situations. Thus, the Surrender card advises we need to stop fighting reality and accept it. If and when we do, we'll know to tread with more care and attention.

There's a Difference

From the Gill Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Circle Deck, Partnership:

There is a significant difference between encouraging people and enabling them. No matter what the situation may be, you can cheer them on, but you can’t carry any of their steps or lessons out for them. 

― Morgan Richard Olivier

Like the codependency her sister the Queen of Cups must avoid, the Queen of Wands understands how easy it is to get sucked into other peoples' passions. If she got involved in everyone's projects, she would quickly become overwhelmed and find no time for her own aspirations. Instead, she acts as a mirror, reflecting the heat and light of each person, supporting them through encouragement and suggestions only. Partnership implies an alliance that compliments strengths and offsets weaknesses but does not require one person to pull the ox's load. The Queens know that boundaries are needed because we have limits on our time, energy and resources. As Shawn Meghan Burn cautioned, "One way to think of it is that when it’s a pattern, it’s a problem."

Because It is Holy

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Swords and Caution:

When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix, I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve, I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

The Prince/Knight of Swords acts on what he sees as a miscarriage of justice or a perversion of truth. His ideas of how things should be (the yellow light of his sword) are made manifest (the yellow light from his hand). Yet the Caution card suggests a pause before acting. Are we trying to help when we don't really understand the circumstances and situation? Homeless people living in a car don't need us to buy them a new TV. To truly serve others, we must see them as equals, not as people who need to be fixed. As Remen wrote, "We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy."

Effort and Attention

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Four of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Anchor:

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.     

—Theodore Roosevelt 

This carpenter's hard work seems to be paying off in many ways. The tools in both his hands suggest his steady effort. Often known as the 'effort heuristic,' research shows we tend to appreciate and put more value on things we acquire through exertion and labor. Such success, even in the early stages, is so much sweeter. The Anchor button implies stability and being grounded. When we work hard for something and receive it, we then channel our effort into sustaining and caring for it. What is appreciated is not ignored and allowed to disintegrate from lack of attention.