Moving Forward

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Chariot; from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 8 (Holding Together):

Say the word 'quest' out loud. It is an extraordinary word, isn't it? So small and yet so full of wonder, so full of hope. ―Kate DiCamillo

What is this strange machine Pieper uses for a Chariot? It is a Trojan Armored Vehicle, employed by the British Army; it is not a weapon, but a vehicle used to clear minefields and make difficult terrain easier to navigate. Its excavator arm can be used to dig, remove obstacles, or deposit the fascine it carries to cross trenches or marshes. The plow on the front allows the vehicle to push things out of the way or to detonate mines. Such a machine capable of multiple uses reminds us that any quest or journey requires planning and preparation, knowing there will be difficulties we must face along the way. Smooth sailing should not be expected. Hexagram 8, Holding Together, points to joining things that are separate or different into a coherent whole without suppression. In the case of the Chariot, it suggests that our will, emotions, and logic need to work together, assessing each need as it arises. Pause, breathe, and let the solution come, then move forward.

Juju

 From the New Era Elements Tarot, Daughter of Air (Page of Swords); from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 46 (Pushing Upward):

The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. ―Florence Scovel Shinn

The Daughter of Swords is bright, outspoken and soaks up information like a sponge. But intelligence does not equal common sense, especially when it comes to the consequences of our words. She's realized that words have power but is only beginning to find out that they can also seal up a heart or a doorway. That kind of juju needs to be respected, not used indiscriminately. Hexagram 46 shows mushrooms pushing up through the ground - the fruiting bodies of fungi. It represents rising to a higher level as we learn from our mistakes and the wisdom of others. In this case, we understand that we don't have to say everything we think. As Ernest A. Yeboah said, "We only shout when we neglect what silence can do."

Swinging Through Time

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Six of Water (Cups); from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 66:

My mind swings wildly through time, touching on dozens of ideas a minute, unharnessed and undisciplined. Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions.

―Elizabeth Gilbert

Have you ever been lost in a memory, reminiscing about a time that brought joy, only to have a less than enjoyable thought seep in? Evolution has shaped our minds so that we remember the negative much easier than the positive. As Rick Hanson put it: "The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positive ones." Hexagram 44 is traditionally called Unexpected Encounter, but Padma has titled it Attraction of Opposites. Both fit the way our good thoughts can be seduced by the bad ones, pulling our attention in their direction. Peace comes when we learn to retrain our brain (over and over) by changing the channel; instead, we make the effort to refocus on the kindhearted, the funny, the beautiful, the wondrous and the beloved.

Stay in the Hub

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Nine of Earth (Pentacles); from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 29 (the Abysmal):

A stable mind is like the hub of a wheel. The world may spin around you, but the mind is steady.

—B.K.S. Iyengar

The rough, dirty hands in this card illustrate that good fortune doesn't usually float down out of the sky like a feather. Contentment and stability aren't just about getting something but knowing how to sustain it when disruptive challenges come. If we don't put in the work, we won't have any skills to rely on later (think of those who inherit a chunk of money only to squander it away). Hexagram 29, The Abysmal, warns of a deluge of problems headed our way. To steer through the storm, we need a firm hold on our mind and our conduct. Letting our emotions take over will only feed panic and confusion; we need to stay grounded in the present and centered on what is important. As Iyengar stated, "When stability becomes a habit, maturity and clarity follow."

Wholeness

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Universe; from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 26 (Taming Power):

Perhaps ultimately, spiritual simply means experiencing wholeness and interconnectedness directly, a seeing that individuality and the totality are interwoven, that nothing is separate or extraneous. 

—Jon Kabat-Zinn

To recognize that what we label as good and bad is simply a part of the complete whole is wisdom. To view life from a point of wholeness rather than separation is holy. To act from the understanding of connection is sacred. It's not easy, because all of our opinions and judgments get in the way. Yet as Seng-Ts'an reminds us, "The great Way has no impediments; it does not pick and choose. When you abandon attachment and aversion, you see it plainly." When we are tempted to slice and dice the world into categories, Hexagram 26 (Taming Power) encourages us to apply restraint. Instead, can we remain mindful, holding onto our ethics and integrity, while we face challenges. Ideas that divide may seem to grant security, but they are actually a big part of the problem.

Fulcrum of Friendship

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 Ace of Water and Grace (Hexagram 22):

We all come to the table with our own life experiences and relationships.

―Alisyn Camerota

Water is a fundamental necessity for all living things. But now scientists are discovering that emotional connections (that water can symbolize) are just as important. Positive relationships are crucial for physical and mental health, leading to greater happiness, a longer life, and better health outcomes. Our well-being rests on the fulcrum of friendships. Yet Hexagram 22 takes this a step further, encouraging us relate to all of our experiences with grace and humility. Rather than seeing only what is wrong with things, we move through our days noticing the good, the beautiful and the awe-inspiring. Depending on whether our hearts stay open or shut down in these daily encounters, we are shaped accordingly. What kind of friend are we shaping up to be?

The Choice and the Duty

 From the Rohrig Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Moralist:

The power to make a choice goes with the duty of accepting the responsibility of the outcome of the choice. ―Michael Eneyo

This Seven of Cups card warns that we need to look carefully at our underlying motives when it comes to emotional fulfillment. What might bring a tidbit of pleasure can pull a caboose that carries a ton of pain. The intoxicating wish to escape reality and live in a fantasy is understandable but a fallacy in our physical world. The Moralist is someone who knows laws and ethics well. Yet his attitude of superiority and pretense of righteousness keep him on a pedestal, judging others while justifying his own flawed actions. Regardless of how we may sculpt our choices to look rational and acceptable, we just can't outrun reality.

Manual Driving

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), No Clothes:

Man is largely a creature of habit, and many of his activities are more or less automatic reflexes from the stimuli of his environment. 

―G. Stanley Hall

As we become adults, we begin to develop certain proclivities in the way we think and act. Our styles may tend toward the "que sera sera" laidback type, the "pass the buck" type, or the bulldozer type. Over time, these habits become set like concrete. Unfortunately, life doesn't follow a set pattern, so when we continue to react unconsciously, it occasionally jerks us out of autopilot and demands we do things manually and mindfully. Our usual loses its usefulness. No Clothes suggests we drop our pretentious roles and simply be fully human - prone to making mistakes, but also capable of learning from them. 

Daily Devotion

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), Twice Born:

More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.

–Francois Gautier

When we're mired in the muck of a situation, it is nearly impossible to see the issues clearly. Only when we rise above it can we gain perspective, seeing objectively without emotional attachment. It's not about being right - it is clarity that will help us move out of the muck and make appropriate choices. Twice Born shows Lazarus, who was thought to be dead but was brought back to life. It suggests that we must also awaken, leaving behind our fears and our agenda, in order to see reality just as it is. In the words of Ian Brady, “One should try to be honest with oneself almost as a daily devotion.”

Loving Life

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Princess of Disks; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Spirit:

Sometimes, I think that I love life so much, that I make death jealous.

―Lionel Suggs

The Princess of Disks is the pure manifestation of making and growing. Like Spring, she represents changes and new beginnings (as symbolized by the egg-like disk on her belly). In love with and excited by the sensual experience of physicality, this Princess lives life fully. The Spirit reminds us of the essence or inner spark that enlivens all things. Victor Frankl wrote that it is only through love that we can recognize this essence and potential in others. Once we see those sparks, we can help fan them into flames so that those possibilities can manifest in wonderful and constructive ways.

A Great Discovery

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Prophet:

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises,

is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.

―Henry Ford

The usual Seven of Wands shows a person standing up to others, fighting for what he or she thinks is right. But as this illustration shows, sometimes what we must stand against is not external, but a deep chasm of self-doubt. This ravine usually opens when we must face a challenge or change that alters our lives in a major way. We might try to bury ourselves in collecting knowledge, but at some point, we need to make a leap. As Dale Carnegie reminds us: "Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." The Prophet is John the Baptist, the man who saw Jesus for the extraordinary person he was. This card encourages us to seek out those people who can recognize our skills and talents, those who will remind us that we have what it takes to deal with the unexpected paths we must walk.

Too Much

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), No Law:

It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

―Aesop

Indulgence without obligations may sound wonderful, but even good things need limits. We all need a certain level of stress to keep our minds and bodies alert and ready to respond. Challenges can keep us motivated rather than feeling rudderless, and they help us learn. No Law emphasizes that love cannot be made a law or else it will simply become a duty. When it is genuine and freely given, there is mutual (as opposed to transactional) support and kindness. Over-indulgence, whether physical or emotional, is not triggered by self-love; it is a way to bypass what actually needs our attention. 

Con Artists

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 Four of Swords and the Wolves:

Con men look for human frailty to exploit.

―Pamela Meyer

The keyword given to this card is stillness, and in this case, stillness of the mind. For most people, it is much easier to rest the body than allow their thoughts to settle. When I'm exhausted from trying to solve the unsolvable or from keeping too many plates spinning, mantras and meditations do little to bring my mind to roost. Instead, I first find something beautiful or enjoyable to occupy my thoughts (music, a walk outdoors, etc.) and then afterwards use a meditative practice. The Wolves card is based on the bible verse in Matthew that warns of people who outwardly look like sheep but inwardly are ravening wolves. Such con artists scam people who are stuck in fear or anger. The 'wolves' fuel those emotions then promise resolution. Exhaustion, mental or physical, does not lend itself to logic, inquisitiveness or clarity. Take care of your mind so it can take care of you.

Empathic Distress

From Tarot by Caro, the Queen of Cups; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 37:

Technology amplifies empathic distress. We’re exposed daily to the world’s grief in real time. Every tragedy can feel personal, every injustice, a summons to act.

―Shermin Kruse 

Though this Queen is quite comfortable with the world of emotions, she protects her cup as a giant wave threatens to sweep it away. Seneca reminds us, “Reason wishes to give calm to our emotions, not to root them out.” Rather than indifference or drowning, logic and critical thinking can guide our actions. Shermin Kruse offers three ways to practice:

• Pause Before You Fix - expand the space between stimulus and response.
• Redraw the Circle of Concern - distinguish what can be controlled from what cannot.
• Practice Connection with Boundaries - witness and assist, without allowing empathy to become ego (their emotion is theirs).

Hexagram 37 refers to family or kinship; it is a safe place where there is a mutual sharing of support. This group is what helps us have the confidence and strength to meet the suffering in the world with compassion that has cognitive boundaries.

Just a Steak

 From the Tarot by Caro, the Six of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 53:

The greatest stress you go through when dealing with a difficult person is not fueled by the words and actions of the person - it is fueled by your mind that gives their words and actions importance. 

–Stephen White

This card invites us to learn from past experiences in order to stop repeating them. My husband decided he wanted to grill a steak this week and went up to Publix to talk to the butcher (wanting a quality cut for what he would pay). The butcher told him he was a Trump supporter, but my husband sidestepped that landmine and said, "That's okay, I just want a good steak." He knows it's useless to try to reason with unreasonable people. Hexagram 53 is titled Gradual Progress; instead of pushing our way to where we want to be, we take the steps we need to get there. A quote from Marc Chernoff ties these two cards together well: "The most effective way to move away from something you don’t want, is to move toward something you do want, one step at a time."

Coming and Staying

From Tarot by Caro, the Ten of Cups; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 13:

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

―Henry Ford

Anyone who's ever owned a house knows that no matter how nice it is, it will require upkeep. Families and partnerships are no different. People change as the years go by and develop new ideas and activities. Unity can thrive with diversity if we don't assume everyone needs to be the same. Emotional awareness (the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of others) and emotional intelligence (using emotional awareness to guide thinking and behavior) are important keys. Hexagram 13 is about gathering with others; it encourages us to step out of our comfort zone and interact. Outside groups can teach us how to deal with disruptions and disagreements without resentment or animosity. Sounds like a great way to learn some skills to keep a family together too. 

Dog Treats for People

From Tarot by Caro, Strength; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 61:

Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.

―Rollo May

This particular Strength card always makes me think of dog shows and the way handlers slip treats to their pup. Luring is a positive training technique; the handler often slips a treat in their own mouth to keep the dog's focus on them. Whether we're training ourselves to be patient (as opposed to I want this NOW) or courage (rather than hiding our heads under the covers), we need to reinforce our own progress. Though dog treats aren't suggested, congratulating ourselves on taking some steps in right direction is helpful. Hexagram 61 is titled Inner Truth and reminds us that we all have ideals and values we hold. When dealing with difficult situations, we must have the courage and patience to step across the line of our own views and see others' perspectives. When we listen sincerely and speak respectfully, we may open roads that were formerly closed.

Ride the Tide

From the Tarot by Caro, the Two of Pentacles; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

There is a tide in the affairs of men...

―William Shakespeare

Looks like it's a high tide kind of day, so we better start it with a large cup of caffeine. But above all, we need to prioritize, doing what is most important, what other things hinge on, first. Other tasks that don't really need our oversight can be delegated (let's forget the "but I'm the only one that can do it right" for now). The goal is to get things done while maintaining our sanity and sense of humor. Hexagram 1 has been given several names: the Dynamic, the Receptive and the Creative. Things are constantly in motion and changing, and we would do best to accept things instead of battle them; instead, we focus on creative solutions.

As a Whole

 From Tarot by Caro, the High Priestess; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 8:

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.

―John Donne

The pomegranates on the High Priestess card are a nod to Persephone (something hidden), the hems of priestly garments (wisdom), and Solomon's temple (an inner essence). She invites us to stop looking outside ourselves for answers and take a peek within. If we plant the seeds we find, they will lead to a wise and fruitful outcome. One insight available is that nothing is independent - everything depends on various causes and conditions to exist, each subject to change. Our actions (or inaction) might instigate such change, creating support or imbalance for the whole. Hexagram 8 represents cohesion, when a group of people focus on what's important and needed rather than on personal, petty things. Kind of like a President obsessed with Big Macs and ballrooms rather than focusing on the services and assistance his constituents need.

Luminous Mind - BK

Hard Choices

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 Seven of Cups and Hexagram 17:

Your life is determined by the sum of the choices that YOU make.

―Frank Sonnenberg

Ask anyone what brings them pleasure, and they'll surely have a ready list. Yet ask what brings them fulfillment and contentment, and that's likely to cause a pause in the conversation. We're constantly making choices based on whether something will require struggle and challenge or if we'll receive instant pleasure and gratification from it. But sometimes what involves effort brings us the greatest joy and what seems easy bring boredom and restlessness. The hexagram 'Following' indicates moving smoothly and willingly with reality - in other words, adapting. Flowing down the river of life brings boulders we must go around, eddies to get unstuck from, and fast-moving rapids we must navigate. But those difficulties often teach us what we're good at, what excites us, and what might bring us emotional fulfillment. 

Just Admit It

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Land Sky Oracle, Nourish:

In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for his own misdeeds.

―Epictetus

Shikhandini was the daughter of a King, the reincarnation of Princess Amba. Amba had once been taken by Bhisma but was later returned yet deemed unmarriable. In order to exact revenge, Shikhandini agreed to a sex exchange with a nature spirit to fight Bhishma in the Kurukshetra War. On seeing Shikhandi, Bhishma knew he has once been the princess and refused to fight, allowing Arjuna to kill him in a volley of arrows. At times we may do something wrong but appear to get away with it; then we might say, "Let the chips fall where they may." Only much later do we realize those chips have grown into giant boulders. Nourish, represented by an amethyst cluster, encourages us to cultivate a spiritual awareness that sees beyond our self-concern and allows us to admit and make amends for our faults. Doing so in a timely manner may keep pebbles from turning into boulders.

Love, Not Obligation

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Five of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Asteya:

Relationships based on obligation lack dignity. 

―Wayne Dyer

King Santanu ruled his kingdom with wisdom and virtue, but he longed for a wife (his son's mother was the river goddess Ganga). He found a maiden he longed to marry, but her father denied permission unless her son would be the next heir to the throne. Because his son Devavrata was the rightful heir, he declined. But kindhearted Devarata saw his father's grief and vowed to remain celibate and not take the throne, allowing the marriage. Sometimes disagreements can take on a manipulative and shrewd quality in an effort to get what one wants.  Asteya (literally non-stealing) is an ethical restraint that says we should not take what is not freely given. Santanu did not break this vow because his son willingly gave up the throne. The father of the maiden, on the other hand, was a wily thief.

Finding My Own

From the Sacred India Tarot, the King of Discs; from the Land Sky Oracle, Grace:

There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored. 

―Flannery O'Connor

The King of Discs is represented by Kubera, the god of wealth, prosperity, and glory, He is also associated with treasures of the earth, such as minerals and jewels that lie underground. Yet he was not always a god. Kubera was originally considered to be a demonic demigod and lord of dark forces. He was gradually incorporated into the orthodox Vedic pantheon as the god of wealth, as stories about him helping others were written. Grace is a gift of goodwill; rather than being transactional, it is motivated by kindness and mercy without judgment of the receiver's worthiness. It allows us a new perspective that we might redeem ourselves and change our self-centered ways. As Snow Patrol sings, "I need your grace to remind me to find my own."

A Change of Thinking

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Eight of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Awake:

You need a change of thinking rather than a change of climate.

―Seneca

In the middle of the Kurukshetra War, the skilled archer Arjuna was refusing to fight his kinsmen (which included their leader, his grandfather Bhishma). Krishna knew the kingdom would never have peace if Arjuna did not squash the attempted takeover. In an effort to prod him to action, Krishna picked up a chariot wheel to whack Bhisma, but Arjuna shot his grandfather before Krishna could attack him. His action saved Krishna from breaking his vow of nonviolence and ended the war. Awake is illustrated with tingsha cymbals; they prompt us to focus on the present moment and see clearly what is in front of us. In the case of Krishna - and also Jesus who was accused of breaking the Sabbath - sometimes vows and promises can keep us stuck in an unethical or unhealthy situation. Wake up and take the appropriate action that is needed.

Time is a River

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Eight of Staves; from the Land Sky Oracle, Abhinivesha:

Time is a river, a violent current of events, glimpsed once and already carried past us, and another follows and is gone. ―Marcus Aurelius

After 14 years, Rama finally defeated the demon king and was headed home, collecting his allies as he went along. When hardships keep one away from the people and place one loves, no time is wasted in getting back for a joyful reunion. In this case, Rama borrowed the Pushpaka Vimana, a divine flying chariot, to get there speedily. The booklet suggests that there are times when we are struck with creative ideas or solutions, and we must act on them quickly. Abhinivesha translates to the "fear of death" - not just bodily death, but loss and change as well. Sometimes when we feel led to follow a new direction, especially when it is different from how we normally define our self, there is a fear of losing our identity. But this change is natural, as Marcus Aurelius tells us: "Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight."