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." 

A Sea of Expectations

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Ten of Staves; from the Land Sky Oracle, Ahimsa:

He was swimming in a sea of other people’s expectations. Men had drowned in seas like that.

― Robert Jordan

King Rama had already asked his wife Sita to walk through fire to prove her purity to others after she returned from being kidnapped. Yet his subjects didn't truly believe that she was undefiled; when Rama needed her for an important ceremony, he asked her to go through another fire ceremony. Sita, however, was not a people pleaser. Being the daughter of Mother Earth, she requested to return to Nature, where she no longer had to deal with the rules and judgments of men. Sita understood that Ahimsa, the moral restraint that encourages nonharm and compassion, applies not only to how we treat others, but also oneself. She knew that false obligation (expectations that are not promised) and wanting to be liked were invalid reasons to cause harm to herself. Rama could have learned a thing or two from her.

Small Roles

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

Better to have a small role... than to cast yourself as the lead in your own fiction.

―Devaughn Moore LeCrae

Ganga, used to illustrate Temperance, was the personification of the river Ganges. She was a mighty heavenly river until Lord Brahma saw that her waters were needed on earth. Warned that her power might destroy the earth when she descended (she was not pleased about leaving heaven), Shiva made a maze of his matted hair that slowed the rush of her descent. Eventually, Ganga would temper her arrogance and learn to nourish others. Satya (truthfulness), the second of the five restraints described in the Yoga Sutra, encourages us to think, speak, and act with integrity. We don't need to embellish our roles and accomplishments to make us look good in the eyes of others. Exhibitionism is not a good fit for trustworthiness. 

Encouragement Does More

 From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Cherry:

Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The psychologist Albert Ellis said that one of the habits of crooked thinking is "musturbation," when we are driven by irrational shoulds, oughts and demands. I know of three isolated, older women who are constantly compelled to correct people. This tendency doesn't have anything to do with remedying misunderstandings or misinformation, but the drive to bulldoze over any actions or conversations that don't align with their interests, assumptions and opinions. As "experts," they believe it is their duty to straighten people out - not through discussions but through demands or drama. Cherry symbolizes that which is sweet but transient. Why waste our lives blowing up relationships when we could be enjoying them? As Edward Weston wrote, "A lifetime can well be spent correcting and improving one's own faults without bothering about others."

Finishing the Job

From the Legacy of the Divine, the King of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Tree:

Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.

―Pelé 

The King of Wands is similar to his Knight - full of initiative and fervor. But unlike him, the King knows how to keep the fire of his energy and enthusiasm burning bright until a project is finished. His vision of what it will look like when completed drives him onward. The Tree represents health and a holistic view. Things left undone soon slide into decline and decay. A house left half-built, a painting unfinished, or a garden unmanaged never get the chance to reach their full potential. As Pearl S. Buck tells us, “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”

Only Opportunity

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ace of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Tower:

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity. 

—Douglas MacArthur

Marchetti's Ace is full of symbols: acorns for something that can be planted and harvested; a hedgehog for resourcefulness and adaptability; ladybugs for luck and protection; and a bee for industry and allies. Opportunities may sound easy, but they can require the qualities of action, innovation and flexibility, defense of one's time and energy, hard work, and possibly partners. Does this already sound too complicated and overwhelming? Tower encourages us to look from a higher perspective so that we see the big picture instead of sinking in a million details. Once we see from this view, it will become clearer how to prioritize and what step to take first. 

That Which is Far

From the Legacy of the Divine, the Knight of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Horse:

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

―William Shakespeare

The Knight of Coins is normally thought of as a reliable, diligent fellow who does things with care. But with horses on both cards today, it seems that they should be the focus of the reading. Horse represents freedom of movement, but on the Knight card two unharnessed horses are locked in battle. It appears that any plans for action are stymied for the moment. With a Coins card, this could suggest physical health and the need for recovery. We may find ourselves in a caretaking role for someone who is injured or ill, or we might be the one who needs rest to recuperate. One of the Knight's helpful traits is patience; if we find ourselves in one of these situations, he might offer us a Swahili proverb: "“Patience attracts happiness; it brings near that which is far.”

I See You

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Ship:

The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that’s wrong with the world.

—Dr. Paul Farmer

No one gets through life without experiencing a feeling of desperation, even if it waits for us on our death beds. To allow people to be without shelter or clothing, without mental and physical health care, without daily nourishment, and without the comfort of others is inhumane. To create situations where they feel unsafe is cruel and unfeeling. Welcome to present-day America (well at least for those of us without power or wealth). The Ship suggests movement, and the water it floats upon the emotions that can easily overwhelm us when we feel such despair. Perhaps our biggest flotation device is compassion, as Allyson Pimentel explains: "when compassion takes the form of meaningful action, it can counter the feeling of being overwhelmed because it allows us to channel our feelings into a concrete way of expressing solidarity and support for those in need." It doesn't need to be big or expensive. We just offer what we can when we can with love.

Excellence is not Perfection

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Butterfly:

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.  –Paul J. Meyer

The Sagittarian archer readies to loose his arrow behind eight wands; all preparations have been made and obstacles overcome. Now it is full steam ahead, so as my father-in-law used to say, "Keep your head down and tail up." The Butterfly warns us not to get sidetracked by perfection, flitting from one thing to another, trying to ensure every detail is flawless. That ideal state will never be reached. As Angela Duckworth reminds us, "Time and energy are limited. Any successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do."

Be the Lion

This week I'll be using the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, created and self-published by Ciro Marchetti. I'll pair with it the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, created and self-published by Karin Dalton-Smith. Today's draws are the Five of Swords and Lion:

Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. 

―Robert Greene

Life coaches encourage us to be a winner, to overcome our opposition. Winning an argument can build our confidence and offer proof of our eloquence and intellect. Yet when victory is our only end goal, we often don't consider what we might inadvertently do to get there or what the ultimate cost might be. That mindset doesn't teach us to see with a wide perspective or to humbly consider that we might not have all the right information. Such an approach won't nurture any relationships either, except those who already agree with us. The Lion reminds us that it takes courage to walk away from such a situation rather than be saddled with a big load of rage and resentment. 

When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower [source of the thought - the mind]. One only throws a stick at a lion once.

―Milarepa

The Greatest Weapon

From the Classic Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Constellations Deck, Monoceros:

If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled — have you no shame in that? —Epictetus

The King of Swords would make a good Stoic, with his emphasis on logic and reason. Whether protecting or guiding, he knows his mind is his greatest weapon and tool. Control over one's own judgments and emotions, through the practice of this philosophy, is the way to wisdom and peace. Monoceros is a northern constellation representing a unicorn and suggests fantasy and imagination. While living in a dream world may sound blissful, imagination is a two-sided coin. Even though we may conjure up idyllic scenes, the mind can just as easily create hellish ones. Seneca would advocate training the mind to live in the real world: "We suffer more in imagination than reality."

You Got Style

From the Classic Tarot, the Ten of Staves; from the Constellations Deck, Canes Venatici:

All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.

― Austin Kleon

The Classic's meaning for this card is emulation: the process of copying something achieved by someone else and trying to do it as well as they have. Copying may sound like a horrible thing to do, but if we are trying to learn, it gives us a launching pad. This is how the Renaissance artists studied and gained skills and techniques. Yet achieving the ability to copy a master should not be our end game, as Canes Venatici ("hunting dogs") implies. Instead, we use what we've learned to explore and find our own creative expression and style.