Accepting Deception

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Southernisms Oracle, "You could throw yourself on the ground and miss:"

The easiest thing of all is to deceive one's self; for what a man wishes he generally believes to be true.

―Demosthenes

Churches offer folks community and traditions if they accept and abide by their philosophy. But their leaders are human and prone to preach one view and live another. There are also a few who steal from the poor and line their own pockets - selling 'miraculous' prayer cloths and oils. The "You could throw yourself on the ground and miss" card indicates a situation where common sense is being overruled by desire or desperation. Before signing on and molding one's life around someone else's rules, step back and look at things with an objective eye.  

Desire and Commitment

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Chariot; from the Southernisms Oracle, "Have a hankering for:"

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. ―Mario Andretti

This couple are taking a rest after loading one hundred heavy watermelons in their pickup. Soon they will grab their sign and head to the nearest town to see if they can sell their harvest. The Chariot is about movement, first in the preparatory stage of getting ready, then navigating to get to one's objective, and finally the arrival where the goal can be completed. It's generally more hard work than riding down the highway with the windows down and the music blaring. Hankering means to 'hang on,' and refers to our thoughts getting attached to an idea or desire. We all hanker after different things, but rarely do we satisfy them unless we get up and get moving.    

Right Action

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Six of Cast Irons (Pentacles); from the Southernisms Oracle, Playing Possum:

When we bear witness, the right action arises by itself. We don't have to worry about what to do.

―Bernie Glassman

We spay and neuter the cats we adopt (even though they are indoors), but here, like many places, we have a feral cat problem. Though some people can't afford to pay for the vet's services, others who have outdoor cats simply turn a blind eye to the kittens they produce who must make their own way. The "Playing possum" card points to this habit of pretending, yet the Six of Cast Irons encourages us to not turn away. We all have resources we can share, even if it is only attention or a kind word.

Consequences

This week I'll be using the Delta Enduring Tarot, created and self-published by Bridgette Egan. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Southernisms Oracle (a deck I created based on sayings I grew up with). Today's draws are the Nine of Oaks (Wands) and Drunk as Cooter Brown:

For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing. 

―Simon Wiesenthal

The Nine of Oaks shows a mother nutria (a semiaquatic rodent similar to a beaver) defending her babies. Motherhood is exhausting, but it has already taught her to be flexible and adaptable when meeting challenges - necessary traits for resilience. We can draw on our own experiences, remembering what worked well and what didn't, when we face a new difficulty. The Southernism card illustrates the legend of Cooter Brown who refused to fight on either side of the Civil War. He decided he would stay drunk on moonshine for the entire time, making him an unfit soldier. Yet even if he didn't want to go into battle, there were other options other than giving himself cirrhosis of the liver. Perhaps he could have hidden people in danger, helping them to safety. While action isn't always advisable in every circumstance, doing nothing can have extreme consequences. 

If We're Willing

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Star; from the Way of the Horse, Horse Ancestors:

Perhaps there is a better way - we think so.

―AA basic text

No one heals unless they rest, allowing what flattened them to be purged. Nevertheless, it's tempting, once we are feeling more like our old selves, to go back to the familiar. We start strategizing, trying to revamp the same thing that caused our fall. The Star tells us there is guidance to be had if we're willing to set aside our plans and listen. Yet listen, as Krishnamurti encouraged, "without your prejudices interfering – listen as you may listen to the song of a bird." Horse Ancestors implies that we have inherited certain habits from our family or culture. However deeply entrenched, unhealthy patterns can be changed if we're willing to do the hard work of learning new behaviors and attitudes. 

Wealth and Happiness

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Ten of Coins; from the Way of the Horse, The Herd:

There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little. 

―Jackie French Koller

This little family has found the way to feel rich by learning to live moderately. They lack nothing, having all the basics that keep them safe and healthy. Appreciating what they have, they are content with enjoying the simple things in life. In their philosophy, less is more; they understand how excess can create complications and add to problems. The Herd parallels new research that has found living a longer, happier life requires more than taking care of our bodies. Close relationships, rather than money, made a huge difference. As psychiatrist Robert Waldinger put it, “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”

But Actually...

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Moon; from the Way of the Horse, Transformation:

But even when the moon looks like it's waning... it's actually never changing shape. 

―Ai Yazawa

A small child might think someone took a big bite out of the moon when it's in crescent form, not realizing the rest of it is just in shadow. People often do the same with bits of information - they make assumptions without realizing they aren't seeing the full picture. There are generally three outlooks: the optimist, who sees the bright side and expects a positive outcome to situations; the pessimist, who anticipates negative outcomes and sees challenges as insurmountable; and the realist, who neither sugarcoats nor catastrophizes circumstances, but looks for evidence and solutions. The optimist can be overconfident and ignore protocols, the pessimist can live with anxiety and take no risks, and the realist can suffer from over-analysis and emotional detachment. If we want a balanced outlook, we'll take a healthy part from all three. Transformation illustrates letting go of habits and beliefs that constrain us, realizing they are costing us our freedom. As Pema Chodron explained, "Renunciation is realizing that our nostalgia for wanting to stay in a protected, limited, petty world is insane."

Move With Grace

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Way of the Horse, False Self:

We may wear now one mask and now another, and never, if we so desire, appear with our own true face. But we cannot make these choices with impunity. If we have chosen the way of falsity, we must not be surprised that truth eludes us when we finally come to need it and that confusion reigns.

– Thomas Merton

The imaginative and sensitive Knight of Cups signals movement in the emotional realm. Perhaps that resentment we've held onto for years gets chipped away. Maybe we gain the courage to introduce ourselves to someone we wanted to get to know better. Or it could be that those who have been in the depths of grief decide a walk in the sunshine would be nice. Yet the False Self card warns us not to act in order to conform to external expectations or ideals. We must let our actions stem from a sincere heart. 

But There Was Trust

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the Way of the Horse, Point of View:

I did not always think he was right, nor did he always think I was right, but we were each the person the other trusted. ― Joan Didion

Whether the relationship is business related, romantic, or between friends, a true partnership needs a foundation of trust. Not half-truths or the kind that conveniently omits some things, but the type that lays everything that might affect the connection on the table. Then comes the side dishes: mutual respect, shared values, communication and the willingness to grow. Last but not least is the ability to support rather than tear down the other when going through challenging times. Point of View asks us if we are seeing a situation from a self-centered point of view (how does this affect me) or a wide perspective (how does this affect us). When we support the other person, do we think of it as transactional (now you owe me)? Selfishness is a hammer for the nails in the coffin of many relationships. 

It had evidently not occurred to her as yet that those who consent to share the bread of adversity may want the whole cake of prosperity for themselves. ― Edith Wharton

Needed Improvement?

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Seven of Coins; from the Way of the Horse, Dharma's Reflection:

When we don’t know how we’re doing we can’t improve. 

―Jim Clemmer

There is the joke of the woman pulled over for speeding. When asked by the officer where she was going in such a hurry, she replies, "I don't know, but I'm making good time!" No matter how fast we're implementing ideas and steps, if we don't pause to assess what our results are so far, we won't know if we're making progress or impeding it. Reviews allow us to continue on, adjust or change course to be effective. Dharma's Reflection represents using relationships as a mirror that reflects behavioral patterns and emotional responses back to us. Our connections can trigger fears, point out rigid beliefs, or ignite unhealthy habits. When we are aware, we have the option to improve, no matter what it is we're building or developing.

It's Sailed

This week I'll be using the Hezicos Tarot, created and self-published by Mary Griffin. Along with it I'll be using the Way of the Horse, an oracle deck and book set created by Linda Kohanov with Kim McElroy and published by New World Library. The two cards drawn for today are the Five of Cups and Dominance:

It is about being clear about the list of things we really want to pursue in life, and in choosing to reserve our energy for those things that mean the most. ―Andre Begin

This little gnome is so angry, his body is as rigid as board. Connections and relationships have fallen by the wayside, but right now he's too mad to consider whether he had a hand in their departure. If his anger gives way to grief, then perhaps he'll reflect with a clearer eye. Yet if he gets stuck, he's going to lose the two loyal cups still standing behind him. Dominance shows a horse straining so hard, he is covered in sweat with his veins protruding. Trying to control people can make us feel the same way internally. We feel entitled to expect them to behave how we think they should, but of course they never do (and usually react badly when we berate them). The boat on the ocean behind the gnome illustrates the saying, "that ship has sailed." No amount of bargaining, intimidation or manipulation will turn back time. Best to learn from our mistakes and use our energy for more beneficial pursuits.

A Measured Response

 From the RainShadow Tarot, Strength; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Ocean:

A measured response trumps a triggered reaction every time.

―Alexander Kambiri

Mack describes Strength as inner fortitude with calm composure. While anger or fear might get our attention, acting from these emotional surges don't usually produce the hoped for results. Save the fierceness for days when survival and self-preservation require that kind of energy. Take a deep breath in, purse your lips as if holding a tiny straw, then exhale slowly. Find your center and then make a measured response. Ocean reiterates this advice. Even when its waves are rolling on the surface, it is calmer at its depth. As Hermann Hesse reminds us, "Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."

A Price

From the RainShadow Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Fiber:

Mindfulness is our capacity to be aware in a balanced and curious way. It is a fresh awareness that connects intimately with whatever we experience, just as it is, without the distortions of bias, expectation and control. We're not judging what's happening, waiting for something else, or trying to get something. ―Oren Jay Sofer

The Keeper of Wisdom waits for us to become settled and silent before she gives us passage. But like Charon the ferryman who required payment to cross the River Styx, she requires us to let go of any expectations of what we will receive. We wait without motive or demand; when we do, insight will rise. Fiber brought to mind the phrase, "with every fiber of my being." Fiber woven together increases dramatically in strength. It is a reminder that understanding something intellectually is useful, but it is not nearly as valuable as when we embody it and use it in our day-to-day life. 

Children of Chance

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Page of Cups; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Walnut:

Oh! that gentleness! How far more potent is it than force!

― Charlotte Brontë

The rabbit is a perfect symbol of the unassuming and gentle Page of Cups. Like the spring flowers that brighten the landscape after the dullness of winter, this sweet fellow is a soothing balm to all. Yet he is also curious, with his senses and mind propped open to the world. It is a trait that will nourish his creativity and intuition. The Walnut reminds me of a gift given to me by an acquaintance: a walnut with my name on it along with a note. The note said she knew my outer armor was tough, but inside she had discovered the inner me was tender, like the nut itself. Kent Nerburn wrote, "Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom and others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices in life no more easily made."

Moving Forward

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Snail:

Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days. 

―Doug Larson

Mack ties the Six of Cups to nostalgia, a wistful affection for the past. Studies have found that sunny recollections of times past can contribute to comfort, mental health and self-esteem. However, nostalgia has also been used as a political tool: by invoking the idea of an idealized past, politicians can provoke anxiety and uncertainty while promising to bring back the good old days. Snail appears to tell us to slow down when such promises are heaped upon us. Nostalgia can be deceptively comforting, leaving out the pain and darkness - the olden days weren't all good or happy. Plus, the world has changed drastically over the years; there is no going back to the way things were, only moving forward in the best way we can find.

Vigor and Vitality

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Sun; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Star:

There’s always the sunshine, only we must do our part, we must move into it. 

— Clara Louise Burnham

Two stars appear in the cards drawn today, one that rules our days and the other our nights. The Sun brings warmth and light, creating vigor and vitality. In the tree world, vigor is the capacity to survive and thrive while vitality is the ability to respond and grow. It's a day for sending our roots down and our branches up and outward. The Star brings guidance into the mix. It would be easy to waste our energy on what we can't control or on situations that don't really matter in the big scheme of things. If we feel like we're spinning in circles, it might be a good idea to check and see if we've lost our focus.

Powerful and Potent

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Hare:

Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

The flower arrangement on this Ace of Swords is a reminder that words can be encouraging, supportive and beneficial just as they can be provoking, cruel and poisonous. This Ace advocates for clarity, for seeing beyond our preferences and prejudices, our plans and plots. Hare is a symbol of fertility; it gives us notice that the bend of our thoughts and words will continue to curve in a certain direction unless we change them. We can choose to build a beautiful life or wind up sitting alone in a pile of rubble.

Uncompromising to Clarity

This week I'll be using the RainShadow Tarot, created and self-published by Claire Mack. I'll also be using the Liminal Spirits Oracle, created by Laura Tempest Zakroff and published by Llewellyn. Today's draws are the Moon and Oak:

One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.

― Aldous Huxley

B.F. Skinner taught that we are conditioned through reward or punishment for certain ideas and actions. Soon our responses become channeled automatically. But when regularly fed new information and evidence, a part of our mind might rebel - showing up in random thoughts, dreams, or slips of the tongue. We may feel confused about what to do as we consider other options. The woman who believed it was sinful to leave her emotionally abusive husband begins googling divorce attorneys. No longer submerged, we seek to hitch our wagon to our own star. The Oak's wood is known for its strength and durability. When we begin a course change, fear and guilt may cause us to question our decision. Oak reminds us that our inner wisdom is deeply rooted and worth the price of following.

Defensive Posture

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the A'HA Oracle, Eye of the Cosmos:

All this hurrying from place to place won't bring you any relief, for you're travelling in the company of your own emotions, followed by your troubles all the way. ―Seneca

Exhaustion is the fitting subtitle Padma gives to this card. I have a friend who lives life in a defensive posture, having been shaped from an early age by years of cruelty, desperation and fear. Having a conversation with her is a winding road that first must detour many roadblocks put up in a neurotic attempt to protect herself. Yet she'll often relax her guard on my back porch, as we sit and watch the birds and the leaves fluttering in breeze - it is a place she feels safe and loved. The eye of a hurricane, typically 20 to 40 miles across, is characterized by light breezes and sunny skies. This place of calm in the middle of the storm is what The Eye of the Cosmos entreats us to find, whether internal or external. We all need a place of refuge to remind us that there's more to this world than simply defending ourselves.

Day of Appreciation

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the A'HA Oracle, Domino Effect:

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

―Bertrand Russell

I get a "Big Lebowski" vibe from this relaxed guy. We all have times when we're burnt out and need a mental health day or when we're physically sick and we need a day of rest to get well. But sometimes we need to take a day just to appreciate that things are going right, and life is good. Sure, it's all going to change tomorrow, but why not take advantage of fully enjoying it today? Domino Effect suggests an event that sets off a chain reaction. Perhaps our "wasted day" will help provide the buoyancy we need to stay healthy in mind and body. 

Mindset Restructuring

 

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Two of Pentacles; from the A'HA Oracle, Spider and Web:

You see life through your own unique lens. This is your mindset – the assumptions and expectations you hold about yourself, your life and the situations around you. By understanding, adapting and shifting your mindset, you can improve your health, decrease your stress and become more resilient to life’s challenges. ―Mia Primeau

This fellow glides from one stone to another while rough waves swirl at his feet, threatening to unbalance him. The Two of Pentacles always reminds me of a line in a daily prayer written by Mary Jane Dodd: "May I move through each moment mindfully (paying attention to this moment), lightly (keeping my sense of humor), and with clarity (seeing reality without my judgments added). Those three practices can help steady us when there seems to be no letup of storms in our life. Spiders who find their webs constantly broken by wind or animals will rebuild them in another spot. Spider asks us to consider if we're making our situation worse by our assumptions and demands; if so, we might want to do some mindset restructuring.

Lighting Candles

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the A'HA Oracle, Creativity:

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. -James Keller

The Queen of Wands loves to be a mentor to others regarding how to do things, from creating a holiday centerpiece to writing a resume. She'll share her knowledge and talents generously, without ever feeling like someone might take away her 'shine.' It is her way to nurture and encourage others. However, she would agree with Mary Lou Cook: “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Once we learn the basics, we can enjoy doing our own thing. Taking time for play, curiosity, and imagination without borders will bring us the inspiration we need.

Rant or Explore

From the Osho Zen Tarot, New Vision (Hanged Man); from the A'HA Oracle, Frog:

The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own. ―Doug Baldwin

Around age 16, Amish teens are given the opportunity to leave their closed community and experience life in "worldly" ways. Such exploration and self-discovery, known as Rumspringa, allows these kids to decide if they want to commit to an Amish way of life. The Hanged Man, however, is a more forced way to get us to see from a new perspective. We can rant and rave about a situation or we can explore it with fresh eyes. Frog - a vital environmental indicator - asks us to ascertain how this struggle is affecting our body and spirit. Are we willing to embrace reality in order to find peace and possibly a more creative solution?

Muscle Memory

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Empress; from the A'HA Oracle, Reliability:

If people long to create a better world, then we must nurture imagination - hopeful ideas, fresh alternatives, belief that the way things are isn't the way things need to be. 

―Katharine Viner

Creativity is a quality that we can bring to whatever task we're doing; it requires a mind propped open and curiosity. These are the nurturing characteristics that help us grow, adapt and heal in a world that is constantly in flux. Yet as the card Reliability reminds us, these tools are to remain in our tool belt, not put up on a dusty shelf until we get bored or desperate. Like anything we do often, they'll soon become like muscle memory when we need them most.

A Servant

This week I'll be using the Osho Zen Tarot, created by Ma Deva Padma with Osho and published by St. Martin's Press. I'll also be using the A'HA Oracle, created and self-published by Linnie Lambrechtsen. The card draws for today are the Page of Swords (Mind) and Talisman:

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

—William James

This card is a bit horrific, yet what would all the thoughts in our own mind look like? Tapes that play over and over the same thing? The Page of Swords has not yet learned that the mind is meant to be a servant, not our master. Our lives are shaped by our thoughts, especially when we're unaware of them and don't question whether they're fact or fiction. And as Iara Gassen warns, "Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment." Talisman is usually thought of as a magical item, but Linnie suggests this item can be anything that helps us remember what is important and maintain our focus. It might be a polished stone in our pocket or a silicone wristband - a great way to remember to pause and check on what our mind is up to.