Am I Sure?

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Hare:

Ideas and perceptions should be abandoned all the time, to make room for better ideas and truer perceptions. This is why we must always ask ourselves, "Am I sure?”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

The crown in this Ace of Swords is actually a coronet, lacking the convex arches and suggesting openness and curiosity. Rather than the usual palm and olive branches, it is adorned with stems from a yew and rowan tree, representing transformation (new that springs out of the old) and resilience. Ideas and solutions abound when we're willing to widen our perspective by embracing flexibility and the willingness to change. The Hare suggests creative fertility, bringing to mind a quote from Erich Fromme: "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." Our 'right way' might not be right at all.

The Perfect Sky is Torn

This week I'll be using the Llewellyn Tarot, created by Anna-Marie Ferguson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Beasts of Albion, an oracle deck created by Miranda Gray and published by Aquarian. Today's draws are the Ten of Swords and Wolf:

I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel

I'm cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor

Illusion never changed into something real

I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn

―Natalie Imbruglia 

Sometimes we surrender our views and accept things as they are because we've gained clarity from a different perspective. At other times, life has to beat us nearly senseless before we're ready to submit. Even an arthritic body can't compare to a mind that is stiff, unbending and unwilling to open. We'll take medicine for the first but not for the latter until our suffering becomes absolutely intolerable. In Celtic mythology, the Wolf was seen both as a feared predator and a trusted guide, similar to our mind's dual nature. How it is used determines whether it is our master or our servant. As William James reminds us, “Man can alter his life by altering his thinking.”

Not Through Opinion

From the Norse Tarot, the Sun; from the Wolf Pack, Leadership:

...birdsong rang out as if there had never been a day as fresh and beautiful as this one.

― Brian Jacques

When the great battle of Ragnarok occurred, forever changing the known world, Sol (the sun goddess) was killed. Yet before she died, she had a daughter who would become her successor. The U.S. is currently undergoing its own great battle, as democracy slips and violent rhetoric and hatred swirl around us. It feels like the sun has been eclipsed by something dark and malevolent. Though this may last for years, I hang on to the thread of hope that things will eventually swing in the other direction, and life will become brighter again. During these corrupt times, Leadership encourages us to stick to our moral compass and heed the words of Paul Coelho: “The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.”

Are They Kind?

From the Norse Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Wolf Pack, Release:

We harm ourselves as well as others if we become callous. To judge without being judgmental requires empathy. ―Charles H. Webb

This Three of Cups seems more sedate than the usual celebration filled with dancing. It reminds me of my husband's uncles and aunts from Alabama (sadly now all departed) who used to come to Georgia to visit. They were originally a large farming family, but once they retired, they sought out their kin. I think they missed that feeling of belonging. Release encourages a letting go of our personal opinions about others. We must judge - discerning whether something or someone is safe and healthy for us - but to be judgmental slides into the area of intolerance. We think other people's beliefs are ridiculous and without worth because they are so different from our own. Yet curiosity will show that we are all shaped by individual experiences in different ways. A better scale would be to ask, "But are they kind?"

Untitled for Now

From the Norse Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Wolf Pack, Persistence:

You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

 — William Faulkner

As the saying goes, if we want something different in our life, we must do something different. Expanding our horizons, regardless of whether it has to do with our finances, other people, or simply learning something new, requires us to be willing to be uncomfortable and uncertain for a while. Persistence underscores this necessity, encouraging us not to give up because we feel a bit lost or nervous. As Bob Goff wrote, “Embrace the uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.”

Just Wanted to Call...

From the Norse Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Wolf Pack, Support:

We were never meant to go it alone. Every small act of care becomes a thread in the tapestry of belonging. ―Ken Breniman

Two adults - possibly family or friends - chat while watching children play. Doing so brings up memories that they laugh or groan over. "Remember when you picked all of grandfather's green tomatoes off the vines, thinking you were helping?" "What about that time we were a bit intoxicated and went go to the grocery store; we got sunglasses off the spin rack and put them on all the produce!" Those memories remind us of and reestablish our connections. As the Support card reminds us, we all need someone in our corner, whether a group or a few friends. Yet bonds begin to fray if we don't take time to keep them strong. Who might we need to call or send an email to today? 

Last Mile

From the Norse Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Wolf Pack, Home:

There is no mile as long the final one that leads back home.

― Katherine Marsh

The long, slender ships of the Norse (aptly name longships) were built for speed. In calm waters or during surprise attacks, they dropped the sail and used oars. These men, seeing the familiar coastline of their village, are likely rowing for all their worth, ready to get back to familiar, friendly faces and relax with some hot food and good drink. Home brings up mixed memories for me. What I consider my original home was my grandparents' house, which was demolished for a hospital parking lot. It would take many years - after I married my husband - that I felt as if I had found another home. As Maya Angelou wrote, “The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

The rambling, roomy house on Mimosa Drive

Welcomed its first family in 1928.

The Garrisons would grow there and grieve there,

Celebrating an abundance of joyful times and finding refuge during loss.

Throughout the years, its walls, floors, and roof

Were suffused with the affection and devotion of family.

Bulldozers have now crushed its beams and crumbled its foundation,

Yet the love that grew there still remains.

How appropriate that it will soon provide parking space

For those in search of comfort and healing.

―BK

Busy Hands, Light Heart

From the Norse Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Wolf Pack, Reunion:

There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. –William J. Brennan, Jr.

Barrett describes this fellow as a merchant who doesn't mind getting away from the sales counter and doing work that isn't quite as prestigious. When did hard work become something we thumbed our noses at rather than what we were proud of? Just because we can afford to pay someone to do a job that we could do ourselves doesn't make it lowly or inferior. Reunion, while usually referring to two separate people, might refer to two parts of ourselves. Remember as young children when we were proud to accomplish simple tasks on our own? Yet even when we're older, there are reasons to appreciate such work. As Tad Williams wrote: "One should treasure those hum-drum tasks that keep the body occupied but leave the mind and heart unfettered."

The Cave of Treasure

This week I'll be using the Norse Tarot, a book and card set created and self-published by Clive Barrett. Paired with it will be the Wolf Pack, a deck created and self-published by Robert Petro. Today's draws are the Seven of Discs and Transformation:

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

―AA basic text

This young fellow sits atop a sand dune, watching the waves roll in and the birds fly by. He's supposed to be fixing the broken shields below, but he finds daydreaming much more pleasant. It's one thing to take a relaxing break, but another to idle away the hours without any intention of doing any work. It might seem like a life of pleasure is the way to bliss, yet as Transformation hints, it's the work and challenges we go through that lead us to contentment. We gain confidence, skills and knowledge, as we learn; because we are trustworthy, we form deep bonds. As Joseph Campbell wrote, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” 

Take Your Place

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Seven of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, the Man:

Head high, my dear! Eyes up! Take your place in the world!

―Rebecca Stead

Spokespeople for major organizations and corporations must be thick-skinned, not easily rattled, and above all, have a comprehensive understanding of the work they represent. This fellow is so composed that he looks bored. He's done his homework beforehand and has answers and explanations to whatever the angry mob throws at him. The Man suggests an assertive and protective response to those who would like to knock us from our perch. We don't need to get angry, but we do need to be resilient. As Colleen Hoover said, "I'm choosing to stand up taller. I'll probably get knocked down a few more times before this life is through with me, but I can guarantee you I'll never stay on the ground."

Spending Addiction

 From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Three of Coins; from the Viking Lenormand, Key:

You’ll never out-earn bad habits. Fix those first.

―Joseph C. Kunz Jr.

We all know folks who are skilled, knowledgeable and work hard, yet they always seem to be broke. Becoming proficient in any field includes money management. Not only do we need to balance the costs of our resources with what we charge for our product or services, we must learn to spend what we make wisely. A big payday means covering our bills and putting some in savings before we splurge. The Key suggests looking for answers - in this case, controlling our addiction to spending. Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz created four steps to take when our craving begins to replace our common sense:

Relabel - Remind yourself of the reality: “I don’t need this, it’s only an obsessive thought, an unfounded belief. Even though there is a feeling of urgency, there’s not anything urgent actually going on.

Reattribute - Place the blame on your brain: “My brain is sending me a false message. Because my desires are ingrained in my brain, they are easily triggered when I’m stressed, tired, unhappy or bored. They feel powerful, but they’re only arising from an automatic brain mechanism, not a moral failure.”

Refocus - The compulsion will pass if given some time. Find something to do that is enjoyable and will keep you active. Teach the brain it doesn’t have to obey the addictive call.

Revalue/Devalue - Realize the impact of the addictive urge. The addicted brain puts a false value on the behavior. It has caused many more problems than it has ever fixed. 

Nettles

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the Viking Lenormand, the Tree:

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

― Horace Walpole

The truth for this Queen is simply seeing the world as it is. We tend to get intoxicated by our emotions, opinions, assumptions and concepts, often secretly thinking we're experts. However, she advocates for clarity and self-honesty, encouraging us to have the patience to listen and ask questions. She reminds us that we'll need to prop open our mind and be aware of when new information tries to slam it shut. The Tree represents steady, strong growth. Such development allows us to see areas that need improvement as well as opportunities and resources. If we can't see clearly, we won't know how to appropriately respond to any situation, much less any challenge.  

Starved for Love

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the Viking Lenormand, Cross:

There's truths you have to grow into.

― H.G. Wells

The Eight of Cups represents leaving a situation that we find unfulfilling. Perhaps it was the relationship we thought was perfect, the job we felt was made for us, or the group that we assumed had the same values and interests we did. Yet when is leaving a matter of immaturity, simply wanting things our way? Patience, perseverance, wise decision-making, dependability, self-control, and humility are hallmarks for maturity. These traits usually take challenging experiences to develop. But the Cross implies burdens and sacrifices that might be too much for anyone to bear. If we are in a situation that is controlling, manipulative or abusive which is affecting our mental or physical health, then leaving is the sane thing to do. Otherwise, we might find ourselves in the words of Ayushee Ghoshal, "You make me feel like a firefly. Trapped in a bell jar; starved for love."

Not Always Destiny

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Viking Lenormand, the Stars:

I sat with anger long enough until it told me its real name was Grief.

―Unknown

Unlike his wife, the King of Cups prefers ebb tide when he can see what the sea was hiding beneath its waves. He knows that people can cry when they're angry or rage when they are fearful. Outer emotions don't necessarily explain what is hidden beneath them. When intense feelings begin to wane, he can then uncover the ideas, expectations and frustrations that instigated them. The Stars often suggest a person's destiny, a predetermined course of events. But what if that course could be changed by noticing and altering our 'constellations' of behavior and the patterns of thinking that drive them? As James Baldwin reminds us, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

No Thanks

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Knight of Pentacles; from the Viking Lenormand, Bouquet:

In a self-absorbed society with a narcissism epidemic, everyone values image perception over reality. 

― Sunday Tomassetti

This Knight of Cups holds his chalice up in the air like it's a trophy, which brought to mind "trophy wives." This term originally appeared in a 1950 issue of The Economist newspaper, referring to the historical practice of warriors capturing the most beautiful women during battle to bring home as wives. Nowadays it refers to a someone who is chosen for their physical attractiveness and the ability to impress others; such a person would also affirm the virility and power of the chooser. How strange that people would prefer a life of wealth rather than being valued as a person and loved. Bouquet suggests joy and success. Being able to discern the relationships that will bring us misery and instead choosing the ones that will bring us happiness is a trait worth celebrating. As Mary Ann Shaffer points out, "I'd have become one of those abject, quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question."

Beware the Shadow

This week I'll be using the Nigel Jackson Tarot, created by Jackson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Viking Lenormand, created and self-published by my talented friend Carole Beasley. The draws this morning are the Ace of Coins and Garden:

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

― Aesop

The Ace of Coins suggests substance (concrete things) and sensation (the information from our senses). Aesop warns us to not spend too much time in our minds - fantasizing, ruminating, or contemplating abstract ideas - because we might unintentionally lose what is in the here and now. Garden usually makes us think of the outdoors. Yet there's a big difference in being outside at a birthday party with 15 rowdy kids or doing yard work versus simply sitting in the quiet and paying attention. Nature captures all of our senses, whether a bird's song or a breeze, helping us to slow down and see with a full heart.

Learning to be Receptive

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the American Pen Oracle, Jeffery Deaver:

Accepting reality doesn't mean being complacent about it; acceptance can be the foundation of seeing clearly... —Kazu Haga

The Queen of Cups is, elementally speaking, water of water. Her cup is covered, not to repress her own emotions, but because she is consciously aware of what feelings are going on within without having to act on them. This queen makes a good therapist - she can hang out with someone for a few minutes and pick up on whatever emotional station someone is broadcasting from. While she is kind, warmhearted, and a good listener, she does her best not to add her emotions to someone else's lest they both become submerged. Her job is to help people become receptive to reality in order to learn to respond appropriately to it. As Jeffery Deaver wrote: "Yield and you need not break. Bent, you can straighten. Emptied, you can hold. Torn, you can mend."

More Beautiful

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the American Pen Oracle, Anne Bradstreet:

Kintsugi is a pottery technique. When something breaks, like a vase, they glue it back together with melted gold. Instead of making the cracks invisible, they make them beautiful. 

―Elliot Wake

There is a tenderness in the Two of Cups that seems different than the passion of the Lovers. The winged lion in this card is a symbol of St. Mark; Coptic tradition says that Mark hosted the disciples in his house after Jesus's death. Can you imagine the anger, fear and sadness of these men after watching their beloved spiritual leader tortured and murdered? They needed a safe, sacred place to process their emotions, or else they would brutally twist the wisdom they were taught. Anne Bradstreet writes: "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." To taste what is bitter can remind us of what was sweet and good. Reconciliation allows both parties to accept the past, forgive, and move forward towards a more valued relationship. 

Enjoy It While You've Got It

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the King of Pentacles; from the American Pen Oracle, Robert Frost:

See how, just as drifting sands constantly overlay the previous sand, so in our lives what we once did is very quickly covered over by subsequent layers. —Marcus Aurelius

The A-W's wild colors for this card make it look like this King has been overgrown with moss or lichen. It reminds me of a photo I bought at an art show - an old pair of leather hiking boots covered in moss and nearly hidden by plants. It was titled "Back to Nature." It strikes me that this King, who has proven his business acumen, knows that either we will lose things or things will lose us. That's why he doesn't mind indulging in a few comforts or delights. Robert Frost wrote "Nothing gold can stay," but he also wrote “Live life like it's the last breath you take for that breath is the whole essence of living; the little things in life are what connects us to all the big things we live for.” Enjoy it while you've got it!

It Starts From Within

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the American Pen Oracle, Eudora Welty:

Wherever you see fit to serve, your wise and embodied offerings are needed.

—Ruth King

The Queen of Wands has charisma and confidence, but one of her most amazing skills is being able to lead without the power of the King. She leads through influence rather than authority, understanding how to foster collaboration and be a team player. She is trustworthy, inspiring, and always willing to help support others in their interests. Though some of us may have knowledge or skills that might be of use or interest to a group, we may fear we don't have the experience to guide anyone. Eudora Welty offers us some encouragement: "A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within."

Quick as a Shot

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles; from the American Pen Oracle, Alice Hoffman:

Look to this day:

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendor of achievement. 

― Kalidasa

It doesn't matter if we're a teen or in our seventies, each day offers us seeds to plant. When we're young and busy with school, work or a family, we often see these seeds as something that we just don't have the time to cultivate. When we're older and have more free time, we might not want to get out of our comfortable routines. But nothing will grow if we don't plant the gifts of each day; we won't get a chance for a do-over when we realize the opportunity we've lost. As Alice Hoffman reminds us, “Good fortune can take forever to get to you, but as it turns out, sorrow is as quick as a shot.”

Magnifying Stuckness

This week I'll be using the Albano-Waite Tarot, recolored by Frankie Albano and published by U.S. Games. Along with it, I'll be using the American Pen Oracle, a deck I made for personal use that includes quotations from American poets and writers. Today's draws are the Hierophant and Anne Lamott:

But if you’re stuck, you might get more entrenched in your stuckness by speaking to people who are like you, because they’ll magnify that stuckness.

― Adam Alter

I always think of the Hierophant as a teacher or religious leader who draws people together based on a framework of beliefs and values. But on a lark, I looked at Kaplan's LWB that comes with this deck and found this: "Captivity to one's own ideas. Tendency to cling to ideas and principles even after they are outdated." So basically, while being part of a group with a defined creed can create a feeling of safety and comfort, it can also make us feel stuck when we need to adapt to change. Anne Lamott adds her words of wisdom: "There's a lot to be said for having really reached a bottom where you've run out of any more good ideas or plans for everybody else's behavior; or how to save and fix and rescue; or just get out of a huge mess, possibly of your own creation." It's time to step outside our clearly defined ideas, talk to some people who are different from us, and LISTEN.