Swallow the World

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the World; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Exposed:

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

―Salman Rushdie

In Slavic mythology, the Holy Oak is the embodiment of the axis mundi or World Tree. The roots represent the underworld, the trunk the earthly realm, and the branches the celestial kingdom. The World offers us the insight of interconnection and interdependence. The Fool does not get to the World without understanding how his experiences have shaped him and how, in turn, he has affected others. There is a Buddhist saying that behind every shortcoming is a hurt; I would venture to say that behind every virtue is a kindness. We are both the potter and the clay. Exposed is a visceral illustration of how most of us feel when we are vulnerable enough to show our real self to another. Vulnerability is the courage to be genuine and open despite the uncertainty of the outcome. It's scary as hell, but it is also what allows us to connect intimately to others.

Beginning Something Else

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Star; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Perspective:

You only grow by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.

―John Irving

The Star is represented by Zorza, the personification of dawn and dusk depicted as two sisters. The Morning Zorza opened the gate of the heavenly palace when the Sun set out in the morning, and the Evening Zorza closed the gate when the Sun returned to his abode for the night. Sometimes an ending is just the result of a lack of information, unreliable resources, bad timing or simply a natural conclusion. Losing what motivated us and gave us stability can leave us feeling anxious and unmoored. Yet this does not have to be time of stagnation; it can be a time to clear our thoughts and reconsider our next step. Perspective shows a crow upside down - a position taken when trying to get at food not accessible otherwise. It asks us to disengage from how we've been demanding things to be and see what else is possible. As Eckhart Tolle said, "All creativity comes out of inner spaciousness."

Out of the Smoke

This week I'll be using the Slavic Legends Tarot, an independently published deck (Taroteca Studio) by Krzysztof Wasiuk and Magdalena Kaczan (artist). I'll also be using the Urban Crow Oracle, created by Margaux Jones (aka MJ Cullinane) and published by Hay House. Today's draws are the Eight of Cups and Sacred Space:

De fumo in flammam ("out of the smoke into the flame").

—Tertullian

This fellow has his knapsack packed and doesn't even bother to glance at the cups dangling below him. He traverses a waterfall, suggesting he is leaving behind a tumultuous relationship. Why do we leave partners, friends or groups? Ultimately the misery of holding on outweighs the benefits of staying. Yet there is caution needed - we may jump from one extreme into its opposite, thinking it to be better. For instance, we might leave someone who is cold, uncommunicative and distant only to find ourselves with someone who is clingy and shares every thought nonstop. Sacred Space suggests we find some time to incubate our own values and objectives before we make a leap. By spending time alone, we can center ourselves, remembering what is important, and ground ourselves, allowing our emotions to calm.

Loamy Earth

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs, Forward:

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.

—Søren Kierkegaard

The Ace of Pentacles is the dark loam of the earth, waiting for us to plant seeds. The booklet suggests our ambitions should be practical rather than fanciful. Pragmatic aspirations have down-to-earth steps that we can take, whether it's exercise for our body or balancing our checkbook. Forward (an animal's footprint) encourages us to stop dragging our bag of "This happened to me" behind us. We can learn from these things, but acting as if they are still happening only hampers us. As we attempt a new endeavor, our past mistakes and successes can guide us, but they won't give us control over the future. As Marcus Aurelius wrote, "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."

Holistic Wealth

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Sibyl (Queen) of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs, Friends:

Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.  –Marie Curie

If you've ever seen a plant growing in the crack of a concrete sidewalk, you've met the mindset of the Queen of Pentacles. She moves in harmony with nature and its rhythms. Her resourcefulness breeds self-confidence; she sees her life as full and rich, which makes her generous and kindhearted. Friends are just one part of the web of life to which she feels connected. Keisha Blair writes, "Holistic wealth is about creating circumstances in your life that allow you to be resilient and resourceful." I can't think of anything more helpful for this kind of wealth than the support and encouragement of good friends.

Wider Than Our View

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Mystic Glyphs, Village Abandoned:

Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.

–Carl Jung

When the world seems like it has turned upside down, sometimes we have to do the same to understand it. This blue shaman holds a staff decorated with bones, shells and feathers - sacred tools that help him bridge the physical and spiritual realms. His skin color is like that of the Medicine Buddha, who represents spiritual healing. This is obviously not a situation to be fixed, but a problem of ignorance (not seeing reality clearly). Village Abandoned represents making a rash, unwise decision as a result of our pride being hurt. Together, these cards suggest we have been so busy promoting our own opinions and perspective that we have failed to see any other. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The universe is wider than our views of it."

Not What We Thought

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Mystic Glyphs, Moon Phases:

Grief is the difference between where your life is and where you thought it would be.

—Lucy Hone

By the time most people are my age (65), we've collected losses like jars of old spices sitting in our cupboards. Yet every fresh loss hits us the same - we feel it physically as well as emotionally. We ask ourselves, "How will I ever get through this?" We were cruising down the highway of life, with ideas about how it was supposed to proceed, and suddenly it takes an exit ramp. Moon Phases reminds us that everything evolves and changes constantly; it doesn't make our losses less bitter, but it does remind us that these things are universal rather than personal. If we'll open our heart and mind even as we grieve, we might find glimmers of happiness even on hard days. Resilience requires that we adopt a wider perspective and a willingness to step out of our comfort zone. It won't erase the pain, but it might help add some sunshine.

Hustle Your Bustle

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Mystic Glyphs, Turkey:

Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.

― Joan Didion

Looks like I better hustle my bustle today, as some potential activities or opportunities are about to land on my doorstep. As that eye on one of the wands indicates, today is not a day for lolling about but for paying attention. I'm on my first cup of coffee and have not yet washed the grumpy sleepiness out of my system. It would be easy to complain about all I have to do today without adding extra on my plate. Turkey shows up - a symbol of abundance, community, and gratitude - to remind me that such opportunities are gifts. There's no need to impute the day with assumptions of what a chore it will be when I've barely lived much of it yet. Plus, as Didion points out, things can change quickly, and this particular gift may not arrive again.

Move to the Center

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Mystic Glyphs, Mountain Lion:

Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.

―Katherine May

I was reading a review of one of my favorite books yesterday by Pema Chodron, "When Things Fall Apart." The reviewer said she spent the first thirty pages disagreeing with Chodron, desperately hoping this nun who had spent decades studying the mind had it all wrong. But eventually she gets it, realizing that major fluctuations are not a malfunction but simply the normal life as a human. Instead of trying to separate ourselves from this reality, we can experience it and grow through it. As Chodron writes, "We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don't know." Mountain Lion represents a confident strength and leadership. It points to these words in the WS booklet: "In the midst of all the ups and downs, remember that the Wheel has a still center. That same calm can be found at the core of your own being."

Stigmatized

This week I'll be using the World Spirit Tarot, published by Llewellyn and created by Jessica Godino and Lauren O'Leary. The oracle deck I'll pair with it is the Mystic Glyphs; it was published by Red Wheel and created by Barb Rogers. Today's draws are the Six of Pentacles and Morning:

Poverty is neither a crime nor a character flaw. Stigmatize those who let people die, not those who struggle to live.  —Sarah Kendzior

I have seen several homeless people with pets lately; it isn't a surprise that outcasts look for four-footed friends that have also been rejected by society. But the point of this card is to ask ourselves - when there is a request to be kind or generous - whether we are making a judgment about worthiness or actual need. As Tim Wise wrote, "We are a nation increasingly ‘under the affluence,’ meaning not only the power of those with excess wealth, but also subordinated to a mentality and ideology of affluence, the effect of which is to rationalize and normalize inequities, no matter how vast and how deep." Morning suggests a new beginning and a fresh perspective. Instead of making sweeping assumptions and generalizations about "those people", can we just see each person individually, just as they are? Even if we don't have money to give, we can offer them dignity by bearing witness to their situation.

Today's Flow

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Grace's Reprieve:

Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not. 

— Cal Newport

Anna suggests the bright, open view of this Ace implies looking at problems and situations with a cool head and clear mind. Like the surface of a mirror, our mind can receive what is there without being overlaid by our beliefs, thoughts and judgments. Clarity allows us to distinguish these add-ons, recognizing that they are not part of the current condition or predicament. Without them, we just see what is, which can simplify things enormously. The quote paired with Grace's Reprieve is from Rumi: "Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore." Will today's happenings flow the way they're supposed to without our judgments and demands? Perhaps we can just let things be and relax. 

Slowing the Fire

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Firebreak:

By slowing things down, you can interrupt the tossing of the match into the pile of leaves. You can say, 'I don't need to go there. I see what's coming.' —Judy Lief

We all have to learn things, but it is especially important to have a skillful knowledgeable person to teach them. In this Page's case, he is trying to learn to use his intellect and words (sword) in a conflict. Hopefully his mentor will explain that a debate is not a diatribe; the point is to influence rather than impale the other person. The Meditation Card is Firebreak - a gap in vegetation or combustible material used to stop or slow the spread of a wildfire.  At times, we all need a person who can act in this way; someone who knows our propensities and can slow us down in heated situations before we leave only scorched earth behind.

Receptive, Not Selective

From the Anna K. Tarot, Justice; from the Meditation Cards, Nonresistance:

When you feel that you are being challenged, step into the center of the problem

Take the opposite line of reasoning

Resolve the conflict by understanding the other side of the argument

—Eric Oberg

Justice implies discernment, clarity, fairness and objectivity. Anyone who's been around for more than a few decades has likely experienced a biased judgment, one born of black and white thinking instead of viewing the whole context of a situation. (On the other hand, we might have been the one in the judge's seat.) Nonresistance asks us to avoid using force; like the martial art of Tai Chi, we yield and receive rather than using force in return. As Eckhart Tolle explains, "Nonresistance doesn’t necessarily mean doing nothing. All it means is that any 'doing' becomes non-reactive." By absorbing and redirecting, we can neutralize physical or emotional tension and maintain our balance. Then we can explain, without emotional fury, our side of things while sincerely considering the opposition's view.  

Beyond the Threshold

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Knight of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, Spiritual Companions:

When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own. —John O’Donohue

Anna suggests her Knight of Swords represents a spirit of discord. He doesn't mean to be a stubborn, biting, kicking mule. It's just that he's found a small piece of truth and now defends it like it is the only Truth. But seeing the house he's just burned down (metaphorically), might have just put a big crack in his immovable mindset. Spiritual Companions represent those few people who know us intimately and care about us deeply. They are also our truest mirror, showing us ourselves - even the parts we don't want to see.  In this case (in the words of Yonaton Hambourger), the Knight is shown how "Familiarity itself begins to feel morally binding." Our anamchara ("soul friend") can be our guide in moving our attitudes and actions beyond the threshold we've been stuck behind. 

Making a Living

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Meditation Cards, Money Mind:

Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.

—John Wooden

The Nine of Pentacles is a time of contentment, the fruit of hard work and discipline. Instead of just making a living, we find time for enjoyment. Anna suggests that this wealth is inner as well; we realize just what a fulfilling life looks and feels like (and often, that has nothing to do with money). Money Mind shows up as a reminder that financial situations can easily change, like everything else. Do we become paranoid and begin to see every interaction as win/lose? Or do we draw on our inner resources that we developed from creating what we have? As Nelson Mandela put it, "I never lose. I either win or learn."

Replacement

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Empress; from the Meditation Cards, Dissolve Into Now:

The shallow satisfaction of having is always replaced by more wanting. 

– Eckhart Tolle

This plump, bodacious version of the Empress reminds me of the prehistoric Venus statues. Anthropologists suggest these well-rounded forms were symbols of prosperity and fertility: in harsh, freezing climates, being overnourished was a crucial asset.  In today's world, however, most of us do not live on the cup's lip of survival or oblivion. The Empress reminds us that we have enough, though the ads in media or comparing ourselves to others may influence us otherwise. Dissolve Into Now offers a verse by Thich Nhat Hanh:

When I drink tea, there is only me and the tea.

The rest of the world dissolves.

There are no worries about the future.

No dwelling on past mistakes.

Using our senses, what can we appreciate right here where we are in this moment? As Kristin Armstrong stated, "When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in."

Succor

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the King of Swords and A Drop of Succor:

We must always consider the consequences of our actions. Or inaction. It won’t necessarily change what we do, but we need to be aware of the effect. ―Louise Penny

The King of Swords is an intelligent and logical person, known for being a strategist. But what slips by many people when they describe him is that he is also concerned with cause and effect. He might have the ability to conquer a city, but will his resources spread far enough to add thousands more to his realm? He's not just thinking about what he might do or get, but also the cost or the repercussions of his actions. Succor suggests relief or assistance; it derives from the Latin word succurrere - literally translated "run to support." The quote for this card comes from Wayne E. Brickey: "The best time and most eloquent way to succor is to do so when need arises. After all, service is seldom convenient." While rearranging our plans is rarely convenient, it may be a small price to pay rather than abandon a friend who could use some support.

Invitation

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Knight of Cups (Chango); from the Diloggun Cards, Three Mouths (Ogunda):

Your problem is you are too busy holding on to your unworthiness.

―Ram Dass

The Knight of Cups, elementally known as Fire of Water, is a perfect pairing with Chango (Orisha of fire, thunder, lighting, and dance). His fire encourages us to move beyond passivity and express our heart's wish to build a relationship, whether with a person or a group. We might fear that we are not enough, that we don't have what it takes to be accepted. Yet the most meaningful relationships require only honesty, kindness, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a mutual respect for each other. The proverb for Three Mouths (Ogunda) says: "A little subtleness is better than a lot of force." Extending an invitation is much better than whacking someone over the head with it.  

On this Fourth of July, I couldn't help but post this quote, which I feel deeply:

"Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is."

—Sydney J. Harris

What Our Choices Reflect

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Tower; from the Diloggun Cards, Nine Mouths (Osa):

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. —Nelson Mandela

The Tarot Lukumi takes a different approach on this card than the RWS. Rather than living in an ivory tower, it shows slaves being freed from captivity by Chango (the Orisha of thunder and justice) along with other Orishas. This card heavily emphasizes the breaking of mental, physical and spiritual chains that hold us. It may be that we've made unskillful choices, allowed others to make our choices, or didn't choose at all. Sometimes, as Mandela points out, we let our fear or anger make decisions. Whatever the cause, the result is that we find ourselves with a choke collar and leash around our necks. Both the ethic and proverb for Osa (Nine Mouths) is worth reflecting on:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

We have an opportunity to escape that collar and leash by making some new decisions and acting on them.

No Grabbing

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Nine of Coins; from the Diloggun Cards, Eight Mouths (Ogbe):

The man who expects nothing gains everything. For he no longer waits — he creates.

—Napoleon Hill

Eleggua, guardian of crossroads and opportunities, leaves a trail of gold coins. He teaches that every choice is a path, and new openings should be approached with sincerity, humility, and an open mind. This chance is not about impulsively grabbing something but recognizing our responsibility in attaining it. The ethic for Eight Mouths (Ogbe) states: "Those who attain blessings are those who live by their wisdom. If we do not bear suffering that will fill a basket, we will not receive blessings that will fill a cup." We earn - skills, education, wages, etc. - through effort, not because we feel entitled to having them.

Just What Is Needed

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Six of Wands; from the Diloggun Cards, Twelve Mouths (Oturupon):

Without integrity and honor, having everything means nothing.

—Robin Sharma

Ochosi's skill and patience in tracking the herd have paid off. He returns victoriously with food for his people. The deer's life will be honored - not by putting its head on a wall - but through the nutrition, clothing and tools it will provide. Ochosi didn't kill the whole herd, just what was needed. Likewise, success means simply achieving our objective, not subsuming or obliterating everything in our path along the way. Oturupon's (Twelve Mouths') ethic says: "We must never raise problems or incite conflict. We must take the time to be sure of our words even before we speak." If we want to live an honorable life that is respectful of our interconnection with others, self-restraint in all areas is good advice.