Seeing With the Heart

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Empress; from the Vertical Oracle, Vertical:

Unless we view things with our hearts, we can see nothing. But if we look at the world with a love of life, it will reveal its beauty to us.

~Daisaku Ikeda

The Empress could easily be known as the Bodhisattva of Grace: all that she creates and nourishes is fueled by her unconditional love and compassion. Rather than judging worthiness, she gives her abundance freely to all beings. Her only interest is the well-being of others. Vertical reminds us that there is a power greater than ourselves, whether it's called Nature, the Cosmos, Reality or some other name. It is humbling but also freeing to know we're not in charge of how the world spins. Our focus only needs to be on engaging kindly and respectfully with our horizontal relationships, whether human, animal or the earth itself. The Empress could teach us a lot about embracing it all.

No Transcending

From the Middle Way Arcana, the World; from the Vertical Oracle, Outside Shock:

We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy. ~Pema Chodron

We can sometimes fall under a delusion when attempting to live a spiritual life. We imagine that if we say enough prayers, donate generously to charity, and read sacred texts daily, we won't have to deal with the hard parts of life. We feel like we can generate a way to be untouched by the fray of life. Yet as Outside Shock implies, we still have to deal with long lines, unexpected bills, the side effects of aging, obnoxious people, and losing the things and people we love. A spiritual framework doesn't protect us from challenges, it just helps us respond to them appropriately. Used correctly, it helps us meet each one as it comes, with clarity, wisdom and compassion.

Detonation

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Moon; from the Vertical Oracle, Chaos:

Our perceptions carry with them all the errors of our subjectivity.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhist psychology describes how our awareness is shaped and directed by an ocean of unconscious imprints. We first have a direct experience through our senses, followed by an immediate feeling tone – like, dislike or indifference. Mental and emotional reactions are triggered (conditioned by what’s already in our ‘ocean’) and are then trailed by interpretation and labeling. Based on these, we create a subjective story around the encounter and download our data to this ocean that Buddhists call ‘storehouse consciousness.’ With all of our individual imprints, it's no wonder people find it hard to perceive things in the same way. Chaos is what happens when those dusty imprints collide into situation that does not support them. Will we take the opportunity to detonate those outdated mental constructs and assumptions?

Balanced Harmony

This week I'll be using the Middle Way Arcana, a major arcana deck based on the ideas of Buddhism. This deck was one I created for personal use with scissors and a glue stick. I'll also be drawing from the Vertical Oracle, created by Antero Alli with Sylvie Pickering and published by Vertical Pool. Today's cards are the Emperor and Ritual:

Understand that just as a bird needs two wings to fly, you must develop wisdom and compassion simultaneously. Wisdom is a correct understanding of reality and compassion is the desire for all beings to be liberated from the causes of suffering.

―Mattieu Ricard

The Emperor holds his hands in the Anjali ("offering") mudra, a symbol of respect as well as unity. He understands that the discernment of wisdom needs to be paired with the kindness of compassion in order to have a balanced peace. His "laws" - the precepts - are meant to guide us toward this balanced harmony: nurture all beings, be generous, speak from the heart, treat others with dignity, and cultivate a clear mind. Ritual is not meant to be a monotonous practice, but a way to slow our mind and body down so that we remember what is sacred and important. It helps us clarify our intentions and provides a check to see if we're traveling the Way or have taken an exit ramp. The Anjali mudra is also a ritualized gesture; it reminds us that within our palms is a seed that will be planted by our actions and words. What fruit will it produce?

Not Defined By

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Moon; from the Wondering Traveler's Oracle, Push Through:

Your past may always remind you, but it does not have to define you. 

—Andy Stanley 

Ellen describes the Moon as "She who rules the ghosts of your own past." Indeed, our subconscious stores memories, beliefs, and past experiences; it's a hidden realm of mental activity that shapes how we think, feel, and act, often without even realizing it. Meditation, journaling, therapy or simply becoming aware of our behavioral patterns can give us insight into these 'ghosts' that influence us. Push Through encourages us not to get stuck in habits that aren't beneficial. We may not be able to wipe the past from our minds, but we can make the effort to change its impact. Doing new things in different ways can create new rooms in the mind.

Looking in a New Direction

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Ten of Disks; from the Wondering Traveler's Oracle, Inspiration:

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. 

—Sophia Loren

Over the decades, a crisp, new dollar bill will become creased and worn thin. Likewise, the body loses height, the skin becomes more fragile, and muscle mass is lost. I used to love to do strenuous landscaping, but my body can no longer sustain that kind of work. The crone in this card knows her physical limitations, yet she realizes age does not diminish her wisdom or experience. The Inspiration card shows up to encourage us to continue to live a full and meaningful life. However, it may come from a place we don't usually look (note the bird in her sleeve cuff). Thanks to my friend Judy, art now fills my life; I've also decided to learn Tai Chi (with the help of YouTube). It doesn't really matter if I become a master of either, as long as it gives me purpose and fulfills me. 

Still Amazing

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Grandmother (Queen) of Swords; from the Wondering Traveler's Oracle, Still Amazing:

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. 

—Khalil Gibran

Ellen calls this Grandmother the Storyteller and writes: "She speaks of what is and what could be. She feeds the minds of those around her, lest those minds become starved and narrow." You can tell someone about ethics and possibilities, but if you want them to remember, weave a story that includes them. One of my favorite memories is sneaking into bed with my grandmother as a preschooler and listening to her talk; I didn't realize at the time she was teaching as well as entertaining me. The Wondering Traveler card reminds us that even if our world is small, it is still no less amazing. It simply requires us to drop our expectations and remain curious. While traveling is often encouraged as a way to expand our minds, money and circumstances may keep some of us from doing so. Yet reading, especially about lands, cultures and philosophies different from our own can have the same effect.