Word Engineer

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Three of Sticks; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk Deck, Void Engineer:

Feedback is the compass for greatness; it tells you what to avoid, what to learn, and where to excel. 

—Henrik Ceder

The Three of Sticks (Wands) implies expansion, an exploration of new ways of doing things. Of course, these endeavors will have some hiccups as methods, timing, and resources are sorted out. But at some point, an assessment will be needed, an objective look to see if the output is worth the input. It may not be comfortable, but such feedback can help us decide what to keep, whether we need to revise anything, or if we should choose a completely new direction. Void Engineer is the creator of words for things that have no labels. Some words, like 'splash,' mimic sounds while others are named after people or locations (like denim from serge de Nîmes, fabric from Nîmes, France). We all engineer our words, choosing and putting them together either thoughtfully or carelessly. But if we want people to listen to them, we need to be mindful in our construction; our words should improve and motivate rather than dishearten. 

He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.

—Abraham Lincoln

Loving the World

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the World; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk deck, the Maze:

The world is not ugly; it is only our way of seeing it that is sometimes ugly.

—Hermann Hesse

How do we learn to love the world? First by realizing we are not the center of its orbit. Secondly, by grasping and accepting the meaning of the triskele symbol - life does not stand still; it is always changing. When we understand that: 1) nothing stays stuck forever, and 2) we will not always have what and who is around us, which makes them precious. The Maze brings up a third way. Unlike the labyrinth, which has one way in and one way out, a maze has many dead ends. But change and movement remind us that we don't have to give up and stare at a brick wall. If we're willing to try other avenues and stay curious (change our own mind), we'll find other options. Such open-mindedness and willingness, however, is fueled by love, not hatred and frustration.

Love does not lead to an end to difficulties, it provides us with the means to cope with our difficulties in ways that enhance our growth. ―bell hooks

Creativity and Connection

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Empress; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk, the Lovers:

There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.

—Edward de Bono

I had a good chuckle with this pair of cards - talk about cause and effect! But what if I told you the Empress wasn't a baby-making factory? What if her children were named music, dance, painting, and gardening? Somewhere along the line, things for practical uses became part of our cultural heritage, used to create beauty, feeling, and relationship. What a boring life this would be without these pleasures. The Lovers represents connection, and as Steve Jobs stated, "Creativity is just connecting things." Our imagination is fed by curiosity, through people, places and things. We synthesize and recombine them, making connections between what was previously unrelated. It's no surprise that Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way suggests a day to explore and pay attention: "a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist."

Layers

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Absurd, created and self-published by Jessica Rose Shanahan. I'll also be using another self-published deck, the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk by Masha Falkov. The draws for today are the Page of Blades and Matrioshka:

I understand how a first impression is often just that: a quick snapshot that, on its own merit, is meaningless. —Adriana Trigiani

This sly, saucy Page has a mind as quick as lightning and a tongue as sharp as her sword. She is full of knowledge and likes to surprise people with how much she knows. Though she understands and collects information, it amounts to one grain from all the world's beaches. She has not yet grasped that what she wields isn't wisdom; it will take time and experience to learn to use it well rather than as a weapon or as an arrogant display. Matrioshka, or Russian nesting dolls reminds us that first impressions may not accurately give us enough information to judge a situation or person. We all have had days when we were stressed and reacted badly, or in the past, when we were young and cocky. Given some time, a fuller picture can be revealed, good or bad.

Make Some Room

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Play:

When you lose your laugh, you lose your footing. –Ken Kesey

Honestly, when I drew these two cards this morning, I wanted to stuff them back into their respective decks. Lately the people I hang out with only want to talk about "him," the war, the high cost of everything, and other worries or problems. I don't mind, as I do think these things need to be discussed. But I also need to balance this darkness out with light - laughter, fun, and discussions of things that entice me with wonder and curiosity. As Pema Chodron wrote, we need to make room for all of it - not just the bad stuff.

The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy. 

Unfriendlies

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Five of Wands; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Soar:

There's something wrong with the mental life, radically. It's rooted in spite and envy, envy and spite. 

―D.H. Lawrence

This is definitely not a friendly competition or some cooperative brainstorming. It is five rigidly held opinions raging about how things should be done. This group will need a supervisor to make the final decision, which is a pity. If they compiled all of their perspectives instead of vying to be right, they might see the whole picture and create a more useful plan. Soar indicates what Michelle Obama encouraged: When they go low, we go high. Being spiteful to prove we are the expert will simply bury us in a cycle of anger and retaliation. As John Ford said, “Revenge proves its own executioner.” It's better to simply explain our views, then listen and ask questions about those that oppose us. Make a choice not to wallow in the mud.

Against the Current

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Nine of Coins; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Resistance:

Most people notice only the final results you achieve, not the hard work, struggles, sacrifices, and failures you go through to reach them. Success is visible and easy to admire, but effort usually happens quietly in the background when no one is watching.  —Laila Saleem

This woman is covered in coins, jewelry and flowers, representing her wealth and how she has blossomed in life. The swan, in Slavic lore, symbolizes spring, transformation and wisdom. What wisdom would this feathered being advise for attaining such a lifestyle? Likely it would offer this Japanese saying, "Float along placidly on the surface, but underneath paddle hard with your feet." Translation: Stay calm but work diligently. Resistance, showing a crow flying against the wind, brought to mind the Buddhist phrase "going against the stream." Instead of mindlessly following our emotional whims or habitual patterns, we actively choose to go against the current, which can allow us to reach our goal rather than get distracted.

Irritation

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Mischief:

Attitude isn’t just a mood, it’s the undercurrent of how we think, act and move through the world.

—Meredith Eastwood

The swords all aiming at a center point on this mast suggests that out mindset matters. While thoughts are temporary, attitudes are more enduring evaluations that incorporate thought, emotion and action. It's easy to point those swords outward, blaming other people, places and things when we're out of sorts, but likely we'd still feel the same even if they disappeared (we'd just pick new targets). Mischief shows crows pulling a cat's tail - not harming, just annoying. When we are irritated with others, there are better options than yelling or bonking people on the head. R.J. Starr states, "[Annoyance] exposes our values, boundaries, expectations, and stress levels;" he suggests we look past the trigger and pay attention to what our self is trying to protect us from. Our focus may need to shift to self-care by improving our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

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.