Financial Education

From the Tarot of Durer, the Ten of Coins; from the Philosopher's Stone, Abundance:

The habit of saving is itself an education; it fosters every virtue, teaches self-denial, cultivates the sense of order, trains to forethought, and so broadens the mind. 

– T.T. Munger

This guy is enjoying his retirement, but he might want to take a peek at his savings rather than just letting the hawk keep an eye on things. The problem with living on a fixed income is that the prices of things keep going up but not always our investments. My bank insisted on going paperless, which means I have to check my monthly statement online. I have not been very diligent lately, and last night I was shocked to see that I forgot to record not one but several purchases in my account register - my balance was much lower than I thought. Thankfully, I ponder before purchasing, so I don't generally spend extravagantly unless it is for health or repairs. But it was a good lesson in keeping a closer eye on things. Abundance might suggest financial prosperity for some, but for me it reflects well-being in mental and emotional ways as well. Which makes me think of the advice of Martha Beck: "Stop fixating on stuff you can touch and start caring about stuff that touches you."

Before the Harvest

From the Gill Tarot, the World; from The Circle, Abundance:

Don't mistake activity with achievement. 

― John Wooden

There are no shortcuts, and you can't wing your way through real hard work. 

―Rick Hoffman

I've learned over the years that when I go to that place of passion within me, there's no force in the universe that can interfere with my completing a project.

― Wayne Dyer

Before the reward, there must be labor. You plant before you harvest.

― Ralph Ransom

Love and Loss

From the Cosmic Tarot, Strength; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, 'Abundance:'

          A naked young woman holds a cloth with a lion on it in front of her. Her strength doesn't come from wealth, physical might or manipulation, but through compassion and courage. The oracle card explains the abundance it refers to comes from a spiritually based love, a love that puts all selfishness aside. It reminds me of the Bible verse in which Jesus tells his followers, "I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance." He wasn't talking about money, but acceptance, a sense of belonging, and kindness in action. My oldest kitty died this morning; I've been trying to make sure she was comfortable as possible these last forty-eight hours. If I thought she was suffering, I would have had her euthanized. But she hated the vet with an impressive passion, and so in her final hours I wanted her to be in a place she felt loved and safe. It was hard to keep my heart open and be present rather than close it to avoid the hurt. The abundance card surely reflects the love and loyalty pets bring to our lives. I'll miss my bedtime reading companion.

Ms. Streak (2003-2018)

Let's See the Evidence

This week I'll be using the Golden Tarot, created by Kat Black and published by U.S. Games. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Yantra Deck, created by Karl Schaffner and Maya Deva Adjani. It was published by Vayu Publishing. Today's cards are the King of Swords and "Abundance:"

          I've always seen this King as a judge - intelligent and wise with a love of logic and justice. I imagine him as a mix between King Solomon: "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding" (Proverbs 3:13) with a dash of Judge Judy thrown in: "I love the truth. If you don't tell me the truth, you're gonna be eating your shoes." There's not a lot of warm fuzziness to this guy, but he's the guide I need if I'm trying to make a decision while avoiding getting tangled up emotionally. Which is why it's interesting to see the Abundance card show up, a concept I'd be more likely to associate with the Empress or Pentacles suit. The design is modeled on the hexagrams of the I Ching, a philosophy based on a dynamic balance of opposites and the inevitability of change. This Yantra reminds me that while there are losses, there will also be gains. The King of Swords would scoff at any "love and light" account of abundance, and demand that I list physical evidence of my gratitude. Now that could be a life-long inventory.

Staying On Your Toes

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Two of Pentacles; from the Tao Oracle, "Abundance:"

          Ballet seems such an appropriate subject for the Two of Pentacles with its requirement of grace, strength, flexibility and technique. Being aware of one's body, of how weight needs to be balanced and muscles engaged, reflects the mindfulness needed to manage my time, energy, money and health. Distraction can tip me too far, causing missteps and stumbles. Today will be a busy one; though the sun hasn't even risen, I feel that familiar anxiety of not having enough time to get everything done. Yet the Tao card of Abundance shows up to remind me I don't have less than anyone else. But how I use it can make it appear otherwise. The bitter cold tempts me to drag my feet and whispers how nice it would be to stay snug in my bathrobe. I would like to just putter about, surf the internet and not do much of anything that requires effort. But those distractions will waste the abundance of time I have today, a day when I need to stay in the flow of movement.

On My Honor...

From the Ferret Tarot, the Knight of Wands:

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

~ Boy Scout Oath

The Knight of Pentacles is the Boy Scout of the tarot world.  He is dependable, loyal, and steadfast, and he'll make sure his efforts are grounded in reality.  He teaches me on mornings like today, where another brick is added to the load, the best thing I can do is persevere.  I'll keep my eye on what is at the top of the priority list instead of becoming overwhelmed by all of it.  Then I'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

From the Nature's Wisdom Oracle comes the card "Pumpkin:"

This collection of gourds reminds me of the cornucopia my mother had on her holiday table.  Anyone who's ever carved a pumpkin or cooked squash knows the abundance of seeds inside these gourds.  They remind me that there are multiple solutions to problems and hopeful prospects available, but sometimes I have to be patient and dig for them.