A Reminder

From the Tarot of the Master, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Albus (white):

Reminding myself that life is not personal, permanent, or perfect has kept me from falling into sinkholes of despair and destroying rooms with rage. It invites me to pause and turn inward.

—Ruth King

Sometimes we reap a harvest for our actions or inaction, but often life just unfolds in unexpected ways because it is a constantly changing flow. There are times we get inundated with a flood while other times we delight in a babbling brook. Ruth King's reminder that it is not personal, permanent or perfect is wisdom to live by. Albus (white) represents "the bearded one" in some traditions, symbolizing a purity of wisdom that leads to clarity. It might suggest that in times of change, we should move to the hub or our center - to hold onto what is truly important and trust our spiritual compass.

Listening and Speaking

From the Tarot of the Master, the Five of Wands; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Albus:

          The keyword assigned to this Five of Wands is 'composition' - a variety of ingredients coming together to make a whole. Anyone who's ever brainstormed with a group knows how hard it can be for so many different ideas to gel into a coherent whole. As Sallie Tisdale wrote, "Few of us communicate really well. We think explaining ourselves is key, but listening is the most important part." Yet for some it may be tempting to remain silent and avoid confrontation, desiring only calm. Albus ('peace') shows a dead horse - there can be a cost for harmony that wasn't expected. If everyone in the group doesn't add their perspective, the whole 360 degrees of the situation might not be understood. Important details that are left out can lead to important parts and players being neglected. 

When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something. ~John Lewis

Don't Look for a Diploma

From the Tarot of the Master, the Eight of Coins; from the Paracelus Oracle, Albus:

          Ask any of the leaders whose head is engraved on those coins how they came to power, and I bet they would say through careful management and cultivation. People who get things handed to them on a silver platter generally lose it all because they haven't developed the skills or knowledge needed to maintain and operate what they're trying to run. Prudence and patience are the watchwords when trying to turn potential into opportunity. Albus in geomancy literally means 'white,' and refers to purity, clarity and wisdom. The Parcelsus deck adds the additional keyword of justice to this card, something impossible to attain without clear, unbiased thinking. Looking at the dead horse in the illustration, I might jump to the conclusion that the animal was neglected or worked to death. But it could also be a case of old age; the owner may have laid the animal to rest above ground to burn the carcass. As the saying goes, we judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions. Justice in such a situation clearly has the scales weighted on one side. Both these cards remind me that there will always be skills and knowledge I need to acquire; life never hands out diplomas.

Voila!

From the Tarot of the Master, the Magician; from the Geomancy Cards, "Albus:"

          Vacchetta's Magician is not the RWS kind with four suits displayed on the table but a public entertainer. With those cones and balls, I'd surmise his game involves sleight-of-hand to impress his viewers. The keyword given for this card is "ability" and suggests he's good at his craft. He can make things seem to appear and disappear at will. Yet is he simply a performer or a con man? The geomancy figure Albus (white) may be a nod to the latter. It represents purity and clarity and is associated with the planet Mercury (communication). Leading someone toward a false assumption is incredibly easy. I can omit vital information and skew the facts by reporting only what is positive. Outright lying is avoided, but manipulation still happens. "This vitamin supplement will give you amazing energy (especially when your stomach cramps and you must find a bathroom immediately). And it's yours for the amazing low price of $5 (though with your credit card information, we'll be charging you every month for a new bottle, whether you want it or not)." Speaking with integrity and listening with a discerning ear are on today's agenda.

Emotional Limbo

This week the tarot deck I'll be using is the Wild Unknown, created and self-published by Kim Krans.  Today's draw is the Five of Cups:

The body language of this horse gives me a sense of submissiveness and/or exhaustion.  The number five indicates an attempt to cope with some sort of struggle or crisis.  The disruption causes a feeling of uncertainty and confusion, as if being placed in a type of emotional limbo.  It reminds me of the search and rescue dogs that were employed on 9/11.  Some of these canines showed signs of depression because the only bodies they found were no longer alive.  The trainers had to convince other rescue workers to hide in the rubble, allowing the dogs to find them to keep up their spirits.  This card reminds me to look for small wonders and blessings when I am feeling down and out; they are there if I'll lift up my head to see them.

The oracle I'll be using this week is based on a simplified form of geomancy using sticks.  The sticks have been painted with one stripe on one side and two on the other; the four sticks are then "rolled" to create a geomancy figure.  Today's roll is "Albus:"

Albus literally means "white," and symbolizes peace, wisdom, purity and clarity.  It is associated with the planet Mercury, and thus with the mythological messenger.  Mental processes, oral and written communication, and making connections are a part of this figure.  In tying this in with the card above, there is a gentle warning to wait until my mind is clear before I make any major decisions or attempt to have a "sit down" with anyone.  My expectations and perceptions may not match up to reality right now, so for a while I need to work on clearing the clouds out of my head instead of getting my message across.