Living by Vow

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Devil; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Algiz:

I guess a man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, and then steps in it.

―John Steinbeck

How many times have we made a vow - that we would or wouldn't do a particular thing - then find ourselves blowing up that promise spectacularly? We are easily triggered to slip back into old habits. But from the Buddhist point of view, vows are not something that we do perfectly; we just keep heading toward the horizon even though we'll never reach it. As Koshin Paley Ellison put it, "A vow is about the shape we give our life. Living by vow is a place of practice." Algiz is a rune of protection. Blum writes that the spiritual warrior must not collapse into the highs or lows of emotions. If we can be mindful rather than swept away, we'll keep heading toward the horizon.

Without Imbalance

This week I'll be using the Shadowscapes book and deck set published by Llewellyn. The artwork is done by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and the book is written by Barbara Moore. I'll also be drawing from a set of Cedar Runes and using the book The Serpent and the Eagle by Chris Travers. Today's draws are the Four of Pentacles and Algiz:

Real giving is done from a place of true generosity and because we have an excess of something to offer (time, support, energy). It tends to be an impulse we don’t have to overthink. And the giving leaves us feeling good and energized.  

—Andrea M. Darcy

Tis the season of giving, as all the TV ads and social media tell us. Yet this dragon has curled around his treasure with his wings used as a cover. Is this response a prudent protection or miserly tightfistedness? People often use generosity to boost their self-esteem, wanting to feel appreciated and loved or less guilty. Yet this is not sincere altruism because it comes with expectations that often leave us wanting. Algiz ("elk") represents protection and suggests that it is okay to save some time, energy and money for our own needs. Creating imbalances isn't beneficial for anyone.

Not Interested

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Four of Cups (Octopus); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Algiz:

 

Regardless of what initially caused you to feel so unmotivated, it’s your present-day outlook on it that now keeps you stuck. Your immediate task, then, is to alter this outlook. In short, you’re much better off focusing on how to fix what’s inside your head than what lies outside it. ―Leon F. Seltzer

An octopus swims without interest past a treasure chest that includes golden goblets. It sees nothing that is worth noticing. Apathy is an absence of emotion that leaves us feeling indifferent and unmotivated; it is a state that can feel like a hole too deep to climb out of. Algiz (Elhaz) is a rune that symbolizes elk sedge, a reed with sharp-edged leaves that cut. It represents protection and defense and asks us how we can relieve the funk we're in without making any impulsive choices. Dr. Leon Seltzer has some suggestions, though he warns us it will require forcing ourselves to act:

• Determine where your apathy is coming from and contest its underlying assumptions.
• Transition from passivity to problem-solving. What is the easiest, most do-able first step you can take? 
• Inject some novelty into your routine. 
• Challenge your apathy in every way you can. 
• Recall—and reawaken—happier times when you felt more enthusiastic and alive. 

Magical Things

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Conjurer (Magician); from the Haindl Rune Cards, Elhaz/Algiz:

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

~Eden Phillpotts

What does it take to materialize a desire? In the words of Stedman Graham, "To get where we want to go in life, we have to keep at it. We have to create a vision, make choices based on what moves us most swiftly toward our goals, and go after them with determination and single-mindedness." Props  and tools - journals, affirmations, vision boards, etc. - can remind us of our intention, but we must make a persistent effort in that direction. Algiz, whose shape resembles antlers, is the rune of the elk. It suggests protection and shielding. A caution against a lack of preparation, it instead points to  formulating a plan, adding to our knowledge, staying flexible, and listening to our intuition. Above all, we avoid provoking others by taking advantage of them in the pursuit of our goal.

A Better Way

 From the Greenwood Tarot, the Knight of Arrows (Wands); from the Rune Cards, Algiz:

          The hawk is a fitting symbol for the Knight of Wands, a person who is competitive, ambitious, and impetuous. The FedEx slogan - "When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight" - fits his mindset well. Yet Algiz (elk sedge) cautions not to be too impulsive about grasping what is wanted. As the Anglo-Saxon poem warns:

Elk sedge most often lives in fenland,

growing in water; it grimly wounds

and burns with blood

every man who grabs it.

In the words of Bill Wilson, "Perhaps there is a better way."

Burning Down the Tower

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Tower; from the Cedar Runes, Elhaz/Algiz:

 The real treasure begins in the breaking... Only when impermanence is fully apprehended do we really have the chance to serve, to give without bargaining.

—Bonnie Myotai Treace

A seed is planted and a strong tree grows. But it loses its normalcy and health as it is taken over by others and used to form a tower. Yet no matter how formidable it may seem, it can not bypass the law of impermanence. It feels like my governor (who just passed an executive order stating that no local government can pass a mask mandate) and the White House are intent on burning down everything just to make a point. My reaction is to find my own flame thrower, but Elhaz encourages a different strategy. Named for elk's sedge, which is sharp on both edges and can easily cut, this rune symbolizes protection. It is not aggressive or vengeful, but the patient type that protects what is important, stays rooted, and eventually replants a healthier version of itself. 

Drunken Monkey

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Six of Winter (Swords); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Elhaz/Algiz:

          A group of fairy refugees flees the Winter court, hopefully to a place with less quarreling and strife. But what if they are taking the problem with them? Perhaps the outer chaos is only a trigger for the inner turmoil. If that's the case, then what's needed is an inner change of attitude and thoughts, otherwise (in the words of Jon Kabat-Zinn) "Wherever you go, there you are." The Elhaz/Algiz rune can signify protection in the mundane world, and 'rising above' in spiritual-speak. Both apply in this situation. When we are constantly in conflict, it can feel necessary to protect ourselves, but often what we are protecting is simply a rigid set of beliefs and opinions. To 'rise above' would mean we stop looking for something outside of ourselves to make us happy or feed our ego. We may still need to get away from a group to maintain our sanity, but we want to make sure we are taking a healthy mindset on the journey.

In the attempt to get away from being with ourselves, we search for something or someone to make us happy; the grass constantly appears greener someplace else. But in every relationship and every situation, there we are again. Meanwhile, our mind is like a drunken monkey doing its best to distract us by jumping from thought to fear to drama to anything that will keep us trapped in an endless round of worries and concerns. ~Ed and Deb Shapiro

The Spacious Heart

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Rune Cards, Algiz:

When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space. 

~ Pema Chodron

          The Queen of Cups reminds me of this quote by Chodron. She's one of those folks who leans in to strong emotions instead of collapsing or running away. She knows that when you stay present, especially during the hard stuff, you can find gems of wisdom (the eel in the heron's beak) that can help dislodge the suffering we're mired in. She is like the sedge grass of Algiz - resilient and able to withstand harsh conditions. Yet the sedge grass has razor-sharp edges; as the poem reminds us: "The blood burns of every man who makes any grasp at it." I can't save another person, and neither can they save me. But I can draw strength from their support and wisdom, just as I can offer the same to another person. 

In Case of Rain...

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Six of Spring (Wands); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, "Eiwaz/Algiz:"

On the Six of Spring, the fairies are preparing to celebrate Beltane. A May Queen has been chosen and some of the older fairies adorn her clothes with flowers and ribbons. Weatherstone points out in the book that the older ladies have been chosen in the past and know what it feels like to have the honor. Yet they don't feel jealous; instead they relive the excitement by helping the young woman step into her role. No matter what the recognition, rarely does any achievement or tribute happen alone. There are always people who keep the wheels greased and turning in the background.
Algiz is sometimes translated as "elk," although the Old English poem refers to it as a sharp-edged sedge. The painting above made me think of a basketball player with his arms up guarding the net. The elk's antlers, the sedge and the upraised arms all have to do with protection. This is not an offensive move, but one that puts up strong boundaries to preserve what is held dear. I get the feeling that I may need an umbrella today, in case someone tries to rain on my parade.

Picked Clean

This week I'll be using the Shadowscapes Tarot, created by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and published by Llewellyn (there is also a companion book written with the help of Barbara Moore). Today's draw is the Six of Swords:

An exhausted fellow escapes on the back of a swan, while five crows continue to caw. I had a flash of a cornfield picked clean when I saw this card. Whether the ideas I discuss deal with religion, politics, philosophy or ethics in general, I can begin to feel drained and "picked clean" when I talk with certain people. When everyone involved has their mind set in concrete, only debate and argument will ensue. I guess some people feel energized by such an exchange, but it only leaves me with a migraine and a resentment. I don't need to change these folks' minds, I need to move on and find some peace.

The oracle I'll be using this week is a set of cedar runes created by Alaska Laser Maid. This morning's rune is "Algiz:"

The Elk-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;

it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,

covering with blood every warrior who touches it.

~ Anglo-Saxon Poem

The Algiz rune is like a shield of protection; it doesn't actively attack anyone, but it does put up a barrier. It reminds me to respect other people's boundaries and to defend my own when necessary. In pairing it with the card above, I get the impression that there are some folks I don't need to have certain discussions with, no matter how many buttons they push. It is better to walk away unharmed while they snarl and foam at the mouth like rabid animals.