The Cost of Getting Along

From the Gaian Tarot, the Two of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, Artemis:

          The Two of Cups shows how we learn to soften our edges, temper our tempers, and practice compassion and kindness. For some of us, it may be through caring for a pet or elderly parent; for others, it may be our interactions with coworkers, clients, or friends. We cultivate emotional maturity when we practice finding joy or contentment without always having things go our way. But the goddess Artemis warns us not to cast aside our values in these relationships, perhaps 'going along to get along.' We need the ability to think for ourselves, even if it means risking the harmony of a relationship.

There is much to be said for a spirit of cooperation, and getting along – top-performing teams, for example, thrive on harmony. On the other hand, when this means turning a blind eye to major ethical wrongs, then avoiding action is unethical.  We need people willing to speak the truth, even to power.

~Daniel Goleman

Self-imposed Time-out

From the Gaian Tarot, the Nine of Fire (Wands); from the Goddess Oracle, 'Artemis:'

          Rather than a caffeinated drink or calisthenics, this fellow is using meditation to tap into his inner resources and get a second wind. He raises his life force through connection with primal energies. His purpose is not to relax but to find a center of calm alertness. From that center, he will be ready for the last hurdle that will challenge him. Artemis was given the gift of self-rule by her father, and so this unwed goddess spent her time running wild and free in the forests. She asks, "Do your boundaries seem blurred and indistinct? Do people's opinions and judgments sway you more than your own discernment?" Like the fellow who takes time to meditate and collect himself, we all need a way to refuel ourselves without the interference of others. We all require time to tap into our own inner well in order to have the energy and clarity to meet what lies ahead.

Outside the Lines

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert. I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are Seven of Air (Swords) and "Artemis:"

          I wonder if someone drew this map for the hiker, trying to show him where to find the safest trails and where to avoid the dangers. But as many folks do, he may be wondering if the scenery is more spectacular off the beaten path. If he follows the map, he might miss out on seeing wildlife or sights he wants to see. Yet if he blazes his own trail and gets lost or has an accident, searchers won't know where to look for him. Is the risk worth that choice? Should he take someone else's advice or depend on his own?
          Artemis requested one thing of her father: the right to live independently and run freely through the forest as its protector. A husband, house with a picket fence and children were not in her plans. Marashinsky writes:

There is no authority higher than my own

my powers of discernment are finely honed

I am autonomous

I am free from the influence of others' opinions

I am able to separate that which needs separation

so a clear decision can be reached

I think for myself.

I am not a risk-taker, which I think is mostly a good thing. But like that hiker, I occasionally yearn to move outside the lines, outside of what is "expected" of me. Yet if I do that, all the responsibility for that choice lands on my shoulders, for better or for worse. Is it worth it? Artemis would probably answer, "Hell yeah!"