Whom Will You Serve?

This week I'll be using the Hezicos Tarot, created and self-published by Mary Griffin. Along with it I'll be using the Way of the Horse, an oracle deck and book set created by Linda Kohanov with Kim McElroy and published by New World Library. The two cards drawn for today are the Seven of Cups and Believe:

When I drew this card this morning, a quote from the book of Joshua came to mind: "Choose whom you will serve." Though it sounded a little strange at first, it dawned on me that in many ways the cup we focus on to fulfill us is indeed where we'll spend a great deal of time and energy. Will it be a worthy sacrifice? The Believe card suggests we put a hold on the ego's litany of what it thinks we need and listen to something within us that is less superficial: the ground of our being or luminous mind. In quietness and stillness we can find this part of us that looks at things without preference or prejudice, the part of us that is spacious, wise, compassionate and discerning. It might not point us toward what is always pleasurable, but it will guide us toward what is fulfilling and meaningful. 

Feeling not Feeding

 From the Spiral Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Spiral Journey Cards, Believe:

          No matter how stoic someone might try to appear, they might as well be an open book when it comes to the Queen of Cups reading their feelings. She advises: "You don't have to feed your feelings, but you do need to feel them." For those of us brought up to hide any signs of vulnerability, this may be a tall order. However, the Believe card encourages us not to rigidly hold onto our ideas but to make space for other possibilities. I was on Zoom with some friends last night and we were discussing koans (koe-ahns), a tool that can shake us loose from our normal biases so that we see from a larger perspective. Koans don't offer a solution but a way to see a situation from other angles. I think the Queen would appreciate some personal ones we talked about using: "Perhaps there is a better way;" "Are you sure?;" "Thinking it doesn't require believing it."  

Cooperative, Open Mindset

From the Spiral Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Sacred Journey Cards, 'Believe:'

          This could be me this morning (but in much less formal attire) watching the DISH technicians pull up to the house to rebuild our satellite dish. Like the woman in the card, I have to rely on others for a great many things. While I have my own talents, there are many services that require the skills of another. Getting things done tends to be a cooperative effort. The Believe card suggests moving beyond a rigid, narrow view to a broader, more inclusive perspective. It reminded me of the Daily Dharma quote by Joan Halifax in my email this morning: "We can’t know, but we can trust that there will be movement, there will be change. And that we will be part of it."

Identification

This week I'll be using the Hezicos Tarot, created and self-published by Mary Griffin. Along with it I'll be using the Way of the Horse, an oracle deck and book set created by Linda Kohanov with Kim McElroy and published by New World Library. The two cards drawn for today are the King of Cups and 'Believe:'

          The King of Cups offers emotional support and wisdom. He suggests we look at our emotions mindfully and points out the spiral on his shell-crown. "We usually travel over and over in the same circle, feeling happy in one arc and depressed in another.Yet if we pay attention from an objective standpoint, we can travel in a spiral upward, finding insights along the way rather than staying stuck in a loop." The Believe card from the Way of the Horse refers to how we (our egos) carve an identity for ourselves like a statue. Unfortunately, as the companion book states, "What we carve in stone threatens to turn our minds to stone." I was reading Jan Karon's latest book from the Mitford series, and came across a line that hit me between the eyes: we don't have to define ourselves by our wounds. How often has the pain of the past become a permanent way to identify myself? Yet choosing not to do this doesn't mean I close the door on what was and pretend it didn't happen; instead I can look back to gain wisdom from lessons learned and open to gratitude for what was good and beautiful. If I'll travel in a spiral rather than a circle, I'll realize that I am much more than an event in the past. I am what I am only in each moment.

Not What I Planned

From the Hezicos Tarot, Justice:

One of life's hardest lessons is that if I want my life to change, I must take responsibility.  True, there are things beyond my control, but most of what I experience is because of choices I have made.  In some cases, the result was never my intention - things just didn't turn out as planned.  Take my tomcat for instance.  He would constantly wake me at 5:00am (or whenever he felt hungry) much in the same manner as Simon's cat minus the bat.  So I figured I could get an extra hour of sleep by getting an automatic feeder for dry food; he could nibble when he was hungry and I could sleep.  Unfortunately, now he is the size of a well-fed bear cub.  So I have disappeared the "magic feeder" and have my furry alarm clock back again.  I've had to face the consequences and make some changes to bring things back in balance; I'd rather have a healthy kitty than an extra hour of sleep.

From the Way of the Horse deck comes "Believe:"

"Spiritual realization is to see clearly that what I perceive, experience, think, or feel is ultimately not who I am, that I cannot find myself in those things that continually pass away." ~ Eckhart Tolle

How differently my life would be if I lived without self-centeredness, if I understood that I am more than my thoughts and emotions.  No wonder my choices constantly throw the scales of Justice out of balance!  This card encourages me to discover my center in the Infinite that courses through me and all things.  If I could make my decisions from that Higher Self rather than my ego, I don't think I would have to worry so much about results.  

  

Sincere Effort

  From the Spiral Tarot, the Three of Pentacles:

Though the word "ballerina" is commonly used today to refer to any female ballet dancer, it previously was reserved for only the most accomplished female soloists.  In this image, the stage lights and roses indicate this woman's skill and recognition in her field, nicely illustrating the meaning of this card.  Though she might have some natural talent, there is no doubt she had to work tirelessly to develop her abilities to this level.  As Steventon in her companion book says, "Sincere effort does not go unrewarded."  On a personal level, it looks like this "Jill of all trades and master of none" needs to narrow her focus...

     From the Sacred Journey Cards this morning comes "Believe:"

Do I believe in possibilities?  Do I believe in the power of positive thinking?  Absolutely.  But what I don't believe is that I can manifest whatever I want with my mind.  I don't think the world was put here just so I can magically produce what my ego thinks I need.  The earth is full of animals, plants and minerals, and just because I am human doesn't mean my wants outweigh any others - the universe isn't obligated to give me what I demand.  I am a part of the whole system, not god of it.  The belief that I can create my reality is a half-truth; attitude and hard work can go a long way in making things possible, yet there is a web of balance that natural laws will not bend just for me.