Imagine

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Way of the Horse Oracle, Bonfire:

          Either this is a humble priest dedicated to 'attraction rather than promotion,' or he's wondering whether he's out of a job because no parishioners have shown up. Research in the U.S. has shown that the religiously unaffiliated category (atheist, agnostic, 'none') is up to 26% while Christianity has somewhat declined. Yet while less than half of Americans think that religion can answer today's problems, three-quarters of these folks still believe religion is important. Perhaps this discrepancy is because the dogma of religion causes intolerance and division but its deeply embedded principles (honesty, kindness, etc.) offer a spiritual framework of ethical living. Bonfire suggests burning off excess energy, due to sadness, fear, anger or joy and excitement. A safety-valve release is a good idea in some cases, otherwise, assault, suicide or substance abuse might be an end result. Imagine if all religions stopped focusing on judgment and instead had the goal of eliminating suffering, offering a safe refuge in which to heal. At least it's nice to imagine it...

Bonfire of Grief

From the Hezicos Tarot, Death; from the Way of the Horse, Bonfire:

What delight is there in seeing the bleached bones,

Like gourds thrown away,

Dried and scattered in the autumn sun?

~ Dhammapada

          I can't even remember when I first pondered my own death; I imagine it was the death of a pet as a child that first spurred the thoughts. Now as I age, I search the obituaries for the names of friends or colleagues. I watch my mother-in-law, who is encased in a 95 year old body in which dementia is rapidly taking control. She is miserable, yet even she fights to continue to live. I've been trying to work with small endings lately, such as when something breaks or wears out, or when a friend moves or stops being interested in our relationship. These have become my "death" practices - to learn how to embrace and accept these lessons in impermanence. Sogyal Rinpoche wrote, "Death is like a mirror in which the true meaning of life is reflected." His words remind me that how I care for the people and things in my life matter, even if they are all like library books which must be returned some day. 

          The Bonfire card reminds me of the literal definition of nirvana - to extinguish. It is a Buddhist term that describes freedom from what binds us. The card itself suggests a release of tremendous energy that burns through any blocks to a wider perspective. Resistance just creates a bigger fuel source; it burns fiercely (and painfully) until we release what we grip so tightly. What is it I must let go of? I think it is the pain I see my husband and sister-in-law experience, as they deal with the slow process of the death of their mother. I can't protect them from it, and trying to do so may only exacerbate their grief. Better to let the bonfire of mourning cleanse them instead and support them through it.

911 on Speed-dial

  From the Hezicos Tarot this morning comes one of the court cards, the Queen of Swords:

There is nothing soft and cuddly about this queen - even the brushes on her hair piece appear stiff and unyielding.  I'm guessing that those little brushes sweep away anything that might cloud her thinking.  She wears pendulum-shaped earrings, but since they are attached to her head, everything she judges will be based on logic, not divination.  Those indigo eyes see more than most, and the sword on her choker is a warning that she will not hesitate to say what she thinks.  This woman is not worried about tact, just the truth.

     The card pulled from the Way of the Horse deck today is "Bonfire:"

Look closely, and you'll see not one, but several horses emerging from these flames.  The gift of this card is the energy needed to burn through any blocks; the challenge of it is in being able to face areas of resistance that have become a volatile fuel source.  With the Queen of Swords above and this image, I'm thinking I may need to put my household on high alert.  Here in the States, today is known as Black Friday, and I'm hoping I'll have enough control over my words and actions that I don't burn anything or anyone to cinders.  Yet in her companion book Kohanov explains that it is important to stay fully present to whatever is happening:  "Feeling an experience completely doesn't mean melodramatically acting out the emotions or taking them out on others to relieve the pressure.  It means letting an experience move you to the core rather than dissociating from it, perhaps leaving you raw and vulnerable for a time, yet ultimately strengthening your ability to embrace life fully and consciously..."