No Thanks

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Knight of Pentacles; from the Viking Lenormand, Bouquet:

In a self-absorbed society with a narcissism epidemic, everyone values image perception over reality. 

― Sunday Tomassetti

This Knight of Cups holds his chalice up in the air like it's a trophy, which brought to mind "trophy wives." This term originally appeared in a 1950 issue of The Economist newspaper, referring to the historical practice of warriors capturing the most beautiful women during battle to bring home as wives. Nowadays it refers to a someone who is chosen for their physical attractiveness and the ability to impress others; such a person would also affirm the virility and power of the chooser. How strange that people would prefer a life of wealth rather than being valued as a person and loved. Bouquet suggests joy and success. Being able to discern the relationships that will bring us misery and instead choosing the ones that will bring us happiness is a trait worth celebrating. As Mary Ann Shaffer points out, "I'd have become one of those abject, quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question."

A Great Idea

This week I'll be using the Rosetta Tarot along with its companion book The Book of Seshet. This set was created by M.M. Meleen and published by Atu House. The oracle deck I'll be using is the Day of the Dead Lenormand, created and self-published by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are the Ace of Swords and Bouquet:

To celebrate someone else’s life, we need to find a way to look at it straight on, not from above with judgment or from below with envy.

― Sharon Salzberg

Meleen explains that the lightning bolts above the sword hint at synapses and neural activity; she suggests the mind is a power that can be used for good or evil. It's force can be focused on the three poisons (greed, hatred, delusion) or the three antidotes (generosity, kindness, wisdom) in our daily encounters. Bouquet implies well-wishes and reminds me of a wedding bouquet that is carried during the ceremony and then tossed afterward to friends and family. It is a symbolic way of saying, "I'm happy, and wish this happiness for you." Now that's a great idea. 

Confident or Cocky?

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Seven of Staves (Wands); from the Viking Lenormand, 'Bouquet:'

          Jackson states that this card deals with valor and a successful outcome because of our efforts. But looking at this fellow on the wall with the angry, violent mob below him, he appears to be bored. Is he confident or complacent? Since he is currently at the top of things, does he believe he is out of reach? News flash: someone in that crowd has a ladder. Jack Welch would advise him, "Change before you have to." The Lenormand Bouquet card suggests a gift, pleasure or appreciation. Those at the top of their profession - skaters, actors in a play, ballerinas, etc. - are often given or showered with flowers after a success. You can bet they didn't get there by being arrogant and unconcerned about their profession.

Where overconfidence can get you in trouble is when you aren’t realizing your fallibilities, your limitations, your need to improve. ~ Deborah Faltz

In Need of a Mind Shift

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Ten of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, Bouquet:

          Jackson's Ten of Wands looks even more onerous than the Rider-Waite's heavy bundle on the back. His booklet states it suggests the "danger of an established power becoming oppressive." (At this point I'm chanting in my head "please don't let Trump get elected."). I'm purposefully not watching the Republican National Convention on television, yet I can't get away from its rhetoric. This particular card illustrates well the themes of this group:

• Make America Safe Again - Be terrified! Arm yourself with guns and ammunition! Build a wall! There are people out to get us!
• Make America Work Again - Don't give us your excuses; all Americans have the same opportunities! You're just lazy and don't have any ambition!
• Make America First Again - We want to be the school-yard bully among nations! We want to have it all (we're God's chosen nation, and therefore we deserve it more)!
• Make America One Again - As soon as you adopt our beliefs and our agenda, we'll all be on the same page!

I'm not a fan of Hillary Clinton, but at this point the election seems to be a decision between someone who is sane and someone who is so far off the charts even the DSM has no category to put him in. Thankfully the Lenormand Bouquet shows up to remind me to focus on what is good and positive in my life instead of being influenced by the fear-mongering. If I feel provoked or overwhelmed, I need to change the channel in my head and reflect on what is simple but beautiful.

Sigh of Contentment

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, the "Bouquet:"

          I like that Gabi used water with this card, as our memories lie in our unconscious. Like an old filing cabinet, some folders of events and people are close to the front and easily accessed, while some are stuffed way in the back in an effort to forget (which may show up with the Moon). This is a purposeful remembering of the past, yet the sandcastle and cottage show the woman clearly knows the difference from the present. She doesn't want to go back, but she is enjoying the stroll down memory lane.
          The Bouquet can represent a gift of affection, a nice surprise or a joyful celebration. One of Gabi's phrases for the Six of Cups was "a gift from the past, " and I think that fits well with these flowers. The number six represents a return to harmony, and with the Bouquet there is a sense of emotional comfort and pleasure. If these two cards were a sound, I would expect to hear a sigh of contentment.

Staying Afloat

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Six of Coins:

Probably because of all the recent storms and flash floods, this card made me think of a flat-bottomed boat. The "people" in the boat are nicely balanced now, but what would happen if two folks decided they liked the view better on the other side and moved? The imbalance would likely tip the boat over, and everyone would end up wet. The coins represent my resources - time, physical energy, and finances. It is a bit overwhelming to think I need to share my resources with the whole world; in fact, that kind of thinking only makes me want to hold tighter to them. But what if I shared with the people in my "boat" - those folks I come in contact with day to day? And if they in turn did the same, it seems eventually we would all be afloat instead of treading water.

From the Lenormand de Marseille comes "Bouquet:"

I've gotten flowers delivered to me when I've had something to celebrate (like a birthday), and also when I was feeling out of sorts or grieving a loss. They warm my heart, letting me know someone is thinking of me. But bouquets are made of cut flowers; they will eventually wilt and fade, no matter how much water I keep in the vase. This card reminds me that all things are transitory, including the pleasurable ones. The queen associated with the Bouquet warns me that to blindly ignore such a fact is faulty thinking.  Life is like nature; it ebbs and flows, and we will experience both fullness and emptiness.  With the tarot card above, I am encouraged by this morning's reading to remember that freely giving and receiving can help balance out those transitions of gains and losses.