Excellence is not Perfection

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Butterfly:

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.  –Paul J. Meyer

The Sagittarian archer readies to loose his arrow behind eight wands; all preparations have been made and obstacles overcome. Now it is full steam ahead, so as my father-in-law used to say, "Keep your head down and tail up." The Butterfly warns us not to get sidetracked by perfection, flitting from one thing to another, trying to ensure every detail is flawless. That ideal state will never be reached. As Angela Duckworth reminds us, "Time and energy are limited. Any successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do."

All the Right Words

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the King of Swords; from the Insectorum Divinorum, Butterfly:

You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. 

― Nicholas Sparks

The King of Swords has an analytical mind and is known for being an impartial judge when there are disagreements. With his hand extended, he offers to hear each side's story, but he expects them to back up their words with evidence. He knows eloquent, persuasive speech can hide a heap of wrongdoing. Butterfly represents fragility and susceptibility. While charismatic folks might ping our alert meter, sometimes those who look and sound pitiful might fly under our radar. The King would remind us that questioning doubt that leads to investigation is a useful tool in either case.

To Put My Senses in Order

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, the Butterfly:

The Page of Pentacles is often called 'the student,' but he's not really the bookish sort - he's a student of the natural world. He observes, listens and tests what he thinks he's learned against reality. His first line of inquiry is always "What is this and how does it behave?" rather than "How does this affect me and of what use is it?" He'll be the one that writes the books others read. As he matures, he'll likely see the wonders that once caught his eye as resources, but for now at least he just soaks up everything the earth and its inhabitants have to teach him. The Butterfly, in its metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged insect, symbolizes transformation and rebirth. Adulthood can make us all a bit self-focused as we concentrate on survival, but Butterfly suggests that we can still 'find our wings' back to the wonders of the natural world. And what better de-stressor is there?

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.

—John Burroughs

Be Bold

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Sibyl (Queen) of Wands; from the Mystic Glyphs, Butterfly:

          The Queen of Wands has a warmth and magnetism that draws people in like a hearth fire on a cold night. Most of that radiance comes from a realistic confidence in her abilities that she is willing to teach those who are ready to listen. She's at her best when she can inspire and support the creative spark in others. The Butterfly suggests a transformation has occurred (after weeks of munching leaves as a caterpillar). We've got our wings, but now what? It can be scary to step onto a new stage, but this Queen would tell us not to worry so much about making mistakes but rather to pay attention to what can be learned and applied. She'd likely pass along the wisdom from another Queen (Latifah): "Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self."

Contemplative Work

From the Da Vinci Enigma Tarot, the Hermit; from the Insectorum Divinorum, the Butterfly:

What light shines in the darkness and solitude?

What shadows does it reveal in this matter?

          Contemplative Old Man is likely a self-portrait done by Leonardo. Over his career, he found it necessary to alternate periods of activity with times of retreat. I rarely see anything clearly if I am distracted by constant texts, phone calls and the daily hustle and bustle. Solitude, quiet and contemplation are requirements for self-inventory. I can assess my strengths and my weaknesses, which can show me what spiritual principles I need to work harder on. Without such contemplation, I will become contentedly complacent, thinking I have no need to change any of my attitudes or behaviors. The Butterfly shows a pair of wings minus the insect, as if some child found them and taped them inside a journal. Butterflies in their adult stage can live from a week to nearly a year depending on the species. Because of its short life span and delicate wings, its keyword its fragility. Humans assume they will have a long life; even if we do, the years seem to fly by. I don't want to leave a legacy of unkindness or thoughtlessness, and I don't know how many seconds or years I have left. Best to work on changing myself while I can.

We have to grow or else deteriorate... Change we must; we cannot stand still. ~ Bill Wilson