Desire and Commitment

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Chariot; from the Southernisms Oracle, "Have a hankering for:"

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. ―Mario Andretti

This couple are taking a rest after loading one hundred heavy watermelons in their pickup. Soon they will grab their sign and head to the nearest town to see if they can sell their harvest. The Chariot is about movement, first in the preparatory stage of getting ready, then navigating to get to one's objective, and finally the arrival where the goal can be completed. It's generally more hard work than riding down the highway with the windows down and the music blaring. Hankering means to 'hang on,' and refers to our thoughts getting attached to an idea or desire. We all hanker after different things, but rarely do we satisfy them unless we get up and get moving.    

Get Moving

This week I'll be using the Urban Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Robin Scott (though now published by U.S. Games). I'll be pairing it with an oracle I created called "Principles to Live By." Today's draws are the Chariot and Gratitude:

Ignorance is bliss. Wisdom is blisters.

—Brian Spellman

Planning and preparation are essential for any big task or project, but at some point, we must stop making lists and start taking action. It's time to start gaining ground before our way is blocked. I live in the bottom corner of the state of Georgia. Tonight, we have been warned that an Arctic blast is arriving that will keep nighttime temps in the low 20s (F) accompanied by 25 mph winds. It will stick around for a couple of weeks and likely bring sleet and possibly snow. Now in Canada or North U.S., this is simply called winter. But in an area that rarely drops below 30 F, we are sorely unprepared. Yet we have been hurriedly doing our best to get ready anyway. [By the way Southerners do NOT know how to drive in sleet and snow, so avoid this area until it thaws.] Gratitude is a reminder of the resources we do have, including a home in which to harbor from the storm. It's a principle that can warm the heart, no matter what the weather.

Please Disregard

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Chariot; from the Pictish Oracle, the Eagle:

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.

― William James

What is it that distracts us from our focus, makes our confidence wobble, and dulls our will? While the stimulus might have come from the outside, the seed that grows from it is in our mind, a fictitious narrative that trips up our purpose and progress. The Eagle makes ten appearances on class I stones; an old Gaelic name for the eagle was ‘fireun’ which can be translated as truth, integrity or a just man. This bird suggests we check the soundness of those thoughts and ideas that cause us to deviate from our objective. As James wrote, we may need to disregard those that serve only as a distraction.

What's Holding the Reins?

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Chariot; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Key:

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. —Benjamin Franklin

The Charioteer in this image is a marble sculpture known as the Agrigento Youth; it took a violent fall, likely from an earthquake, losing his nose and parts of his arms and legs. The 'horses' are Naxian sphinx statues that guarded Apollo's temple at Delphi. Greek mythology describes them as merciless to those who could not answer their riddles. This card represents the strength of determination to reach one's goals. But what happens when life sends an 'earthquake' that disrupts our progress? Do we allow our baser instincts and emotions to run the show? Doing so would likely only create more problems than we are currently dealing with. The Lenormand Key offers us a way to meet our challenges wisely, by reining in our wild, chaotic thoughts and seeing with an unbiased perspective. Dispassionate attention can assist us in recognizing any resources that might aid us so that we can move forward once again. 

Unmoving

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Chariot; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Hei:

When you know what you want you go toward it. 

― Ayn Rand

The sphinxes asleep in the field of flowers suggest that something has gone awry with this charioteer. They move in the direction of his mind, and he seems to currently have a case of analysis paralysis. Is he afraid of making a wrong choice? Then he should take the words of Bryant McGill to heart: "A person who makes few mistakes makes little progress." Perhaps the journey isn't proceeding as planned, and now he doesn't know whether to keep going forward or turn back. Yet refusing to move won't help; he can make progress or make excuses. Hei is a Hebrew letter that means 'behold' and suggests a nudge to get us to wake up, pay attention, and get out of our rut. Progress doesn't depend on speed, just motion.

Towards the Goal

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Chariot; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, Two Horses:

In racing, they say that your car goes where your eyes go.

– Garth Stein

After he has been influenced and shaped by those he's met so far, the Fool gets behind the driver's seat and begins assert himself in the world. He's a bit like a kid who's just received his driving license, feeling excited with an undercurrent of trepidation. He hears in his head the voices that tell him not to get distracted or a wreck will be inevitable. But he soon learns it's not just the outer disturbances that can make him lose his focus, but the inner ones as well. His urge for freedom and his ambition encourage him to move, but move mindfully. The Two Horse card refers to the 47th verse in the Gospel of Thomas: "It is impossible for a man to mount two horses or to stretch two bows." The Chariot can't travel down two roads at the same time; there is a point where a choice must be made. Which one is simply a distraction, and which one will take us towards our goal?

Two Vehicles

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert (now published by Schiffer). 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 the Chariot and Freya:

Lose your mind and come to your senses.

~Fritz Perls

This Chariot is a canoe, paddled by a serious fellow intent on his getting to his destination. The eagle offers the medicine of fierce attention, the salmon tenacity, and the black and white orcas balance and harmony. His self-discipline and focus allow him to avoid emotional triggers and physical distractions, keeping him headed in the direction he desires. While such concentration is laudable, he might heed the message of the orcas and spend some time in his body instead of just in his head. The mind needs the vehicle of the body, and Freya (Norse goddess of beauty, passion and fertility) suggests we appreciate it and pay attention its wisdom too. 

Unattached

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Chariot; from the Vertical Oracle, Ritual:

The Great Way is not difficult for those who are unattached to their preferences.

~Seng-ts’an

Any progress can be stymied by what the Buddhists call the Three Poisons. Craving (rooster) is the obsessive desire for something we are sure will bring us happiness. Hatred (snake) is rage aimed as something we think is preventing our happiness. Delusion (pig) is refusing to see reality clearly because we prefer our own version. Skillful choices and actions require that we recognize when we're under the influence of these poisons and turn from them. Ritual is a set of specific actions that remind us of what is important and essential. These practices keep our mind focused on our purpose rather than being distracted by things that have nothing to do with the direction we're headed. 

Containing Frame

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Chariot; from Rory's Story Cubes, Chariot:

The attempt to look at your attitude—what you are feeling and thinking and the frame that holds it, is one of the routes to freedom.

―John Tarrant

The two humans pulling the Chariot are the animal instincts of its driver. Instincts are great for motivating behavior, but they have no safety switches. They tell us to run over anything or anyone to get to our goal. However the mind allows us to filter and direct these instincts rather than letting them become our master. Fire suggests the passions that motivate us; like our instincts, these strong attractions must be fed while also contained. As the Yin Yang symbol on the Chariot implies, there are times when we need to be passive and receptive, and times when we need to be active and assertive.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

— Viktor E. Frankl

As Appropriate

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Chariot; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 30 (Fire over Fire):

It's ironic that the Chariot has appeared today as I was supposed to be headed out of town but extremely bad weather and an injured, abandoned kitten have kept my wheels at rest. I feel torn by my mother's expectations (to show up no matter what) and my personal obligations (be safe, get the kitten stable). Hexagram 30, with keywords such as warmth and clarity, explains that we need to use our power in selfless ways. Ego would force a situation - go to keep the peace and people please or don't go at all and say "the hell with it." But the middle way, without attachments, would see what could be done without resorting to extremes. It suggests to be led by the light - receptive to seeing reality as it is - and then move (or stay) as is appropriate to the situation.

Necessary Weeding

From the Anna K Tarot, the Chariot; from the Meditation Cards, "Joy in Bloom:"

Klaffinger uses Phaeton, son of a water nymph and the sun god Helios, to illustrate her Chariot. Helios had promised to grant his son any wish, but when Phaeton said he wanted to drive his chariot, Helios tried desperately to talk him out of it. Even Zeus could not control those fire-breathing horses, so it wasn't too big a surprise that Phaeton lost control and scorched a large portion of the earth. Zeus, in order to save the earth, struck him down with  a lightning bolt. Daring to take on a challenge was not Phaeton's downfall, it was failing to prepare and train beforehand. Yet the "Joy in Bloom" card suggests we don't have to hide and lick our wounds forever; instead, we can learn from our mistakes.

Spring and all its flowers

now joyously break their vow of silence.

It is time for celebration, not for lying low;

You too — weed out those roots of sadness from your heart.

~ Hafiz

Mind Training

This week I'll be using the Tyldwick Tarot, created and self-published by Neil Lovell. I'll also be using the Antiquarian Lenormand, created and self-published by Maree Bento. Today's draws are the Chariot and the Lady/Ace of Spades:

This charioteer is missing a few limbs - a signal that his efforts will mainly be a mental effort rather than a physical one. The tapestry behind him ("The Boar and Bear Hunt") emphasizes the charioteer's hunt for what he desires. The statue itself is that of a Greek ephebos - meaning an adolescent male who was of age to train as a soldier. His 'horses' are Naxian sphinxes; they were seen as merciless guardians of tombs and sanctuaries. In this card, they warn that we need to guard the mind well. The Lady is represented by Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and she is the only woman to win the award in two different fields (physics and chemistry). She managed her many accomplishments while married with children. The Lady is a reminder that we should not let gender, class, or any other label stand in the way of the goals we want to reach.

A gender line... helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

~Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Humble Pride

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Chariot; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Pride:

Judy Lief might have some good advice for this chariot full of fairies: "pay attention to the difference between having a goal and being taken over by your hopes, fears, and speculations." When working toward an objective, we should focus on what is in front of us, what needs to be attended to at the moment. If we get distracted, we may miss what's important. Pride can either be a virtue or a vice. Psychologist Charles Carver explains: "Hubristic pride tends to be associated with a fragile ego, and with anxiety and aggressive tendencies as people strive to keep up the illusion of competence and control. Authentic pride, on the other hand, is associated with increased social support, lower anxiety, and a greater desire to help others by sharing one’s expertise." David DeSteno clarifies: "For pride to work, it must be paired with humility — a humility to know that no matter our skill set, each of us depends on what others have to offer."

Our Best Ally

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Archer (Chariot); from the Rune Cards, Water/Lagu:

To reach any goal we strive for, we must be mentally steady with a clear intention - just as this archer must maintain a steady, focused aim to hit her target. Our mental energy must not be distracted by unimportant things, no matter how attractive or unpleasant they might be. Any of the 'worldly winds' might affect our aim: joy or suffering, recognition or insignificance, praise or blame, and gain or loss. The Water/Lagu rune poem parallels the Chariot card as it describes those who voyage on the sea but must deal with the fact that "the sea-stallion heeds not its bridle." What can throw us off track quicker than anything is emotional intoxication with whatever is going on. But our mind, wisely used, can be our best ally.

Sobriety is to develop your own capacity to face yourself as you are—in all your vulnerability, pain, or anxiety. Most deeply, it can mean facing the impermanent nature of all of our states of being and the very limited control we have over what happens in our lives or comes up in our bodies and minds. It’s to cultivate resilience in the face of reality. —Matthew Gindin

 

An Unusual Strategy

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Chariot; from the Beasts of Albion, the Hedgehog:

Manawydan, son of Llyr ("the sea"), was an unusual god who was humble, patient and preferred to use his brain rather than his brawn. As a result of his resourcefulness, the spell over his home was lifted and his wife and stepson returned. The Chariot symbolizes training our emotions and instincts to pull in tandem with our rational intellect so that we make progress toward our goal. Rather than smash through roadblocks (ending up in a ditch) or turning around to go home in a huff, we develop patience and the ability to adapt to our changing circumstances. Such adaptability is what the Hedgehog represents. Miranda Gray writes, "The Hedgehog's agility, good memory for places, acute hearing - which can pick up even the sound of a worm moving underground - and solid defensive spines have allowed it to adapt readily to modern life." This little animal is a reminder that force has limited power when we're dealing with reality; it is much more beneficial to develop the ability to change.

A Different Pen

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Chariotess; from the Elemental Dice, Ocean (Water + Water):

In her booklet, Petersen writes "Don't get stuck in indissoluble knots." The Ocean roll, suggests incredible depths, and in this case alludes to emotions. All emotions are valid and natural, but when we overfeed or attempt to suppress them they can become something abnormal and unhealthy. Rage, shame, obsession, depression, terror, and self-pity keep us stuck and unable to move forward. Our chariot wheels find no traction and simply spin in place. All the energy we expend regurgitating and replaying our thoughts can make us feel like we are getting something done when we are actually creating a deeper rut. Any progress will require that we stop watering those unwholesome seeds and plant some that are are more skillful.

If you get stuck, draw with a different pen. Change your tools; it may free your thinking.

~Paul Arden

Holding the Reins Lightly

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Chariot; from the Tapestry Oracle, Growth:

He who has the understanding of the driver of the chariot and controls the rein of his mind,

he reaches the end of the journey...

— Katha Upanishad 1.3.10–11

This young man is racing toward his goal. There are no reins are harnesses in sight, but his laser-like focus are keeping him on track and headed in the right direction. His intellect and mind are the guides, watchful of the senses so he does not to get distracted by what they crave or despise along the way. Those preferences and prejudices can toss him right off his perch if he's not aware of their influence. Such a disciplined approach may seem like crossing a bland and brutal desert expanse. Yet the Growth card, which shows succulents sprouting from a woman's body, tells another story. Succulents are have fleshy, thick leaves in which they store water in order to survive in arid climates. Likewise, this woman has learned that no matter what is going on in the external world, she can still find joy and contentment within herself. 

Intentional Influence

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Chariot; from the OH Cards, Backstab/Holding On:

The Chariot invites us to take control of our life and get a move on. Yet as Drs. Paul Napper and Anthony Rao explain, most folks feel overwhelmed - either thwarted (as in the Backstab card) or stuck (as in Holding On). In their book The Power of Agency, they offer seven principles to help us make some forward progress:

1. Cut back the distractions in your immediate environment as much as possible for better concentration, creative thinking, and to minimize impulsive actions.
2. Surround yourself with open-minded, supportive people who will boost your mood, motivation, and overall well-being.
3. Get your body moving and give it the nutrition and rest it needs.
4. Be a learner, not just in what interests you. Let active questioning and listening expand your world.
5. Cultivate self-awareness by identifying beliefs and emotions that misguide you. Check for hard evidence; don't believe everything you think.
6. Use your intuition wisely rather than impulsively. Intuition is a link between your unconscious storehouse and external stimuli. When making important decisions, relying just on intuition makes sense only when you have vast experience to back your hunches.
7. Identify and weigh your options in a rational, inclusive way, then take positive, decisive action.

Get Moving

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Chariot; from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Rit/Raidho (Riding):

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move. ―Benjamin Franklin

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ―Dale Carnegie

I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants. ―Zig Ziglar

It's not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities. ―Kristin Armstrong

Here Kitty, Kitty

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Chariot; from the Inward Oracle, Compassion:

Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later.

― Mary Bly

          Having been a cat owner for several decades, I realize that while I may consider them a pet, they have me (and the rest of the household) well trained. Lia, who can cry more pitifully than a baby, gets instant results. Likewise - as I consider the beams connecting the dragons and the charioteer - I wonder who is pulling the strings. Is his mind well-trained enough not to be pulled to and fro by his instincts and emotions (the dragons)? The Compassion card shows a heart-opening yoga pose of exposed vulnerability. Compassion comes from a tenderness and warmth of the heart in response to suffering, either our own or someone else. When the habits of my mind make me say and do unkind things, compassion rather than shame can help me improve. Of course that doesn't negate the responsibility of making amends. But can I see how others get yanked about by their own mental habits (often without awareness), and have compassion for them as well while still holding them accountable?

Lia