An Ocean of Possibilities

From the Gill Tarot, the King of Cups; from The Circle, Choice:

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

~Booker T. Washington

The King of Cups tries to bring balance and guidance to those experiencing emotional upheaval. If he can help them regain their composure so that they are no longer spinning, he will point their attention to the wide expanse of the ocean. "This," he will tell them, "represents all the possibilities available in this moment if you can release your assumptions and expectations." Choice suggests that if they can become open-minded, they will see there are several options available rather than just one. Relax, release, and resist nothing - the view is wider and deeper than first thought.

Know Thyself

From the Gill Tarot, the Priest (Hierophant); from The Circle, Choice:

“Know thyself” is the first practice of love. When we practice this, we see the conditions that have caused us to be the way we are. ―Thich Nhat Hanh

          Learning anything generally requires a mentor (whether in-person, through a book, etc.), even if the object of study is myself. My personal evaluation of whether a spiritual teacher is beneficial depends on whether they help me develop kindness and compassion while lessening self-centeredness and selfishness. Awareness is the key, but it involves more than introspection. As psychologist Tasha Eurich explains, we do not have access to many of our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motives, which leads us to invent answers that feel true but are often wrong. Simply asking 'Why?' invites unproductive negative thoughts and ruminative patterns. She suggests observing the consequences or situation then asking 'What?' questions to help us stay objective, future-focused, and empowered to act on our new insights. When it comes time to make an important decision, such self-awareness can help us not be led astray by our moods or biases.

Crossing or Burning

This week I'll be using the Golden Tarot, created by Kat Black and published by U.S. Games. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Yantra Deck, created by Karl Schaffner and Maya Deva Adjani. It was published by Vayu Publishing. Today's cards are the Star and Choice:

Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.

~John C. Maxwell 

          After the Tower, the Star appears. Here can be found rest and healing, but hopefully insight as well. When we think, speak and act, we create mental patterns that make it easier to do the same thing again without much thought. But just because they are familiar and comfortable doesn't always mean they're healthy and skillful. Arriving flat on our faces at the feet of the Star, we get a do-over. Using both hindsight and discernment, we can acknowledge those patterns often created by anger or fear. The Choice mantra gives us the key to open a new door. While it can be extremely difficult to make different choices than the ones we easily slide into, if we keep making them long enough they will in time become what is familiar.

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.

~David Russell

Sound of Trumpets

This week I'll be using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed along with the book Alchemy and the Tarot, both created by Robert M. Place and published by Hermes Publications. Paired with it will be the Oracle of the Radiant Sun deck and book set, created by Caroline Smith and John Astrop and published through Eddison-Sadd Editions. The draws for today are Judgment and Choice:

          The skull with barley sprouting from it is a nod to the Egyptians who put buried grains with the dead; when it grew, the person was said to have risen. From an alchemical standpoint, the two people who've risen from the grave represent base metals that have been turned to gold. Looking through a spiritual lens, those folks heard the call but first had to remove their impurities (dirt, stone slabs) to be reborn. The Choice card represents Mars in Libra, a combination that produces a person who likes to follow the rules but expects everyone else to do the same (and is not very diplomatic about it). These two draws reminded me of how righteous indignation can keep me deeply buried. My first stepfather was very gifted and creative when it came to physical and emotional abuse. I had valid reasons to back up my hatred; the only way I would forgive would be a full confession and apology (which I knew would never happen). But at the beginning of this year I found out he was terminally ill and would likely not live to see another year. I wondered what I would do if I were in his place. Suddenly I realized that the suffocating dirt on top of me was shoveled by my own hand. My rage has since dissolved and now the heavy slab has been removed from my heart.

Smart or Sexy?

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Choice:

          This Queen of Swords has the exact scene from the Lovers card in her window. Yet she appears serene without needing all the hot and heavy passion (like the dove resting by her arm). She's an intellect who'd rather be honest than have a mouth full of sugar lumps, but that doesn't mean she's heartless. She can't afford for her her heart to sit on the throne; too much could go wrong. The Choice card makes me think of two roads - one full of passion and turmoil and one that has less drama and more discernment. Is excitement and chaos better than logic and harmony? I was attracted to my husband because he was a reader and could discuss what he read. The romance came later. I've always thought you could teach a smart man (if he were also kind) how to be a good lover, but I'm not so sure that works in reverse.

Use the Key

This week I'll be using the Cosmic Tarot, created by Norbert Losche and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be drawing from L'Oeil de Lotus (Eye of the Lotus), created by Colette and Gérard Lougarre and published by Vox Arkhana. Today's cards are the Nine of Pentacles and "Choice:"

          With her feathered friend right outside the window, I imagine this woman to have bird feeders and bird houses on her estate. The key in her right hand is an indicator that she is not a "kept" woman, but has control of her own life - an independent, self-made person. And while the financial resources she has make her life comfortable in many ways, all the stuff she might buy isn't what bring her lasting happiness. Her contentment comes from having the time to enjoy the beauty of her garden and the blue hue of the sky. Time is a precious commodity.
          The Choice card shows a forked road, one that leads up the mountain and one that leads down to the valley. The memorial on the right lane suggests the way most often traveled in the past. Going downhill, it is the path of least resistance. But if you toss in the tarot card's meaning, there is the added influence of having time, energy and resources to spare. Wouldn't it be better in such a case to push outside my comfort zone, to challenge myself to explore, learn and attempt new things? I believe I've just been handed a set of keys.
         

Passing Up Pot Shots

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Five of Wands:

I always groan inwardly when I pull this card. It generally means my opinion about how, when or where to do something is about to collide head-on with another person's ideas. It often starts with me making a suggestion (trying to be helpful) that is usually shot down rather quickly. Of course this offends me (because I have a tendency to think I'm right), and I counter with another comment. Sometimes this exchange clears the air and produces a compromise, but other times only bruised and battered egos are the result. I notice the two fellows here are enclosed in a circle of stones, and the extra rod is inside. My first instinct would be to bonk them on the head to get their attention, but perhaps the circle's boundary warns this is not my battle to fight.

From the L'Oeil de Lotus comes the card "Choice:"

A road forks, forcing the traveler to decide which way to go. The cross memorial at the "V" makes me think something must be put to rest in order for progress to continue. In pondering my habit of wanting to be "helpful," perhaps this trait is what needs to be buried. I can't protect everyone all the time, and I can't guide them in directions they don't want to go. I imagine people will learn much more from their own mistakes than they will from my meddling. Today I will try to allow them to do so (but I might need some duct tape over my mouth, just in case).

Choosing and Doing

From the Gill Tarot, the Princess of Discs (Page of Pentacles):

Every time I see this card in the Gill deck with the bull in the background and the red of her skirt, I think this princess has enough stubbornness to learn to do whatever she sets her mind on doing.  But I think she must be a bit like me when learning something new - I can read all the instructions and books I want, but until I physically get started I'm still lost.  A friend sent my family a board game for the holidays called "Ticket to Ride."  Although it doesn't have a lot of rules to play, it wasn't until we all actually tried to play the game that we had a firm grasp on how to play it (and it was fun!).  If I'm going to attempt something new, I need to be persistent, read the "how to," and then give it a go so I can polish my skills along the way.  I'm definitely a "learn by doing" kind of gal.

From The Circle deck comes "Choice:"

Will it be door number one, two, three or four?  They all have a bright, inviting light shining through the doorway.  They remind me of all the things I want to learn about and do.  But its hard not to have a remote control mentality and switch back and forth, taking a piece of this and a piece of that.  If I want to seriously study or learn a new skill, I'm going to have to choose one, and invest my time in it for a while.