Crossing Mental Monkey Bars

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Two of Coins; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Clouds:

          Everyone struggles with juggling duties and responsibilities at some point, trying to perform obligations while keeping our own needs met. But the Clouds add a setback, another weight to our shoulders. How do we cope then? If I'm really overwhelmed, taking a few relaxed breaths won't help me prudently release the emotional energy build-up. For that, I go for a walk, do some cleaning, or work in the yard. Once that energy has moved through and out, I climb on my mental monkey bars. Each rung has a question I must ask myself: Is this my responsibility? Do I have control over this situation or person? Is there a skillful, wise action I can take? Where does this fit in a priority list - how important is it, really? Hopefully, by the time I've reached the end of the rungs, I see with more clarity and can act responsibly.

Googling for Answers

From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Celtic Lenormand, 'Clouds:'

          Some people, when faced with a difficult decision, simply pull the covers over their head and attempt to ignore the situation. Others go into combat mode, googling for information, talking to people who might have answers and checking for any studies or research. This fellow definitely falls into the second group; trying to stay balanced on that cylinder in the water is likely what motivates him. Humans don't tolerate uncertainty very well. Anxiety over not having solid ground beneath us can make us do some crazy things in search of the right answer. The Clouds card reinforces this sense of confusion and ambiguity. Yet it is in this groundless place where we can choose to open our mind beyond our preferences and prejudices, allowing us to dare to do what we've never done before.

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity. ― Gilda Radner

Sharing Gifts

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Queen of Coins; from the Viking Lenormand, the 'Clouds:'

          Behind this Queen's throne is a tapestry with baled sheaves of grain. It fits her grounded and practical nature, as she is often heard to say, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." If someone lost their home due to fire or flood, she'd tell the Hierophant to hold off on the prayer service until these people have food, clothes, and a bed to sleep in. She nurtures in concrete ways, helping people until they can help themselves. The Clouds card represents confusion and uncertainty. While this Queen cares for others in useful ways, she knows the gifts of working with people's emotions, ambitions, and honesty are in the hands of her sister queens. She has enough sense not to try to be everything for everyone when there's someone else more qualified who can be asked for help and clarity.

The truth is that we all have gifts to share – time, talent, connections, insights, experience, skills, resources, hospitality. And most people love to share them! ~ Margie Warrell

Where's the Love

This week I'll be using two self-published decks: The Bonefire Tarot by Gabrielle Angus-West (soon to be released by Schiffer) and the Day of the Dead Lenormand by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are the Knight of Swords and Clouds:

As long as your ideas of what's possible are limited by what's actual, no other idea has a chance. 

― Susan Neiman 

          The Knight of Swords is an idealist who is concerned with truth and justice. He's the whistleblower that alerts others to the abuses of corporations and the civil rights worker who attempts to educate the masses and change unfair laws. His spirited horse is symbolic of his optimism and expectation; a little thing like reality doesn't slow him down one bit. But the Lenormand Clouds card shows he can cause confusion and complications with his inflexible ideas and refusal to compromise. In his intellectual world, wrongs get righted and injustice gets slayed without any casualties. But idealism and change in particular do put innocent people in the line of fire. This doesn't mean truth and justice shouldn't prevail, but all participants should recognize the dangers they face. Above all, hate should not be what fuels any movement. This post made me think of a song by the Black-eyed Peas (Where's the Love) that was redone as a collaborative effort. As our world changes in both good and bad ways, I think it's message is quite relevant.

A Bird in the Hand

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Two of Wands; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, "Clouds:"

 

Should I stay or should I go now?

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble,

An' if I stay it will be double.

~ The Clash

          When I drew Gabi's Two of Wands this morning, the Clash song above started playing in my head. In one hand is a nice bouquet of pine cones, and in the other is the world served up as if on a silver platter. Here is the dilemma of staying in my comfort zone and being content with what I have, versus the desire to break from routine and go for what is exciting. Does my ambition have enough fuel to make a commitment and stick things out for the long haul? Or am I just bored and looking for relief (and really only interested in a short-term fix)?

          Clouds, especially colorful ones, are a bit worrisome. The pink and red ones make me think of the saying "red sky at morning, sailors take warning." The blue/purple clouds remind me of thunderstorms, and the green shade is the color of the sky before a tornado. In Lenormand, this card typically means confusion, uncertainty or changeable conditions. In previous situations, I have allowed myself to be caught up in the enthusiasm and eagerness of others over a project. The problem was that they intended for me to carry the ball and head toward the goal line. They had no intention of obligating themselves in any way. I have a feeling I need to wait, do some research and check my own motives before jumping into anything.

Habitual Thinking

This week I'll be using the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, a deck originally created by Ferdinando Gumppenberg in 1810 and later republished by Lo Scarabeo.  Today's draw is Death:

There is a wooded lot filled with large, old trees that I pass on my walks every morning. In late spring and early summer, a throng of shade-loving wildflowers bloom there. Recently I enjoyed this lovely sight, only to come back the next day to find the city mowers had cleared the lot. Sudden, unexpected endings can shake me and make me look at the world from a new perspective. They are like zen koans that force me out of my habitual thinking and allow new ideas to be planted.

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Lenormand de Marseille, created and published by Edmund Zebrowski.  This morning's draw is "Clouds:"

Here in the South, clouds are usually welcomed as they bring shade from the intense summer sun and rain for the farms. But if you're trying to see something clearly - for instance driving during a thunderstorm - the decrease in visual clarity is not so well received. Thus this Lenormand card is often tagged with keywords such as confusion, uncertainty, and instability. In pairing the Clouds with Death above, I couldn't help but think of the recent passing of a gentle, kind, soft-spoken man I have known for  years. Though not young, he was not elderly either; I have battled the "but why" question ever since I saw his obituary. Trying to find those kind of answers is as useful as nailing jello to a tree.  They only create more confusion and frustration with no positive returns. I must accept that life is full of natural changes, beginnings and endings; as Lao Tzu stated, "Let reality be reality."