Vibe Check

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Princess (Page) of Cups; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the 'Cockatoo:'

          Tender and sensitive, it might be easy to dismiss this Page as too child-like to take seriously. Yet it is her emotional sensitivity that heightens her intuitive perception. She rarely misses subtle clues that others might not notice. She is a bit like the family pet who knows something is out of balance long before the human family members do. Cockatoos have been kept for their intelligence and engaging personalities. They are social birds and tend to live 30 to 70 years; if they are neglected or don't have enough to engage their curious natures, they can become very unhappy. As pets, they require a commitment for the long haul from their owners. This card combination suggests it is time to slow down and become aware of the emotional state of those around us. We may not be able to make someone else happy, but we can at least give them our compassionate attention and emotional support.

Rewiring the Hardwired Brain

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the "Cockatoo:"

The red background and the group of swords successfully camouflage the open bloom of the red rose. I read an article in Tricycle magazine by Dr.Wendy Hasenkamp this morning that brilliantly sums up the problem behind this card:
 Through the continual process of neural association, we slowly build up strong networks related to the things we experience frequently. These neural networks reflect our personal knowledge about a given object, person, or situation—in the form of sense perceptions, memories, emotions, thoughts, and behavioral responses. As we move through our lives, brain circuits that are used more frequently become “hardwired”; that is, they are easier to activate than new or unused connections. Because less energy is needed for these familiar circuits to become active, patterns that are practiced become quite literally the “path of least resistance.” ...The result is our inability to truly perceive others (or ourselves) in the uniqueness of each moment. Thus viewed, delusion—our misperception of the world—is part of the natural result of a fundamental biological process, one that is beautiful in its elegance and utility, but also dangerous in its capacity for distortion.
The Eight of Swords is a Thoth-based deck, so this card is subtitled "Interference." Our hardwired thoughts interfere with reality. Yet according to Hasenkamp, we can build a bridge over these deep mental grooves through conscious effort; we can eventually weaken them and build healthy mental habits. 
Cockatoos as pets require a commitment. They are intelligent, social birds who can live to be 70 years old, and they bond strongly with their owner. Their message is to be unafraid of making a deep connection with others. Immediately, those eight swords pop up around me when I hear this advice. I can count on one hand the number of people I open my heart to without reservation. Hmm.... maybe I can pull up one sword at a time, and make a small opening as a start.