Potential for Good or Ill

From the Tarot of Durer, the Four of Cups; from the Philosopher's Stone, Connection:

          How easily the human eye focuses on the dark cloud and broken eggshell while dismissing the newly hatched dove inside its protective circle. We are biologically geared to look for threats, but what serves our sanity and well-being is the effort to look for joy and what is good as well. The Connection card points out that we can turn on each other in times of struggle and hardship or we can remember our interconnection and offer aid where we can. As the Dalai Lama stated, "It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others."

Appreciative Joy

From the Spiral Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Sacred Journey Cards, 'Connection:'

          This King might be known for his compassion and kindness, but he still has a firm grip on that scepter. He is first and foremost a leader; he can't afford to let emotions edit reality or be swept away by drama. Immersed as he is, the King of Cups must develop equanimity so as not to let his common sense be hampered. The Connection card is something any community or nation must realize for its own well-being. It reminded me of how hard it could be to watch other neighborhoods get their power and water back after the hurricane, while we still dealt with the sweltering heat. It is easy to be angry and spiteful when something good happens to another instead of us. But emotional maturity helps me realize that another's good fortune can also be joyful for me too.

Appreciative joy is a natural expression of our best humanity…[it] cheers for the happiness and success of others and celebrates buoyancy, health, and happiness wherever they are encountered.

—Judith Simmer-Brown

On Rock or Sand

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Four of Disks; from the OH Cards, Connection/Hide:

          Being a Thoth cousin, Mary-El's Four of Disks represents established security, stability and comfort. The painting reminds me of the biblical tale of the two house builders - one who built on sand (which was washed away) and the other who built on rock (which stood firm). White suggests that by settling what is outside (physical), we will settle what is inside (mental/emotional). Nine times out of ten, when it seems everything is going to hell in a hand-basket, we attempt to find refuge in the mind rather than in the body. We spin our wheels trying to think ourselves out of a situation rather than focusing on our bodies and our immediate environment - what we can realistically care for and deal with at the moment. The OH cards suggests two other way we may respond when feeling unsettled. Holding hands with another offers guidance, support and comfort. It gives us a connection to other humans and is a reminder that we don't have to walk alone. At the other extreme, hiding isolates us from this resource of caring people; it generally makes us feel lonely and separated from everyone else. Even when life is chaotic, there are skillful choices we can make to help us find our center.

Arena for the Ego

From the Ellis Deck, the Five of Rods; from the Brownies Oracle, "Connection:"

          I rather like the phrase Ellis uses for this card: arena for the ego. People train, study and practice, but when they go forth into the world, they find other people who are just as motivated as they are. They all have different perspectives, opinions and ideas about how things should be done, which is what can cause problems. In such a battleground, the reason why they are there doing the work they've chosen seems to get lost. Which leads to the Connection card with the broken bridge. It made me think of the great flood of '94 here that covered an area the combined size of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and caused great loss. In the midst of it, neighbors who had rarely spoken were helping each other, strangers with boats were rescuing people and pets, and churches with little previous community outreach were opening shelters and providing food. Age, race, religion and politics didn't matter anymore, but saving our city and the people in it did. I recently heard a quote (but can't remember who said it): No one sees the world more clearly than the convalescent. Why must we lose much or experience pain before we remember what is important? And for me that is the greatest lesson in these cards; I can stand up for myself but I shouldn't forget the ethical and moral foundation I stand on.

Challenges and Connections

The card chosen today from the Tarot of Durer is the Six of Wands:

“We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.” ~ Margaret Mead

Gaudenzi (the artist of this deck) uses animals to represent each suit: lions for wands, doves for cups, foxes for swords, and eagles for pentacles/coins.  In this image, someone has tried to build a fence to hamper the lion's ability to hunt.  But from the looks of the fresh kill beneath his paws, this obstacle didn't present much of a challenge.  The Six of Wands emphasizes success in overcoming our struggles.  Had the lion looked at the fence as an unsolvable problem, his stomach would be empty right now.  Instead, he saw it for what it was - a crudely made border that attempted to place limits on him.  How will I see the bumps and detours in the road today?  Will I paint myself inside a fictitious cage and wring my hands?  Hopefully they will only inspire me to work on my goal from a new direction.

     The card pulled from the Philosopher's Stone oracle this morning is "Connection:"

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Three stone people head in the same direction; pebbles between their heads connect each one to another.  The pebble represents being like-minded and having a common objective.  One may be the leader, but that makes no difference to the other two.  They don't want to be distracted by petty arguments, as they have enough to deal with already.  These people know that working together can create small movements capable of making big changes.  Their connection and dedication are amazing tools for progress.  Now if I could just find a pebble to put between each of the heads of the members of Congress...