Starved for Love

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the Viking Lenormand, Cross:

There's truths you have to grow into.

― H.G. Wells

The Eight of Cups represents leaving a situation that we find unfulfilling. Perhaps it was the relationship we thought was perfect, the job we felt was made for us, or the group that we assumed had the same values and interests we did. Yet when is leaving a matter of immaturity, simply wanting things our way? Patience, perseverance, wise decision-making, dependability, self-control, and humility are hallmarks for maturity. These traits usually take challenging experiences to develop. But the Cross implies burdens and sacrifices that might be too much for anyone to bear. If we are in a situation that is controlling, manipulative or abusive which is affecting our mental or physical health, then leaving is the sane thing to do. Otherwise, we might find ourselves in the words of Ayushee Ghoshal, "You make me feel like a firefly. Trapped in a bell jar; starved for love."

Sword Pointing

From the Rosetta Tarot the Knight (King) of Swords; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Cross:

Sharp-minded and analytical, the Knight of Swords loves to exercise his intellect by making logical judgments and attaining new realizations. Being Fire of Air, Meleen describes him as a rushing, violent windstorm. He is mad for knowledge and has a fountain of it, but he's not someone you'd want to get into an argument with. Questioning his ideas can easily turn him into a mocking, sarcastic meanie. The Cross represents hardship and sacrificial suffering. In the case of this fellow, who loves to lord his intellect and smite others with it, the outcome is being despised and seen as nothing more than an ego astride a horse. If he wants to be loved instead of just feared, he could sacrifice his ego and make amends, then attempt to be more careful with his words. As Anne Lamott says, "You don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too."

The Right Choice

This week I'll be using the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, created and self-published by Ciro Marchetti. I'll pair with it the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, created and self-published by Karin Dalton-Smith. Today's draws are the Two of Swords and Cross:

          This masked person gives the impression that whatever decision is about to be made, someone won't be happy with it. It is impossible to make everyone happy, and that is really not the purpose of most hard decisions anyway. The Cross suggests a sacrifice, with wishes being put aside for needs and opinions taking a backseat to facts. A student once asked Zen master Yunmen what was the purpose or goal of practice. He replied, "An appropriate response." Perhaps that is the answer to discerning what is the best choice - the one most appropriate.

The right choice is hardly ever the easy choice.

― Rick Riordan

Dreams and Choreographing

From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea Tarot, the Moon; from the Celtic Lenormand, the 'Cross:'

          Turk's Moon seems like a bizarre dream: an owl over a moon that has turned into a bleeding uterus; a harp with strings crossed like a loom; a woman with a vessel as a part of her head; and a monkey handmaiden. The open vessel is like the mind that takes in information during the day and leaks information through the unconscious at night as we dream. The booklet mentions an oscillation in one's emotional state that causes mood changes that don't always fit the circumstances. Kathleen Dowling Singh writes:

No matter how savvy and independent and self-controlled we may presume ourselves to be, without mindfulness, chaos is what we discover when we begin to look under the hood. Chaos is replete with tension, with ruses, with exhausting attempts to keep the self [ego] safe and to choreograph circumstances to optimize illusory promises of happiness or to sidestep all that we do not want. All of our efforts in this regard are futile.

No wonder humans have such weird dreams. The Cross from the Celtic Lenormand implies a spiritual burden of sorts. McCracken writes that this can represent an engaged approach to morals and ethics: "you have to think about what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what the consequences might be." While such an approach might be considered a hardship, it is at least more liberating than letting the ego hold the reins.

Yield and Heal

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Star; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Cross:

          The trickle from the mouth of the fountain represents the cleansing and refreshing properties of water (much needed after the Tower experience). The hexagram symbol around the mouth of the fountain is an alchemical one. The union of the fire symbol (triangle pointing up) with the water symbol (triangle pointing down) is a combination of opposites representing transmutation. The combination implies accepting the good and bad in life which allows us to become the vessel in which transmutation occurs. The Greek piece of pottery is a wine jug (entitled by the Metropolitan Museum of Art "Dionysus and Eros in Procession"). Wine is used both to celebrate and relax, a fitting drink for this card. It is time to appreciate making it through our challenge, but also a time to relax and gain our strength before the next one comes along. The Cross card shows a recruiting poster for nurses during World War I. War in any capacity requires sacrifice, but for nurses it meant energy expended in healing the injured. As with the Star card, the idea of taking time to rest and renew is repeated.

Taste of Sweetness

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Six of Pentacles; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, "Cross:"

          After the constricting cards from yesterday, these two are a welcome change. The miserly isolationist has become the community's cat lady, feeding all the homeless, unloved felines. She's figured out that it doesn't matter what you have or how much you have, there's no real joy unless there is someone to share it with. As Charlotte Brontë said, “Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste.” There's nothing like the feeling of loosening and expanding the heart by sharing with others, even if it's only to offer a smile and kind word or lend someone a hand with a task. Variety may be the spice of life, but generosity is what makes it sweeter.

Indulging the Ego

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Four of Staves; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the "Cross:"

          Judging by the blotches of paint on the palette and the handles of those brushes, I would guess a painting has been done and set aside to dry. It is a good feeling to create something, even if it's only in the beginning stages. I often do a sketch in pen and then later add color with pencils or paint. Perhaps this artist is eyeing his work and thinking about the finishing touches he will apply later. Yet even with more to be done, there is still reason to celebrate because the inspiration is finally being made manifest.
          Bento uses an advertising poster for recruiting nurses in World War I for the Cross. This depiction is one of my favorite for this particular card because it emphasizes such sacrifice is for a selfless cause, a purpose with meaning. We humans tend to like attention, however, and it is easy to turn the focus on my effort instead of the reason for it. I want to be lauded and praised for my personal sacrifices instead of keeping the main objective in the forefront. The Cross reminds me to concentrate on the progress and breakthroughs instead turning it into something self-centered.

No Nouns, Only Verbs

From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea Tarot, Strength; from the Celtic Lenormand, "Cross:"

          Seeing this fearless woman surrounded by beasts, I half expected to hear the opening theme song from She-ra, Princess of Power. But her animals represent what she has tamed inside herself: the lion is the fierce, impatient rage that lashes out, the snake is the passive-aggressive anger that can slither in and constrict relationships, and the wolf is the hidden motives fueled by resentments. The booklet speaks of "resolving issues within your own personality," which makes me notice the people standing in the background with holes in their centers. At the base of all that emptiness (and the beasts that try to fill it) is fear.
          For me, the Cross symbolizes sacrifice and the spiritual principles or faith by which one chooses to live. My ego tells me to take everything other people do or say personally, but the compassion and kindness of Strength reminds me to do otherwise. I don't need to sacrifice my sense of self-worth, but my self-centered ego. Which then leads me to focus on the standards by which I live my life. But what if there were no nouns to describe any religions or philosophies? What if all I had to rely only on were verbs? The only way people would know I believed a certain way or held certain ethical principles would be for me to live that way.

Pain and Sacrifice, or Yes It's Monday

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, the "Cross:"

          The boat adrift on the sea is an accurate description for how I've felt after major losses in my life - confused, heartsick, and moving in circles with no direction. Sorrow and grief are like living in a fog, where nothing seems quite real or clear. Now don't get me wrong; I think it is natural to sit with our pain, acknowledge it and hold it for a while. But at some point, I need to grab that wheel and steer the boat back to land. Otherwise, those swords are liable to sink my boat, and I'll be down in the dark depths (a very hard place from which to return).
          The Cross is associated with pain, but also with sacrifice. What more could someone have to give up who's already had their heart shredded? I don't need to let go of good memories or lessons learned from the situation. But what I do need to release is the fact that all the tears and heartache in the world is not going to change history. What's done is done; I must use my energy for dealing with the present. Goodness knows, there's enough to keep me busy right here.

In the Spirit of the Season

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Moon:

The lobster (or crawfish) draws my eye in this card, and I am reminded of its hard exoskeleton. We humans are similar in that most of us prefer to hide our soft, vulnerable side with a tough exterior. The moon is reflected in a mirror, which represents another reality - the unconscious. As I will be tossed together with a large family group today, the Moon reminds me that what is going on within may not be shown on the outside. Things may be very different than how they appear. A sullen face or grimace may not have anything to do with me; perhaps the person has worries I'm unaware of or has the beginning of a migraine. In the spirit of the season, it may be wise to make the charitable assumption and not take things personally.

From the Antiquarian Lenormand comes the "Cross:"

I love that Maree used a Red Cross nurse to illustrate this card. Instead of suggesting a sacrifice born of resentful obligation or a self-centered victim, it depicts a sacrifice motivated by compassion. It encourages me to push my ego aside and do what is right because of my love for others, not because I want a gold star by my name. So as the discussion topics turn toward politics or religions at the dinner table, I can keep my opinions to myself instead of demanding the right to air my point of view. Why mess up a lovely meal that all of us worked so hard to put together? It's really not that important.