More Than the Basics

From the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Earth:

People first concern themselves with meeting their basic needs; only afterwards, do they pursue any higher needs. ―Abdolkarim Soroush

It's hard to be concerned about collecting art when you're barely able to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. The Nine of Pentacles illustrates that point in life when there is enough time to engage in education, enjoy the arts or hobbies, take care of one's health, or simply relax with friends. Yet it is all too easy to have arrived in this place, have a bad day, and think our life sucks because it is not meeting our expectations. If we take a breath and open our eyes, we just might see how fortunate we are. Earth suggests something that has been planted and given the chance to grow. If we are not happy with the fruits of our labors, perhaps we need to check what seeds we've been planting and cultivating.

Widen the Lens

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Four of Koros (Cups); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, Earth:

The name Buddha associated with the First Noble Truth was dukkha, dissatisfaction with the circumstances of our lives. It occurs when we don't get what we want or when we get what we don't want. If we feel off kilter, we can trace this feeling back to the root of our craving or longing. It could be knowing what we were enjoying wasn't going to last. It might be our mental chatter about how things should or shouldn't be. Or it could have arisen from physical discomfort or an unpleasant emotional response (such as anger). When we are aware of the cause, we can choose to skillfully place our focus somewhere else. Earth's message is renewal, and suggests remembering the cycles we go through are not permanent unless our mind hammers a stake in them. Widen the lens.

Resilience and Restoration

From the Swietlistej Drogi, the Nine of Wands; from the Mirrors of the Heart deck, Earth:

A woman tenderly cares for a man in the last hour of his life. Never before have I see a Nine of Wands card that I could so viscerally relate with. Anyone who has cared for the dying knows the heaviness of bearing witness to another's pain and passing with compassion. Such attention is a gift to the dying (and ourselves), but it is physically and emotionally exhausting. It is no wonder that the Earth card shows up too. After that kind of experience is over, it's only human to second guess ourselves - "I should have... I wish I could have..." Though we carry it in our mind, the event is already in the past; it is time to ground ourselves in the present by using the comforts of our senses. 

Feeling rooted in the earth is soothing to the body, and it is our connection to the earth that gives us our most basic sense of belonging, home, resilience, and safety.

― Jessica Moore

Digging Burrows

From the Tarot of the Radiant Path, the Emperor; from the Mirrors of the Heart, "Earth:"

          While his men stand at attention and wait to be called to action, the Emperor thinks over his plan. He's not sitting on that throne because he's impulsive, but because he is a wily strategist. He has goals, but he also has formulated steps to reach those objectives. His logic and structure provide a firm foundation for those he loves and wants to protect. My MIL is back in the hospital this morning with internal bleeding (she's on blood thinners for a blood clot). I am in the Emperor's chair today as I call and organize people so my husband and SIL can be available for emotional support.

          The Earth card shows a curled animal or plant in a hole. It made me think of the phrase "gone to ground," an expression that developed when a hunted animal would hide in a burrow. Nowadays, it also refers to people who go in hiding or take refuge in order to rest and renew themselves. With the confusion caused by dementia, my MIL can be prickly and say hurtful things. I'll need to dig out a refuge for my husband and SIL too, a place where they can breathe and relax even if it's only for a short while.