Beatings and Lullabies

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Arthur Rackham Oracle, 'Ending:'

          A man plays an instrument in gratitude and joy for the life he has; that gratitude, in turn, is showered upon the little plants of the forest. Generosity appears not only in the form of money but also in time and energy. Philanthropists who help the human race are usually well-known, but there are many others who work to save the land and oceans as well as animals and plant life. What we pay attention to, we come to appreciate. What we appreciate, we come to love and care for. The Rackham illustration comes from Peer Gynt, a play about a self-centered Norwegian farm boy. He leaves his widowed mother and takes off to have many adventures only to arrive back home and find his mother dying. At her death, he closes her eyes and says, "Ay, ay, now the journey's done ... For all my days I thank you, for your beatings and your lullabies." At her passing, he recognizes both the good and bad times of their life together. No one is without their faults, though we might use what they have as an excuse not to offer aid. Yet which sentiment would we rather have on our gravestone: 'She lived as a spendthrift and died with lots of money' or 'She lived in kindness and loved wastefully?'

Waiting for the Fog to Lift

From the Spirit Within Tarot, the Moon; from the Answer Deck, 'Ending:'

          Bright writes that the Moon conceals as much as it reveals, creating confusion. Add to that the wolf, who represents the reptilian part of the brain bent toward survival at all costs, and the domesticated dog, who symbolizes our socially trained side that doesn't want to look bad in front of other people. This card suggests having enough information to make us want to hit the alarm button, but not enough facts to prove our assumptions. I was talking to someone yesterday who had gotten a 'tweet' from a friend that disturbed her; she didn't know whether to take what was sent as a barb or a joke (and without facial expressions and tone of voice, there was no hint either way). Of course the wolf and the dog sides in her took it to be a passive-aggressive taunt, so she became upset. It took some back and forth communication to smooth things out. If I can keep an open, curious mind, what has been misunderstood can eventually be cleared up. The Ending card shows the sun as it begins to rise above a dark landscape. There's no need to give in to fear or react to that uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty. If I can be patient, clarity will come.