Philosophy

From the Ellis Deck, the Hierophant; from the Brownies Oracle, Entanglement:

You have to light your own lamp. You have to know the miniature universe that you yourself are.

― Banani Ray

What is your personal philosophy, the interior map that affects what you believe, what you value, and how you behave? Likely we've all been shaped by family, culture, knowledge and experiences, but sometimes we are drawn to a particular teacher who gives meaning to our life. Their words of wisdom answer our questions and direct our steps. Yet the Entanglement card suggests we not leave our discernment at the door. Unless we are willing to expose irrationality and harm, we will only promote ignorance and injustice. That's not the kind of world I choose to live in. 

Embodied Experience

From the Ellis Deck, the Nine of Swords; from the Brownies Oracle, Entanglement:

 ...the path is only accomplished through the body. It is also why we have the Zen saying, “You cannot wash off blood with blood.” That is, you cannot change your mind—your way of seeing—with the mind alone. ~Meido Moore

          If I am anxious before bedtime, I might try reading something uplifting, praying, or chanting Julian of Norwich's phrase "all will be well." It's easy to forget that worry is also carried in the body and will hijack the brain to make sure I stay on red alert. I recently heard a Zen teacher say that people often try to calm themselves with meditation and then complain because it was too hard to focus. He explained that we should start with the body - using a body scan or lengthening our exhales - to allow the body to relax first. Entanglement illustrates the mind-body connection, reminding me of Bernie Siegel's words: "The mind and body are not separate units, but one integrated system." There's no trying to please the one and ignore the other.

 It is through sensations of the body that it actually becomes relaxed—not by concepts and words.

~Guo Gu

It's Mighty Noisy in Here

From the Ellis Deck, the High Priestess; from the Brownies Oracle, "Entanglement:"

[The real mind] is intrinsically pure. Within itself it's already peaceful. That the mind is not peaceful these days is because it follows moods...That gladness or sadness is not the mind, but only a mood coming to deceive us. The untrained mind gets lost and follows these things, it forgets itself. Then we think that it is we who are upset or at ease or whatever. But really this mind of ours is already unmoving and peaceful... really peaceful! Just like a leaf which is still as long as no wind blows. ~ Ajahn Chah 

I have a head full of barking sea lions and screaming sea gulls. Similar to the poor Brownies caught up in the May pole ribbons, these thoughts (sea lions) and emotions (sea gulls) can create a reality that feels intensely authentic. Like becoming tangled in sea weed, they keep me anchored so that the waves of life rock and toss me around. I don't realize until I become still and quiet that beneath the waves lies Original Mind, a calm, spacious place of clarity. The High Priestess reminds me how useful meditation practice is for turning down the volume knob. Then I can realize, as Pema Chodron put it, I am the sky, and everything else is just the weather.