Wider than Sorrow

 From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Alchemist's Oracle, Family:

Despair is a cruel companion. It robs you of everything; especially the choices that still lie within your control. ~Brownell Landrum

          Despair is a feeling of overwhelming hopelessness, the sense that things are profoundly wrong and will never get better. It isolates those in its grip, telling them that no one has endured such pain and therefore no one could understand it. My mother-in-law, who experienced great depths of despair at various times during her life, had one antidote: Keep on keeping on. Like many people, she didn't have the luxury to lay about - there were chores to do and people to care for. Yet I think at some point she also realized the world was much wider than her sorrow. As Pema Chodron stated, "The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy." Besides a spacious perspective, another help comes from waking up to and acknowledging our interconnection with all of life. As Sylvia Boorstein put it, "Perhaps that’s the clue about the happiness inherent in caring connections: The frightened “I” who struggles is replaced by the “we” who do this difficult life together, looking after one other."

A Love Like That

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Seeker (Knight) of Cups; from the Mystic Glyphs, Family:

Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, 'You owe me.'

Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky. ~Hafez

          This Knight of Cups reaches for his chalice; he knows love won't just fall in his lap without doing his part. Love as a verb would challenge us, as do Henri Nouwen's questions: "Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits..." The Family card (representing both blood and 'found' families) suggests that we put our petty differences aside because they are insignificant in the big scheme of things. In the words of Thomas Merton, "We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another."

Safe on Base

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Family:

          Two older boys intimidate and tease a younger one. While bullying has always been around, it seems here in America it has become more prevalent over the last years. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we are training the younger generation to be this way. I've seen it when I've tried to talk to parents about their children's behavior in school, and they insist that little Johnny or Susie would never do or say something like that (and thus excuse their cruelty). It's beginning to seem acceptable to earn power and self-esteem by denigrating and destroying other people. An even greater example is our newly elected Tyrant-in-Chief. "Love your neighbor" obviously only counts when you're sitting in a church pew on Sunday morning. Sommers gives her card the keyword 'family,' but insists it includes any personal place or group that acts as a refuge. Like children playing tag who have a safe 'home base,' this is the place we can go to get away from the craziness and rest. Yet even here, I must be cautious not to allow the media to infect my sacred space. As one of the Five Precepts states (in Susan Moon's rendition): "I vow not to intoxicate body or mind but to cultivate a mind that sees clearly."

Good Plans and Bad

From the Whimsical Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Over the Moon Oracle, "Family:"

          The Pied Piper of Hamelin is the story behind the Five of Swords. Hired by the town to lure the rats away with his magic flute, the piper retaliated by luring the children away when the citizens refused to pay him. I'm sure the townspeople thought they were smart to trick the piper - until their offspring disappeared. Trying to outfox someone might be a good plan in a chess game, but living life with this mindset can lead to disastrous relationships (individual or group). Contrast this card with the Family card (Ten of Hearts). Can you imagine trying to out-love another person instead of outsmart them? As Louis Armstrong sang, "What a wonderful world."

Feminine Influence

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the OH Cards, "Family/Women:"

Just the other day I drew the dark wolf, the one who slinks around hiding in the darkness. But this morning I chose the light wolf, who looks straight at me and doesn't hide at all. Her coloring (unless she lives where there is year-round snow) makes her stand out rather than blend in. She doesn't want to be petted and put in a zoo; she wants to have the freedom to follow her instincts. She reminds me that I must be assertive and have boundaries if I want to maintain my creative integrity.
The OH image card made me think of a mom walking her kids to school. Though both the children are nearly as tall as their mother and probably old enough to walk on their on, this appears to be an expression of protection. The Women title card made me smile, because as I have gotten older, I no longer see other women as "the competition." I have surrounded myself with a small group of trustworthy women who are honest enough to tell me when I'm full of BS but will stand and fight with me for any noble cause. They support and encourage me, and they make me remember the strength I have within myself.

No One Told Me They Required So Much Work...

This week I'll be working with the Mythic Tarot, created by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene, illustrated by Tricia Newell, and published by Simon and Schuster. Today's draw is the Eight of Wands:

In this image the ship Argo (meaning "swift" in Greek) sails for home with Jason and the Argonauts aboard. Having finally obtained the golden fleece, they were more than ready to return victorious. The wide wake of the ship and the dolphins gliding alongside it show quick movement. This card speaks of having been restricted by challenges and obstacles, but now breaking free to complete the task and reach the goal. I can relate to such joy after being stuck dealing with the problems of a project thinking, "What next?" At long last, the finish line is in sight.

The oracle I'll be working with this week is the Symbolon Deck created by Peter Orban, Ingrid Zinnel and Thea Weller and published by AG Muller. This morning's card is "The Family:"

The Family card represents having an idea that is brought into reality (at least the beginning stages), and then a creator decides it's too much trouble to continue with it. It reminds me of young men who think fathering a baby is "cool" until they have to take care of it. Once the fun wears off and they discover how much time, effort, patience and money a baby requires, they're ready to skedaddle. Logic tells me that no creative endeavor is all fun; if I truly want a project to reach maturity, I'm going to have to be responsible for dedicating time and effort toward it.