Enoughness

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Lovers; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, Fish:

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.

—Elbert Hubbard

In this card, Neil makes use of a sculpture of Diana reclining with a stag that originally topped a fountain. Diana was a virgin goddess who required the same commitment from those who served her. However, this is balanced by the bust of Venus, the goddess of love, who would encourage all to dive wholeheartedly into a relationship. The pairing of these two suggest not submitting to another person, but a true partnership; one's personal values and interests are not lost but rather additional facets are added. The Lenormand Fish generally symbolizes wealth and success, but what does this look like with love? We may choose someone with good looks and money, but those traits are susceptible to change. But if we have mutual kindness and compassion, we can take Alan Cohen to heart: "Abundance is not a number or acquisition. It is the simple recognition of enoughness."

Create a New Memory

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Fish:

Triggers are reminders of a place in time. See past the trigger and take back ‘this’ moment in time. When memories make you sad, don’t let them steal the beauty of life. Create a new memory.

— Tracy Malone

The Four of Swords is known as Truce: the tornado of the mind settles down, allowing time for reflection and reconsideration. Yesterday I was doing a rough sketch of the wild-looking bloom of bee balm using a few printed photos for reference. My husband looked to see what I was doing and commented, "That doesn't look like either of those pictures." Now he was just making an observation, but my mind heard "That looks stupid." Old memories get triggered easily when the energy of emotion grips us, coloring the present and overshadowing what is actually happening. An open mind and reflection can help us become aware of what is going on and hopefully mentally rewire the event. Fish are generally a message about business and finance, but in this case I think they simply point to resources. We all have talents and abilities, and though not all make money, they do bring joy when we engage in them. Isn't that reason enough to protect them?

Lessons of Loss

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, Fish:

          A neglected outbuilding, surrounded by overgrown brush, focuses on a window with broken panes. Before the glass was broken, I don't imagine it would have been easy to see out because of the years of accumulated dirt and grime. The Five of Swords speaks of making a point or proving our opinion in a rabid, take-no-prisoners kind of way. Our sense of self is so tied to our ideas, we fail to foresee the destruction they can cause. Only after the damage is done (as with the smashed window), can we see clearly see that while we won the debate, we also carpet bombed friends, family and acquaintances in the process. The Lenormand Fish card implies abundance, often of wealth, but in this case I would suggest another form. It asks, "Would you prefer a secure bounty of opinions or an ample supply of friends and family with whom to share your life?"

Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.

― Arthur Schopenhauer

Non-contractual Companionship

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Fish:

          There are people who offer us solace as well as celebration, honesty as well as support, and insight as well as laughter. These relationships are not contractual - if you do this, I'll do that - but are based on love and compassion. It is a fellowship that doesn't enable; it helps us stay sane and on an emotionally even keel. The Fish card represents abundance, and in its pairing with the Three of Cups, it is a reminder that such friendship is wealth indeed.

You won’t understand what I mean now, but someday you will: the only trick of friendship, I think, is to find people who are better than you are—not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving—and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you, and to try to listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad—or good—it might be, and to trust them, which is the hardest thing of all. But the best, as well.

― Hanya Yanagihara

In the Thicket

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Fish:

          This man has landed himself in a thicket of briers with a heavy load on his back. There have been several occasions when I found myself in such a place:
     ~ My enthusiasm led me to take on more than I could reasonably handle.
     ~ My desire to please let my mouth say 'yes' when my brain was shouting 'no.'
     ~ I saw things that needed to be done that no one else offered to do.
     ~ I wanted things done 'right,' so I decided to do them myself.
When I'm struggling through my own patch of briers, it's easy to blame others for the struggles I'm going through. Looking back, however, it's easy to see the responsibility firmly rested on my shoulders. Now I try to pause before diving in and ask: Is doing this realistic? Am I being honest? Have I actually asked for help? Am I being a perfectionist? The Fish card shows up with a meaning of prosperity and abundance. Isn't that what often drives us to take on more than we can handle? Maybe not just from a financial standpoint, but also because we want people to like and think well of us? I need to be truthful and ask myself if all the stress and effort is worth the result. If it is, then I can take on the mentality of another fish - the salmon - and persevere in my endeavor.

Listen to the Messenger

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Eight of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, Fish:

          The swiftly moving runner with a message in his hand parallels the Rider card I drew yesterday. Besides the emphasis on speedy events, Jackson suggests it is also about an optimistic communication. He seems to be running toward the school of sardines on the Fish card, which generally indicates resources or a business transaction. Both made me think of hearing from the lawyer that we retained after the accident. I drive this guy crazy, I have no doubt. After seeing pictures of my battered and bruised body, I'm sure dollar figures were swimming in his head. But I don't really want to sue anyone, I just want them to pay for the ambulance, ER and doctor bills. But he has been a help in getting me to the doctor, which in turn led me to another option for the huge hematomas I sustained (laser treatments rather than needle aspirations). I suppose he is worth listening to!

You advised him not to get a lawyer, giving as one of your reasons the opinion that lawyers are a pain in the ass. Gentlemen, the pain is here. (Reggie Love)

― John Grisham, The Client

One Day At a Time

From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the Celtic Lenormand, "Fish:"

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. ~ Steven Wright

          I love this quote included in Ricklef's Pithy Tarot for the Ten of Swords. The image of the card reminds me of the phrase "fall on one's own sword," meaning to accept responsibility for a bad situation. The situation here isn't external but internal. My thoughts are like the Chariot without a driver - dragged wherever my emotions, obsessions and exhaustion take them. Which is not towards reality, but far away from it. Yesterday went reasonably well, with only a few snags and bumps. However this morning I feel like I've had a beat down, sore from head to toe. I know it is from the tension of managing and micromanaging all the players and props in my mother-in-law's 24 hour care. My mind is projecting months into the future, wondering how we can keep this up. Yet the Fish card shows up to remind me to go with the flow. I can't imagine those salmon compulsively checking the NOAA's updates on tides and currents. They just swim towards their goal, and meet challenges as they come. I would be wise to follow their example and take each day as it comes.

Watching Old Movies

This week I'll be using two self-published decks: The Bonefire Tarot by Gabrielle Angus-West and the Day of the Dead Lenormand by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are Judgment and "Fish:"

          The trumpets blare in an attempt to shake this woman from the way she perceives life. There are two games represented here. The chess piece symbolizes the people who live in strategy mode, thinking those who die with the most toys will win. The dice symbolize people who feel life is just a crap shoot; since we're all going to die anyway, who cares what we do? Yet the stopwatch says time to wake up is running out. The scenes of her life play across her skin, as if she is watching a film of all the events leading up to this present moment. Will she be able to see beyond her self-absorption, understanding the parts she has played? If she can accept that not only has she been wounded but has caused injury to others, she'll begin to see life through a new set of eyes.
          The Fish generally represent abundant resources, freedom and flexibility. Looking back at Judgment, what would happen if the light of understanding dawns? Would she see that she doesn't have to fall under the label of "oppressed" or "oppressor?" Her rebirth comes when she can acknowledge that it is not about burdens or blame, but about truth. Living wisely, without guilt or resentment, is an existence filled with abundance and freedom. It's a lot easier to swim without those weights tied around my fins.

Quick Fishing Trip

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Eight of Wands:

Wow, these are some serious, Bamm-Bamm (of the Flintstones) sized wands. Interesting that none of them have any sprigs of green leaves. In the Four of Wands a foundation has been laid, but now that has been doubled. This particular Eight of Wands reminds me of the completed construction of a house. I've never had a house built, but I've watch my parents do it. Once the foundation, walls and roof are up, there are a thousand creative decisions to make. What kind of flooring do you want? Wood, laminate or carpet? Wallpaper or paint? And what color? There are choices that most people would never even think about until they had to make them, like what style of knobs you want on your kitchen cabinets or the type of faucets in your bathroom. It can be almost overwhelming because of the time-frame.  Sometimes when time is of the essence, I can make quicker creative choices with my gut than my head, which tends to want to over-analyze that kind of thing.

From the Lenormand de Marseille come "Fish:"

  The King of Coins insert in this card is a huge help in interpreting the Lenormand meaning of the Fish as "resources." For people who make their living from the sea, this interpretation would make perfect sense. In addition, resources - financial or otherwise - can lead to freedom and independence. With the Eight of Wands above, I am encouraged to acknowledge and use the resources I have available to complete my creative projects. And here's a hint - some of those resources are not "things" but knowledgeable, skilled people.