Within Our Reach

From the Cosmic Cycles Tarot, the Fool; from the Magic Neko Deck, the Four of Clubs:

Mend the part of the world that is within your reach.     

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes

          A young man takes a break from cliff climbing for a cigarette break. Since he's not facing the cliff wall, he can see the sunrise and beauty around him. That pause - when we're trying to fix a person or situation and finally realize how powerless we are - alters and widens our perception. In this space of awareness, we acknowledge that surrendering to reality means a return to sanity. The Four of Clubs shows a kitty roasting a marshmallow, a task that requires attention and patience if you want a nicely browned squishy treat instead of a glob of fire. He would tell the young man that having an insight isn't a new tool to try to hammer things into place (that's just more egoic control). This is about working on what is within our reach - ourselves.

Light on Your Toes

From the Tarot of the Masters, the Two of Coins; from the Key to the Kingdom, the Four of Clubs:

          With the holidays fast approaching, it's no wonder that the Two of Coins appeared in the draws today. Ricklef mentions (in his book Tarot Affirmations) that this dancer is based on The Star by Degas, an artist who loved to depict movement. Looking at this young woman's blissful face, I see none of the long hours of practice and bandaged feet but rather pure joy. She reminds me to stay in the moment of each task - to attend to the sensations there - instead of focusing on how much I'd rather be doing something else. The Key card is associated with a children's verse that was used to trick the unsuspecting. The trickster would say "I am a gold lock," and the mark was to reply, "I am the gold key." The verse would proceed through a silver, brass and lead lock followed by replies until the last verse: "I am a monk lock." "I am a monkey." There would be playful laughter, and then the child (now in the know) would go use the verse on someone else. The Eight of Clubs suggests a sense of humor is also helpful in keeping the mood light when dancing between obligations.

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.

~ Edgar Degas

Monkey Sounds

From the Tarot of the Masters, the Three of Cups; from the Key to the Kingdom, the Four of Clubs:

We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place for those who love us.

 — Bernard of Clairvaux

          I thought this was a strange card for me to draw this morning. Yesterday I was out in the yard, lugging around some wet bags of pine bark mulch. As I was shaking the bark out of the bag, I heard a sound much like velcro ripping apart and I went down on my knees. Yes, I injured my back again. In the card, I see a woman next to a hookah. With my present pain level, I would very much like to imbibe in something that would send me to oblivion right now. But that is no longer an option for me. Instead, I must rely on friends and family to help me as I heal. I'm sure she must be lying on an ice pack with a bottle of ibuprofen in her hand.

I am a gold lock. I am a gold key.

I am a silver lock. I am a silver key.

I am a brass lock. I am a brass key.

I am a lead lock. I am a lead key.

I am a monk lock. I am a monkey.

          These silly verses remind me that while humans congratulate themselves on finding the answers to many questions, sometimes we don't use common sense. I knew better than to try and do all that heavy lifting in one day. But I wanted to finish what I started. The joke was on me of course; it will be weeks before I can lift anything. I am a monkey for sure. 

Feeling 4ish

From the Tarot of the Masters, the Four of Cups:

Obviously those three bourbon and cokes haven't shaken this woman out of her funk; perhaps she should try the cup of coffee hanging over her head.  I am reminded by this card that when I feel out of sorts and I want to feel better, I need to try something different than what I've been doing.  In his companion book, Ricklef suggests concentrating on our spiritual core rather than distracting ourselves with things external.  Today, I'll choose to do at least one thing differently than what I normally do...

     From the Key to the Kingdom deck comes the "Four of Clubs:"

"I am a gold lock. I am a gold key. I am a silver lock. I am a silver key. I am a brass lock. I am a brass key. I am a lead lock. I am a lead key. I am a monk lock. I am a monkey."

I am reminded by this card that there is usually a solution for every problem, but the solution needs to fit the problem.  Buying myself a book from Amazon probably isn't going to solve my financial problems, and going to see a movie isn't likely to help me lose weight.  The key must be relative to the lock...