Could Be AstroTurf

This week I'll be using the Tarot of Durer, created by Manfredi Toraldo and Giacinto Gaudenzi and published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll also be using is the Philosopher's Stone, created by De Es and published by AG Muller. Today's draws are the Four of Chalices and Hazard:

"Est modus in rebus" - There is a measure in things.

The booklet for the Durer deck states the Four of Chalices represents stability and reliability. But this little bird has just hatched out of one confining space to find itself surrounded by a circle of cups that are also enclosed with a fence. I know a woman whose husband gave her all the material things she could ever want, but she never had a say in their relationship about anything. History is full of dictators who have promised abundance and prosperity but had a militarized country. In both cases, freedom was sacrificed. Can there be emotional fulfillment where there is such control? The Philosopher's Stone card has the title Hazard, but its subtitle gives more of a clue about its meaning: prevoyance. In other words, we 'hazard' a guess about probability, using foresight to plan and make wise choices. As Karen Salmansohn put it, "The grass is always greener on the other side - until you get there and see it's AstroTurf."

Not By Halves

From the Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Seagull:

There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. – Jane Austen

Blood oaths have been around for centuries, representing sacred bonds of friendship, alliance, and foster brotherhood. It was a way of saying, "Our blood now flows in each other's veins." The Four of Cups usually suggests depression, remorse or disillusionment, an emotional danger zone that can easily send us sliding into deep, dark hole. Yet here Poppy reminds us of our connections - those spiritual relationships that can "shine to lessen the darkness of another being's suffering" (MJ Dodd). Seagull symbolizes opportunity; these birds have been known to snatch a sandwich out of a beach goer's hand. Allowing friends the chance to reach out and pull us from the dark abyss does not make us incompetent or weak, it makes us smart (and hopefully grateful). 

Too Much

From the Shadowlands Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Brownie Wisdom deck, "Muzzle the fiend:"

It is possible to have too much of a good thing. – Aesop

Our brains evolved to prevent us from holding on to pleasure for too long, making sure our basic needs aren't forgotten. A dopamine hit brings about pleasure and then is quickly followed by a come down. When we're repeatedly exposed to what brought us pleasure, the brain adjusts; eventually we need more and more to just to feel normal. This cycle can lead us to a dopamine deficit state, which can cause depression, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. The Brownie card warns us that our little habits can turn into monsters quickly if we don't break the cycle and restore balance. As Aesop said, "“Much wants more and loses all.”

Speculation

From the Ferret Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Tulip:

There are good and bad times, but our mood changes more often than our fortune.

―Thomas Carlyle

As Shakespeare wrote, "Now is the winter of our discontent." It's no surprise if we're feeling out of sorts this time of year. On social media, we see our friends and acquaintances having fun at holiday parties, and TV ads tell us this is the time of year to have joyful times with our family. Unfortunately, it's mostly an illusion. Tulip is associated with the speculation and crash of tulip-mania. Speculation - transactions involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large gains - can occur in the emotional realms just as it does the financial ones. Yet we don't have to invest our feelings in the holidays or any other fantasy. Perhaps we should take Michael Franti's advice for an antidote: "Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood."

No Standing Still

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, a book and deck set created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem. This set was published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll be using is the I Misteri della Sibilla, created by Ettore Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and Journey (Three of Clubs):

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. 

~John F. Kennedy

When our system has been flooded with emotion, whether it was pleasurable or frightening, we often feel as exhausted as this fey. It takes a while for our bodies and minds to regain their balance. Just don't nap too long... The Sibilla Three of Clubs indicates a journey, possibly requiring both body and mind to saddle up and get moving. It's a good idea to pack some spiritual sustenance in our saddlebags for the trip. 

Not Interested

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Four of Cups (Octopus); from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Algiz:

 

Regardless of what initially caused you to feel so unmotivated, it’s your present-day outlook on it that now keeps you stuck. Your immediate task, then, is to alter this outlook. In short, you’re much better off focusing on how to fix what’s inside your head than what lies outside it. ―Leon F. Seltzer

An octopus swims without interest past a treasure chest that includes golden goblets. It sees nothing that is worth noticing. Apathy is an absence of emotion that leaves us feeling indifferent and unmotivated; it is a state that can feel like a hole too deep to climb out of. Algiz (Elhaz) is a rune that symbolizes elk sedge, a reed with sharp-edged leaves that cut. It represents protection and defense and asks us how we can relieve the funk we're in without making any impulsive choices. Dr. Leon Seltzer has some suggestions, though he warns us it will require forcing ourselves to act:

• Determine where your apathy is coming from and contest its underlying assumptions.
• Transition from passivity to problem-solving. What is the easiest, most do-able first step you can take? 
• Inject some novelty into your routine. 
• Challenge your apathy in every way you can. 
• Recall—and reawaken—happier times when you felt more enthusiastic and alive. 

The Root of Reactivity

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Chair:

When you get reactive, get curious. You have a wound that is asking to be healed.

—Mark Groves

Boredom, apathy, burnout or discontentment - the Four of Cups could have any number of causes. Yet they are all a reaction to something. It could be unmet expectations, an empty spiritual well, a lack of self-care, overindulgence or a failure to accept life as it is. When we discover the root of our moodiness, we will find the solution for it, if we choose to apply it. The Chair suggests rest, but it also makes me think of the saying "pull up a chair." If we have been spending to much time alone, it's possible we might need to spend some time with a few friends. 

Not Better, Just Whole

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Tapestry Oracle, Devotion:

Mirror neurons are bound to be activated when we work with emotionally difficult situations. Mindfulness, especially of what’s going on in the body, allows us to be aware of the impact that these situations are having on us. ~Pamela Gayle White

The combination of these cards suggest how being devoted can leave us feeling fatigued and flattened when we don't practice self-care and compassion. It's easy to fall into one of two mindsets: either self-pity ("no one knows what I put up with") or guilt ("why can't I be a good person"). Of course neither of those is beneficial. Being mindful can turn our thoughts away from our struggles and point them toward resources and other options. We can acknowledge that no one has the power to fix every problem, make everyone happy or create major change on their own. We also need to realize that self-care and self-compassion are not self-help practices - they are not meant to make us a better person, but a more whole and well person. 

[I]f we don’t maintain a balance between our work and the nourishment we need, we won’t be very successful... getting in touch with the refreshing and healing elements inside and around us is crucial for our survival. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Just a Small Step

From the Mary El Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the OH Cards, Steps/Threat:

We all have days when we feel like this shell - one moment we're in our element enjoying life and the next we're tossed up on dry sand. We are discontent and lethargic, without the energy to motivate us to action. If we feather a nest for this mood, it will just hang around longer, letting us become comfortable with our discomfort. Steps and the word card Threat suggest that change is needed, but we assume the devil we know is safer than the devil we don't. Yet just taking one small step in a different direction each day, no matter how inconsequential it might seem, will eventually get us to the doorway. Move slowly with determination, and that dark mood will begin to shift too.

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.

— Anne Lamott

FWMO

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Four of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Safety:

How well I know with what burning intensity you live. ...you just have to have these rest periods in between. ― anais nin

Most of us are aware of FOMO (fear of missing out), but there's also a FWMO (fine with missing out). Any big project or commitment we're involved in takes not only physical and mental effort, it can also sap emotional energy too. When we've invested a lot of our spirit into anything, we need a chance to recharge, which might involve rest or play. But the Safety card suggests there is a mental line we should be wary of crossing. When we begin feeling as though we have no worth, purpose or support, we need to seek out our friends (especially those who make no demands). We need to be reminded that we are connected to more than just our accomplishments.

The Weight of Apathy

This week I'll be using the New Liminal Tarot, created by Penelope Cline and self-published through Make Playing Cards. I'll also be using the State By State Playing Cards created by Wendy Cipolla Boccuzzi and published by U.S. Games. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and the Four of Spades - South Dakota:

"Okay," I said. "But remember, you can’t fix everything in the world for everybody." "However," said Ricky, "you can’t do anything at all unless you begin."

― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: Poems

Anhedonia - the technical name for the blahs - is an inability to experience pleasure accompanied by reduced motivation. That feeling of flatness can have a multitude of causes: a lack of sleep or exercise, burnout, feeling trapped or confused, a let-down, hormones, grief, or loneliness. It helps to have at least one friend whose will is stronger than the weight of one's apathy; their encouragement can help us dig out the root and make a change. The Four of Spades shows South Dakota's Mt. Rushmore with its colossal sculpture known as the 'Shrine of Democracy.' However, the area was considered sacred by the Plains Indians; the Treaty of 1868 had granted the Sioux exclusive use of all of the Black Hills in perpetuity. When the government offered them $102 million in compensation, the Sioux Nation said they wanted their land, not money. It's a stalemate that goes nowhere. Sometimes the greatest change we can make to get us moving is to adjust our perspective or expectations. 

Widen the Lens

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Four of Koros (Cups); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, Earth:

The name Buddha associated with the First Noble Truth was dukkha, dissatisfaction with the circumstances of our lives. It occurs when we don't get what we want or when we get what we don't want. If we feel off kilter, we can trace this feeling back to the root of our craving or longing. It could be knowing what we were enjoying wasn't going to last. It might be our mental chatter about how things should or shouldn't be. Or it could have arisen from physical discomfort or an unpleasant emotional response (such as anger). When we are aware of the cause, we can choose to skillfully place our focus somewhere else. Earth's message is renewal, and suggests remembering the cycles we go through are not permanent unless our mind hammers a stake in them. Widen the lens.

Cloud of Discontent

From the Ferret Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Pansy:

HUMAN BEINGS MAKE LIFE SO INTERESTING. DO YOU KNOW, THAT IN A UNIVERSE SO FULL OF WONDERS, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO INVENT BOREDOM. (Death)

― Terry Pratchett

This little ferret is under the cloud of discontent, a feeling of dullness and restlessness with no obvious outlet. Humans live a good portion of their lives bouncing between dissatisfaction or indifference. Somewhere along our evolution, we fell for the fantasy that entertainment, pleasure and joy should constantly be found on our doorstep with little effort on our part. Pansy's name is derived from the French word pensée ('thought') and was regarded as a symbol of remembrance. Legend says that says that the face of a loved one can be seen in the face of this flower. If I had a case of the moody blues, that face would probably quote Pratchett's quote from Death above. Humor helps.

Disenchanted

From the Ellis Deck, the Four of Cups; from the Brownies Oracle, Succession:

It dropped so low in my regard

I heard it hit the ground,

And go to pieces on the stones

At bottom of my mind

― Emily Dickinson

Disenchantment can come when what we valued, what we invested our emotional resources in, suddenly doesn't look so bright and shiny when it takes concrete form. Succession suggests we look at how one thing followed another to see how we ended up where we are. Did we have unrealistic expectations? Did the magic slip away when we saw the great effort it would take to obtain what we were looking for? Were there personal agendas among participants instead of cooperation? Once the fantasy bubble pops, we can use our discernment to choose a different direction.  

Fake It 'til You Make It?

This week I'll be using the Anna K. Tarot, created and self-published by Anna Klaffinger (though now published by Llewellyn). Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Meditation Cards, a deck created and self-published by Asha Greer. All the keywords and quotes for these cards have been added by me. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and "Dividing Words from Deeds:"

That is one unhappy camper sitting at a table surrounded by women trying to serve him food and drink. He might be a curmudgeon, but then again, he might simply be overwhelmed by all the excitement and enthusiasm of others. Today it is Christmas, when many folks exchange gifts and share meals (even if they're not religious). But sometimes all the joy and merriment can feel manufactured instead of sincere. That would quickly begin to feel suffocating. "Dividing Words from Deeds" seems to fit this fellow - he's shown up but won't explain how he feels. Wouldn't it be better to say 'thank you' but request some quiet time? Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir wrote, "Piousness and the path of love are two different roads." Trying to fake contentment doesn't work well, while being honest might allow others to relax and stop pretending too.

 

Dark House

This week I'll be using the Tarocchi Celtici, created by Laura Tuan and published by De Vecchi Italia. Paired with it will be the Art of Asia, an oracle I created for my personal use. Today's draws are the Four of Water (Cups) and "Winter Moon on Toyama Plain" by Takahashi Shotei:

The water nymph appears to be trying to help the Ash tree by giving it a tonic. The keywords for this card are health, healing and energy rebalancing. Our body will often send out subtle signals when our mind and emotions are off kilter, and we can experience it as moodiness and lethargy. The symbolism of the Ash (purpose, roots) and the meaning of the Ogham Nion (connection) enhance the quote associated with Shotei's painting:

The moon has her porches turned to face the light, but the deep part of her house is in the darkness. 

~ Robert Bly

When we look for the cause of our mood, it may be as obvious as a bad dream hangover. But sometimes we must dare to walk into our dark house to find the root. Carefully and without judgment, we look for what may have triggered this mood. It may be baggage from out past, and a situation or interaction in the present that seemed similar poked it. Once discovered, we can bring it out and expose it to the light, checking to see if there is any truth to what we've found.

Removed from the Flow

From the Spacious Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Phenomena Oracle, Storm:

Four cups sit high atop a boulder, disengaged from the rushing stream that flows around them. Whether we have been dealing with excitement or difficult challenges, sometimes we need to remove ourselves from the frenzy and find a place of calm to restore ourselves. Yet we may have other motives for our self-isolation - we may be sulking about not getting what we think we need from others. But that idea is inside-out; we actually punish our own self far more than any other person. The lightning from the Storm card suggests waking up from the illusion we've created. That brief bright light can help us see if our thoughts have any evidence to back them up or are just a way to soothe our hurt feelings.

No one can live without relationship.

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

New Source

From the Gaian Tarot, the Four of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, the Corn Woman:

A woman gazes into Glastonbury's Chalice Well, a symbol of the depth of emotion. With the Four of Cups, it represents emotional satiation, when we feel like we just can't take any more sadness, anxiety, irritation, chaos or whatever has caused our cup to stagnate. Yet why is she still staring in that well? The Corn Woman, a goddess of indigenous cultures, offers nourishment. She reminds us that the empty cupboards that we keep opening, expecting them to bring us fulfillment, will only continue to disappoint. We must change our source if we want to find spiritual nourishment.

Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.

~Rumi

 

Don't Love Me Tender?

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, the Mountain:

The Four of Cups in the Thoth realm represents luxury. Fours denote stability, usually a good thing - unless it's about emotions and relationships. Then we fail to appreciate those around us; after they've been by our side for a while, they no longer are enticing. A friend recently told another woman that she really wanted a steady boyfriend or husband. The other woman smirked and said, "You'll feel differently once you have one!" For some folks, they'd rather trade the devotion and tenderness they have for unpredictability and excitement. The Lenormand Mountain refers to obstacles that prevent us from finding what we seek. In this case, it points toward an addiction to thrills and drama in our relationships. Yet even after we change partners or groups, the problem of not being content and happy will repeat itself over and over. Instead of looking for someone else to supply us with fun and adventure, perhaps we could add some to the relationships we already have.

Dangling in Front of Us

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Abyss, created by Ana Tourian and published by U.S. Games. Paired with it will be the Lantern Oracle, created by Angelina Mirabito, illustrated by Yuly Alejo, and published through Blue Angel. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and Creative Power:

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. 

– Thomas Merton

          This young man napping in the branches of a tree seems exhausted. A vacation with others, the end of a big project, or the day after a celebration can leave anyone feeling worn out in body and spirit. A bit of solitude for restoration might work wonders, but what if the apathy persists? The Creative Power card suggests this has to do with generating ideas and producing them creatively. Every artist or craftsperson has probably experienced a block that seems to keep them in neutral gear. Focusing on how bone dry we are won't help us make any progress. Pablo Picasso stated, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." I'd probably change 'working' to 'playing.' Whatever creative work we do, can we try doing it just for fun, not to make something that fits our judgment of 'good'? Or perhaps we could try another form altogether - writing, sewing, painting, woodworking, etc. - just for the heck of it. When we lose ourselves in play, we might just find the thread to our creative power dangling right in front of us.