Cease Fighting

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Abyss, created by Ana Tourian and published by U.S. Games. I've paired with it the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, created and self-published by Michelle Wallace. Today's draws are the Four of Swords and Change:

And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone...

—AA text

This card sends a strong message: it's time to stop engaging in battle. No matter how hard we push or cajole, that huge boulder is not moving right now. Continuing to fight in the way we've been doing is only creating exhaustion and distress. During times of mental rest, when we let our mind open and relax, our wiser self often gives us an alternative. Such an option comes in the words of Palmer Parker, who said that advancing love, justice and truth is generational work; looking for short-term results will only lead to despair. Instead, we ask if what we did today was faithful to the values we aspire to embody, and to our opportunities to serve the common good. Change brings to mind the voice of Sam Cooke singing "Change is Gonna Come." No matter how stuck and immovable things seem to be, nothing is permanent and fixed. In the meantime, we can take Parker's advice: "Do something every day that reaffirms your identity and integrity. No matter how limited your reach may be, there is always a way to light a candle in the face of the powers of darkness. Don’t burn out. Burn bright."

Relishing

This week I'll be using the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, created by Granny Jones (Rebecca Jones) and published by Kangaroo Press. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Button Oracle, a set I made myself from a collection of buttons. Today's draws are the Four of Swords and Horseshoe:

When it comes right down to it, wherever you go, there you are.

― Jon Kabat-Zinn

Hurray for Granny! Looks like she's found a little island where she can rest and get away from it all. But did her mind pack a bag filled with her worries and stress too? Mindfulness practice doesn't mean a brain wipe; we simply keep our attention active and open to where we are and what's going on around us without judging. When the past or future interferes, we give it a quick nod, then come back to where we are. As Jon Kabat-Zinn stated, "Breathe, then let be." It's a work in progress. Horseshoe represents good fortune, and its quote comes from Bret Harte: "The only sure thing about luck is that it will change." Her words may be true, yet that doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy a wonderful day. On the contrary, we should relish each second by keeping our mind where our body is. 

 

Chilling

This week I'll be working with the Sasuraibito Tarot, self-published by Stasia Burrington. I'll also be using Soul Cards 1 & 2, created by Deborah Koff-Chapin and published through her company, Center for Touch Drawing. The Soul Cards have no titles, so the ones given here are my own. Today's draws are the Four of Swords and Star-stuff:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

—Max Ehrmann

To move placidly through the day means we are not easily upset or excited, which would be beneficial as the holiday rush begins. To do this, we need a spiritual practice that allows us to rest the mind and relax the heart. The blue face and lack of color in the chest of this young boy represents him doing just that - chilling out. It's not that he has stopped his thoughts or feelings, he just lets them be without feeding them stories, strategies or what ifs. Star-stuff reflects the words of Carl Sagan: "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff." But unlike stars, we can't constantly burn up energy without paying a price. There might be a lot to do, but we need to reach out, ask for help and support each other in the doing of it. 

Rest and Retraining

From the Ellis Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Brownies Oracle, Constraint:

Destructive patterns thrive on being hidden. That is what allows them to maintain their power. But if you are brave enough to arouse these powerful forces, to confront them, and to examine them, you can begin to free yourself from their control. 

―Judy Lief

The Four of Swords indicates it is time not only to rest and heal the mind, but to free it. As the Brownies point out, patterns of thinking that lead to rigid beliefs can constrain us. Choice doesn't matter much when we've developed a closed mind. It's like the lucky bamboo sold in stores and garden shops; straight stems are trained to curve around wires until they form spiral. Our thoughts can be trained the same way through repetition, even if what we assume isn't true. Freedom is surrendered when a certain thought generates a particular feeling followed by a habitual reaction. But the good news is that we can retrain our mind to see with clarity, allowing it to make an appropriate choice rather than an automated one.

Drop by Drop

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Four of Air (Lavender); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Wood Mouse:

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

― Vincent Van Gogh

Lavender is so widely known, it is commonly found in grocery stores or pharmacies in the form of bath soaks, teas, sprays or simply as an essential oil. It often employed for stress and anxiety or restlessness and insomnia. The companion booklet's message is to calm the mind and the body; to calm the mind, we must often first calm the body. Wood Mouse suggests that we step back from trying to make big changes or handle immense projects and instead concentrate on the small tasks that can be done. As the Dhammapada states, "Drop by drop the water pot is filled."

It's Okay

From the Tarot of the Master, the Four of Swords; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Amissio (loss):

Not everything is a battle that needs to be won, and not everything needs to be a fight.

—Kimberly Davis

This helmet and gauntlet have no wearer, and the swords are laced to the shield. Not everything is a battle, though we often act as if it is. At times we must stop our strategizing and accept life on life's terms. Only then can we adjust, adapt and move on. Amissio's figure has been described as a bag opened and turned upside down, dumping out its contents. Loss comes in many forms, and anger is often a reaction because it feels empowering. Yet loss is not a battle; we can give ourselves permission to feel our grief and respond to our needs with compassion. It's okay not to fight but to feel.

Unplug

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Four of Swords; from the Insectorum Divinorum, Millipede:

 

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… Including you.

―Anne Lamott

This woman reminds me that sleeping or being splayed out on the couch is not the only way to rest our minds - play works too. In fact, it might even be better. Whether we choose art, a game, dancing, or any other form of play, such activities can move our mind from our worries to lighthearted joy. It's a break that can lower our stress and give our brains a chance to reboot. The Millipede, an arthropod with two legs on each body segment, eats mostly decaying leaves and other dead plant matter. This animal has been around since the Silurian period (over 400 million years ago), and so has been associated with the wisdom that comes from age and experience. Those who've been blessed to become elders would likely agree with George Bernard Shaw: “We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing.”

Restorative Effects

From the Somnia Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Spirits of Nature, Honeybee (Community):

Nature can have a calming and restorative effect, giving our mind a rest from the intense and mentally fatiguing focus and concentration required in much of our day-to-day lives.

― Noel Brick

Restful solitude, restorative sleep, and a space to breathe deeply are represented by the Four of Swords. Like the sleeping figure in this card, we all need to be able to lay down the boulder we carry and just relax. Relieving the mental weight we bear is an essential part of clearing our mind and allowing it some relief. Our ability to think and perceive reality with discernment depends on it. The Honeybee reminds us of the people with whom we associate and share common interests. I have found that when I am living in a constant state of stress, I need to be careful of the community I spend time with. Those folks who make me laugh, who point out what is beautiful, joyful or awe-inspiring can have the same effect as being in nature or a good night's sleep. 

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?

The Cure for Browbeat Days

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Tapestry Oracle, Mystery:

I realized it for the first time in my life: there is nothing but mystery in the world, how it hides behind the fabric of our poor, browbeat days, shining brightly, and we don't even know it.

― Sue Monk Kidd

Humans are planners, creators, and problem solvers. But like the body, the mind needs a chance to rest too. It's why I now start my day with a long walk (instead of my usual list making) accompanied by soothing instrumental music. My mind relaxes with the music as I observe the seasonal changes. When I have a busy day or week ahead, this often helps more than sitting meditation. Mystery shows a woman offering us a peak beneath the sea. Thoreau once wrote that we need the tonic of wildness; I believe he'd also agree we need mystery. Paradoxes, enigmas and awesome wonders help keep the mind curious and playful. We don't always have to know the reason and workings of everything. Mystery helps keep us inspired and the mind flexible and open.

Even a Sparrow

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "Phoenix Feathers" (verse 93):

There are times when we must call a truce with our mind; we stop trying to force it to solve a problem or come up with an innovative creative idea. Otherwise, we're just a tire stuck in the mud, spinning and spinning but going nowhere. It is exhausting. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Even a sparrow does not respect a phoenix

whose feathers are soaked in the rain.

One day the heavens will clear

and her soggy feather will change back to a cloak.

Trying to fit those square pegs in the round hole can make us lose it emotionally, 'soaking our feathers.' It generally has the effect of taking our logical mind offline, which is when the mind truce is handy. We take a break or sleep on it, coming back to it later with a clearer, fresh mind.

I'm Ready

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Four of Air (Swords); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Robin:

O sleep, O gentle sleep,

Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee,

That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down,

And steep my senses in forgetfulness?

― William Shakespeare

I'm beginning to feel the desperation of the king in Shakespeare's play. I fall asleep quickly but wake soon thereafter; two to three hours of sleep is not enough, especially when it continues for over a month. I exercise six days a week, meditate every day, avoid caffeine and blue screens in the evening, and stay away from junk food. I have no major stress or worries, and even when I lie awake at night, my thoughts aren't anxious. I've tried every sleepy-time herbal tea and several supplements, as well as melatonin, deep breathing and hypnotherapy. Rather than the usual 'fresh start' key phrase, Barlow suggests the Robin represents crossing a threshold. If that threshold is a good night's sleep, I'm ready.

Letting Go

From the Tarot of the Master, the Four of Swords; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Tristizia/Tristitia:

There is a time when the sanest thing we can do is to lay down our helmet, gloves and sword and cease fighting anything or anyone. There are some battles we can't win, problems we can't solve and people we can't make better. Tristizia ('sorrow') and the keyword for this Four of Swords (meditation) suggest we surrender our weapons and rest our whirling, grasping mind. This is a response that seems counterintuitive to most of us; we have been trained otherwise. Yet we need time to process what is happening or has happened, to grieve it and to release our grip on it.

While letting go can be extremely beneficial, the practice can be even more significant when we also learn to let go into something valuable. From this side, letting go is more about what is gained than what is lost. When we let go of fear, it may also be possible to let go into a sense of safety or a sense of relaxation. Forsaking the need to be right or to have one’s opinions justified can allow a person to settle into a feeling of peace. Letting go of thoughts might allow us to open to a calmer mind. By letting go into something beneficial, it can be easier to let go of something harmful.

—Gil Fronsdal

Drinking Tea

From the Anna K Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Meditation Cards, "Dissolve into Now:"

My area rarely sees temperatures drop much below 32 F each winter. But this year we've been under the influence of an arctic front, which brought extreme and prolonged freezing conditions. It's ironic that the earth and its seasons know when and how to rest, but humans have yet to figure that out. Our mind can be a great ally or our worst enemy if it has no reins to guide it. "Dissolve into Now" is paired with a poem from Thich Nhat Hanh:

Tea is an act complete in its simplicity.

When I drink tea, there is only me and the tea.

The rest of the world dissolves.

There are no worries about the future.

No dwelling on past mistakes.

To bring our mind to where our feet touch the ground, to what our hands touch, to what our eyes see and ears hear, to what we smell and taste, is to bring sacredness to the moment. Here in the present is where we will find rest and peace.

Return of Sanity

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Four of Swords; from the Diloggun Oracle, Osa (nine mouths):

When Oggun was a human, he killed subjects who failed to show him respect (note the heads on the wrong end of the bodies that are attached to the trees). Yet he also killed himself with his own sword. As an Orisha, Oggun cleared a pathway from heaven to earth, promising to protect and defend his people. Did he take time to reflect on his actions and realize he had been impulsive in his anger? The sayings of Osa suggest this would be wise:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

Sanity returns when we realize it's useless to continue to do the same thing and expect different or better results than we've previously gotten.

Unraveling, Rewinding

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Sidhe, created by Emily Carding and published by Schiffer. I'll also be using the Green Man Tree Oracle, created by John Matthews and Will Worthington with Connections as its publisher. Today's draws are Dreamer Four (Four of Swords) and Spindle:

In stillness comes the Dream renewed,

With hope and healing her soul's imbued.

Her arms outstretched, she's whole once more,

What once was lost has been restored.

The Four of Swords is a reminder that no matter how resilient we think we are, when our load increases, there must be an equal response of self-care. The mind will try to tell us that rest is the last thing we need to do right now, but that is just a conditioned reaction that will grind us down if we listen to it. The Spindle's hard wood was used in the past for making spindles for wool-spinning. This small tree asks: "What has come unraveled? What should be united to make it stronger and more durable?" The mind must not forget the body's needs as the two are dependent on each other. Exhaustion of either serves neither one.

Curveballs

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, Ophelia:

Many of us have minds that are constantly planning and prepping, trying to stay one chess move ahead of whatever curveball life might throw at us. We're often not aware we're on automatic pilot while performing these mental gymnastics. At times we need a sanctuary from all of our intellectual efforts. As the acronym HALT reminds us, we need to make sure we don't get to hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Ophelia was a Shakespearean character who was innocent and naive young woman until she was driven mad by Hamlet discarding her and killing her father. She slowly drowned after falling in the river while picking flowers (making no effort to save herself). Our mental and emotional health do not depend on external events, but how we take care of our own needs. When we practice self-care, we'll be much better prepared for life's curveballs. 

Mountain, Sea, Sky

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Four of Swords; from the Faeries' Oracle, Lys of the Shadows:

The statue in this Four of Swords reminded me of a Buddhist saying attributed to Dogen:

Body like a mountain

Breath like the sea

Mind like the sky

The body becomes still like a mountain, allowing a feeling of being grounded. The breath becomes relaxed and deep as it flows in and out like waves on a shore. The mind lets things pass through it without attachment, like clouds and birds across the sky. Here we find rest for not just for the body but also the mind. We rest in open awareness, giving the whole of us a break. Lys of the Shadows is the patron fairy of social workers, therapists and all sorts of healers who attempt to help those caught in dark hopelessness. Hers is not prayerful hope she offers, but practical help. These two cards remind me to start where I stand then move outward. In the words of Maya Angelou, "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."

With the Same Tenderness

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Bat:

It's pretty easy to know when our body is exhausted - it will just refuse to budge at some point. We are generally willing to rest our body when it is necessary, even when there are still things to do, because we realize it is going to collapse if we don't. How I wish we were as willing to do the same when it comes to our mental health! We all need a routine mental break from feeding our mind with outside information or inner thoughts that create unneeded pain. Bat, flying out of its cave, shows up to encourage us to bring our mental health into the light. Our minds need the same tenderness and care that we'd show an aching, worn-out body.

Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.

— Fred Rogers

Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.

— Matt Haig

Truce

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Jade Oracle, Chalchihuitl (Jade):

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. ~Leo Tolstoy

Americans (or at least its politicians) are fond of having a 'War on' many things - drugs, crime, poverty, terror, etc. But it seems from past results that a battle on anything creates more of the problem, not less. The Thoth keyword for the Four of Swords is 'truce,' a rest from fighting and making strategic decisions. Such a respite, when done sincerely, can help us see the situation with clarity and become receptive to other viewpoints that we've been blind to before. Jade was considered a precious stone by the ancient Mexicans; the color of vegetation, it symbolized life and the joy of living. It asks us, "Are you fighting for an opinion or an assumption, or seeking something that will bring the joy of life to everyone?"