Beware the Shadow

This week I'll be using the Nigel Jackson Tarot, created by Jackson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Viking Lenormand, created and self-published by my talented friend Carole Beasley. The draws this morning are the Ace of Coins and Garden:

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

― Aesop

The Ace of Coins suggests substance (concrete things) and sensation (the information from our senses). Aesop warns us to not spend too much time in our minds - fantasizing, ruminating, or contemplating abstract ideas - because we might unintentionally lose what is in the here and now. Garden usually makes us think of the outdoors. Yet there's a big difference in being outside at a birthday party with 15 rowdy kids or doing yard work versus simply sitting in the quiet and paying attention. Nature captures all of our senses, whether a bird's song or a breeze, helping us to slow down and see with a full heart.

Not Typical, But It Works

This week I'll be using two self-published decks: The Bonefire Tarot by Gabrielle Angus-West (now released by Schiffer) and the Day of the Dead Lenormand by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are the Queen of Coins and Garden:

          The epitome of practicality meets creative genius in the form of the Queen of Coins. She nurtures people through physical forms. The Garden, a card of gathering and good times, should be right up her alley. But how does this happen in a pandemic, where park gatherings get dispersed by the police? This Queen would probably quote Einstein: "One should never impose one's views on a problem." In other words, stop trying to fit what you want in a box of how it should be and instead just open up to how it is. Expectations and preconceived ideas will always shrink possibilities down to thimble-size. My husband and I had our own garden party with his sister and husband in their driveway this weekend. We spaced our chairs apart and all wore masks, and I brought them a big vase of hydrangeas from our yard. The breeze was blowing and the conversation enjoyable. It wasn't typical, but it was still fun.

No Excuses

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, Justice; from the Viking Lenormand, Garden:

          The realm of Justice is a 'no whine - no excuses' zone. She firmly states that all rights are balanced with responsibilities; to have the first, we must uphold the second. When the scales of balance tilt because a line has been crossed, there will be consequences. The most foolish crime in her book is refusing to learn from one's mistakes. The Garden suggests a place to retreat, relax and unwind from the stresses of life. Whether we're birdwatching, watering some potted plants or enjoying the sun and breeze, it gives us time to just be. Downtime allows us to become aware of what our thoughts are thinking about. It gives us the opportunity to see how our words and actions might ripple out and affect people and situations in unintended ways. Such insights can help us develop prudence and discernment, keeping us from standing under the sword of Justice.