Grievance

This week I'll be using Tarot of the Secret Forest, created by Lucia Mattioli and published by Lo Scarabeo. I'll also be drawing from the Faeries' Oracle created by Brian Froud with text by Jessica Macbeth; it was published by Simon & Schuster. Today's cards are the Ten of Swords and Gloominous Loom:

When we make grievance our traveling companion, it blocks out light, it distorts our perspective, it consumes our hearts until there is nothing left.

―Merida Johns

Ants are easily agitated when animals tromp all over their mound, a structure necessary for temperature control, ventilation and defense. When a spider decides to pick off a few ants for a meal, the alarm is sounded and the spider is swarmed. Being aggrieved - resentful because we think a situation is wrong and unfair - is a tricky beam to balance on. It's easy to get stuck in that state, focusing on the problem instead of looking for a solution. Gloominous Loom invites us to explore our anger and self-pity properly, seeing and questioning the thoughts connected to them. Grievances can grow out of control if we don't take responsibility for where our thoughts wander. As Byron Katie reminds us, "Every complaint is a little story the mind makes up that you completely believe in."

A View of the Night Sky

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Stars:

 

...only when it's dark enough can you see the stars.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

The flowers in this card reminded me of the Ipomoea alba, or moonflower just before it opens. The blooms on this plant open at dusk and close shortly after dawn. Years ago, I tried to plant some seeds of this vine, but none germinated. It was only later I discovered the hard outer shell of the seed had to be nicked first, or it wouldn't be able to take up water. Being both stubborn and a strategist, I can bang my head against a brick wall for quite a long time trying to get results. Yet when I give up my attempt to force or push my agenda (feeling that all is lost), I suddenly see the solution and guidance so clearly. It's amazing what can be seen in the sky at night when there is nothing blocking the view...

From the Faeries Oracle comes "Gloominous Loom:"

What a sad sack - he reminds me of Eeyore in fairy form. Gloominous is our inner critic, the part of us that not only puts a damper on our efforts but tells us we're not worthy of any endeavor. I could blame my upbringing on this critic, but that would only add to the pity party he's eager to throw in my honor. Just because I have a thought doesn't make it real. Time to pull on my big girl panties and decide what's worth believing and what isn't.