Pineapple on a Post

From the Ferret Tarot, the Hanged Man; from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Pineapple:

It's very easy to get caught up in everything that's going on... it's hard to hit that reset button and get pulled away from all that and see life from a different perspective. —Tony Stewart

The Hanged Man is life's attempt at offering us a turning point, a chance to pause from trying to control and order the world as we think it should be and instead view all 360 degrees of it. It doesn't always work right away; we often spend a lot of time venting and complaining in an endeavor to ignore our powerlessness. But if we can get past this point, calming our indignation and frustration, we get a new look at what we thought we knew already - a new perspective. Pineapple, folklore explains, became a symbol of hospitality when returning sea captains started placing a pineapple outside their homes on gateposts, signaling they had returned and were ready to welcome visitors. I'm sure those captains weren't thrilled to see every visitor, but still they followed Rumi's advice: "Welcome and entertain them all!" Likewise, we don't have to be delighted by everything. However, acknowledging reality rather than battling or ignoring it gives us a chance to understand it better so that that we can respond in a more appropriate and beneficial way.

Wider Than Our View

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Mystic Glyphs, Village Abandoned:

Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.

–Carl Jung

When the world seems like it has turned upside down, sometimes we have to do the same to understand it. This blue shaman holds a staff decorated with bones, shells and feathers - sacred tools that help him bridge the physical and spiritual realms. His skin color is like that of the Medicine Buddha, who represents spiritual healing. This is obviously not a situation to be fixed, but a problem of ignorance (not seeing reality clearly). Village Abandoned represents making a rash, unwise decision as a result of our pride being hurt. Together, these cards suggest we have been so busy promoting our own opinions and perspective that we have failed to see any other. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The universe is wider than our views of it."

Circle Up

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hanged Bird; from the Gemstone Oracle, Aquamarine:

In a circle, there are no experts – instead there are stories, questions, tears, longings, dreams – and a bunch of equal people who trust their own wisdom and each other’s. 

—Heather Plett

Everyone knows someone who can be described as "never giving an inch." These folks believe their opinions are infallible and should always be heeded. But inevitably, the hard-liner meets reality head-on - hopefully realizing how little power or sway they have. Situations are rarely all black or white, so without knowing or understanding all the circumstances, we should avoid issuing any decrees. Aquamarine symbolizes a dose of common sense with a hefty helping of self-awareness. Can we see beyond what we think is right or wrong, and instead listen to others' experiences and just do something that might help?

Seeing the Truth

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Tet (artwork by Anya D. Leveille):

Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver. 

—Ayn Rand

This fellow has coins spilling out of his pocket. It brings to mind the idea that if we just throw money at something, we can fix it or make it go away. Ask the parents of an addict who've spent years sending their child to every rehab facility they could afford how well this works. There are some problems that can't be solved by money; rarely do internal problems respond to an external solution. The Hebrew letter Tet resembles a vessel with an inverted rim and is associated with and is the meaning of "good" (Hebrew: tov). It suggests a hidden potential - even in the face of what looks awful, there are positive seeds that can be cultivated. Those of us on the outside can only point out these assets and abilities, encouraging rather than manipulating or forcing. As A.A. Almaas wrote, "Only when compassion is present will people allow themselves to see the truth."

Manual Driving

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), No Clothes:

Man is largely a creature of habit, and many of his activities are more or less automatic reflexes from the stimuli of his environment. 

―G. Stanley Hall

As we become adults, we begin to develop certain proclivities in the way we think and act. Our styles may tend toward the "que sera sera" laidback type, the "pass the buck" type, or the bulldozer type. Over time, these habits become set like concrete. Unfortunately, life doesn't follow a set pattern, so when we continue to react unconsciously, it occasionally jerks us out of autopilot and demands we do things manually and mindfully. Our usual loses its usefulness. No Clothes suggests we drop our pretentious roles and simply be fully human - prone to making mistakes, but also capable of learning from them. 

Swinging in the Breeze

From the Tarot of Durer, the Hanged Man; from the Philosopher's Stone, Distance:

Sometimes the simplest and best use of our will is to drop it all and just walk out from under everything that is covering us, even if only for an hour or so—just walk out from under the webs we’ve spun, the tasks we’ve assumed, the problems we have to solve. They’ll be there when we get back, and maybe some of them will fall apart without our worry to hold them up.

—Mark Nepo

The Latin phrase assigned to the Hanged Man can be translated "There are many snares for the good." So many of us have good intentions as we try to help people in a bad spot or attempt to make a serious situation better. Though there is so much we can't control or even influence, our emotions prod us forward anyway. Then we find ourselves trussed up, frustrated because we are unable to make a difference. Distance suggests detachment, but not in an "I could care less" manner. Rather, we pull back enough to get some perspective (wake up to reality), recognizing there are some things that are not in our power to change. We keep our hearts connected, but our hands off.

Full of Beans

This week I'll be using the Anima Mundi Tarot, created and self-published by Megan Wyreweden. Paired with it will be the Nature's Pharmacy deck, created by New York Botanical Garden and published by Chronicle Books. Today's draws are the Hanged Man and Common Sage:

When you’re full of beans, you just blow a lot of hot air. 

—Amy Tan

Roombas often react saner than humans; when they hit a wall, they turn around and go in another direction. We tend to find ourselves giving the same advice over and over or forcefully trying redirect a situation in the way we think it should go. It's frustrating to realize we have no control, but there is freedom and peace found in letting people and things be. Common Sage has been considered one of the top essential culinary herbs for generations. It is also a digestive aid, relieving gas and bloating. There have even been studies to add this herb to cattle food in an effort to reduce methane (a greenhouse gas). Sage asks us to reconsider if our 'help' is tinged with a hint of moral superiority, filled with platitudes, or if it is simply a strategy to arrange things in a way that would benefit us. Others can generally tell if we're sincere or full of beans.

Shifts in Perspective

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Crone, a book and deck set created and self-published by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. I'll be pairing it with the Wondering Traveler's Oracle, created and self-published by Marika McCoola. Today's draws are Sacrifice (Hanged Man) and Time Brings:

I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation - either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.

―Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ellen designates this card Sacrifice rather than Hanged Man, emphasizing the suffering we endure as we are forced to bend to life as it is. Without thinking we're special or making it into a lifestyle, she encourages us to discover what is at the root of this pain and learn from it. Seeking a new perspective rather fighting reality is what can bring transformation. The oracle card reminds us that even though the world seems to be on a never-ending rinse and repeat cycle, time brings change and wisdom. A philosopher on PBS reminded his listeners that it was in the middle of the Black Death (the bubonic plague) that Julian of Norwich had a vision and proclaimed, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." Such a shift is shown in the crone's smiling face in the water. 

Letting the Clouds Clear

From the Dark Mansion Tarot, the Hanged Man; from Miss Mai's Victorian Oracle, Teacup:

Acceptance doesn't mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there's got to be a way through it. ―Michael J. Fox

Because humans aren't always adept at learning lessons through unexpected circumstances or from encounters with others, life has a way of grabbing us by the nape of the neck and putting us in time-out to reconsider our perspective. Teacup symbolizes replenishment, taking time to restore what is depleted in us. In this case, it is our peace of mind. Feeling powerless stirs up anger, which only clouds our clarity. But taking time to let go of our story so that we can see what is true can help us to see what would be useful and beneficial rather than creating more damage.

Finding Peace

From the Hidden Realms Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Heart of Faerie, Bright Spark:

I’ve learned that waiting is the most difficult bit.

― Paulo Coelho

This fairy has learned that when things aren't working out as planned or people aren't doing what he thinks they should be doing, he needs to stop trying to force and control them. Instead, he climbs a tree full of ivy and hangs upside down to change his perspective. When his body and mind relax, he begins to notice birds singing in the branches and hear the rush of water nearby. He releases his agendas and realizes that there's a lot of life going on that he can participate in if he will stop using up his energy in useless ways. Bright Spark brings inspiration, a small flicker that's easy to miss if we're distracted. He can guide us in what we can do while we wait for things to change. 

I've been visiting my mom for the past few days. We went to Fancy Girl Farms, which has a restaurant (that serves fresh from the farm vegetables), coffee shop, and a lovely, landscaped area to sit and relax in outside. We also visited Bell's Daylily Farm, a beautiful place on a lake that is so peaceful and inviting (from which the photos are from).

Rant or Explore

From the Osho Zen Tarot, New Vision (Hanged Man); from the A'HA Oracle, Frog:

The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own. ―Doug Baldwin

Around age 16, Amish teens are given the opportunity to leave their closed community and experience life in "worldly" ways. Such exploration and self-discovery, known as Rumspringa, allows these kids to decide if they want to commit to an Amish way of life. The Hanged Man, however, is a more forced way to get us to see from a new perspective. We can rant and rave about a situation or we can explore it with fresh eyes. Frog - a vital environmental indicator - asks us to ascertain how this struggle is affecting our body and spirit. Are we willing to embrace reality in order to find peace and possibly a more creative solution?

His Own Petard

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Hanged Man; from the Diloggun Cards, Obara (six mouths):

For ’tis the sport to have the engineer

Hoist with his own petard;

—William Shakespeare (Hamlet)

The fourth king of Oya attempted to bring his divided kingdom together with sorcery but ended up burning everything to a crisp. Oba-kosa ("he sits on the flashes of lightning which are thrown") then hung himself. But his people liked the king in spite of his mistake and prayed for his return. He did in the form of Chango, the orisha of passion, fire, thunder and lightning. We might have to hang in limbo awhile, but people usually do forget our mistakes, especially if no harm was intended. The ifa and proverb of Obara (six mouths) read:

Ifa: One must be uplifted from poverty-stricken acceptance and state of mind. There is no virtue in being in poverty. Be industrious and accomplish your desires.

Proverb: Do not let what you cannot do tear from your hands what you can.

Self-pity and clinging to the hope that history will somehow change won't help anything. Instead, we can learn from our past missteps, making restitution and amends for any harm done while making more mindful choices. 

The Waiting Game

From the Fey Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the King of Clubs (Doctor):

Patience is the road to wisdom. —Kao Kalia Yang

I was commiserating with a friend the other day who, like me, has a loved one recently diagnosed with cancer. We talked about the lab tests, CT scans and biopsies that got us to this point only to wait. She said, "It's like they hand you a bomb to hold and tell you they'll get back to you about dismantling it." And here is the Hanged Man, a fey holding his breath in the depths a strange world. Patience is not often something we practice willingly, but a mindset we are forced to adopt if we don't want to go nuts. Yet here is the Doctor (King of Clubs), who represents someone who is here to protect or solve a problem. Sometimes it's hard to remember these folks have many people to help and care for, not just us. Like waiting in line at the grocery store, we must wait our turn.

Stationary Stasis

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Words of the Brehon, Three ill-bred sisters:

Surrender to what is. Say 'yes' to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you. ―Eckhart Tolle

As Odin discovered, acquiring wisdom can require sacrifice. For most of us, thankfully, we don't give up our right eye but our ideas about how things should be. As we hang in stationary stasis, we can fight reality or open and accept it, allowing our minds to download new concepts and approaches. As Alain de Botton encouraged, “Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't - surrender to events with hope.” The Ill-bred Sisters represent a state of stagnation, refusing to budge mentally or physically. Change requires the courage to try new ideas and actions; it may be frightening, but it's better than steeping in fear.

Tangled Up

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hanged Man (Bird); from the Gemstone Oracle, Rhodonite:

I wanted the whole planet put into stasis until I could catch up.

― Anna Sheehan

This little sparrow has gotten tangled up in a catbrier vine. VanderHoeven describes this card as stasis, a state of inactivity due to powers beyond our control. It can be maddening when we have an agenda and are prevented from carrying it out. Thoughts like "This is what I want to do" or "This is what I want to prevent" swirl in our minds and make us more frustrated. But if we can relax and look at things simply as they are (without our agenda), we might instead ask, "What is possible for me to do now?" It might be that we need to be patient, or we might need to start freeing ourselves from our 'shoulds.' Rhodonite suggests gratitude, which often reminds us of the resources we have instead of focusing on those we don't have.

A Great Treasure

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, House:

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. —Lao Tzu

The Oak King, a personification of summer and the growing season, has been "sacrificed" so that his counterpart, the Holly King (personification of winter and the fallow season) can take his turn in the seasonal cycle. The apparatus on the table in front of the Hanged Man is a Newton's cradle which demonstrates Newton's Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. At the moment, it shows no movement. It is natural that at times we all find ourselves suspended, unable to affect or control our outer circumstances. Yet that pause might help us see things we've been missing in our busyness. The Lenormand House in this pairing reminds me of waiting in anticipation - for repairs or renovations to be finished or perhaps for company to come (or leave). Stillness and patience are traits that are worthy of cultivating. 

Words on Deaf Ears

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Waterhouse Oracle, The Missal:

You have to quit confusing a madness with a mission.

― Flannery O'Connor

The Hanged Man shows Saint Sebastian, who had joined the Roman army in order to support and convert others to Christianity. When word got to his superiors about his missionary efforts, he was tied to a tree and shot full of arrows. Miraculously, he was found and healed by Irene of Rome. However, once he regained his strength, he went to the Roman emperor to warn him of his sins and was subsequently clubbed to death. This card encourages us to accept what we are powerless to change. Zealots have no peace, and often create division and anger in their attempts to convert others. At the other extreme, The Missal shows a young woman practicing her own religious service alone. Her inner peace and kindness are more likely to influence others than any scripture she might spout.

The Process

From the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Sexuality:

Patience doesn't mean making a pact with the devil of denial, ignoring our emotions and aspirations. It means being wholeheartedly engaged in the process that's unfolding, rather than ripping open a budding flower or demanding a caterpillar hurry up and get that chrysalis stage over with. 

―Sharon Salzberg

The ladder leaning against the tree in this illustration suggests this man has acknowledged his position of powerlessness; he no longer battles what he can't control. Like the caterpillar who wraps itself in a chrysalis in order to transform, he needs time to cultivate a different perspective and gain a broader understanding of what is going on. Patience, watchfulness, and listening with an open mind are what will create his metamorphosis. The Sexuality card encompasses gender identity, orientation, attitudes, and behavior. The great divide between those who accept those who identify as LGBT and those who denounce them squeezes my heart. I long for the day when people are judged by their kindnesses and cruelties rather than their sexuality, but that will take patience, openness and getting to know rather than label others. As Amandla Stenberg put it, “The continual process of unlearning heteronormativity and internalized homophobia can be difficult, but one of the biggest blessings lies in the magic that comes from having to understand love outside the confines of learned heterosexual roles.” I regret that some of the more hardhearted folks might die in their cocoons.

At Full Stop

This week I'll be using the Rider Marseille Tarot, created by Alejandro R. Rozan and published through Artisan Tarot. I'll also be using Ostinato Oracle, created and self-published by Mellie Parkway. Today's draws are the Hanged Man and Accolade:

I'd rather be a comma than a full stop.

~Coldplay

I arrived weeks earlier than I was due to a first-time mom. I've been in a hurry ever since, constantly on the move and busy doing. Pausing was something I had to learn when I finally realized there are some things that I just can't do anything about - or even at times influence. It requires a certain resilience to watch and wait, allowing situations and people to just be. But relaxed observing can give us the chance to notice things we missed before and allows insight to arise. It may be a forced reset, but nevertheless it can be helpful. Accolade is a brace used in music to join two or more staffs carrying concurrent parts. Parkway suggests the message of this symbol is "embrace in full." What better advice could there be when we're at full stop?

If Bitterness Prevails

From the Anima Mundi Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Nature's Pharmacy deck, Horseradish:

It is hardly possible to build anything if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail. ―Lech Walesa

The male black widow (much smaller and different in appearance from the female) gives his life when he mates. In some cases, he offers himself as food to the female; in other species, he simply dies after mating. His sacrificial death enables the species to continue. The Hanged Man asks us to make a sacrifice, often a surrender to how life is rather than how we demand it to be. Such a surrender doesn't mean folding our hand. Instead, it gives us the clarity to see what we can't control and what we might influence so that we can respond more skillfully. Horseradish's root has a biting, spicy flavor when eaten, yet its eye-watering flavor only lasts a few moments. Likewise, allowing life to flow without spending all of our time fighting it can let our bitterness pass instead of us becoming stuck in it.