Interruptions

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Eight of Air (Swords); from the Bird Signs/Ascension to Paradise Cards, Hawk:

Our new unparalleled access to information has come at the price of our capacity to concentrate on anything much. ―Alain de Botton

The Thoth keyword for the Eight of Swords/Air is in interference. Have you ever been in a mental flow when neurons were firing and ideas were coming together, only to be interrupted? Suddenly our intense focus is shattered by a ringing phone, someone's question or the electricity going out. It might be that our curiosity has chased some information down a rabbit hole, causing us to lose our concentration. Joy Birmingham who teaches "Managing Multiple Priorities," explains that our brain is like a filing cabinet. If we get interrupted, we should briefly write down our last thought or the next step we were about to take before changing gears. Then, when we go back to our task, we'll know what 'file' to look under to help us get back on track. Hawk is built for precision and speed, able to spot prey from 100 feet away, and then dive toward it. But even this bird needs to have its quarry in its sights before making a dive. Likewise, we make need to take a few minutes to find the entrance ramp back to our thoughts and task.

Flowing and Flying

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, Temperance; from the Animal Tiles, Hawk:

          I have some friends and family members who believe life is full of misery, anxiety, and hopelessness while others hide their faces from all suffering and talk of rainbows, fluffy bunnies, and unicorns. Temperance reminds me not to be fooled into believing either extreme. Life is a river that continually flows and changes but never becomes stagnant. The only thing that can become sluggish is my mindset. Hawk sits on tree limbs and poles looking for prey; he does not care about how the cotton or corn is growing. In the same way, we can cherry-pick what we want to see and believe while ignoring everything else. Hawk suggests we take to the sky, adding spaciousness to our ideas rather than rigid opinions. There's good and bad, beauty and harshness in everything.

Beginning Flier

This week I'll be using the Shining Tribe Tarot, a deck and book set created by Rachel Pollack and published by Llewellyn. The oracle I'll be using is a wooden set of Animal Tiles, hand pyroetched by my multi-talented friend Carole Beasley. My draws this morning are the Fool and 'Hawk:'

          This young Fool follows the bird right off the side of the mountain. There is no hesitation or question that this is her path; her ego is not strong enough to sway her from instinct. She is completely comfortable with uncertainty and even finds it exciting. Every moment is a wonder and feeds her insatiable curiosity. Though she will eventually fall to earth, literally and figuratively, hopefully she will retain some of her child-like openness. Hawk flies in to lend some clarity to the Fool's trust. It's almost a guarantee that her earthly bumps and bruises will bring some emotional clouds. Yet mistakes and challenges can be useful for her development if she sees the lessons clearly without becoming saturated by the emotions they bring.

Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance. ~Tara Brach

Views from Below and Above

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, 'Hawk:'

He who establishes his argument by noise and command, shows that his reason is weak. 

― Michel de Montaigne

          There is a good reason why this Fool stands alone in an alley. Either he's one of those folks who like to argue every minute detail about anything to death, or he dogmatically attempts to prove his opinions are always right (regardless of the facts). Bullheaded confidence may give him the illusion of control, but it proves absolutely nothing. He may gloat because he thinks he's won, but in truth, no one wants to be around him. The Hawk on the ground with its prey is impressive with its aggressiveness, tearing apart with beak and talons. In this regard, he's a bit like the argumentative Fool. But in the air, he sees both details and from a wide perspective. If relationships are important to him, the Fool needs to 'take to the air' and practice perceiving from more than his own viewpoint.

When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.

― Wayne Dyer

The Heat is On

From the Ferret Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, the Hawk:

The heat is on, on the street

Inside your head, on every beat

And the beat's so loud, deep inside

The pressure's high, just to stay alive

'Cause the heat is on.

I've got Glenn Frey's song playing in my head; the heat (a part of a race or competition) is on with the ferrets this morning. What are they racing toward? I have no idea, but it must be something good with all their enthusiasm and energy projected in the same direction. On the other hand, maybe they've spotted Hawk and are running for cover. Hawk has been given the keyword 'power' because of its ability to scope out an area from a height and then act with bullet-like speed to grasp its objective. Hawk reminds me not to get bogged down in details but to keep my view wide and alert. When it's time to act, I'll be ready.

Hitch Up the Wagon

From the Prairie Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the Medicine Cards, the Hawk:

          I appreciate Ator's inclusion of the covered wagon in her illustration of the Eight of Cups. This leaving didn't occur because someone got their nose out of joint and stomped off into the night. There was time to think things through, because all of this person's belongings had to be packed and the horses harnessed. It is interesting that the cups line up as if the relationship had been balanced, but that may be because of common interests - hobbies, politics, culture, religion, etc. On the outside it may have seemed like a stable and equal partnership, but emotionally something was off-kilter. Hawk's keyword is message; the companion book states to "observe the obvious." Rarely does a day go by that I don't see or hear a hawk on my walks. I found a primary feather of a red-shouldered hawk last week (This is a large feather responsible for thrust, direction and lift in flight.) These feathers are shed in pairs, one from each wing, which keeps the bird balanced. Both these cards suggest that in relationships of any kind, it isn't healthy to have one giver and one taker, one who fills the other's cup while their own remains empty. Yet until we clearly see and understand the part we played, our wagon will likely take us to another relationship that looks much the same.

Embracing Two Sides

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Lovers; from the Animal Tiles, the Hawk:

          Well now there's a position I've never tried - suspended in midair. Pollack has chosen to pair an angel with a human, suggesting we embrace both our human and spiritual sides. Mary Jaksch writes that there are three core experiences for being able to live from both parts:
1) The present moment is a doorway.
2) Ordinary notions of 'self' are recognized as limiting, separating 'us' from 'them.'
3)  Awareness of interconnection becomes natural with mindfulness.
So if I live this way, then basically that means I'm a partner with every living thing. I have a commitment to care for all creation, human and otherwise. But before I take off on a head trip of "all is light and love," Hawk flies in with the gift of discernment, the ability to see with clarity and objectivity. No rose-colored glasses are needed. Seeing from a larger perspective means I don't have to hate, but I might need to take a stand, set a protective boundary or try to change an unjust situation. For instance, I may loathe Trump's views, but I don't have to wish him harm. Instead, I just don't have to vote for him.

Bearing witness is not only about understanding what drove “them” to do such terrible things. The practice is also to look deeply and with precision at the innumerable ways that they are us and we are them...Cultures do not spring forth from nothing. They are created by people - we the people. As such, these acts of violence, allowed for by our laws and lionized by our culture, reflect something poisonous in each of us. ~  Joshin Brian Byrnes

Runs with Scissors

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Seer (Page) of Swords; from the Mystic Glyphs, "Hawk:"

           A young woman balances a small sword on the tips of her fingers. Though she has gobs of talent, she's not too skillful in the common sense department. There's a reason that fox hasn't taken its eye off that sword - he might need to move quickly to avoid that sharp blade. This Page/Seer has a vocabulary that rivals Webster's dictionary and radar-like ears to pick up all kinds of information. Yet she hasn't a clue how to use her skills diplomatically or tactfully, and her intellectual arrogance rubs people the wrong way. She fits in perfectly with Hawk, whose beak and talons are made for tearing and ripping its prey apart. This bird is quick and efficient at dispatching its meals. While such an assault might be useful in the world of animal predators, it generally doesn't lead to positive results in the human arena.

You are master of what you say until you utter it, once you deliver it, you are its captive.  

― Ali Ibn Abu-Talib

Dead in the Water

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, the "Hawk:"

At first I thought I was looking at the Six of Swords this morning, but it is indeed the Eight. Look at the unhappy bunch of jesters in that boat. While they all hold swords (and one a pair of scissors), none of them are rowing or using the sail to move their boat. This vessel holds every negative, discouraging and critical thought I've ever had. As long as I hold on to those ideas, I'll never have any room for any solutions or alternatives. No wonder they're sitting dead in the water.
The hawk is a bird I'm very familiar with; they are frequent visitors in my yard and neighborhood. These birds like to be up high, whether circling in the air or watching from the branch of a tall tree. Though they can see the tiny details below, they're vision also encompasses a wide perspective. Brailsford says this bird teaches us about truth and insight. What I'm dealing with might be frustrating and feel overwhelming now, but this is just one moment in time. If I can lay down those beliefs that I'm clinging so tightly to, I might just figure out how to use an oar or unfurl the sail. Then I'll see the big picture instead of just my tiny corner of it.

Ripping off Bandaids

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Nine of Birds (Nine of Swords):

An owl sits atop a burial chamber; in front of it is a stylized cutting tool.  I am reminded by this card of how lonely it is to go through a period of intense fear or grief.  No matter how many compassionate people try to console me, I am the one who must deal with what is in my head and heart.  After my mom and dad retired, they booked a trip to Australia and New Zealand.  When he died unexpectedly, my mom's dream of traveling the world with the love of her life disappeared in an instant.  Her doctor tried to prescribe pills to help her cope and sleep, but she told him, "I can grieve now then go on and live my life, or I can numb myself so I don't have to feel; if I choose the second option, I'll end up with a miserable life."  The triangle on the burial statue and the yoni on the blade tell me that the only way out is to go through it. I can separate what is real from what is speculation, and then find the courage to deal with it as best I can.

From the animal tiles oracle was chosen the "Hawk:"

We have two types of hawks that frequent my neighborhood - the red-tailed and the red-shouldered.  Both of these hawks have an intense hunting style; they swoop down from their perch or the air at incredible speeds and quickly rip the heads off their prey.  While not necessarily pretty, it is merciful.  I recently watched another not-so-familiar hawk (a Cooper's) swoop down on my bird feeder to grab a grackle.  He had a different kill style - he squeezed with his talons until the bird died.  The hawk advises me that I can pull the bandaid off quickly or slowly and more painfully.  There will be pain, but I can make the choice of how I want to experience it.

Careful Consideration

This week I'll be using the Prairie Tarot created by Robin Ator.  The card drawn for today is the Lovers:

It's a high noon showdown between the raven-haired beauty and the blonde bombshell - which one will he pick?  The Lovers card is about choice, but it goes deeper than a "chocolate or vanilla" decision.  It deals with commitment, a promise that involves obligation.  Such a pledge makes me wary, because I know on some level my freedom will be restricted by this choice.  If I'm going to be involved in something for the long haul, I need to give this decision careful consideration.

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Medicine Cards, created by Jamie Sams and David Carson, with illustrations by Angela Werneke.  This morning's card is "Hawk:"

Hawk is a messenger; his loud screech serves to wake up those who are mindlessly moving through the day.  Hawk's message is to pay attention; small details, body language, or words used are signals I need to be picking up on.  These are "red flags" that I may miss if I'm in too much of a hurry, or if my emotions are driving the choices I make.

Distractions

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Seven of Cups:

A woman dreams about what will fulfill her, but if she wants to find that contentment, she's ultimately going to have to make a choice and take action.  My problem is not a lack of effort, it's the choices I make.  Lately I've been choosing to do for others; nothing wrong in that, but I'm not making any time for myself.  I've been running from crisis to crisis, need to need, with no rest for the weary.  I feel dazed and in limbo, and now I wonder if I'm trying to distract myself from taking a look at something.  I don't know what my dreams or goals are, but it's time to stop, take a "me" moment, and find out.

From the Mystic Glyphs deck comes "Hawk:"

I saw a red-tail hawk on my walk this morning, so synchronicity seems to be at work.  Hawk's message is that I am not seeing the truth of a situation.  I need to pull away from what is distracting me and take an objective look at the big picture.  I'm going to need a really high tree to perch from...

Seeing with a Hawk's Vision

I seem to be on a roll as far as drawing major arcana cards lately.  Today the card drawn from the Shining Tribe was Tradition (Hierophant):

This particular card often refers to belonging to a group or knowledge gained from a spiritual path.  My first thought when I saw this image was "many paths, one mountain."  I don't think the mountain refers to a specific religion or deity, rather it implies living in a way that shows kindness and love to all.  The tools I use to get there may look completely different from what someone else uses.  But how do I know I'm moving in the right direction?  In the center of the five mounds is a set of concentric circles with a flower growing inside.  The flower represents beauty and positive growth.  If kindness, love, beauty and growth are part of my journey, I don't need to worry about how I compare to another person.

     The animal chosen today from the wooden tiles oracle is the "Hawk:"

I saw two red-tailed hawks the other day in the neighborhood; they always seem to arrive shortly after the flocks of robins come.  These hawks have incredible vision - they never think an old sock is a rat even at great distances.  The reason is that the red-tail has five times more visual sensory cells per millimeter of retina than do humans.  These birds teach me to look at the big picture rather than just my personal perspective.  Hawks remind me not to assume anything, but to make sure what I think I see is true before I take action.  There are times when Hawk's visual acuity is impaired, such as on foggy days when the light is scattered.  He'll wait patiently in a tall tree until things clear up.  Likewise, sometimes postponing my plans or decisions may be called for when my clarity is diminished by my emotions or other factors.

Holy Hammer of Heaven

  The card chosen from the Ship of Fools Tarot this morning is one I have drawn recently (as well as a few blogging friends!), the Tower:

"He who believes that he is blessed in everything, / And who feels that luck will never leave him, / He surely will feel fate's cudgel in the end."

Not only is this fellow's house on fire, but he is about to get a knock in the head with the Holy Hammer of Heaven.  The tower represents the walls I build around my heart and mind.  These bricks can be made of religious dogma, college degrees, money in the bank, family beliefs, or just plain ignorance (if I don't see it, then its not really there).  They are meant to protect me, to keep me from experiencing pain or unhappiness.  Unfortunately, like the fool above, I become trapped in a prison of my own making. In his case, he's so convinced he's right, he won't even get out to save his own skin!  If my ideas, beliefs and dreams are set in concrete, I won't evolve beyond them without something drastic happening that can get my attention.  But the real misfortune is that I'm missing out on a lot of joy while erroneously trying to safeguard myself.  Today I will allow my heart and mind some much needed fresh air and sunshine.

       From the Wisdom of the Four Winds deck today comes one of my favorite birds, "Hawk - Vision:"

Hawk reminds me not to get bogged down in the little details and stresses of my day-to-day life.  Frustration and hopelessness will only narrow my vision.  Seeing the big picture will help me detach from the confusion and emotion that surrounds me, allowing me to see with clarity what is truly important.  It is a challenge to fly in the realms of spirit while staying grounded in this world.  May I have the ability to see with Hawk's eyes today.