The Swing of the Sword

From the Tarot of the Hidden Realms, Temperance; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the Hero:

That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. ―Tao Te Ching, Chapter 43.

Temperance is a reminder that when we take an extreme stand, we cause suffering to ourselves and others. We can easily find ourselves in the camp of fundamentalism, having a long list of things and people we are against, but very few groups or issues that we focus on healing or being benevolent toward. Our self-identity can easily become linked to our cause, further separating us. The Faerie's Hero is a feminine form; she does not fight battles fueled by intolerance and hatred. Her sword of truth swings like a cool rain falling on a parched land, bringing love, kindness and justice. 

Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.

― Joseph Fort Newton

Inner Peace

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, created by Julia Jeffrey with Barbara Moore, and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be drawing from the Heart of Faerie Oracle created by Brian and Wendy Froud  and published by Abrams. Today's cards are the Four of Swords and the Hero:

          Moore writes that the stability of four creates a quiet resting place for the mind. In the chaos of yesterday, I didn't get a chance to do my regular sitting meditation or any journaling. It was a day when other matters took priority. But the butterflies around this young girl's head suggest I should keep things light today. There's no need for solutions to be found or ideas to be analyzed. My brain needs a break from being in stress mode. In the words of Harry Emerson Dosdick, "Peace is the gift not of volitional struggle but of spiritual hospitality."
          The title of the Faerie card seems to be at odds with the message of the Four of Swords. Yet the Hero is purposefully drawn as a young woman rather than a man to emphasize its feminine nature. Instead of seeing this card as representing the courage to fight, Froud recommends thinking of "love as a heroic force." I was reminded of another "hero," this one gray-haired and known as Peace Pilgrim. She constantly suggested checking to see if one's actions brought inner peace:

There is a criterion by which you can judge whether the thoughts you are thinking and the things you are doing are right for you. The criterion is: Have they brought you inner peace? If they have not, there is something wrong with them - so keep seeking! If what you do has brought you inner peace, stay with what you believe is right. ~ Peace Pilgrim

Flowing Down, Climbing Up

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Eight of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, "Hero/Heroine:"

           I had a sleepless night last night, filled with dreams that I couldn't remember but that left me sobbing. I have no event to connect to such a night; I led the evening meditation group in gentle yoga followed by a relaxation period, then came home to a cup of chamomile tea before bed. When I finally dragged myself from under the covers this morning, I was in a mood (maybe I should put that in capital letters - MOOD). Moods can have the effect of a hallucinogenic drug on me; nothing appears in my fuzzy brain as it actually is in reality. Small things look insurmountable, people seem to intentionally irritate me, and I think I need to comfort myself with things like shopping on Amazon. But if I can be patient, avoiding any rash decisions or impulsive actions, my mood will pass. I can literally watch it fade and move downstream.
          The Hero/Heroine card reminds me that some of my greatest challenges are not in the outer world, but right between my two ears. I can make any mountain higher by imagining the worst, or I can simply pull on my boots and put one foot in front of the other. As Pema Chodron emphasizes, "My moods are continuously shifting like the weather." No need for my mental aerobics to give them hurricane strength.

Live and Let Live

From the Fairy Lights Tarot, the Seven of Wands:

The fairy waving goodbye to a swirling group of lights is a departure from the usual RWS image of a man fighting off a crowd with a stick. Sometimes groups and institutions split because the goal of one faction and how they choose to reach it changes. Those who once supported each other and worked for a mutual cause have become divided. The best possible outcome is that each side will reform into two new divisions, and both will move toward their goal in their own way. It doesn’t always have to turn into mud-slinging and name-calling.  Peace and forward progress can be restored, but only if the objective and not resentment remains the focus.

From the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the "Hero:"

The Frouds use a woman to show the feminine side of valor. They write, “Think of love that lets us accept the differences in people and the beliefs around us. Think of love that is truly unconditional. That is heroism.” This card in combination with the one above suggests I choose the better way by allowing others to have their own ideas without trying to argue or prove that mine are better. It’s a big enough world for all of us.