A Tourist

 From the Margaret Petersen Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Elemental Dice, Tsunami (Darkness + Water):

Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance. 

—Morgan Freeman

My first impression of this card was of a deprivation tank - those pods filled with saltwater people float in that minimize external stimuli and create a sense of sensory deprivation. Even the High Priestess seems to have left her externals - the pentacle, the wand, the cup and the sword. She knows if we want to find our luminous inner wisdom, we have to leave behind our tools and what we already know. Most of us, however, would relate to Pico Iyer, "I'm a tourist on the realm of stillness." Tsunami is a good symbol for all the thoughts, sensations and emotions that flood us when we try to still our bodies and minds. Take heart (and keep at it); let the words of Henepola Gunaratana encourage you:

Somewhere in this process you will come face-to-face with the sudden and shocking realization that you are completely crazy. Your mind is a shrieking gibbering madhouse on wheels barreling pell-mell down the hill utterly out of control and hopeless. No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way and you just never noticed. You are also no crazier than everybody else around you. The only real difference is that you have confronted the situation they have not.

A Price

From the RainShadow Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Fiber:

Mindfulness is our capacity to be aware in a balanced and curious way. It is a fresh awareness that connects intimately with whatever we experience, just as it is, without the distortions of bias, expectation and control. We're not judging what's happening, waiting for something else, or trying to get something. ―Oren Jay Sofer

The Keeper of Wisdom waits for us to become settled and silent before she gives us passage. But like Charon the ferryman who required payment to cross the River Styx, she requires us to let go of any expectations of what we will receive. We wait without motive or demand; when we do, insight will rise. Fiber brought to mind the phrase, "with every fiber of my being." Fiber woven together increases dramatically in strength. It is a reminder that understanding something intellectually is useful, but it is not nearly as valuable as when we embody it and use it in our day-to-day life. 

A Naked Mind

From the Shadowlands Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Brownie Wisdom deck, "Cheerful Heart:"

We'll find there's a kind of place

That can only be seen with a naked mind.

―Capital Cities 

The tangible results produced by the will (Magician) are now set aside to learn from the High Priestess. She teaches us how to discover an inner wisdom that cannot be accessed by our everyday, thinking mind. Rather than using an assertive force of will, we must learn to let go and be receptive. We rest in quiet and stillness, allowing the sacred knowing to rise without the interference of expectation, judgment or assumption. Integrating the insights we gain into our life will require effort and watchfulness. Brownie Wisdom suggests we do this with a cheerful heart rather than letting our ego convince us to focus solely on the Magician's methods. As Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said, "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."

Interpreting Reality

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Mahjongg Oracle, the Tiger:

The sense of self is inextricably linked to your self-talk — to your thoughts and inner dialogue — and we’re constantly interpreting reality through thought. 

—Brechen MacRae

The High Priestess represents the luminous wisdom within us, the awareness that sees reality without adding all of our prejudices and preferences on top of it. It grants us objective clarity without self-referencing and self-centeredness attached. Make no mistake: what it shines a light on can feel threatening to the mental construct known as the ego. Yet it can help us navigate all of life more successfully, with the benefit of not adding suffering to the world. The Tiger is a symbol of power, strength and bravery. It reminds us that our inner wisdom is of no help if we don't act on it. As the Chinese proverb goes, "Talk does not cook rice."

A Proper Investigation

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Button Oracle, German Shepherd:

Make a proper investigation first. 

~ Buddha

Looks like Granny has all her tools at hand - cards, runes and a crystal ball - for tapping into the universal self. She knows these tools aren't really necessary, but Granny is aware the ego is a rascally rabbit. Sometimes we need props to get past its preferences and prejudices to find the wisdom within. The German Shepherd button represents searching and investigating, as these dogs have long been used in search and rescue, discovery of explosives, and narcotics detection. It suggests we check the information we uncover, making sure the ego's demands haven't tainted our insight. Is this intuitive understanding skillful and wholesome? Or is it a cookie-cutter copy of just what the personal self craves?

Long Arc of One Circle

From the Ellis Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Brownies Oracle, Cycles:

The problem is we have a mind that creates a past, a future, and an endless supply of story lines and judgements. ― Mark Van Buren

This High Priestess is the middle pillar between darkness and light, growth and decay, prey and predator - things we tend to segregate. Ellis calls her the Keeper of What Can't be Taught; she leads us through calm stillness to the luminous mind. Here we encounter and begin to understand that even in what appears separate there is interconnection. Like different cells in a body, there is a single reality underlying the diversity of experience. Cycles reminds us that we have no immunity from traveling both the dark and light phases as we move through life. It may at times feel like we're stuck in a 'bad' phase, but sometimes the arc is long and simply takes more time to move around to the other side. 

Inner Refuge

From the World Spirit Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Mystic Glyphs, Skunk:

When the winds of change reach hurricane force, our inner refuge of mindfulness, concentration, and discernment is the only thing that will keep us from getting blown away.

~Thanissaro Bhikku

The High Priestess guards our inner temple, the deepest part of consciousness. It is a refuge, offering us spaciousness and a place to breathe with ease. Dwelling here, we find not what the ego wants, but truth and wisdom if we will receive it. Skunk reminds us that it is okay to protect and defend our mental and emotional health, especially when we are trying to find our equilibrium during challenging times. As Paul Coelho reminds us, "All stress, anxiety, depression, is caused when we ignore who we are, and start living to please others."

Below the Obscurations

 From the Anna K Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Meditation Cards, Wholesome vs. Unwholesome:

Mind is eclipsed by many different obscurations; if they are removed, mind’s fundamental nature, like the sun shining brightly in a clear, open sky, can manifest all the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and a Buddha’s abilities. ― Kalu Rinpoche

The High Priestess knows that within each of us is a luminous mind that sees with clarity, wisdom and compassion. But the ego sets up roadblocks to it, determined to have its demands met no matter what. Being trained in meditation allows the priestess to sink below the rollicking waves created by its self-centeredness, down to a place of calm and spaciousness. Here is found a 'hidden' reserve of knowledge and intuition. Wholesome vs. Unwholesome refers to karma our thoughts and actions create:

What really makes it wholesome or unwholesome is not the content so much as the intention that gives rise to the content. (Narayan Helen Liebenson)

If we want to know whether we are listening to the luminous mind or the ego, all we need to do is look at what is behind the thought or action. Is it being fueled by some form of anger, greed or delusion, or is it triggered by kindness, generosity and wisdom? The first brings suffering while the latter benefits everyone.

Depths of Wisdom

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Magician; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Mandrake:

Learn to discern the real from the false. Listen only to the Voice that is soundless. Look only on that which is invisible, and remember in yourself is the Temple...

~P.D. Ouspensky

The High Priestess shows us that the entrance to the depths of wisdom is an inner door, not an outer one. It is a place where the ego is quiet, allowing the luminous Voice within to grant us deep understanding. Yet the purpose of finding this door is not to descend into eternal bliss, shutting out the rest of the world. Instead, this knowledge helps us to navigate the world skillfully and compassionately, recognizing that the sacred is interwoven with the mundane. Mandrake is known for its root that resembles a human figure as well as the legend about its scream when uprooted. Its hallucinogenic and narcotic properties induce unconsciousness, and it was used in ancient times as an anaesthetic for surgery. This root asks us: are you trying to sleep through life or awaken to it?

Polishing

This week I'll be using Tarot by Caro, created and self-published by Caroline Clarke. The oracle I'll be drawing from is the I Ching, illustrated by Klaus Holitzka with instructions by Marlies Holitzka; it is published by AGM Urania. Today's cards are the High Priestess and Hexagram 27:

Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart, and that depends upon how much he has polished it. Whoever has polished it more sees more - more unseen forms become manifest to him.

― Rumi

This woman tends her inner garden consistently, so much so that the pomegranate she holds has grown there. Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not very relaxing and blissful (especially for beginners), and it takes commitment to maintain. We want to battle all those thoughts and urges that arise instead of just allowing them to pass by without attachment. The High Priestess understands that receptiveness means to simply let them be without engaging. Eventually, without force, she will sink down below the ego where true wisdom and compassion is found. Hexagram 27 is often called Nourishment, and asks us what we are feeding our mind, body and spirit. How are we spending our time, who are we spending time with, and what are we putting in our body? What is wholesome, inspiring and strengthening is what will sustain us and help us thrive.

Resistance is Futile

From the Gaian Tarot, the Priestess; from the Goddess Oracle, Vila:

The ego is a circular pattern of thinking.

—Adyashanti

Those who come to the Priestess for answers are told - as she splits open a pomegranate - that truth is not found in scholarly books and revered teachers but within. She points to the goddess of Malta figurine and explains that what is sought can only be discovered in stillness and quiet when we sink below our chattering mind. But before we descend into that calm spaciousness, we must heed the words of Adyashanti: "We must want the actual truth more than we want the truth that we imagine." Vila is the eastern European name for energy that moves through the earth in different forms of nature. Her shape-shifting ability calls on us to flexible with an expanded awareness rather than holding tightly to our illusions. Truth and wisdom do us no good if we resist rather than accept them.

Opening Doors

From the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, the Papess; from the Pages of Shustah, Little Foxes:

I’ve always thought that a good book should be either the entry point inward, to learn about yourself, or a door outward, to open you up to new worlds.

― Taylor Jenkins Reid

The High Priestess/Popess indicates hidden knowledge within us that we receive through insights. This woman is completely engaged in reading, so much so that she is sinking down into a place beyond ego's reach. Have you ever read something that jolted you in a deep way, that brought new realizations and understanding? The writings of Pema Chodron, the "You Are Accepted" sermon by Paul Tillich, and numerous poems have had that effect on me. These opened doors in my mind that I was unaware of until that moment. Little Foxes suggest a need to stay in reality rather than fanciful illusions. How do we know if something is insight or simply an emotional reaction? While insight might cause one's heart to feel touched, it doesn't include strong emotions like anger, fear, craving or sadness. And unlike an emotional reaction, it can be life changing.  

Abjuring the Prescribed

From the RainShadow Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Honey Bee:

Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices. ~Theodor W. Adorno

My eyes are drawn to the small rainbow-colored line between the colors of black and white in this image. Humans prefer things to be cut and dried simply because it gives them a feeling of security, but life is a multitude of color, not just black or white. Buddhists believe that everyone is endowed with buddha nature: a pure, luminous state of our consciousness which is free from any duality or self-referencing. This is what the High Priestess points toward - sinking below the ego to find insight and comprehend the whole of reality. Honey bees are wonderful cross-pollinators, transferring pollen grains from one plant to another. In a changing environment, such pollination enables plants to adapt better than those that are self-pollinated. In the same way, an open mind that sees more than just a slice of life tends to be more resilient and expansive when life serves a plate of the unexpected.

Information Exchange

This week I'll be using the Herbcrafter's Tarot, created through the combined efforts of Joanna Powell Colbert and Latisha Guthrie. The set is published by U.S. Games. Paired with it will be the Green Wheel Oracle, created and self-published by Danielle Barlow. Today's draws are the High Priestess and Toad:

JPC's card shows an unfinished mugwort dream pillow. Though mostly used today in moxibustion by Chinese acupuncturists, it has in times past been burned or smoked to promote vivid dreams. Dreams allow the mind's content to slip past the censorship of the ego. Researchers believe that the purpose of dreams is to take the sting ('this is personal') out of painful emotional experiences so that we can learn from them and move on. Toad represents justice and balance; Barlow suggests its appearance means we've received a powerful call. This might mean we must confront ourselves - our own attitude and actions. However,  it could point to a need to stand up for imbalances or injustices in our community. Rather than taking the shape of shame or hatred, it can just be a clear, unadorned exchange of information.

I have several times made a poor choice by avoiding a necessary confrontation.

—John Cleese

Curiosity

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Curiosity:

Knowledge is measuring that the desert path is 12.4 miles long.

Wisdom is packing enough water for the hike.

Insight is building a lemonade stand at the 6th mile.

~Christopher Reiss

The High Priestess has plenty of knowledge and wisdom, but what she offers that is most important is insight. She teaches us to calmly sit and incubate our information and experience. This priestess shows us how open awareness, rather than a narrow focus, can develop insights that allow us to understand relationships, motives and the bigger picture. The Curiosity card implies that we need to hold lightly what we know (rather than thinking we're an expert) and be willing to open doors and explore. There's always more to find below the surface.

The Mind's Deception

From the Fey Tarot, the Seer (High Priestess); from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Great Consolation (Seven of Clubs):

Where there is perception, there is deception.

―Thich Nhat Hanh

It would be interesting to step outside the mind and see its commentary on all that we learn. As humans, we naturally filter information, choosing some as important, ignoring other parts, and labeling what we don't agree with as erroneous. The mind wants to function efficiently, so it will generalize, delete and distort to keep things running smoothly. But the Seer suggests we let the mind become quiet and calm so that we can peek behind the door of the ego. What the ego decides to keep and use may not actually be useful in the long run. The Great Consolation Sibilla card shows a man counting his blessings. It's possible he listened to his luminous mind rather than his ego. He would realize that he doesn't have to pretend to be someone else to find a mate; he doesn't have to cheat to be honored; and he doesn't have to lie on his tax returns to be prosperous. In fact, that's probably why he's able to take a moment to relax and enjoy his life.

In Calm and Stillness

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Marseille Oracle, Inspiration:

I am convinced that we humans do better when we have something to ground us, a deep source from which we can draw wisdom, insight, and inspiration. The goal of that source is to empower us, to bring depth and fulfillment to our lives, to give us the means to soar.

― Lawrence Levy (former Pixar CEO)

The Gamayun, a prophetic bird of Russian folklore, illustrates the High Priestess in this card. She knows that thinking is a human solution for problems, but she realizes that it often just adds more problems. Instead, a resolution can often be found in stillness, calm and quiet, when the luminous mind can rise above the ego. It has no preferences and prejudices, but sees with clarity, compassion and wisdom. As the Inspiration card implies, this mind can give us insight and guide our creative ideas. 

She Holds the Keys

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the High Priestess; from the Lantern Oracle, Voice:

During meditation, we create a refuge in which we can better discern and understand what’s going on in our constantly shifting private landscape. —Lauren Krauze

I appreciate that Tourian's Priestess also has a set of keys (often assigned only to the Hierophant). Her yin-yang symbol applies to the aggressive self-will of the ego; it wants to do what's best for us but it lacks essential information because its strategies were formulated at a young age. This mental construct looks for pleasure and avoids discomfort, unaware that horrible consequences can come from some pleasures and good things may come from discomfort. Yet we each have a higher nature - which the priestess helps us access through meditation. It sees with clarity, without preference or prejudice. The Voice card is a nudge to speak one's truth, and so I will give my personal thoughts on meditation. There is a mindfulness movement that seeks to bring calm and comfort to people, to help them de-stress and experience bliss. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, unless it is passed off as a spiritual practice. McMindfulness serves the ego, wanting only what feels good. A meditation practice helps us discern the habitual thought and emotional patterns that create suffering in our lives and in those around us. It requires us to change, not sink back in our comfy recliners.

None of us dreamed that mindfulness would become so popular or even lucrative, much less that it would be used as a way to keep millions of us sleeping soundly through some of the worst cultural excesses in human history, all while fooling us into thinking we were awake and quiet.

—Clark Strand

Contemplate/Activate

From the Ferret Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Owl:

There has to be breathing in as well as breathing out. We need to have both the active and the contemplative. —Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

          Regardless of what social media says, the purpose of meditation is not to escape the world but learn to live in it with wisdom and compassion. We first cultivate purposeful attention (concentration) that allows our normally discursive mind to calm and stabilize (along with our body). Once we are anchored, things seem more spacious rather than constricted. Then we can begin experiential inquiry, looking deeply and questioning the habitual patterns of thought that lead to unhelpful, reflexive action. We start to realize how often we misperceive, assume, and generalize; we come to understand the suffering we cause ourselves and others. Yet the Owl appears with more wisdom to offer. Knowledge might be power, but it is action that will produce change.

The Knowledge Within

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the High Priestess; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk Deck, Energy:

          This High Priestess seems to be crawling inside a book of knowledge, but what she is actually doing is diving deep within herself. This is not an exercise in navel-gazing, but an investigation into the undercurrent of thought and feeling that runs constantly in the background of the mind; it causes us react in unskillful ways when we are unaware of it. The Energy card reminds me of an equanimity meditation, part of which reads: “I am responsible for the energy and attention I give my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.” (In equanimity, we come to understand that our happiness and suffering is not caused primarily by our experiences and circumstances, but in our responses to them.) An undercurrent of emotional energy given free rein is like being bound with puppet strings we've tied ourselves. 

Once we see an inner pattern of mind clearly and bring to it mindful awareness and acceptance, this in itself initiates the process of self-liberation. ― Rob Nairn