Waiting for the Tsunami

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Five of Coins; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Indecision:

          This beggar walks with hand outstretched and eyes closed. Place suggests the four coins at his feet represent the four elements - resources - that the man walks past. He states "he will not accumulate anything because the Quinta Essentia is missing (the fifth element - essence)." His poverty is a result of a decayed spirit. Before he lost his wealth and health, his principles of humility, kindness, and generosity became scarce . Like Scrooge, he is missing out on what is needed for joy. The Indecision card represents Venus in Libra, a mix of love with a desire for harmony. Libra can sometimes be so terrified of rocking the boat, he just sits there waiting for the wave that will wash him overboard. Sure other people may be shocked by our situation, but exposed vulnerability can often ignite compassionate action.

You are different now. Is the person who did that action five years ago the same person you are now? If she were exactly the same person, you would still be doing the same action. The present "you" exists in a continuum from that person, but is not exactly the same as her. Look back at the person you were with compassion. You can understand the suffering and confusion she was experiencing that made her act in that way. ~  Thubten Chodron

Take Nike's Advice

This week I'll be using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed along with the book Alchemy and the Tarot, both created by Robert M. Place and published by Hermes Publications. Paired with it will be the Oracle of the Radiant Sun deck and book set, created by Caroline Smith and John Astrop and published through Eddison-Sadd Editions. The draws for today are the Ace of Staffs and "Indecision:"

          I can just imagine Nike, the Winged Goddess of Victory, running down the streets of Greece with this torch in her hand yelling, "Just do it!" She would be sporting her swoop embellished shoes and would have a salamander by her side. Pliny the Roman naturalist thought these amphibians needed fire to breed, so they became symbols of passion and motivation. But what lurks beside all this fiery ambition? Indecision (Venus in Libra). Beauty and Love meet Harmony and Justice; what could possibly go wrong with this combination? A love of harmony taken to the extreme can mean trying to please everyone and doing everything possible not to ruffle feathers. No wonder the hourglass shows time is running out, as this position is like walking on hot coals. Rarely do most decisions come down to life or death matters. I'd do better to make a choice with the evidence I have than do nothing and disappoint everyone.