Full and At Ease

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Dreaming in Color Cards, Innocence:

Guilt is the worst enemy of true happiness and self-esteem. 

—Pamela Baron Waldbauer

Back when I kept a written gratitude journal, there were days when the only three things I could think to list were pain medicine, a soft bed, and sleep. But the Ten of Cups illustrates a day when our heart is so full of joy, it is hard to put how we feel into words. Pausing and paying attention seems to help create more days such as this. Innocence reminds me of another reason that our hearts are light. When the mind is at ease, not suffering from guilt over something we've done or not done, there is no barrier to our happiness. 

Small Things

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Page of Cups; from the Tao Oracle, Innocence:

 There is no instinct like that of the heart. ~ Lord Byron

Hexagram 25: Thunder rolls, original nature manifested.

          People who embody the Page of Cups are easy to recognize; their hearts are so tender and soft, they are instantly moved to comfort anyone (even an animal or plant) that appears to be suffering. They don't do anything big or for show, their actions are more low-key and personal. The Page personifies the words of Mother Teresa: "Do small things with great love." Hexagram 25 fits well with this personality type. Innocence in an adult does not refer to gullibility but to trusting the heart for guidance. Life tends to beat and bully this quality out of us by the time be reach maturity. We armor the heart from the pain and suffering of others, so we don't have to be vulnerable to it. If there is no quick solution to get rid of the anguish, we'd prefer not to see it. But it is only in keeping the heart open to all of life, embracing both delight and heartache, that we find an anchor in joy. It is the original goodness and wisdom innate in all.

Watching with Wonder

From the Norse Tarot, the Nine of Wands:

A red-haired warrior stands ready to fight, with his men behind him as back-up.  The Nine of Wands frequently is a warning to have all your senses on alert and pay attention.  I've usually seen this card as a defensive maneuver, being ready to deal with what comes my way.  But maybe it's not always about dealing with the hard stuff... Perhaps the unexpected might be something joyful but fleeting, that I must be in the "now" to catch.  I generally start my morning with a cup of coffee at the computer, but I like to watch the large birdfeeder outside my window at the same time.  Generally, I spend more time sipping and surfing the internet, but this morning I just watched instead.  I was rewarded with the sight of three rose-breasted grosbeaks, birds we rarely see here, and only as they migrate northward.  "Be here now" (as Ram Dass would say) can have its advantages in more ways than one.

     From the Wolf Pack comes "Innocence:"

Young children and young animals find everything interesting, even the most simple of things.  Just ask a parent who gets a delivery how many hours of fun their toddler had with the big box.  Sometimes I lose that sense of awe and innocence to the logical, rational side of my brain.  I go for nature walks every day, observing what's going on, then write and draw about my experience in the evening.  I've caught myself at times trying to identify and catalog the flora and fauna as I amble about instead of just appreciating it.  But often it is that "watching with wonder" that will give me clues to a discovery later.  The other day I found a tiny purple wildflower growing in a friend's field.  By pausing and peering closely, I noticed a tiny projection that came from its center.  I would need that hint to later uncover what it was - Venus' Looking-glass.