Pause for Clarity

This week I'll be using the Animal Totem Tarot, created by Eugene Smith with a companion book by Leeza Robertson; the set was published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Blum/Gern Rune Cards created by Ralph Blum and illustrated by Gabrielle Gern with publishing by Connections. Today's draws are the Page of Swords and Isa:

Runs with scissors - phrase seen on a t-shirt

The Page of Swords as a roadrunner made me chuckle; it's not that he isn't intelligent, it's just that he's impatient. This Page wants to know everything and inform everyone all about it by yesterday. He may hear the tail-end of a conversation then think he has the whole story. Or he may learn a concept and attempt to apply that idea to all without exception. While he is learning, albeit in a helter-skelter sort of way, he's liable to create some chaos as he goes. Isa is a rune that refers to ice, a time of being frozen. Blum suggests the keyword 'standstill,' a good reminder for the Page of Swords to pause for clarity and do a deeper dive on what he thinks he knows.

It’s wonderful to have the freedom to continually widen our interests. But like many luxuries, it has an insidious downside. Ever-branching possibilities make it harder for us to explore any given one deeply, because there’s always more “newness” to turn to when the old new thing has reached a difficult or boring part. —David Cain, "Go Deeper Not Wider"

If Wishes Were Fishes

From the Greenwood Tarot, the King of Arrows (Swords); from the Rune Cards, 'Ice (Isa):'

          Potter uses a lynx to represent the King of Swords. These cats live in the northernmost forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. As a result of the climate they live in, they have very thick fur and furry, large paws that spread out like snowshoes. The frozen landscape the lynx lives in is symbolic of what is required of this King if he is to find the truth and implement justice. He must set aside his personal feelings and prejudices to look with objectivity and discernment at the situation before him. The rune poem for Ice/Isa describes its dual nature:

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;

it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;

it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

While it might look pretty and shiny from afar, ice can be very dangerous to walk or ride on. Its meaning is clear: what glitters is a misconception and distortion, not gold. For this King, he needs to check and make sure he's not agreeing with something just because he wishes it to be so.

Waiting for a Thaw

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Six of Pentacles; from the Rune Cards, "Is/Isa:"

          Two people meet to exchange materials native to their area - antler for abalone shells. Vey writes, "Life is an endless exchange of resources, knowledge, nurture and skill." Sometimes I may give more than I receive, while other times I feel like I've been handed a lap full of abundance I don't deserve. It all seems to balance out eventually. But these friendly trades collapse when I refuse to part with anything, particularly if I judge someone as unsuitable. Now in some cases this might be a fair assessment. We were going to ask a fellow to pressure wash our house, but when we saw all the political and religious fundamental bumper stickers that literally covered his truck, we declined. We didn't want to be associated with such opinions. Yet there are other times when I judge a person as being unworthy, based purely on a personality clash. Here is where I struggle not only to open my hand, but also my heart.
          Is/Isa literally means "ice;" the Anglo-Saxon poem reads:

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;

it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;

it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

Isa perfectly describes my biased judgment. My ego makes my opinion "glisten" and "fair to look upon" (meaning I can easily rationalize my thoughts and actions). Yet my evaluation is "cold and immeasurably slippery;" with a closed heart, I'm sliding down a slippery slope (probably heading toward a big tree trunk). This rune suggests I shouldn't do or say anything until my heart has a chance to thaw out. Until then, I can put my attitude and ideas out in the sun. 

Deceptive Appearances

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Seven of Swords:

“Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one’s emotions.” ~ Ayn Rand

I can almost see the wheels turning in this man-bird's mind, as he looks over the sword he thinks he has successfully stolen.  I'm sure his reasoning might be something like: "They owe it to me. They have plenty and I have none, so why shouldn't I have one too?"  Like the crows he resembles, he obviously thinks he has the right to take what is bright and shiny if no one's the wiser.  Rand's quote fits this card perfectly.  When I ignore what is logical and true, and gloss over it with emotionalism, I can be sure I have lost my moral compass.

     From the set of cedar runes comes "Isa:"

        Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;

it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;
it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.
Anglo-Saxon Rune poem

Isa, or ice, is beautiful to look at, but quite dangerous to walk or travel on.  As the saying goes, "all that glitters isn't gold;" what appears outwardly to be a good thing may have hidden risks and hazards.  Like the flow of water that comes to a halt when frozen, sometimes the safest action is to remain patient and still.