Giving Back

From the Golden Tarot, the Ten of Coins; from the Yantra Deck, Kindness:

At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back. – Denzel Washington

          The abundance of the Ten of Coins reminds me of my little flower garden. Several of the zinnias I planted early in the spring are already going to seed. It seems Nature understands the best way to keep the planet healthy and thriving is to give back, not withhold. Sharon Salzberg taught me that loving-kindness means 'unconditional friendliness.' Rather than following the neurotic paranoia of the ego that insists holding on to everything is necessary for survival, this type of kindness opens the mind and heart fully. It doesn't mean I give away everything I own, or that I sacrifice my health trying to help others, it just means I give what I can when I can. In the words of Tom Brokaw, "It’s easy to make a buck.  It’s a lot tougher to make a difference."

The Greatest Wisdom

From the Urban Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the Principles to Live By, Kindness:

          The Queen of Swords represents Water of Air; she has a keen intellect but also sharp perception and insight. Seeing her represented here as an artist made me think of the character Clara Morrow in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache books. In the latest book, Clara paints portraits of the people in her close-knit community. The portraits look like nothing special at first glance, until the observer notices the small details. Reflected in each person's eyes is what they love most in the world. Like the Queen of Swords, she looked beyond the faces presented to the public and saw the core inside each person. The Kindness tile implies a caring attitude that leads to benevolent action. It is not enough to know; we must also do. If my neighbor is hungry, compassion (though a good thing to have) won't feed her. In the words of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, "What wisdom is greater than kindness?"

Words of Power

This week I'll be using Poppy Palin's Waking the Wild Spirit tarot deck, published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the 2nd edition of her companion book, Stories of the Wild Spirit, published by Slippery Jacks Press. The oracle I'll be using is MentorSpirit, created by Kathy Tyler and Joy Drake, published by InnerLinks Associates. The cards drawn this morning are the Storyteller (Knight of Air/Swords) and Kindness:

          Nothing holds the attention like a good story, which is how this Knight is passing on the knowledge he has accumulated. Principles and ideas can be dry and boring, but wrap them in a myth or anecdote and they suddenly become much more interesting. Stories often inspire and are used to give purpose and direction. The description of one man's experience of injustice may start a riot that demands change. The personal history of the trials of a refugee family can open previously closed hearts. Words are powerful. The Kindness card shows two spirals that meet; I like to think of them as compassionate thoughts that lead to loving action (kindness). The two cards together caution me to be careful of the stories I tell myself and others. If I want them to produce actions that are beneficial and healing, I need to be discerning about the narrative I weave.

If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it. 

~ Richard Rohr

Tree Climbing

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Four of Pentacles:

When I was a child and things weren't going well at home, I'd climb a huge southern magnolia tree in our yard. From the top of its branches I would hug the tree trunk, feeling more secure and grounded even though I swayed with the breeze. So I can relate to this fellow in his tree, feeling unbalanced and out of sorts. Unexpected expenses, time crunches or health issues can make me feel that way too. But in his tree are apples, coins and a ring, telling me that there is no evidence for his worries. Perhaps he will see all his resources when the sun rises. Then he can find the keys and unlock the truth for himself. But he shouldn't feel badly for needing to hang on to that tree trunk to get him through the night.

From the MentorSpirit deck comes "Kindness:"

"It's not your job to like me - it's mine." ~ Byron Katie

I remember growing up and hearing that I should be kind to others, but I missed the message that I needed to apply it to myself. I am my own worst critic, and I hold myself up to impossible standards that I would never set for anyone else. Yet when I practice self-care and self-forgiveness, I have a much deeper well to draw from when I reach out to others.