Washing Off the Dust

From the Tarot of the Master, the Knight of Chalices; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Carcer:

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

—Pablo Picasso

If the Coins suit nourishes the body and its needs, the Cups suit nourishes the spirit. The Knight of Cups is like a bard, amusing and delighting others with his poetry, songs and stories. He reminds us to allow art, whether visual, performance or literary, to feed us. It can elevate our mood, provide solace or inspiration and give us a deeper understanding of the world. Carcer refers to a type of incarceration - delays, restrictions or barriers that keep us from what we desire. Often, we feel like we can't squeeze in time to make or enjoy art. But it could be that we need to schedule time for it; we may need to be aware of how we waste time (often just distracting ourselves from a task we don't want to do) and carve a portion out. As Thomas Merton wrote, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

Invitation

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Knight of Cups (Chango); from the Diloggun Cards, Three Mouths (Ogunda):

Your problem is you are too busy holding on to your unworthiness.

―Ram Dass

The Knight of Cups, elementally known as Fire of Water, is a perfect pairing with Chango (Orisha of fire, thunder, lighting, and dance). His fire encourages us to move beyond passivity and express our heart's wish to build a relationship, whether with a person or a group. We might fear that we are not enough, that we don't have what it takes to be accepted. Yet the most meaningful relationships require only honesty, kindness, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a mutual respect for each other. The proverb for Three Mouths (Ogunda) says: "A little subtleness is better than a lot of force." Extending an invitation is much better than whacking someone over the head with it.  

On this Fourth of July, I couldn't help but post this quote, which I feel deeply:

"Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is."

—Sydney J. Harris

Seeking Answers

From the Alchemical Renewed Tarot, the Knight of Vessels; from Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Mercury in Scorpio:

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate. ―Carl Jung

This Knight of Vessels wades into the shallow end of his unconscious to see what is there. Since it speaks through symbolism, he must not take anything too literally but sort out what these symbols mean to him personally. With Mercury in Scorpio, a sharp intellect meets with psychology, creating a profound drive to uncover hidden truths. Information may come out that causes us to reappraise our life. The Knight card seems to question why we frequently make unhealthy, hollow relationship choices, whether with friends or partners. Mercury in Scorpio would suggest three questions to consider:

1. Has unresolved, traumatic childhood experiences shaped our understanding of how relationships work?
2. Does low self-esteem make us think we deserve whatever we get? Do we define our worth by whether we please someone?
3. Are we so uncomfortable being alone that we grab the first available person?

The Challenge of Relationships

From the Classic Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Constellations Deck, Draco:

All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stunned by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, "Hi." They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.

―Augusten Burroughs

The Knight of Cups, like all the knights, is focused and single-minded. But this knight's interests are interacting with others and developing relationships. Yet how does someone who is shy and socially awkward do this? Draco, Latin for dragon, is a constellation in the far northern sky. In Greek mythology, the dragon Gigantes battled the Olympian gods for ten years before Athena killed it. She tossed it into the sky where it froze at the cold north celestial pole. Draco represents challenges, and in this case, in making friends or finding partners. For such a challenge, Eleanor Roosevelt is a wonderful role model. A shy, awkward child, she would learn to overcome enough of her anxiety to become one of the most outspoken First Ladies of the White House. She reminds us that part of the problem is where we place our focus: "Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. It’s your attention to yourself that is so stultifying."

A young Eleanor

No Thanks

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Knight of Pentacles; from the Viking Lenormand, Bouquet:

In a self-absorbed society with a narcissism epidemic, everyone values image perception over reality. 

― Sunday Tomassetti

This Knight of Cups holds his chalice up in the air like it's a trophy, which brought to mind "trophy wives." This term originally appeared in a 1950 issue of The Economist newspaper, referring to the historical practice of warriors capturing the most beautiful women during battle to bring home as wives. Nowadays it refers to a someone who is chosen for their physical attractiveness and the ability to impress others; such a person would also affirm the virility and power of the chooser. How strange that people would prefer a life of wealth rather than being valued as a person and loved. Bouquet suggests joy and success. Being able to discern the relationships that will bring us misery and instead choosing the ones that will bring us happiness is a trait worth celebrating. As Mary Ann Shaffer points out, "I'd have become one of those abject, quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question."

Lobster Limo

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Tree Fern:

The more we are able to connect with ourselves, the better we are able to connect with others.

—Todd Baratz

Bless his heart. This fool is ready for love, and he is riding a lobster limo to find "the one" who will complete him. Even the bird (who is likely waiting for the lobster to croak) knows he's clueless. Healthy relationships require inner work before we go out seeking. We need to know who we are - our values, likes and dislikes, and boundaries - as well as how our history and upbringing has shaped our ways of relating and our expectations. But perhaps most of all, we need to have developed self-compassion, so we don't go looking for someone to give it to us. The Tree Fern has korus, or unfurled fern fronds, that remind us that all things need time to unfold and develop. Working on ourselves, with the idea of progress not perfection, is the best way to meet a companion we'll want to grow old with.

Move With Grace

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Way of the Horse, False Self:

We may wear now one mask and now another, and never, if we so desire, appear with our own true face. But we cannot make these choices with impunity. If we have chosen the way of falsity, we must not be surprised that truth eludes us when we finally come to need it and that confusion reigns.

– Thomas Merton

The imaginative and sensitive Knight of Cups signals movement in the emotional realm. Perhaps that resentment we've held onto for years gets chipped away. Maybe we gain the courage to introduce ourselves to someone we wanted to get to know better. Or it could be that those who have been in the depths of grief decide a walk in the sunshine would be nice. Yet the False Self card warns us not to act in order to conform to external expectations or ideals. We must let our actions stem from a sincere heart. 

A Different Approach

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Cups; from the Animal Tiles, Cougar:

You don't work on something for six years and be blind to the myriad of other approaches.

―Ken Burns

The Prince of Cups teaches us to discover what we are passionate about and then pursue that dream. The Prince is excellent at following his heart, but his approach could use some work. Whether he's trying to find a partner, join a group, or start a career, he tends to either come on too strongly or be so shy that he's overlooked. Cougar is solitary hunter with methodical tracking skills. It follows and watches patiently, waiting for the right moment to act. Cougar encourages us to take time to know our target well before acting, so that when we act, we engage with knowledge and just the right amount of energy.

Outside my window - the azaleas are putting on a show this year!

McSteamy

From the PetraK Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Cups; from the Astrodice, Saturn/Sagittarius/8th House:

But your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Without, everything seems discordant; only within does it coalesce into unity. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes. ~Carl Jung

The steamy Prince of Cups is a combination of fiery passion and watery, emotional depths - the airy part of water. He is clever and open-minded as well as sensitive, creating a personality that is both introspective and expansive.  The Prince is learning how to shape his desires into reality. The 8th House, which represents what our relationships can bring us and how we can get the most out of them, is tempered with the curiosity and honesty of Sagittarius. It is further limited by the structure and discipline of Saturn. As Jung writes, we should not mistake our outer projections for reality; instead, we should dive within and explore the root of our desires to discover what will give our life a deeper meaning.

Smelling Roses

From the Anna K Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Meditation Cards, Karma Cloud:

We awaken continually. Cultivating lasting emotional stability requires a willingness to look and look again. —Jessica Angima

On patrol at night, this romantic knight can't help but stop and smell the flowers. This is definitely not part of the job, but it makes the job bearable. He knows that finding time to look for beauty, joy and love keeps the focus on what is important - it is the compass he relies on. Karma Cloud suggests that we need to be mindful of our thoughts, words and actions, not just because we will reap the good or bad they produce, but because they will be our legacy. As Jan Chozen Bays wrote, "The continuity of the energy is what is important. What do you want to pass on - suffering or happiness?" Pausing, as this knight does, is a good way to check in on our intentions and consider the seeds we're planting.

Hiding and Suppressing

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Cups; from the Words of the Brehon, the Three things that characterize a patient person:

What he feared most was that all this hiding had made it impossible for him to ever be found again.

― John Corey Whaley

With the emotional depths of water and the intellectual currents of air, the Prince of Cups has the ability to be an artistic soul or a philosopher. He can easily pick up on what is going on with other people, yet he often protectively hides his own emotions. In some social situations, hiding rather than unloading our feelings can be useful if not done all the time. However, emotional suppression actually increases the physical symptoms experienced with the emotional experience and can negatively affect our cognitive abilities. The Brehon triad lists the outer signs that show a person is patient. Even when trying to be forbearing, our 'tells' often show that we are gritting our teeth to hide an undercurrent of irritation. In the Prince's case, he might practice patience with his own feelings by learning how to express them appropriately and eventually understanding that they are natural and simply show that he's human.

Purpose Paired With Bliss

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Rune Cards, Sun (Sowilo):

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

When salmon have matured, they migrate up freshwater rivers to spawn, swimming with determination and purpose. Potter suggests the self-sacrificing Knight of Cups believes he also serves a greater purpose. This compassionate fellow knows through experience what researchers have now discovered: altruism has a positive effect on subjective well-being, including life satisfaction and positive emotions. Yet the Sowilo (Sun) rune reminds us that even the most devoted person benefits from time soaking in their own beam of joy and vitality. As Joseph Cambell explains:

[Sacred space] is an absolute necessity for anybody today... Our life has become so economic and practical in its orientation that, as you get older, the claims of the moment upon you are so great, you hardly know where the hell you are, or what it is you intended. You are always doing something that is required of you. Where is your bliss station? You have to try to find it.

Keep Looking

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Witch of Cups (Knight); from the Transforming Dragons deck, Lorkoc:

If you don’t think it’s nearly impossible to change someone who is not willing to change, just think how hard it is to change yourself, and you are willing.

― Charles F. Glassman

The Witch court cards show a more focused use of power concerned with self-expression and self-fulfillment. Lorenzi-Prince refers to the Witch of Cups as a siren, one who lures others through their desire for love, beauty and kindness. She wants a companion in this dance, one who will relate to life as she does with warmth, gentleness and grace. Lorkoc - a symbol of defiance - shows just what a tall order this can be. His enjoyment involves provoking and insulting others; he will disagree just for the fun of it. Those who thought they might smooth his rough edges quickly realized that he doesn't change for anyone. Keep looking Witch, and don't even pause for this one a second glance.

Learn From Rather Than Shape

This week I'll be using the Sun and Moon Tarot, created by Vanessa Decort and published by U.S. Games. Paired with it will be the Jade Oracle, created by artist Ramona Snow Teo and Anne Key and published by Goddess Ink. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Cups and Ollin:

The very essence of romance is uncertainty.

― Oscar Wilde

Truly knowing the Prince of Cups is like trying to make out a figure shrouded in mist. He has emotional desires that are often hidden because he is timid when it comes to intimacy. Being Air of Water, he tries to apply intellect to emotion, which often creates more confusion than clarity. As a result, his highs and lows are like the dolphin he rides. Yet the lotus he holds - a symbol of beauty arising from darkness - suggests he will make progress if he attempts to learn from his relationships rather than shape them. Ollin means 'movement;' it represents the constant cycle of creation, change and degeneration in life. It is a reminder that in this flow, we can fully enjoy what is presently in our current without expecting it to be unchangeable or permanent. The same applies to our relationships.

A Bit of Muck

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, Pansy:

All knights are on the move, seeking to find or create what motivates them. With the Knight of Cups, that would be love and beauty. Yet does he fall for an ideal or the actual person or thing of beauty? I fear that his attraction is based on an inner model of perfection, which will last only as long as the glamour holds him in sway. Then this Knight will take Tennessee Williams advice: "There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go." Pansy seems to live in the same fantasy world as he does. In Victorian times, this flower represented forbidden love between secret lovers (not something that is likely to end well). They both might learn something from the lotus; it spends time in the muck and mud as a seed and over time rises through the water to eventually bloom in the sun. Genuine love goes through the same cycles.

Wisdom for the Heart

This week I'll be using the Wheel of Change Tarot, a deck and book set created by Alexandra Genetti and published by Inner Traditions. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of the Dreamtime, a compilation of Australian Aboriginal art and Dreamings by Donni Hakanson; this deck and book set was published by Journey Editions. Today's cards are the Prince (Knight) of Cups and Gray Owl:

Genetti suggests the Knight/Prince of Cups represents a journey into the complex realm of human relationships. Like the food and supplies carried in his boat, we each carry lessons learned from close friends and family when we move beyond our circle of origin. Some of that wisdom may serve us well, while other bits may end up as flotsam and jetsam in our new environment. Gray Owl tells the story of a gentle man with no skills in hunting or fighting, but who did have extremely keen hearing. This trait saved his tribe on many occasions, so when he died, they performed a sacred ceremony in his honor that night. As the smoke from the fire billowed up, they heard a loud call and saw his spirit rise as an owl, warning his people of an attack. The Gray Owl implies that we need to be alert rather than careless. And some of the wisdom from our elders that we tossed overboard might be more useful than we thought.

True Quest

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Knight of Cups/Blue-footed Booby; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Mannaz:

This Knight believes that the best, most exciting quest is one of the heart. Like the blue-footed booby who makes spectacular dives from the air into the sea for fish, he's willing to dive deeply into relationships and be vulnerable. But like this seabird's name (booby - because it is tame around humans), the Knight of Cups can also be naive. No two hearts and minds are going to fuse together and permanently become one. Mannaz, or humankind, refers to the intelligence, awareness and rational mind that each person has been given.  Relationships expose and express both the strengths and weaknesses. Can this Knight maintain his love when they disagree or see from different perspectives? Can he allow the other to be an individual rather than a subset of himself? This is the true quest, the fulfilling maturity of love.

Mornings and Evenings

From the Somnia Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 41 (Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end.):

The Knight of Cups leaves his heart open and vulnerable so that he can connect with people emotionally. Yet there is a danger that he will overcome by despair or burnout if he does not monitor himself closely. His bucket poured into the sea is his outlet in the form of music, poetry and all art forms that help him regain his bearings. The umbrella is the timeout he's given himself until he's ready face the world once again. Slogan 41's two activities refer to a thoughtful intention to begin and guide us in the busyness of the day and then a review in the evening to check where we veered off and where we stayed on track. This assessment isn't meant as a way to gloat or feel guilty, but to understand how we got triggered in some cases and stood firm in others. Awareness can help us self-correct so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. Hopefully the Knight's artistic outlets will be a review of sorts for him and not just an emotional dumping ground.

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.

—Meister Eckhart

Toward a Better Self

This week I'll be using three decks, all created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and illustrated by Will Worthington. The Druidcraft Tarot and the Druid Plant Oracle were published by Connections; the Druid Animal Oracle was published by St. Martin's Press. I've combined the two oracles and will be using them as one deck. Today's draws are the Prince/Knight of Cups and the Wren:

Being an idealistic and artistic soul, this knight is likely in the process of composing an ode to the evening. He may not be able to balance a checkbook, motivate a group, or shine during a debate, but he does remind us of beauty and our spiritual connection with all of life. He inspires us to see beyond worldly pleasures and power plays; he invites us to seek the deeper meaning and purpose of life. The Wren, though she is a little bird, has the ability to project her song far and wide. The wrens here in my area will make a nest nearly anywhere - from motorcycle helmets to wreaths on a front door. Both these cards suggest it is the outpouring of our heart that will enrich our lives, not the material things we've accumulated.

For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self.

― Michelle Obama

 

Wanting

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Knight of Lotuses (Cups); from the Land Sky Oracle, Saucha:

Kamadeva, with his bow made of sugarcane, is the personification of desire and longing. Unfortunately, sensual craving (including for more than just sex), is easy to inflame. Yet we wouldn't want to extinguish desire, as it is the force behind creativity and the enthusiasm for positive deeds. Saucha, the first of the Niyamas ("observances") of Yoga, shows the way to transform and use this energy for good. Saucha literally means purity, cleanliness and clearness of mind, body and speech. In the case of relationships, it encourages us to clean up our motives and expectations before acting. 

The craving for the thing is rarely met by the satisfaction of getting it. And so we crave more. And the cycle repeats. We are encouraged to want what will only make us want more. We are, in short, encouraged to be addicts. ―Matt Haig