Dealing with Fear

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 8 (Mutal Aid):

Don't you want to learn to deal with fear?

Don't you want to take the wheel and steer?

Don't you wait another minute here

What are you waiting for?

―Nickelback

Why do we fail to take advantage of an opportunity or pursue what interests us? Likely the cause is fear - fear of failing, of being vulnerable, of not knowing what lies ahead. As long as we've done our homework (investigated to make sure it's not a scam or manipulation), we might take this Knight's advice to go for it. Hexagram 8 implies uniting with others to stoke our confidence so that we can act rather than shrink. Whether it's having a friend as our wingman or seeking the support of a mentor, feeling like someone has our back can give us the push we need to take those chances.

Clean-up on Aisle Five

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Mahjongg Oracle, the Farmer:

Clean up your own mess. —Robert Fulghum

The Knight of Wands is Air within Fire, a quick mind inside a body with too much energy to sit still. I was waiting in line at Walgreens the other day and saw a woman leave her four-year-old son outside the bathroom with their buggy, commanding him to "Stay here." Two seconds after she left, he was using the buggy to ram into shelves and displays. In the same way, the impulsive actions of this knight often lead to mayhem, but because he's constantly in motion, he's usually not there to notice them. The Farmer signifies the tasks and toil of bringing in the harvest. Rather than speaking of tenacity or patience, it encourages us to do the physical effort that is required. So instead of simply saying "sorry," we need to clean up the messes we make.

The Buck Stops Here

From the Stone Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 4:50:

Are you waiting for the right excuse?

Are you waiting for a sign to choose?

While you're waiting, it's the time you lose

What are you waiting for?

―Nickelback

This Knight is as much animal as his horse, so in accord with his stallion that he needs no saddle, bridle or clothes. Alison Stone, in her book of tarot poems, pairs this fellow with Prometheus, best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking fire from them and giving it to humanity. While his decision worked out well for humans, he was condemned to eternal torment. The Dhammapada verse speaks on focusing on our own deeds:

Do not consider the faults of others or what they have or haven't done. Consider rather what you yourself have or haven't done.

Whether we are led by our mind or our heart, the consequences of our actions rest with ourselves, no matter how we'd like to spin the tale.

Art of Peace

 From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the Island of Cannibal Horses:

To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace. ―Morihei Ueshiba

This Knight of Wands has a wyvern on his helmet, a mythical animal that symbolizes strength and ferocity. In alchemy, it represented base metals - metals that oxidize or corrode relatively easily compared to noble ones (gold, silver, platinum). While this fellow is an ace adventurer and explorer, he is not very evolved when it comes to wanting things his way; he won't hesitate to intimidate or pressure others to bend to his will. The Celtic travelers were horrified by the Island of Cannibal Horses, believing horses were among the most honorable of animals. Yet the violence and aggression of humans are no less horrific. Should we not learn how to manage our anger and desires instead of trampling those in our way?

A Matter of Choice

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Marseille Oracle, Destiny:

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.  ~William Jennings Bryan

Some folks are responders, content to relax until a situation arises that requires action. The Knight of Wands is one who triggers situations, the cause and stimulus of many circumstances. This particular knight shields his eyes from the sand picked up by the wind. He rides fast and hard, missing information and details along the way. His mind is on the destination, not the journey. The clock represents Destiny, a term often confused with fate. 'Fate' comes from the Latin, fatum, meaning 'has been spoken;' it suggests outside forces beyond one's control has shaped one's future. 'Destiny' comes from the Latin term destinare, which means 'intended;' it implies choices, not a one-way street. Our families, social status, culture and resources can create expectations about our future that feels sealed. But like the Knight of Wands, we can choose to move away from those assumptions rather than stay stuck in them.

Plot Twist

From the Classic Tarot, the Knight of Batons; from the Constellation Cards, Centaurus:

When something goes wrong in your life just yell 'PLOT TWIST', and move on.

― Molly Weis

The Knight of Batons is known for his focused energy; if the Page of Batons is a shotgun, the Knight is a rifle. Both the horse and the Knight gaze at the club - the man in adoration and the horse with impatience. Once he sets his mind to something, he is unshakable and will be galloping in pursuit like a wide-open locomotive on rails with no switch to be guided in a different direction. In his buoyant enthusiasm, he fails to see that life rarely offers a straight shot at anything. Centaurus is one of the largest constellations in the southern sky. In Greek mythology, Centaurus was a deformed child who found no peace among humans and so moved to the mountains of the Magnesian mares. There he became the father of the centaur race. As Tuli Kupferberg said, “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.”

Sitting with Awareness

This week I'll be using the Albano-Waite Tarot, recolored by Frankie Albano and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll use is the Rumi Cards, created by Eryk Hanut, illustrated by Michele Wetherbee and published by Tuttle. The cards drawn for today are the Knight of Wands and Awareness:

Two there are, who are never satisfied; The lover of the world and the lover of Knowledge.

― Jalaluddin Rumi

The energetic Knight of Wands is always eager to put his ideas into action. But he tends not to stick around for too long once they're in motion. He prefers to explore different worlds and gather more cutting-edge ideas. Satisfaction comes in the seeking and finding more than the long follow through. His motto is "What's next?" Rumi's quote reads: "If you read nothing and wisdom sees your fervor, Awareness will sit in your hand like a tamed dove." Rumi recognized wisdom as more than an accumulation of knowledge; it is relational, an understanding of how something correlates and interweaves in our lives. In the Knight's case, he doesn't fully experience what is happening because his mind is racing to his next adventure. Awareness would allow him to observe things as they unfolded: otherwise, his restlessness might overlook important details that would become lost pieces of the puzzle.

Overconfidence

From the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, the Knight of Batons; from the Pages of Shustah, the Swamp:

Confidence gets you off to a fast start. Confidence gets you that first job and maybe the next two promotions. But [over]confidence stops you from learning. 

~Bill Walsh

The Knight of Batons has charm, energy and a love of adventure. People enjoy his company and the fun he creates, though he doesn't stay in one place for very long. He gets itchy if he's not on the move. His confidence makes him fearless when he's exploring new places, but the Swamp card asks him to pause and tap into his intuition. The dark water of these lands hide alligators and roots that easily snag and arrest progress. As Neil Armstrong put it, "When you get overconfident, that's when something snaps up and bites you."

Only the Fun Parts

From the Slow Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the ROAR Oracle, Helen Keller:

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.

An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.

― G.K. Chesterton

The Knight of Wands is not a settling down sort of guy; he's always looking for a new road to take with the promise of more adventures. He might be considered ambitious if he weren't so allergic to anything that was tedious, unexciting, unpleasant or difficult. He lives for fun and pleasure, seeking immediate gratification rather than whatever might require a long-term effort. He hasn't yet figured out that there is satisfaction to be found in the things he abhors. Helen Keller would challenge him to give it a try: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Doubts Are Traitors

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Knight of Wands; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Balance:

Our doubts are traitors,

and make us lose the good we oft might win,

by fearing to attempt.

― William Shakespeare

The Knight of Wands has enough confidence and charm to talk a fire elemental into helping light the damp wood of a campfire. Though he may find it hard to accept advice from others and understands that confidence isn't competence, this knight recognizes that self-doubt has the power to destroy many creative starts. The Balance card suggests there is middle ground between arrogance and timidity - both of which can hinder our ambitions. There is advice that helps, not just criticizes. And by beginning, we can make progress through both practice and learning from mistakes.

Creative Response

From the Urban Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Wands; from the Principles to Live By, Equanimity:

Scott uses the role of comedian/newscaster in this card, bringing to mind such folks in this field as Stewart, Colbert and Oliver. The Prince/Knight of Wands is Air within Fire, having intellect combined with energy and enthusiasm. His passion is fueled by a desire to stand up for what is right while fighting to protect the vulnerable. His push for change is guided by such motives, and he can be tenacious. He invites us to have the courage to do the same. Equanimity (illustrated with the alchemical symbol for earth) suggests the need for being grounded and having a calm, even temperament. Activists of all kinds know that if they don't embrace this quality, their fire will soon burn out. There is conviction and action without clinging to hoped-for results. Equanimity allows for clear seeing and appropriate action, as Dawn Scott expresses: "When we call on forbearance in the face of insult and injury without reacting, it frees up our energy so that we can respond creatively."

Holding the Torch

From the Ellis Deck, the Knight of Rods; from the Brownies Oracle, Tempest-Tost:

For this restless Knight, it is discovering new people and places that bring him joy. He channels his energy and enthusiasm through movement, always seeking adventure. Yet sometimes he (and the rest of us) get more than we bargained for on our exploits - as Tempest-Tost implies. When I was in my early twenties, I enjoyed backpacking on parts of the Appalachian Trail. On one outing, our group of three got lost due to some poorly marked trails. Losing daylight quickly, we decided we'd better camp for the night and hike out the next morning. One fellow nearly got bitten by a timber rattlesnake collecting fire wood. Had it not been for an attitude of optimism and encouragement among the group, it could have turned out to be an unhappy trip. It only takes one amiable leader to buoy the troops when  things look hopeless. 

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles.

―Emma Lazarus

 

Seeds of Today

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Wands; from the Alchemist's Oracle, "You are exactly where you need to be:"

I can resist everything except temptation.

―Oscar Wilde

Playwright and poet Oscar Wilde is used to illustrate this Knight of Wands. Wilde lived life at full tilt, both shocking and exciting Victorian society. Talented, funny and confident, he was accustomed to getting what he wanted. Yet his lack of awareness and bravado would be his undoing, as he was eventually arrested and incarcerated for two years. The Alchemist's card reminds me of a proverb: "All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." In other words, it warns us to pay attention to the seeds we are presently planting with our actions - they will eventually bear fruit. Rather than chasing the next pleasure, it is important to recognize the impact we have on others, good or ill. In a letter Wilde wrote in prison, it seems even he came to recognize reality requires more of us than simply a constant quest of desires.

I wanted to eat of the fruit of all the trees in the garden of the world ... And so, indeed, I went out, and so I lived. My only mistake was that I confined myself so exclusively to the trees of what seemed to me the sun-lit side of the garden, and shunned the other side for its shadow and its gloom.

―Oscar Wilde

Burning or Crossing

This week I'll be using the Slavic Legends Tarot, an independently published deck (Taroteca Studio) by Krzysztof Wasiuk and Magdalena Kaczan (artist). I'll also be using the Urban Crow Oracle, created by Margaux Jones (aka MJ Cullinane) and published by Hay House. Today's draws are the Knight of Wands and Community:

This young man leaves a burning wake behind him everywhere he goes. The Knight of Wands channels his wild energy into change, confrontation, and often chaos. He thrives on excitement and has the charisma to lead a (usually clueless) posse of followers. He's good at challenging outdated traditions and ideas as he rides over them, waking up those who are complacent and sanctimonious. But he doesn't stick around for the clean up or to suggest an alternative for what he disparaged. The Community card is a warning that he is not an independent agent. We all need a safe place to come together, share information and rest from the stresses of the day. A place where we recognize our interconnection even if we don't always agree with one another can give us both boundaries and freedom. 

The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.

―David Russell

Hitched to Everything

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Knight of Wands; from the Insectorum Divinorum, Arachnid:

The bobcat sniffs the air but also engages the sensory organ in the roof of its mouth to analyze scents. He knows his rider is about to head off into an adventure, but unlike his rider, he likes to get the lay of the land. This Knight's mindset is all about putting his ideas into action - less thinking and more doing is his motto. Yet the Arachnid attempts to send him the same warning given to hikers: leave things as they were found. In a new environment, even small changes can have big consequences. As John Muir stated, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." 

More than five centuries ago, Pope Nicholas V, in his Doctrine of Discovery, told European Christians to go forth and conquer even those “in the remotest parts unknown to us all.” He gave permission to “invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue” all nonbelievers, take their possessions, and “reduce their persons to perpetual slavery.” Hence we have this myth of someone “discovering” a place that’s already there, where people already are. (A fellow once said to me, “If you want to see how much of a myth it is, just leave your purses and your wallets here, and let me discover them.” See how that feels.) —Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Don't Push

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Ostrich/Knight of Wands; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Jera:

Did you know that an ostrich sticking his head in the sand is a myth? This flightless bird might lie on the ground and pretend to be a bush if they have chicks who can't run at the speed or distance of their parent. But even then, an ostrich has sharp eyes and can deliver a powerful kick if needed. Like the ostrich, the Knight of Wands has the confidence and grit to protect what he is trying to create or make happen. The confrontational look on this bird's face seems to say "bring it." Jera is a rune associated with harvest, however there is an understanding that what is growing must mature first. While the Knight is good at perseverance, patience is not a trait well-honed. He will have to learn - as the saying goes - that you can't push the river.

Don't push the river, it flows by itself.

― Frederick S. Perls

Do What You Can

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Land Sky Oracle, Dharma:

The most important thing is remembering the most important thing.

― Suzuki Roshi

This Knight of Wands is represented by Skanda, firstborn of Shiva, said to be graceful and handsome. He is known as the "War god" because he was created to kill the demon Taraka, a feat that only a son of Shiva could accomplish. Yet he is known for his virtuous deeds and willingness to protect the innocents from harm. The companion book's insight for this card is not to waste one's energy on trivial and petty concerns. Dharma is defined as universal truths that lead to one to accepting a moral and ethical way of living. These two cards seem to imply that talking about what is right is very different from living it.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

― Arthur Ashe

 

Equal Parts

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Knight of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, Tower:

The Knight of Staves is ambitious, constantly looking for a way to broaden his contacts and try something new. He's not very comfortable with comfort; he'd much rather stir up some excitement. This Knight doesn't contain even a teaspoon of prudence, and his impulsiveness can create chaos rather than anything useful. But no one would call him boring. From a tall watchtower, sentinels would keep a sharp lookout for anyone that might present a threat. It reminds me of the stories my dad would tell about working with the Miami highway patrol - hours and hours of tedious driving that could lure one into a stupor yet might unexpectedly change into something dangerous in an instant. The Knight of Staves and the Tower have opposite aims: the Knight seeks adventure but is undependable while the watchman sticks to duty but is likely stressed and a little neurotic. Surely there is some balance that could be found between these two.

Life should be equal parts responsibility, and fun.

~Acura commercial

Social Connections

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Tapestry Oracle, Pride:

If you're looking for a small, low-key get-together, you might not want to invite the Knight of Wands. When she's not in search of her next exciting adventure, she's ready to party and cut loose. But if you want to shake things up, send her an invitation. Most everyone will enjoy themselves because her enthusiasm is contagious, and she doesn't leave anyone out of the fun. Just don't look for her to help with the clean-up afterwards. Pride depicts a warrior who has lost his lower leg. Eifler suggests that when we experience any sort of physical or emotional trauma, it can make us hypervigilant with a determination not to ask for the help of others. The Knight of Wands would applaud his bravery but would also tell him that being an island unto oneself can be lonely and joyless. She'd advise him to take a risk, join the party, and meet someone new and different from himself.

The trouble is, once you filter out everybody that doesn't agree with you, all that's left is maybe this one retired surfer guy living in Idaho. ― Barbara Kingsolver

Ears Up

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Knight of Spring (Wands); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Not/Nauthiz:

The Knight of Wands is much like his mount, given to zig-zagging all over the place rather than going anywhere in a straight line. Anything new is a distraction, and any adventure must not be postponed. This is the son the Empress never sent to the store for any need. He doesn't do this on purpose; he's just too full of energy and excitement to be tethered in any way. Not/Nauthiz is often translated as 'need;' the Old English Rune Poem implies that it is not necessarily destitution:

Need is constricting on the chest

although for the children of men it often becomes

a help and salvation nevertheless

if they heed it in time.

In this case, the rune cautions us to slow down and pay attention to what our body, mind and heart is trying to tell us. There is something important that needs our attention so that it doesn't become a bigger, more problematic issue.