Like Water

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Son (Knight) of Cups; from the Toltec Oracle, 'Koatlikue:'

          Having read that the U.S. ranked number ten in the world of the most dangerous places for women to live (the only Western country in the top ten), I am concerned that Americans - males and females - have lost touch with their feminine side. It has been taken over by the masculine, the part that pays attention only to the head rather than the heart, fears any form of vulnerability, seeks progress without regard to the loss of resources, and protects itself with no concern for what it sees as 'other.' The Son of Cups arrives to encourage us to embrace our feminine side again, the part of us that nurtures, is receptive and like water, doesn't violently force its way. Koatlikue, the Toltec representation of Mother Earth, seems to underscore this need. Her encouragement does not mean passivity; after all, water does erode stone over time. But violence, whether mental or physical, is not what our world needs more of right now.

The best, like water,

Benefit all and do not compete.

They dwell in lowly spots that everyone else scorns.

Putting others before themselves,

They find themselves in the foremost place

And come very near to the Tao.

In their dwelling, they love the earth;

In their heart, they love what is deep;

In personal relationships, they love kindness;

In their words, they love truth.

In the world, they love peace.

In personal affairs, they love what is right.

In action, they love choosing the right time.

It is because they do not compete with others

That they are beyond the reproach of the world.

~Tao te Ching

More Than Words

This week I'll be using the Motherpeace Tarot created by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble and published by U.S. Games.  This morning's draw is the Magician:

Draped in a jaguar's skin, this shaman tries to climb inside its mindset, possibly to hunt for the animals her people need to survive. Her knife represents the energy of thought, and her torch symbolizes the passion that fuels motivation. This shaman uses her resources to bring forth a vision that can help her tribe. What she receives (or encounters) will be put to use in the world rather than employed for intellectual debate. Its purpose is to bring forth action. The Magician encourages me to have the confidence and strength of will to develop something with the inspiration I've been given.

The other deck I'll be using this week is the Toltec Oracle deck and book set, created by Victor Sanchez and published by Bear & Co.  This morning's card is "Koatlikue:"

Koatlikue - literally the one with the skirt of serpents - embodied Mother Earth for the Toltec people. She represented the sacredness of nature; it was recognized that all life came from her and would eventually return to her. Her love for humans and other life forms is concrete, shown by the bare breast in the image above. She provides a home, sustenance and even our bodies. Her message is that our freedom and fulfillment lie not in how much we can be loved, but in our limitless ability to love others. In other words, its not so much what I can get, but what I give.