Think Fun

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ace of Air (Swords); from the Goddess Oracle, Kuan Yin:

In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do not do what you should do—spiritual sit-ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery.

― Julia Cameron

There are reasonable ideas and solutions, and then there are great ones (which cannot be forced). This butterfly spent many days in the chrysalis before emerging - it had no choice but to go through the necessary process. In the same way, the information or answers that we seek must also go through a course of development. But instead of grasping at strategies and knowledge, we let our curiosity and imagination out to play. These will fill the well that what we seek can be drawn from. Kuan Yin's arrival encourages a focus on self-compassion rather than the goal of perfection, which will only stymie our quest. 

Looking Widely

From the Daniloff Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 42:

 

Kuan Yin painting by Wendy Wiese

With a dark wing and a light wing on his shield, the King of Swords is asked to judge between goodwill and ill intent, between what is harmful and what is beneficial. His discriminating intellect looks for truth as he seeks to provide fairness and equality. Yet the Aquarian water bear on his shield is a reminder not to forget his humanitarian side, the side that sees the way conditions and causes shape people; labels tend to be self-fulfilling. The 42 verse reads:

You are showered with heavenly gifts

and live in an earthly paradise,

whether you realize it or not.

Our emotions color our entire world, if we let them. Anger can make us see everyone as living an entitled life without a drop of kindness. Sadness can color even a rainbow in gray scale colors. While we might feel a certain way, it doesn't represent reality. There is goodness, beauty and joy if we are willing to look widely.

Fear-Inducing Responsibilities

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Empress; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 59:

          Alexander's Empress is more queen of her kingdom than a Mother Nature archetype. While her husband might be more concerned with law and order within and military might on the borders, she focuses on protecting others in more nurturing ways. She wants the realm's children to be educated, her people to have enough to eat and drink, and for everyone to have sufficient shelter from the elements. She has to be strong enough to take on the king when his desires try to roll over the needs of others. The Kuan Yin verse speaks of how fear can take over our common sense: "it makes about as much sense as holding your breath when you are trapped in a thorny jungle." The adrenaline surge of fear can make us want to hide, run or cover our eyes and ears. But fear is simply a messenger, suggesting we search out available resources and put them to use while adapting to the situation at hand. 

Do not fear things that arise in the mind; question them, know them. The truth is more than thought and feelings, so do not believe and get caught by them. 

—Achaan Chah

Investment Returns

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 5:

Happiness is not a goal. It’s a by-product of a life well lived.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

          People go from therapists to fortune tellers trying to know what will make them happy and fulfilled. The irony is that the answer is not 'out there' but inside ourselves, in the way we choose to relate to the world. If our attitude and outlook are dismal, no perfect mate, job or recognition will ever be enough. The Kuan Yin verse reads, "To find a spring, dig deep beneath the grassy surface. Without effort, you will not win the prize." What we seek lies where we stand in this moment. As the saying goes, "Nature can only return to you what you plant."

The Offering of Friendship

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 57:

          A young man offers a flower to a young woman, suggesting the beginning of a relationship of some kind. Friendship is the offering of an open and vulnerable heart; it requires time, effort energy and attention to someone other than oneself. I feel so sorry for those who think friendship is based on a number on Facebook. It is something much deeper and more meaningful than that platform even begins to touch. The 57th verse reads:

Destiny is giving you abundance,

Go on your way

with happiness and success as companions.

Leave the cares and sorrows of the past behind.

So many of my most cherished friendships are those that occurred when random paths crossed and connections were made. But it can be easy to sabotage budding friendships if I assume that people in my present will be just like those in my past. All those labels can damage and destroy any chance of allowing a new relationship to flower. It is imperative that I keep my heart in the present if I want to enjoy the presence of another.

Cautious Communication

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Oracle, Verse 8:

Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.

~Don Miguel Ruiz

          The inclusion of the skull in this Ace of Swords suggests a memento mori ("remember you die) warning. Am I mindful of my tone, choice of words and timing when I communicate with others? Do I listen more than I speak? Am I curious enough to ask questions or do I simply dole out my opinions and judgments? The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Pine and cypress grow and flourish,

Rain, snow and frost cannot harm them.

One day, people will use their wood.

They are the beams and pillars of our world.

With my words, I plant seeds that will grow and produce effects long after they've been spoken. Will these words create harmony and provide encouragement, or will they cause hostility, shame, or harm? I would do well to pause and consider my motive before communicating, choosing to be silent rather than speak unskillfully.

Self-Will Run Riot

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from Stephen Karcher's book The Kuan Yin Oracle as well as from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the Magician and Verse 3:

Kuan Yin Painting by Tilly Campbell-Allen

          With the mask hiding half his face, this Magician sends up an immediate red flag. He has accumulated knowledge that he's turned into some amazing skills, but he gives off a vibe that he's hiding some criminal motives behind his cloak and table cloth. It always amazes me how people with such talent choose to use their gifts in nefarious ways (the recent corporation hackers are a good example). Recovery folks use the phrase "self-will run riot" to describe those who use their volition in self-centered and selfish ways without regard to those they hurt in the process. The Kuan Yin verse describes a swallow that returns to her nest during a storm only to find that it has fallen apart. The only solution is to begin again, having learned something from the experience. When I'm on the receiving end of the 'con wand,' revenge and hatred will only keep me in a whirlpool that doesn't allow any forward progress. Instead I can take the swallow's example, focusing on what's important; I can rebuild, being more discerning instead of an easy mark.

Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.

― Aaron B. Powell

When the Brain is Offline

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Goddesses and Sirens, Kuan Yin:

Conflict wreaks havoc on our brains. ~Diane Musho Hamilton

          It doesn't matter the source of the conflict (inner or outer) or whether it is fueled by anger or fear, our brain is geared by evolution to react. Stress hormones flood the body, preparing it to fight or flee while also shutting down the neural pathway to our prefrontal cortex. Without the prefrontal cortex to rely on, complex decision making disappears as well as our ability to access multiple perspectives. No wonder we need a time-out from making any major life choices. Kuan Yin (who in this weird illustration seems to be suffering from 'resting bitch face') is the bodhisattva of compassion. She reminds us that in this period of mental conflict, we would do our mind and body a favor by taking care of them rather than stressing them out further. Eventually our nervous system will calm and our brain will come back online; then we'll be able to discern the better choice. 

Refilling Dry Wells

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Kuan Yin Sticks, Verse 25:

          A blindfolded woman hovers above rocky waters; the banner above the two crossed swords she holds is blank. When my adrenaline is pumping, it can feel like I need to make an important decision NOW. Yet if I am physically tired, emotionally drained or don't have enough information, I can make a disastrous choice. Michelle Obama, when asked about her husband being a possible assassination target replied, "You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen." There are times when the best choice I can make is to wait before deciding anything. Otherwise, my mind will be tainted by anxious projections of the future. The waning crescent on the woman's shield suggests there is little light for seeing clearly at present. But if she's patient, that moon will shine brightly once more.
          The 25th Verse reads:

The crisis has passed. A broad mind can work out an effective solution, just as an old, dry well is once again replenished with spring water.

When my mind has been hijacked by emotion, whether anger, grief or fear, my world becomes very small. Possibilities, once as wide and spacious as the sky, get reduced to the size of a thimble. If I am aware this has happened, I can pause instead of react. Instead of writing story lines around what is, I can take the Two of Swords advice and wait until the stormy waters have calmed. Then my mind will become wide open again, able to see the potential in whatever situation is in front of me.

*Kuan Yin artwork created by Sue Halstenberg

Jumping the Gate

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Kuan Yin Sticks, Verse 20:

          In Daniloff's version, Fortuna stands on a sea dragon, suggesting she is immune to the moods, desires and aversions of humans. Her wheel is going to turn regardless, because it is the nature of the physical world to change and be impermanent. Yet within the hub is a symbol of the four elements - tools we have for adapting to and learning from the constant movement of life. I can be like the masks (bouncing back and forth between being ecstatic or miserable), or I can learn to play the hand I've been dealt with the resources I have.

          Verse 20 reads:

The long rain ends. The sky is clear - joy for all! The sun and the moon gradually become bright. Gone are the days of sadness; be happy and gay, with only one leap you'll clear the dragon gate.

In Buddhist and Hindu iconography, figures are often seen riding on or seated beside an animal. These animals represent their strengths because they have learned to become a master over rather than a servant to these attributes. Kuan Yin's verse suggests that things are looking up, yet there is still a "dragon gate" I need to jump over. After being in a situation that is unpleasant for an extended period, it can be tough to enjoy any good times without constantly worrying about when it will all go wrong. Yet that is the gate I must leap over; I can choose to appreciate good fortune while it is present rather than wasting my time being anxious. And when the wheel turns again, I can be patiently present knowing that I have the tools to make adjustments wherever necessary.

Life is not merely where we find ourselves. It is also what we bring to the moments where we find ourselves. ~ Omid Safi

*Kuan Yin artwork by http://www.brycewidom.com/

Push It or Pause

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Kuan Yin Sticks, Verse 19:

          This fellow clutches an armload of branches while also carrying a load on his back. He looks exhausted but determined, because the goal is in sight. He's about to step through a vesica piscis, a shape formed by the intersection of two circles that symbolizes birth. In his situation, what he's been working so hard for is about to materialize. Yet Kuan Yin's Verse 19 offers a warning; the translation from Marina Lighthouse reads:

To set sail with the surf this wild, you truly have to be out of your mind. To survive the journey 

in one piece, wait until the waves subside.

I can't count the number of times I've been in a hurry to finish something, but instead of taking my time, I pushed through to the end. Artwork that started out well turned out looking like a rush job. Gardening tasks that I insisted on finishing ended with me in pain from an injury. In all such cases, a little voice told me to slow down and finish things later, but I refused to listen. Perhaps this time I'll relax, revel in having made tremendous progress, and continue when my mind and body is revitalized and strengthened.

Efforts for a Firm Foundation

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the King of Coins and Verse 92:

          The Kings in the Daniloff have literally become the shields that protect their kingdoms. The King of Coins card shows three animals that symbolize the qualities that have made him into the man he is today. The shell of the tortoise suggests he is grounded, practical and patient. The elephant implies he is a man of strength and power, able to overcome challenges and obstacles. The bull represents a strong will that has resulted in his tenacity and confidence. The country is stable because of the foundation of qualities it has been built on. Yet the animals also suggest the ability to move in the interest of adaption and progress.
          The 92nd Verse of Kuan Yin reads:

Since youth he has been a merchant of many years and has earned his fortune under many kings. No one has helped him in his struggle up from a lowly commoner to a noble knight. A man has grown up from his boyhood and now stands firmly on his feet. His mind he keeps constantly alert, his reward is his present rank and honor.

This verse sounds like it was written for the King. It is a reminder that struggles can shape and mold me, providing the experiences I need to become strong, determined and capable. Can I see them in this light when I'm going through them? Likely not. But I can try to remember the words of Benjamin Hoff: "Without difficulties, life would be like a stream without rocks and curves – about as interesting as concrete. Without problems, there can be no personal growth, no group achievement, no progress of humanity. But what matters about problems is what one does with them."

*Photo of Kuan Yin from www.studiobridges.com