Different Forms of Success

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs, Life:

This woman who was a style icon basically lived in a little cotton dress all her life - a simple life.

—Sean Hepburn Ferrer

To be successful doesn't mean we constantly buy whatever we see; genuine success is having enough and being content with that, without the need to accumulate possessions. We know our own worth and live wisely with the resources we have. Being happy and satisfied can look very simple on the outside. The Life glyph represents karma - intentional thoughts, words, or actions and their results. It is not a moral issue but a natural law, like gravity. Although karma's results don't ripen overnight, our actions will eventually lead to wholesome or unwholesome outcomes. As Andrew Olendzki explains, "Karma is the opportunity we have each moment to choose what sort of person we are to become next. Broadly speaking, our responses can be either helpful, guiding us toward greater understanding, or they can be unhelpful, leading us instead toward suffering. Your fate is in your own hands."

Really Living

This week I'll be using the Golden Tarot, created by Kat Black and published by U.S. Games. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Yantra Deck, created by Karl Schaffner and Maya Deva Adjani. It was published by Vayu Publishing. Today's cards are Temperance and Life:

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

―Epictetus

            There is a saying in recovery circles: "Easy does it, but do it." The second part of that statement is not a problem for me. When I get passionately involved in something, I don't shuffle slowly from one phase to the next , creating little clouds of dust at my feet. I careen from one stage to another, barely registering anything but the home plate I plan to slide into with great force. Now if there was a deadline that must be met, that might be different, but this is rarely the case. My lack of balance in this regard keeps me from recognizing the pleasure and joy I might experience at a moderate pace. It also creates a wide open door for mistakes and injuries. The Life yantra shows an abstract form of the wheel of life. It reminds me that if I'm not awake and aware as each moment unfolds during my trips around the sun, I have lost life's true meaning and purpose.

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.

―William Wallace

Mental Bindings

From the Golden Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Yantra Deck, Life:

          This woman has convinced herself that she is between a rock and a hard place, that she has run out of options. Yet it can clearly be seen that the rope around her arms is loosely draped, and she could easily remove her blindfold. Why do we put ourselves in mentally spun bindings and then act as if we have no free will? Many of us prefer the Instagram version of life that leaves out the gnats, sweat and dead animal smell. We prefer the glossy magazine version that airbrushes away any imperfections. We don't want to deal with anything difficult or unpleasant, so we blindfold ourselves to any challenges - as if that exempts us from making any decisions or taking any action. However, the Life card is a reminder that yes, this physical life is hard, but it also includes people to love, beauty to enjoy, and moments that can leave us awestruck.  As the Caribou coffee slogan states, "Life is short: stay awake for it."

No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse.

~Randy Pausch

Finish Line

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Sage (King) of Wands; from the Mystic Glyphs, Life:

          This King loves nothing better than a good challenge; it gives him a chance to strategize, form creative solutions and lead a team to victory. A drought of instant successes won't deter him. He's in it for the long haul and is determined to make it to the finish line. His enthusiasm never wanes, which makes him a charismatic guide for those who follow. Yet the Life card might make him pause. It suggests a door letting in fresh air or a mouth taking in a breath. No triumph is ever achieved in a straight line with no rest breaks. And as Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us, "It is not the length of life, but depth of life." It's hard to dig deep when you're racing to the finish line.