It Just Spins

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, Loon:

What people don’t like to think about is that you can do everything right...and still get the short end of the stick. ― Lori Gottlieb

          There is a twisted, sick version of karma in the West; it blames people for the bad that happens to them and judges them for the good that comes their way. For instance, we assume someone declared bankruptcy because they don't know or care about managing their money when it could be the result of unexpected medical costs that insurance didn't cover. Or, we imply that a coworker slept her way into a promotion instead of working her ass off to get a new position. Yet as Gottlieb reminds us, the stick of fortune may at times skewer us or offer us an hors d'oeuvre, regardless of our good or bad behavior. Life is constantly in motion, and we often have little control over where that Wheel stops. The Loon is a waterbird that can dive deeply underwater to feed. It reminds me that even though I might get randomly walloped by the unforeseen, I still need to pause and consider if my actions or beliefs played any part and change them if necessary. If not, I can focus on acceptance and adjustment rather than self-pity or blame. The Wheel doesn't care, it just spins.

Blindspot

This week I'll be using the Rosetta Tarot along with its companion book The Book of Seshet. This set was created by M.M. Meleen and published by Atu House. The oracle deck I'll be using is Ascension to Paradise, a book and deck set created by Jane Toerien and Joyce van Dobben and published by Binkey Kok. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and 'Loon:'

          Many people wish for a stable and secure relationship, but when it occurs, the relationship can easily be taken for granted. We forget what made us care about the other person and begin looking for excitement elsewhere. Infidelity can happen in many other ways besides just with another person. We may spend the weekends absorbed in Netflix or on the computer, or we may become obsessed with work or a creative project. All of our attention moves away from relating to the other person, because we assume our connection is rock solid and not in need of nurturing. While individuals in every relationship need time apart to allow each person to grow, there's a huge difference between a time-out and escapism. The Loon is a diving bird that nests around lakes in colder regions. It is known for its eerie, mournful call (that sounds like a wolf howl) and its looney-laughter call. This bird card represents a feeling of sadness and loss. Though the easy interpretation might be the loss of an unappreciated relationship, the root goes much deeper. People seem to think there is something wrong when life isn't constantly filled to the brim with fun and happiness, misunderstanding the natural ebbs and flows of life. A habit of chasing the next pleasure may develop, and a lot can get lost in that kind of ongoing chase.

Water in the Earth

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the Loon:

          I often think of the Queen of Disks/Pentacles as a resource manager. She is both practical and creative, always guided by a healthy dose of common sense. But from an elemental standpoint, she is water in the earth. Like her aloe throne, she has a healing and nurturing aspect as well. She's not so much interested in amassing assets as she is in using them to care for the land and people she loves. It is interesting that a water bird is the second card drawn today, as if emphasizing the Queen's watery aspect. The loon is know for its mournful, eerie calls, and thus is associated with sadness and loss. This bird is well adapted for diving and swimming underwater to catch fish. It reminds me that holding grief inside without expressing it can be physically unhealthy. Better to dive down, acknowledge and feel it, then come back to the surface once again.

When we grieve we allow ourselves to feel the truth of our pain, the measure of betrayal or tragedy in our life. By our willingness to mourn, we slowly acknowledge, integrate, and accept the truth of our losses. Sometimes the best way to let go is to grieve. It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry. We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song. In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs, we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability, with helplessness and hopelessness. These are the storm clouds of the heart. 

~ Jack Kornfield

Fancied Fallacy

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Seven of Swords:

Even through genetic modification, there is no such thing as a naturally occurring blue rose; they are created only by adding dye to a white rose.  Because of this fact, they often symbolize a longing for the impossible.  In this painting, the rose has been pierced by a central sword, surrounded by six others.  Here the desire has become all-consuming, like an intense hunger.  Such an obsession makes me self-centered, focusing only on the unobtainable.  But the irrational thought not only damages that which once was pure, it leaves behind a residue of thoughts that will bind and haunt me later.  My only protection may be the feedback of trusted friends, who can see my twisted thinking and name it for what it is.

From the Ascension to Paradise comes the "Loon:"

These diving birds can hold their breath for 90 seconds while feeding underwater, but what they are most often known for is their eerie, other-worldly call.  Because of this trait, the authors associate this bird with grief and sadness.  For me, I easily recognize the emotions of fear and anger, but the depression that comes from loss can creep over me before I'm consciously aware of it.  This feeling, more than any other, can lead me to isolate myself, making me vulnerable to thoughts only loosely based in reality.  Even the loon must come up for air when it dives deep in the water; I too need to release my pain in order to clear the fog from my head.