Mountain, Sea, Sky

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Four of Swords; from the Faeries' Oracle, Lys of the Shadows:

The statue in this Four of Swords reminded me of a Buddhist saying attributed to Dogen:

Body like a mountain

Breath like the sea

Mind like the sky

The body becomes still like a mountain, allowing a feeling of being grounded. The breath becomes relaxed and deep as it flows in and out like waves on a shore. The mind lets things pass through it without attachment, like clouds and birds across the sky. Here we find rest for not just for the body but also the mind. We rest in open awareness, giving the whole of us a break. Lys of the Shadows is the patron fairy of social workers, therapists and all sorts of healers who attempt to help those caught in dark hopelessness. Hers is not prayerful hope she offers, but practical help. These two cards remind me to start where I stand then move outward. In the words of Maya Angelou, "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."

Grab It and Go

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Two of Wands:

In the grocery store this past Monday, I wandered over to the produce to pick out some apples. Unfortunately a woman who was trying to pick out a head of lettuce was blocking the aisle as she looked over each one. My impatience wanted to yell, "Just take one - they all look the same!" But honestly, I tend to be the same way. I can be so picky about making choices that I spend way too much time analyzing every facet of each option. The owl in this card would never sit in a tree wondering if the mouse he saw down below would have the perfect flavor. He would just swoop down and grab it with his talons, knowing it might skitter away if he didn't act quickly. The Two of Wands encourages me not to sit on the fence too long, or the opportunity I'm considering might just vanish into the night.

From the Faeries' Oracle comes "Lys of the Shadow:"

Lys is a fairy who shines a light in those dark places that people don't see - those wounds and tender places they'd rather not deal with. But before any healing can begin, there needs to be an awareness of the trauma first. Lys encourages me to look at why I hesitate instead of being excited about a new opportunity. Is it a fear of not being accepted? A fear that I won't have what it takes to succeed? Perhaps my self-esteem is in need of some first aid...