'Build a Wall' Mindset

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Tower; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Mantis:

We all can get in the 'build a wall' mindset when we feel threatened by people, things, or situations. We strategize and make preparations, believing we can out-think and save ourselves from reality. In our mind, a separation is made between us and them, this and that. I am a person who likes to prepare for things, but I have learned the hard way that I live in a world of constant change and uncertainty. I'd do better to practice resilience and equanimity instead. Plus, fear never sees with clarity, so why make it the captain of my ship? Mantis is an insect that can be so still, it is often overlooked as a twig or leaf. It's keyword is discernment, the ability to see clearly and objectively. To employ it necessitates slowing down my mental pace and releasing my obsessive desires, tightly-held opinions, and emotional drama. Here in this open space I can meet reality, do what I can, and make peace with the rest.  

What the Buddha came to see is that who we are is an ever-changing stream of experience. And when we cling—to our firmly held ideas, beliefs, roles, and identities—we freeze-frame reality, turning flowing water into frozen ice, and then we find ourselves pinched and bound, locked into tiny cells. Our cold, sharp edges become a prison. We are in here, and everything else is out there. ~Pamala Weis

Not for the Faint-hearted

From the RochesTarot, the Lovers; from the Animal Shaman Vision Cards, the Mantis:

True love is not for the faint-hearted.

~ Jack Kornfield 

          Real love means looking for your partner's good points rather than focusing on the negative ones. It means realizing there will inevitably be hard times as well as good times, and being kind through them all. The mantis is known for its prayer-like posture and predatory quickness. In the same way, life can shift and move with surprising swiftness. The female mantis is known for occasionally cannibalizing her mate. Yet some studies have found that in these cases, such mating behavior can double the chance of fertilization - an ultimate sacrifice. I and my family have been up all night, as my MIL fell and broke her hip last night, and will now require surgery. Everyone is sleep-deprived and worried, held together only by love.

Horse Before the Cart

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Two of Staves (Wands):

Because I generally read the Two of Wands as making a decision whether to try something new or stick with the tried and true, I found this image a bit unusual.  In the deck's companion book it explains the proverb with the original image said, "He tries to put the sow in the kettle before she's dead."  In other words, putting the horse before the cart.  I've been in that place many times when I had something new I wanted to do or create, and I would be in a huge rush to get started.  It's like getting one of those disassembled pieces of furniture that must be put together and deciding you don't need to bother reading the directions first.  This card encourages me to take care of all the little details beforehand, because doing so will save me time in the long run.

From the Wisdom of the Four Winds deck comes the West Guardian, the "Mantis:"

I used to see lots of these insects years ago, but I haven't seen one lately in quite a while.  I imagine it has something to do with the farmers spraying the fields with tons of pesticides; they kill the pests but also the good bugs too.  The author associates the mantis with discernment, the ability to mentally distinguish the difference between one thing and another - such as the pros and cons of pesticide use.  I have a feeling the Two of Wands and Mantis combination indicates that taking the time to prepare (before I jump in with both feet) can give me time for contemplation.  Am I truly committed to the task at hand?  What is my ultimate goal?  Is there a better way of accomplishing my purpose? 

Discussion and Discernment

   The tarot deck I'll be using this week is Brian Williams' Ship of Fools, based on the German literary classic of the same name.  This morning's draw is the Five of Wands:

"It is wise to avoid the fool / Who always pelts with rocks / Ignoring both ill and wisdom."

     Four wound-up men with staves descend on another who calmly stands with a companion.  This illustration made me think of my experience on a jury.  There is a common goal - to decide the guilt or innocence of a person - but all the jurors have different perceptions and life experiences to base their decision on.  And even after hours of deliberation, there always seems to be one person who refuses to budge from their position.  As a former foreman, I've found that by presenting the facts objectively and trying to sidestep emotional or prejudicial triggers, people can often come to the same conclusion.  It can be a long and tedious process and requires everyone (including me) getting past their egos and opening their mind to other possibilities.

     The lovely oracle I'll be using for the week is the Wisdom of the Four Winds, created by Barry Brailsford and illustrated by Cecilie Okada.  This deck is based on the natural environment of New Zealand.  The card drawn for today is the "Mantis - Discernment:"

The mantis uses camouflage to protect and conceal itself while waiting in ambush for its next meal.  It will patiently wait until the right moment, and then it can lash out with amazing speed.  The mantis demonstrates an alternative to ranting and stomping my feet - rarely the best way to reach my goal.  Watching and listening quietly and unobtrusively can inform me when to act and when to wait.  I can uncover layers of information in this manner that might be hidden from me otherwise.  Discernment means exhibiting keen insight and good judgment, something this insect can teach me.