What We Put In To It

From the Slow Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the ROAR Oracle, Maya Angelou:

I live in two unique worlds, traveling between both with just the opening or closing of my eyes.

― Richelle E. Goodrich

In the twilight of a forest, a young girl looks at the dangling cups from the branches of a tree. The cups contain a mix of oddities: some strange (a mouse, a snake and moths), some delightful (gold coins, a heart-shaped locket, and an apple), and something mysterious (a key). We all have expectations of things based on previous knowledge and experiences, but do we dare make a decision based on the past and our limited information? The mouse might represent resourcefulness, the snake shedding old beliefs, and the moths transformation or guides. The 'good things' might represent what is easily gained and lost. Poet Maya Angelou reminds us that whatever we choose, we don't reap the benefits without effort: “Love life. Engage in it. Give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.”

Patience and Passion

This week I'll be using the Slow Tarot, created by Lacey Bryant and published through Modern Eden Gallery. Paired with it will be the ROAR Oracle, created and self-published by MJ Cullinane. Today's draws are the Two of Cups and Maya Angelou:

Bryant suggests that Twos represent outside influences on personal choice, an apt description of the Two of Cups where union is sought between two diverse individuals. In this card, a man and woman sit on the lawn in the middle of a garden of white roses, suggesting a sense of groundedness and a purity of intention. Nothing can tank a partnership faster than untethered fantasy or a failure to be open and honest. Such traits tend to lead to starry-eyed expectations that can quickly sink a relationship. Maya Angelou, civil rights activist and poet extraordinaire, offers this advice: "Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls." While our passion can drive us toward a goal and keep our values intact, it is patience that will keep our bond strong as we mediate compromises and navigate unexpected detours.