On Three

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Fool; from the Pictish Oracle, Mirror and Comb:

Listen, are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?

—Mary Oliver

This little fellow reminds me of a wood duckling. Only a few days after hatching, the mother leaves the tree cavity and calls for her little ones to jump 40 to 50 feet to the ground. What innate trust they have! The Fool asks us what is calling that would require a leap from our comfort zone. It might be a trip, a new hobby, or reaching out to someone we'd like to become friends with. We need to take these chances so that life will be fulfilling and we'll continue to grow. The Mirror and Comb suggest we take a moment to reflect when we find ourselves stuck rather than leaping. Haven't we spontaneously jumped at opportunities in the past and being rewarded by it? It is worth remembering that we can continue to bloom, no matter what our age or circumstances. 

Shaping the Future

This week I'll be using the Wild Unknown Tarot, created and self-published by Kim Krans. I'll also be using the Pictish Oracle, created by myself and brought to life in 3-D form by Alaska Laser Maid on Etsy. Today's draws are the Wheel of Fortune and 'Mirror and Comb:'

          As Krans reminds us, the Wheel of Fortune is always in motion, though we don't automatically pay it any attention unless something really good or bad is happening. Change is simply the movement and flow of life. The twigs and the tangle of colorful thread make it appear random, yet there are intersections of causes and conditions which create our reality. The mirror and comb symbols on the stones have been identified through archaeological finds. The meanings assigned to them are 'reflection' and 'untangling.' When good things happen to us, we may feel that we deserve them, but not so with hardships. Yet both these draws suggest looking at patterns of behavior and habitual attitudes which may have influenced (though not necessarily caused) the outcomes. As Thanissaro Bhikkhu teaches, "We may be powerless to change the past, but we do have the power to shape the present and the future by what we do, moment to moment, right now."