Green Flags, Red Flags

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Seven of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Mushroom:

          From the smile on her face, this woman appears to be very happy with her harvest. The Chinese poet Shih-Wu wrote that everything grows from old roots. If we want to see how we got to where we are now, we need only look to our actions and motives in the past. If we want to see where we're headed, we can consider the actions and motives that drive us now. The Mushroom is a message to look for tell-tale signs. The mushrooms we see are actually just the fruit of the plant, which grows underground. It's easy to distract ourselves or just ignore those signs because we don't want to change our opinions or behavior. But like the mushrooms, the fruit born from them will eventually appear. 

Red flags are moments of hesitation that determine our destination.

― Mandy Hale

Spiritual Abundance

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Mushroom:

          The RoA booklet calls the Six of Pentacles 'Spiritual Abundance.' If we feel we have all that we need and more, then it is much easier to be generous. Yet this is actually a state of mind, cultivated by gratitude, not possessions. We may have enough resources to be comfortable, but if this is unacknowledged, we're unlikely to want to share anything. The Mushroom was seen as something bizarre and out of the ordinary, so it represented being unconventional. In the atmosphere of today's world, we've been led to believe people should be worthy before we dole out our time, money or energy. But maybe it's time to take a nontraditional tack when it comes to being generous.

This is a day to practice compassion, opening the heart.

This is a day to practice kindness, benefiting all.

This is a day to practice attention, welcoming what comes.

Joy, Energy, Insight

From the Ferret Tarot, the Sun; from Nature's Wisdom Oracle, 'Mushroom:'

          This ferret brought to mind the saying "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed," meaning alert and full of energy and enthusiasm. Yet the Sun also brings clarity. I was watching Avatar the other night, and one of the sayings the Na'vi people used was "I see you." This expression didn't mean a physical seeing but a spiritual one. It conveyed that the person's heart and mind were open, and he or she were seeing the other as if for the first time. Everything looks very different from this perspective. Yet Mushroom pops up with a warning. Many mushrooms can't be judged as safe or poisonous simply by their appearance. Some require a microscopic examination of their spores. Such discernment applies to those having their moment in the Sun. Keep the joy and energy, but add the caution of perceptive insight. No need to leap off any cliffs if you don't have to.

A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding. 

~Marshall McLuhan

Confrontation with Reality

From the Ferret Tarot, the Tower; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Mushroom:

          The ferrets had their automatic feeder taken away, because the vet said they were becoming a little pudgy. Now they have scheduled feedings in measured amounts. Of course the fuzzy darlings thought they were starving with this new change, so they made a plan to dip into the bag of ferret chow while everyone was asleep. It seemed the perfect solution until one too many caused the bag to topple, sending kibble scattering noisily across the hardwood floor. I am convinced humans will believe just about anything if it appears to 'protect' them from uncertainty or whatever scares them. But the natural laws of life will eventually deconstruct any tower of belief we build. When it falls, we may often try to build another, more improved version, which is where Mushroom's message of caution steps in. Seeing the volva (bulb-like base) of the fungi makes me think these are likely from the Amanita family, which includes some of the most toxic and deadly mushrooms worldwide. Because they often closely resemble edible fungi, many people have been poisoned by them. Is it worth the energy to rebuild another Tower if it too will come crashing down at some point?

Each day presents a new confrontation with reality. I want to run; instead, I breathe. One breath—the freedom to choose my response in that moment. 

—Marilyn Buck  

Security, But Not Necessarily Happiness

From the Ferret Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles:

Many of my close women friends are single, either because of divorce or the death of their husbands. Though they don't sit around counting stacks of bills like this ferret, they manage their money well. These friends don't live extravagantly, yet they do make sure they have some fun, whether through beach trips with buddies, symphony excursions, or a new piece of artwork every now and then. I am reminded by this card that simplicity is not asceticism, and treats seem all the more pleasurable when not indulged in on a constant basis.

From Nature's Wisdom comes the "Mushroom:"

The volva (cup-like structure) at the bottom of these mushrooms make me think they are in the Amanita genus. This group contains some of the most toxic mushrooms in the world, with common names like "Death Cap" or "Destroying Angel." Some of them look very similar to edible mushrooms, and wild mushroom gatherers are constantly warned about their deadly consequences. The "caution" card implies that sometimes the "treats" I allow myself are an attempt to fill a hole in my soul that would be better filled with something else. Money brings security, but not necessarily happiness.