Roots of All Goodness

This week I'll be using the Tarot in de Herstelde Orde (Tarot in Restored Order), created by Rob Docters van Leeuwen and Onno Docters van Leeuwen; it was published by Servire. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of Kabbalah, a deck and book set created by Richard Seidman and published by Thomas Dunne Books. Since the Kabbalah letter cards are rather plain, I'll be using the paintings of Victor Brindatch. Today's draws are the Queen of Pentacles and Nun:

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

~Dalai Lama

This Queen seems to be contemplating with gratitude all that she has. She pays attention to what and who is in her life, and through that attention has come to appreciate it all. Appreciation's natural course is to want to protect and nurture what we love. It's a shame that most of us have to be separated from these things (at least temporarily) before we realize how wonderful they are. Nun ("fish") refers both to the myth of Jonah and fruitful abundance (fish as fertilizer). Like Jonah, we are often cut off from seeing beauty and goodness because of the walls created by our hatred, fear and ignorance. But Nun suggests we can tear down those walls if we are willing to sincerely question our opinions and assumptions and instead see with fresh eyes the wonders and benevolence that still exist in the world.

Laps Around the Sun

This week I'll be using the Tarot in de Herstelde Orde (Tarot in Restored Order), created by Rob Docters van Leeuwen and Onno Docters van Leeuwen; it was published by Servire. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of Kabbalah, a deck and book set created by Richard Seidman and published by Thomas Dunne Books. Since the Kabbalah cards are of the letter only and rather plain, I'll be using the botanical illustrations of Kristina Applegate. Today's draws are Wheel of Fortune and "Nun:"

          What stands out to me in the RWS versions of the Wheel card are the books the Fixed Zodiac Signs (or Apostles or Ezekiel's cherubim) hold. Books symbolize knowledge, and knowledge used with discernment leads to wisdom. Are there habitual patterns in my life that are keeping me in a rut? Am I failing to rightly apply the knowledge I gather each time I take a lap around the sun?
          The Hebrew letter Nun means "fish" in Aramaic. The story of Jonah and the great fish in the scriptures comes readily to mind. Though I don't believe in the literal version of the tale, I can say that at times I have felt swallowed up by events (internal or external) in my life. And like Jonah, who made choices that landed him in the fish's belly, my thoughts and actions have kept me contained in that dark place. The strawberries on this letter remind me of the Zen story of the man chased by a tiger who ends up hanging from a cliff by a vine. While one tiger waits above and one below the cliff, mice begin gnawing at the vine. The man notices a strawberry plant beside him, plucks a berry and finds it sweet. Climbing out of the belly will require me to look for what is good and beautiful in my life; changing my thoughts can get me unstuck.

Be Good for Goodness' Sake

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Knight of Cups:

This knight is a romantic idealist; his primary goal in life is to be of service to others.  If a humanitarian cause arises, he's on top of it.  He needs to be needed.  But his horse is not white (which would indicate pure intentions) but spotted, which makes me question his motives.  Is his service to help others or to get pats on the back?  I'm not sure any human is capable of complete selflessness; as the Dalai Lama said, “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.”

     From the Oracle of Kabbalah comes the letter "Nun:"

In Aramic, Nun means "fish," which parallels the fish on the tunic of the knight above.  Rabbi Ginsburgh stated that Nun swims in the waters of the hidden world, where creatures lack self-consciousness (there are no walls or sense of separation).  The form of this letter is said to represent the humble servant.  This letter teaches me to do good for good's sake rather than out of obligation or the desire for recognition.  Nun reminds me we are all connected in this web of life, and ultimately any kindness I do for another will benefit me as well.