Tactile and Tactful

This week the tarot I'll be using is the Ellis Deck, created and self-published by Taylor Ellis. Paired with it will be the Brownies Oracle, created and self-published by Doug Thornsjo. Today's draws are the Page of Pentacles and Discretion:

What the hand does the mind remembers.

—Maria Montessori

The Page of Pentacles is a tactile learner, filled with curiosity. She relishes getting her hands dirty and getting sweaty if it means she can learn how things are put together, how they work and how to use them. Her diligence and focus reflect the traits of her formidable animal companion. However, she cautions that up leveling our skills will demand our patience and effort. Discretion, the quality of behaving with prudence and tact, is encouraged by the Brownies (in this case, they don't want to get eaten). If we are asking for someone to teach us, we need to listen and watch rather than trying to impress them with what we already know. As the Zen story goes, no one's teacup can be filled if there's no room left in it.

Shared Project

From the PetraK Tarot, the Princess of Discs; from the Astrodice, Venus in Taurus, Eighth House:

Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company. —Rachel Naomi Remen

The Princess of Discs is quiet and reserved but hardworking and trustworthy. Like the light that infuses her body, she is open to new ideas and projects. However, once one is chosen, she maintains her focus and locks onto a target to ground it in practical ways. Venus in Taurus within the 8th house creates a slow moving but deeply intimate relationship filled with the pleasures of sharing what each partner brings to the table. What better endeavor could there be than an exciting project to work on together as long as there is patience in the mix?

A Good Escape

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Marseille Oracle, the Anchor:

She kept her nose in a book and her head in the clouds. 

—Karen Robards

This Page finds studying fascinating; the more he learns, the more he wants to know. Yet he hasn't figured out that ideas are not reality, and his studies often keep him from experiencing the real world. Reading and learning are fun, but to be useful, we need to apply or test the knowledge we've gained. The Anchor suggests that people are a good way to ground ourselves. When we talk ideas over with others, we get different perspectives and hear different experiences. Good friends will gently steer us back to reality when we're about to fall down a bottomless rabbit hole. While books can be a good escape, they should also make us want to enjoy the world too. 

Loving Life

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Princess of Disks; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Spirit:

Sometimes, I think that I love life so much, that I make death jealous.

―Lionel Suggs

The Princess of Disks is the pure manifestation of making and growing. Like Spring, she represents changes and new beginnings (as symbolized by the egg-like disk on her belly). In love with and excited by the sensual experience of physicality, this Princess lives life fully. The Spirit reminds us of the essence or inner spark that enlivens all things. Victor Frankl wrote that it is only through love that we can recognize this essence and potential in others. Once we see those sparks, we can help fan them into flames so that those possibilities can manifest in wonderful and constructive ways.

Lifelong Pursuit

This week I'll be using Lo Scarabeo's The Classic Tarot, with the original engravings of Carlo Della Rocca and printing by F. Gumppenberg Milan. I'll also be drawing from the Constellations Deck published by Carddia. Today's draws are the Knave of Coins and Pyxis:

The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see.

― Alexandra K.Trenfor

The Knaves are naturally curious, eager to learn and explore; in the Coins suit, the focus is on the material world, rather than concepts, feelings, or energy. This fellow proudly holds up a coin like a young man in 4H who won a prize for a melon. He obviously had a good mentor. Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name - Pyxis Nautica - is Latin for a mariner's compass. Whatever we're trying to learn, having an experienced teacher can guide us, helping us avoid blind alleys and dead ends. Their job is not to tell us everything, but to show us how to learn by doing. As Robert Hutchins wrote, "“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”

Costs Too Much

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from Rory's Story Cubes, Temple Gateway:

Money often costs too much, and power and pleasure are not cheap.

―Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Page of Pentacles has been studying capitalism and has stumbled across a way to earn a lot of money. Studies on state lotteries have shown that people in lower-income groups gamble more frequently and spend a larger proportion of their income than any other group. Though the odds of winning are slim and none, desperate people do desperate things. The Temple Gateway suggests that this Page needs to learn that while money isn't evil, accumulating wealth is not the way to happiness. When it is made off the backs of the poor, using the vulnerable for one's own benefit, it crushes our compassion, increases our selfishness, and turns us into someone we might not recognize down the road.

Knowing What You're Doing

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Page of Coins; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk Oracle, the Egg:

Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.

—Warren Buffett

This Page's collection of books almost seems to be holding up her desk. When we are inspired to create or start a project, it's always a good idea to have a foundation of knowledge about our subject matter. Does this tree grow well in this zone? Do buildings constructed here need to be able to withstand earthquakes or hurricanes? What exactly does the face of a French bulldog look like?  This student knows studying can mean the difference between success or failure. The Egg protects the embryo inside, allowing it to develop and mature before hatching. Its message is that knowledge can't be acquired in a day, and understanding what we learn takes time.

Research

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Daughter (Page) of Pentacles; from the Pictish Oracle, the Anvil and Hammer:

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?

–Albert Einstein

The Daughter/Page is curious with a strong streak of practicality. She's learning about effective tools and how to use them, yet she's willing to expand their use in inventive ways. The Anvil and Hammer are tools of the smith, a craft that was surrounded by an air of mystery and respect. Their ability to transform iron into weapons and useful implements was much admired. The Daughter desires to use resources wisely and effectively, transforming her life and those around her. Yet it is a sure bet that she will take Bob Iger's advice: "You can't allow tradition to get in the way of innovation. There's a need to respect the past, but it's a mistake to revere your past."

For those friends who were concerned about Hurricane Helene's impact (which was supposed to gallop right over us): We were very lucky, while others were not. It took a turn eastward, so we got the west wall instead of the eye. While there has been flash flooding, our house isn't under water, and while there is a lot of debris to pick up, our tall trees are still standing. 

Plant It and See If It Grows

This week I'll be using the Tyldwick Tarot, created and self-published by Neil Lovell. I'll also be using the Antiquarian Lenormand, created and self-published by Maree Bento. Today's draws are the Page of Coins and the Whip/Jack of Clubs:

Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.

— Zen kōan

The Page of Coins is often called 'the student,' but he does not enjoy arguing about topics or spending hours discussing philosophy. What he learns, he plants in the earth and observes if it will grow. He tests information to see if it can be used to create, build or do things more skillfully. He is likely the most content of the Pages; he finds joy in the tasks he does rather than putting his hopes in any specific outcomes. Knowledge is a wonder to him, as it allows him to discover the natural laws of world. The Cat-o'-nine-tails is an implement of physical punishment; in the Page's case, it appears as psychological suffering if he succumbs to society's idea of success and happiness. Hopefully he will remember Joshua Metcalf's words instead: " Like thirsty people guzzling salt water, achievement only creates a greater desire for accomplishing more, dehydrating us of true satisfaction and fulfillment." 

Fact Checker

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the Island of Recognition:

There must be no barriers to freedom of inquiry. The scientist... must be free to ask any question, to doubt any assertion, to seek for any evidence, to correct any errors. ―J. Robert Oppenheimer

This Page of Pentacles, often known as the student, doesn't just focus on books. He looks up and outward, checking to see if what he has studied and learned fits with real life. Like the rest of his clan, he is grounded and practical, preferring what is useful and beneficial to what is fanciful. He'd rather not just take someone's word but prefers to test things out himself. The voyagers arrived at the Island of Recognition only to be pelted with nuts by its residents. It seems the islanders thought they resembled an enemy of the past and assumed they were exactly the same people. This card asks us to check our assumptions rather than rolling with our emotional reactions. Unfortunately, as Andy Rooney stated, "People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."

A Relative Path

 From the Restored Order Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Kuf (Qof):

Everything is relative; and only that is absolute.

—Auguste Comte

This Page appears to be fully absorbed in his pentacle; no wonder he is considered such a good student. But even this young fellow knows that although absolute truths and abstract ideas make us feel intelligent, they are a bit useless unless we can see how they relate to the world in concrete ways. This Page will do his own homework, testing out each theory in tangible ways. Kuf represents two opposite concepts, the spiritual world and the physical world. It's shape is like the eye of a needle, and numerically it represents completeness (100). It reminds us to find the holy and sacred (abstract and absolute) sewn into our relationships with the earth and all its beings. 

In order to make the leap to the realization of our absolute nature, we have to walk on our relative feet, on a relative path.

—Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

This is Stupid

This week I'll be using the Nigel Jackson Tarot, created by Jackson and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Wolf Pack, created by Robert Petro and published by Windspirit Productions.Today's cards are the Page of Coins and Defeated:

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all. 

―Michelangelo

The Page of Coins has a little smile on his face as he heads off to begin his new studies. He loves to learn and he's good at it, which can present a problem when he hits a wall that seems impossible to get around. Suddenly the good student finds himself saying things like, "This is stupid!" or "I can't do this!" The Wolf Pack card shows the card of feeling Defeated, when we want to just slink off and forget about it all. Yet there is another option: persistence, patience and coming at it from a different direction. I was going through some emotional turmoil around the time multiplication tables were introduced in elementary school. They just wouldn't stick in my mind, and my grades began to slide. My mother finally told me to make up a tune and sing them every night, and lo and behold, I finally memorized them. I was never a master in in mathematics, but that accomplishment gave me the confidence that I could at least gain a working knowledge as I continued my studies.

In-Body

From Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, the Page of Earth; from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Dolphin:

Have an in-body experience.

―Lynne Forest

This Page is associated with 'Jack-in-the-Green,' a foliage-covered, dancing figure of May Day celebrations who embodied the spirit of spring. Likewise, the Page of Earth is not content to simply observe or read about something; he wants to be a participant, to be physically involved in some way. The Dolphin card represents joy, as dolphins are often seen jumping out of the water. While this behavior is generally related to navigation, visibility, communication, or parasite removal, at times these mammals just jump for the fun of it. Both of these cards suggest an embodiment of delight, which can only happen when we get out of our heads and appreciate the information that comes from our senses. As poet Aaron Boothby put it, "I don't know how to decline wonder."

The Privilege of Wisdom

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Page of Pentacles; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Owl:

It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. 

–Oliver Wendell Holmes 

This Page of Pentacles appears to be an air traffic controller for the planets. Perhaps he is creating a memory palace for his studies. An enthusiastic explorer of his universe, he seeks to know something about everything his senses touch. He'll ask hundreds of questions as he investigates, yet his queries are grounded in the natural world rather than abstract thought. He could care less how many angels could fit on the head of a pin. Owl, while often considered a symbol of wisdom, also represents quietness because of their near-silent flight. They have large wings compared to their body mass, which allows them to glide more often. The comb-like serrations on the leading edge of their wing feathers break up the turbulent air that would normally create a swooshing sound. These two cards suggest listening more to learn more and then applying what is learned to allow our experiences to create wisdom.

A Powerful Combination

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Page of Pentacles; from the Archetype Cards, Avenger:

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. ~William Arthur Ward

To the Page of Pentacles, the world is full of mysteries and wonders. Learning about them is his passion, and one reason he is often called the student. His curiosity unlocks many doors that are closed to those who observe with assumptions rather than a mind of openness. The Avenger isn't out to seek revenge, but to seek justice for people or the planet. I am reminded of Greta Thunburg, a young lady who doesn't mind speaking the truth no matter how uncomfortable it makes some people or the negative comments she often receives. Curiosity and a passion for change are a powerful combination.

People are underestimating the force of angry kids. ~Greta Thunburg

Mental Flexibility

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Hija of Earth (Page of Pentacles); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Midwinter:

A young girl makes a fence of linden branches, knowing that their flexibility will make them useful in her endeavor. Learning can open a wider space into our world or narrow it, depending on whether it makes our thinking more limber or rigid. The Buddhist slogan, "Liberate even the antidote," points to our habit of becoming attached to a concept and attempting to apply it to everything. Yet the Midwinter card - with the Hunter who brings chaos before regeneration - implies that laying a set framework won't work in an ever-changing world. We need to pay attention to each moment as a different experience, even if it appears the same. Our relationship to it will be more beneficial if it is as flexible as linden.

Using Our Senses

From the Slavic Legends Tarot, the Page of Coins; from the Urban Crow Oracle, Nature:

This Page is a hands-on learner, using her senses and getting her hands dirty. Rather than seeking all of her knowledge through books, she learns experientially. She was one of those preschool kids who enjoyed not only kneading and shaping Play-doh, she'd loved smelling it (and even giving it a taste). The Nature card is a reminder that we need to step beyond concrete and metal into green spaces. Nature doesn't need us, but we need her. She offers us a place to unwind, yet she also teaches us about resilience and interconnection (all of which this Page is probably well aware of).

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. 

–John Muir

Adding to a Blank Page

This week I'll be using the World Spirit Tarot, published by Llewellyn and created by Jessica Godino and Lauren O'Leary. The oracle deck I'll be pairing with it is the Mystic Glyphs; it was published by Red Wheel and created by Barb Rogers. Today's draws are the Seer (Page) of Pentacles and Place of Emergence:

This Seer/Page is a student of Earth and all its inhabitants. They probably call her a 'seer' because she noticed that a red sky in the morning forewarns of storms and that it's best not to plant tender herbs or vegetables until after the pecan trees bloom. Her ability isn't magic; she simply pays attention with a focus for detail that most folks don't employ. The Place of Emergence glyph symbolizes coming out of a long tunnel and arriving someplace new and full of wonders. No one gets here without first putting in the effort of learning and then putting into practice what has been studied. 

Today is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one!

—Brad Paisley 

Nature's Wisdom

From the Brady Tarot, the Daughter of Roots (Page of Pentacles); from the Wisdom of the Forest, Conceal:

          The curiosity of this bear cub reminds me that as long as we're interested in learning and understanding the world around us, we'll never be bored. While the Daughter/Page of Roots/Pentacles doesn't hesitate to read to expand her world (a secondary source), she much prefers direct access to the subject of her research (a primary source). The experience for her is deeper than just obtaining knowledge. The Conceal card doesn't mean that we hide what we learn, but rather we use the experience as sacred time to renew ourselves and perhaps later as self-reflection. As William Wordsworth encouraged, "Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher."

          The following is an article I wrote on "Nature's Spiritual Wisdom" that may be of interest to some:

Another Kind of Bravery

This week I'll be using Songs for the Journey Home, a deck and book set created and self-published by Catherine Cook and Dwariko von Sommaruga. I'll also be using the Raven Cards, an oracle created by Gabi Bucker and published by AG Muller. Today's draws are Earth Innocence (Page of Pentacles) and "Let yourself be borne up:"

The Page of Earth is a hands-on kind of gal. She wants to experience how a seed becomes a tree, how eggs hatch into baby birds, and what the owl sees from atop its perch. It's not really a sense of adventure that drives her, but her insatiable curiosity. If she can hang on to her inquisitiveness, she'll be a student of earth her entire life. The Raven's message is to cease our busyness, relax and let others be of help to us. (Psalms 91 is often invoked during times of suffering or hardship.) Yet if we are like this Page, our constant refrain might be "I want to do it." But allowing others to help us can also teach us something - courage and humility. 

Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It's one of the bravest things you can do. 

― Lily Collins