A Servant

This week I'll be using the Osho Zen Tarot, created by Ma Deva Padma with Osho and published by St. Martin's Press. I'll also be using the A'HA Oracle, created and self-published by Linnie Lambrechtsen. The card draws for today are the Page of Swords (Mind) and Talisman:

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

—William James

This card is a bit horrific, yet what would all the thoughts in our own mind look like? Tapes that play over and over the same thing? The Page of Swords has not yet learned that the mind is meant to be a servant, not our master. Our lives are shaped by our thoughts, especially when we're unaware of them and don't question whether they're fact or fiction. And as Iara Gassen warns, "Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment." Talisman is usually thought of as a magical item, but Linnie suggests this item can be anything that helps us remember what is important and maintain our focus. It might be a polished stone in our pocket or a silicone wristband - a great way to remember to pause and check on what our mind is up to.

Picking Up Information

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Herald/Page of Winter (Swords); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Laguz:

Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.

―Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Herald of Winter is direct and bluntly honest. He warns people of things they need to know about and brings news of good things. Those pointy ears are like a radar, listening for whatever information he can pick up, which leads to him spilling the beans on some things that don't need to be aired. He's smart but not yet mature enough to be discerning. Laguz is generally translated 'water,' whether a lake, ocean or waterfall. The ancients looked upon it as a blessing and a danger: it could aid travel and supply food, but it could also cause drowning. Such vast expanses of water needed to be respected. Likewise, the ability to collate information is a talent, but the ability to discriminate between what is helpful and what is harmful is necessary. Just because we know it doesn't mean we need to tell it. 

A Little of Both

From the Gill Tarot, the Princess (Page) of Swords; from the Circle Deck, Trust:

The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know… We know truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart. ― Blaise Pascal

Having a lot of knowledge and the intellect to wield it can be a dangerous thing if there is no kindness to balance it. Such intelligence has need of an ethical counterbalance (think of Sherlock's Watson). Whether we are weighted on the heart side or the logic side, the Trust card encourages us to give the other end of the seesaw some leeway. Our well-being and that of others depends on both.

Slow Engine of Destruction

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Cedar Runes, Sowilo:

Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.

~Richard Steele

The Page of Swords always likes to have an intellectual edge, so she and the swans have a daily gossip fest. She explains that it's important to have as much current information as possible, although most of the scuttlebutt shared is greatly exaggerated or untrue. Gathering such hearsay is simply a way for her to feel like she has an advantage over others. She has not yet learned that this is a sieve that will never fill and hold what she seeks. Sowilo is translated as 'sun' and considered a guide to success. The rune poems call it the light of the world and the destroyer of ice; it gives clarity, shows us the truth, and thus destroys any deceptions. It would suggest the Page take a clear look at her self-serving motives for gossip and see that it doesn't really serve her at all.  

From Atop the Mountain

From the Tarot by Caro, the Page of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 52:

We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.

~Iris Murdoch

Precocious and intelligent, it's easy for the Page of Swords to think she knows everything (which she'll gladly share, whether you want to hear it or not). Yet the clouds and blowing wind suggest her ideas about life are rather foggy. Our discernment can be skewed by opinions and prejudices, emotions, attachment to desires, or a lack of knowledge. Just because we think it's true doesn't make it so. Hexagram 52 is often titled the Mountain or Keeping Still. It suggests that it if we want to see with clarity we must still our mind and observe it. Are we making assumptions or seeing only a small slice of reality? What is at the root of our beliefs - evidence or something else? The Mountain gives us a higher, wider perspective of things rather than from a single viewpoint. 

Wipe out imagination: check desire: extinguish appetite: keep the ruling faculty in its own power. ~Marcus Aurelius

Motives Make a Difference

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Page of Arrows (Swords); from the Land Sky Oracle, Devotion (Hanuman):

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

―Alexander Graham Bell

Nakula and Sahadeva were twins who were exceptionally bright and knowledgeable in every field of study. Although they demonstrated their bravery during war, they were rarely in the limelight and were mentioned more as "supporting actors" in the Mahabharata. The young and overly ambitious over focus on rewards instead of the task at hand, but like the twins, we must all put in the effort and time in order to fully develop our skills before we receive acknowledgement. As researcher Dr. Agata Ludwiczak wrote, "High rewards are not enough to ensure people put in the effort they need to achieve their targets." When we're busy fantasizing about the fruits, we're not very diligent farmers. Devotion is illustrated with Hanuman, the Hindu god of the monkeys, devoted himself to the service of Rama (incarnation of Vishnu). Rather than looking for any reward, his dedication and assistance was based in devotion and faithfulness. Motives make a difference.

Even the Antidote

This week I'll be using the Light Seer's Tarot, created by Chris-Anne Donnelly and published by Hay House. The other deck I'll be drawing from is the Tapestry Oracle, created and self-published by Kendall Eifler. Today's draws are the Page of Swords and Darkness:

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.

―Ansel Adams

Mental constructs have a heady effect on this intellectual Page. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the world experience she to realize a concept doesn't cover everything. Unfortunately, that's how extreme 'isms' get born, like nihilism or asceticism. The Buddhist lojong slogan, "Self-liberate even the antidote," points out that even ideas that are useful in some ways can be too constrictive for the constant change of life when applied too widely. The card Darkness shows how tightly held constructs can shrink our world, squeezing out any hope for other possibilities. Even when those opportunities arise, we can be so blinded by our ideas we don't see them.

Incomplete

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Crone, a book and deck set created and self-published by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. I'll be pairing it with Transforming Dragons, a set created by Sonia Cafe and published by Weiser. Today's cards are the Beast of Swords and Cerbeu:

There is no point in using the word 'impossible' to describe something that has clearly happened.

― Douglas Adams

What traditionally is called the Page of Swords, Lorenzi-Prince instead gives the name 'Beast' to describe the primal, wild expression of this element. The crow makes me think of the saying, "as the crow flies," meaning taking the shortest route rather than longer, well-traveled roads. Yet the quick and impatient way means missing out on a lot of knowledge and experience that could lead to wisdom. Worse still, we might assume that what we've learned is completely accurate, without realizing it's just one facet of the whole. Cerbeu represents ignorance, meaning the true nature of things is hidden through denial, delusion or a lack of information. But if we perceive ourselves as holding only one grain of knowledge compared to all that is available, we might become willing to listen and learn in order to add to our inventory.

 

Check Your Sources

From the Dark Mansion Tarot, the Page of Swords; from Miss Mai's Victorian Oracle, Planchette:

On the plus side, the Page of Swords is eager to learn and has his ear bent toward any new information around him. On the down side, he's not yet learned how to wisely wield the sharp sword of knowledge that he's collected. His mother will hopefully apprise him of what it takes not only to be intelligent, but also trustworthy: Just because you know something, you don't have to share that information with others unless it helps more than hurts the people involved. The original Planchette was a flat piece of wood equipped with two wheeled casters and a pencil-holding aperture pointing downwards. It was used to facilitate automatic writing by mediums who claimed to be able to communicate with the dead. The device would later be replaced by the pointer used for Ouija boards. It is rather suspect that the intercessors who used them had to be paid a substantial sum of money so spirits could communicate to their family instead of the dead using a more direct method. Which is another lesson for this Page: sometimes people feed us misinformation or nonsense for their own gain. 

It has become more important than ever that we teach students how to do research, and how to evaluate different sources of information. ~Jimmy Wales

MU

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Button Oracle, Guitar:

The Page of Swords is like a radar, constantly observing, listening and asking questions to collect information. With little experience in the world, however, he tends to take what he knows and make wide generalizations. He reminds me of the monk who asked his teacher if a dog had Buddha nature, to which the teacher replied 'mu.' Mu can be translated 'without,' but it would be a mistake to assume it was the opposite of answering yes. As Robert Pirsig explains, "Mu becomes appropriate when the context of the question becomes too small for the truth of the answer." The Guitar quote comes from an African proverb: "When the music changes, so does the dance." No concept can pin down anything all the time. Life is in flux and it's mysteries rarely have easy answers.

THINK First

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Seer/Page of Swords; from the Mystic Glyphs, Judgement:

This Page's fox companion seems to know what she does not: just because we're good with words doesn't mean we should use them indiscriminately. As the Judgement card encourages, we need to use some discernment before opening our mouth. The T-H-I-N-K acronym (attributed to Alan Redpath) is a helpful way to do just that:

T – Is it true? Is it accurate, factual information, or is it just hearsay or my opinion?

H – Is it helpful? Will this benefit everyone involved or just me?

I  – Is it inspiring? Will this encourage or discourage others?

N – Is it necessary? Will harm come to someone if I don’t speak or act? Will an opportunity for  good be missed?

K – Is it kind? Are the words I say chosen carefully and compassionately? Are my actions considerate and respectful? 

Pause for Clarity

This week I'll be using the Animal Totem Tarot, created by Eugene Smith with a companion book by Leeza Robertson; the set was published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Blum/Gern Rune Cards created by Ralph Blum and illustrated by Gabrielle Gern with publishing by Connections. Today's draws are the Page of Swords and Isa:

Runs with scissors - phrase seen on a t-shirt

The Page of Swords as a roadrunner made me chuckle; it's not that he isn't intelligent, it's just that he's impatient. This Page wants to know everything and inform everyone all about it by yesterday. He may hear the tail-end of a conversation then think he has the whole story. Or he may learn a concept and attempt to apply that idea to all without exception. While he is learning, albeit in a helter-skelter sort of way, he's liable to create some chaos as he goes. Isa is a rune that refers to ice, a time of being frozen. Blum suggests the keyword 'standstill,' a good reminder for the Page of Swords to pause for clarity and do a deeper dive on what he thinks he knows.

It’s wonderful to have the freedom to continually widen our interests. But like many luxuries, it has an insidious downside. Ever-branching possibilities make it harder for us to explore any given one deeply, because there’s always more “newness” to turn to when the old new thing has reached a difficult or boring part. —David Cain, "Go Deeper Not Wider"

Curative Fantasy

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Marseille Oracle, Fantasy:

A curative fantasy is a personal myth that we use to explain what we think is wrong with us and our lives and what we imagine is going to make it all better. Practice is characterized by a deep acceptance or surrender to life as it is.

—Barry Magid

As he imagines a bear about to attack, this Page tries to do a sword maneuver and barely misses his foot. In the realm of intellect and speech, he thinks he knows a lot and can express himself well, though reality tells a different tale. He's like the fellow in a debate whose words actually give the other side more ammunition. The Fantasy card hints at what is holding this young fellow back: he likes to fantasize about his successes more than he likes to learn or practice skills. Time to buckle down and study, young man.

Listen Too

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Vav:

Vav painting by Victor Brindatch

The wind is picking up and flocks of birds are on the wing; something is happening, and this Page is alert to it all. Probably one of the most important parts of communication is listening, but we get so caught up in proving we know stuff we often forget that detail. We miss clues in our relationships when we don't listen carefully and can find ourselves flummoxed when folks suddenly get frustrated and angry. The Hebrew letter Vav means "hook" - when used as a prefix to a noun, it means "and." This letter is a reminder of connection and unity, and in this time of discord, it is more important than ever. Yet it also asks me to question myself when I feel disconnected from others whether I'm doing all the talking or if I am genuinely listening what they have to say too. There is no relationship if we're not truly relating.

Thirst for Knowledge

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Tapestry Oracle, Edge:

This Page is known for her thirst for knowledge and (like the other Pages) her curiosity. She loves to meet new people to see what they know so she can add to her extensive mental library. Once she gathers new concepts and ideas, she's like a machine gun, firing away with facts and information. Yet the light bulb balloons that have her walking on her toes offer a caution about being grounded. As the Edge card suggests, there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge lets us watch while wisdom lives in the middle of it. It's one thing to talk about racism, but quite another to live as a person of color. There's a difference between knowing facts about the homeless and another to be involved in searching for resources such as shelter and mental health help for them. As this Page matures, she'll figure it out. Then she'll likely be saying things like, "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in the fruit salad."

Do You Hear What I Hear?

From the Victorian Fairy Oracle, the Herald of Winter (Page of Swords); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Man/Mannaz:

As I drew this Page/Herald this morning, the carol "Do You Hear What I Hear?" came to mind. In this song, what is seen, heard and known is passed along, beginning with the night wind and ending with the king. While obviously a carol, Noël Regney wrote this song as an appeal for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last stanza has the king proclaiming, "Pray for peace, people everywhere!" The rune Mannaz is generally translated as 'Man' (humankind); the poems suggest its meaning includes both the joy and connection humans feel as well as separation and death. Both of these cards suggest I pay attention beyond my self-absorbed box of desires, worries and resentments. There is joy, warmth and beauty around me, if I would only open my eyes and ears (and mind) to them. Though changeable and impermanent, it would be a shame to miss out on these gifts and wonders. 

Information Gathering

From the Scrying Poetry Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Tapestry Oracle, Balance:

Information is not knowledge. – Albert Einstein 

          This Page of Swords seems to have a discerning ear. He might collect data (random facts), sort out what is useful information, and then seek to understand if or how it fits together. Yet - as social media can attest - it's easy to string together unrelated bits of information and come up with conclusions that are completely off base. Knowledge allows useful information to be applied appropriately. The Balance card takes this one step further with its "slow and steady" message. Knowledge doesn't equate to wisdom. Wisdom implies sound judgment and the ability to use knowledge ethically; it sees from a wide perspective and from a long-range point of view. It tells that Page to slow his roll on those assumptions he's making and any actions he might consider taking. 

Opening Doors

This week I'll be using the Victorian Romantic Tarot, created by Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony with Magic Realist Press as publisher. I will also be drawing from Dreaming in Color: the Luman Deck, created and self-published by Mindy Hope Sommers. Today's draws are the Page of Swords and Catharsis:

When awareness and alertness become integral parts of our character, our ignorance and fears gradually start dying out. ―Prem Jagyasi

          This Page holds his sword like a gun and walks like a hunter with his ears and eyes open and alert. Yet what this young fellow hunts is not game, but knowledge and truth. He's learning how to use his sword to slice away fallacy and fiction from what is factual. In today's world, that can take dedication to pursue. Catharsis refers to releasing in order to find relief and restoration. Under the Page's influence, this might include rejecting a set of rigid ideas for an open mind. To accept only what we currently believe means we close off many doors to other possibilities. An open mind doesn't negate discernment, but it can allow us to create change.

Do You Hear What You're Saying?

From Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, the Trickster/Page of Air (Wands); from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Turtle:

          The trickster side of the Page of Air is not meant to trick us as a form of punishment, but to help us learn to think before we speak, be succinct, and spend more time listening. This Page is aware that people often react rather than respond and seldom take the time to use discernment in what they say. The Page will then reflect back the words to us, showing how we lacked mindfulness of speech. When my toddler was able to reach doorknobs, I would be afraid she would pinch her fingers opening and closing the doors. I would say "watch your fingers" and she would stop what she was doing and literally look at her fingers. Instinct, shown by the newly hatched sea turtles racing towards the water, emphasizes that sometimes we don't have a lot of time to think out what we say - we must respond bluntly and assertively. We don't explain or excuse, we simply speak our truth firmly and plainly.

Pursuit of Knowledge

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Novice of Moths (Page of Swords); from the Southernisms Oracle, 'Playing possum:"

          The pursuit of knowledge can be witnessed in even the very young. Like this young girl, they listen, observe, and ask questions with a tireless intensity. What this Novice hasn't learned yet is that some sources of information are better and more reliable than others. She's about to touch a saddleback caterpillar, whose spiny hairs contain a venom that can cause severe pain and other severe reactions. She might learn after the fact that using an insect book is a wiser alternative to touching. The saying 'playing possum' comes from the American opossum, which has developed the ability to avoid a fight through an involuntary physical reaction that makes it appear dead. When folks want to avoid being annoyed, they pretend to be ignorant or feign misunderstanding (play possum). I'm sure this young gal has seen plenty of this when her barrage of questions wears people out. As her patient observation and literacy skills grow, she'll be able to find the answers she seeks on her own.

Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

― Albert Einstein

Happy holidays to all my friends. May you be surrounded by love and anchored by peace.