Diving in and Embracing Grace

From the Gaian Tarot, the Star; from the Goddess Oracle, Pele:

          The Gaian companion book suggests the phrase 'Opening to grace' for the Star. What is grace when you don't fall under a Christian umbrella? For me, it is the opposite of mental and emotional constriction. Instead, grace involves tenderly opening and accepting what is around me, seeing and appreciating the innate goodness in life even amid the filth, carnage, and suffering. But like the little kingfisher bird in the card, sometimes we have to dive deep to find and embrace it. Pele appears as an old woman who lights a cigarette with the flick of her gnarled fingers when she rests, but as a beautiful and vibrant woman when she erupts. Her message is to awaken; added to the Star, she suggests an active effort of rawness and courage in seeing the good shining beneath the grime.

For his heart was in his work, and the heart giveth grace unto every art.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Get Out of that Bathrobe

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ace of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, "Pele:"

          A group of bright orange alevin start the process of learning to live in their fish bodies, while a fingerling begins a migration towards the ocean. I'm sure the river is a place of dangerous excitement for the newly hatched salmon just as the salt water and immensity of the ocean will be for the larger fish. Yet the Ace of Water/Cups reminds me that as a human, dealing with emotions is part of my adventure. I need to push out into deeper waters and not be content to hide. Not all of it will be scary.
          Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, is an odd pairing with the water card. Yet she is not just about fire but passion. Some of the questions Marashinsky asks in her companion book are:
Have you been sitting still for too long? Have you been lulled into sleep by the evenness in your life? Now is the time to wake up to your potential and power, to move and shake. I think I better get out of my bathrobe and slippers for this...

Shake, Rattle and Roll

     This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot deck and book set, created by Joanna Powell Colbert.  Today's card is the Five of Fire (Wands):

A fire breather spews kerosene into the air and ignites the mist with a flame, creating smoke and a towering blaze.  Such a performer must be extremely careful not to ingest or inhale the fuel source or burn himself or anything (or anyone) in the surrounding area.  Creative expression can be useful or beautiful, but it can also pack a punch.  There's nothing wrong with making a statement, especially when bringing attention to a need or an injustice, but sometimes the expression can be just as damaging and destructive as what it is pointing out.  Yes it shocks, but does it ultimately do some good?  Does it bring eventual healing and harmony?  Or does it just make a nice billboard for my opinions and ego?

     The other deck I'll be using this week is the Goddess Oracle, created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and Hrana Janto.  The draw for today seems to parallel the Five of Fire above - "Pele: Awakening"

Pele was the volcanic goddess of the Hawaiian people.  Pele's lesson is to be creative rather than reactive.  Marashinsky writes, "Now is the time to see things as they really are, to initiate change so things can be as you want them to be.  Now is the time to wake up to your potential and power, to move and shake."  Maybe I should keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case things get a little out of control...