Emotional Maturity

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Marseille Oracle, Progress:

The Criteria of Emotional Maturity: The ability to deal constructively with reality; The capacity to adapt to change; A relative freedom from symptoms that are produced by tensions and anxieties; The capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than receiving; The capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness; The capacity to direct one's instinctive hostile energy into creative and constructive outlets; The capacity to love.

―Dr. William C. Menniger

The King of Cups does a lot of listening and guiding; the tools he has cultivated to maintain his equanimity are his secret to staying sane. Beauty, creativity and nature are some of the things that feed his spirit, while self-awareness and personal inventories help him to see reality more clearly. The steam locomotive was first used in the UK in the early 19th century, replacing horse-drawn carts pulled along rails. It represents progress, and in this case, the development of emotional maturity. While few of us would score 100% on Menniger's list, just doing better even in a couple of categories over time counts as an improvement.

Choke Collared Leash

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Devil; from the Marseille Oracle, Progress:

We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.

― Oscar Wilde

          Though it is tempting to blame the Devil for pulling our strings, the hard truth is that he is only a personification of my dark side - those emotions and instincts I let run wild without boundaries. My two greatest inner demons are fear and anger; without rationally questioning the validity of their assumptions, they can quickly put me on a choke collared leash. There are layers upon layers when it comes to the motives of humans, each of us shaped and conditioned by our lives. Yet as adults, most of us get to make our own choices. I've met the Devil, and he is me. Progress suggests that clear awareness rather than blame or excuses will move us in a more skillful, healthy direction. Unless of course, that choke collar has become a secret form of security.

Leaving Behind the Labels

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Tao Oracle, "Progress:"

          The constant debates over dogma and scriptural interpretations were a prime motivation for me leaving the labels of religion. I could care less if a mythology is supposed to be historically accurate or only a metaphor. And I refuse to believe I must sit in a particular church, temple, mosque or ashram to be saved or find enlightenment. What I do find relevant (as Roosevelt alludes to in the quote above) are the spiritual principles found in the writings of all of them. If I want to know if I'm merely complacent or making progress, all I have to do is look back over my day and see how well I've interwoven them in my thoughts and actions:

•  honesty and integrity
• love and compassion
• generosity and gratitude
• service for the benefit of others
• courage and perseverance
• tolerance and forgiveness
• open-mindedness
• acceptance of "what is" (reality)
• fairness and objectivity
• mindfulness
• patience
• optimism
• humility

Of course I never even get close to practicing them 100%, but it's the sincere effort that counts. As they say in 12 Step groups, "we seek progress, not perfection." What are some of your spiritual principles?

Chugging Along

This week I'll be using the Deck of the Bastard, so named because it is a compilation of historical decks, including the Rider-Waite, Soprafino, Etteilla and others. It was created and self-published by Elaine Wilkinson (aka Seven Stars). The other deck I'll be drawing from is the Marseille Oracle, created and published by Lo Scarabeo with a booklet by Isa Donelli. Today's draws are the Knight of Pentacles and "Progress:"

          G.K. Chesterton once said, “Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel.” This quote describes the dutiful, hard-working Knight of Pentacles. He doesn't have any armor on because he has tasks to begin and projects to complete; he could care less about fights or arguments. He is grounded and practical, focused on fulfilling his obligations and producing something he can be proud of. Though he might not be speedy, there's need to worry about his loyalties - he's as true blue as they come.
          With the combination of this knight and train, it's impossible not to think of "The Little Engine that Could." This children's story was often used to show the value of optimism, hard work and tenacity. Donelli's booklet suggests "Follow your instinct." Even if the train has to switch tracks at some point, all these qualities are bound to help you make progress. I'm wondering if these cards reflect the fact that after weeks of no interest, I recently sold a Lojong deck and received an email from another person requesting to buy one. I'm a happy little locomotive today.

Bankruptcy

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the OH Cards, "Progress/Habit:"

The sixes generally represent a return to harmony, a change that restores balance. In the Mary-El painting there is a white tower on land and a black tower in the sea, an image that suggests a sort of yin and yang. The eagle flies over both, moving toward the temple and city which Hathor watches over. Something has been lost or damaged in communication or the exchange of ideas. Truth and objectivity have been exchanged for opinions. The situation and people involved are not going to change. If I want things to be different, then I'm the one who will need to move in a new direction.
The OH Cards image shows a person charting and measuring growth and progress. The Habit word card implies something done on a regular basis. "How did I get myself involved in this mess?" is a phrase I hear often and have said myself. But keeping tabs on how things are progressing instead of letting them slide will prevent me from being caught off guard. If there is no open and honest exchange so that things might change for the better, then the alliance or association is bankrupt. It's time to move on.