Choose Another Door

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Protection:

Your triggers are pathways to your wounds. The stimulus is only a door.

―Sanhita Baruah

This woman shields herself from the swords stuck in the sand - they are mental triggers (untrustworthy thoughts) that can take her right off a cliff. As a mentor for women in recovery, I have borne witness to the wreckage of relapse. It doesn't matter what it is that yanks our leash, the trigger will set shame, stress, or fear in motion, causing the mind to reach for old habits to find solid ground. Protection - illustrated by salt and iron nails - suggests we need to find a ramp that lets us rise above our usual reactions. It will likely involve identifying and challenging negative or irrational beliefs and replacing them with healthier habits and coping strategies. We don't have to keep walking through that old door.

Protective Influence

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Six of Wands; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Protection (Moon in Aries):

An artisan, rather than a warrior, is honored for his work. It makes me think of Anthony Fauci who helped lead us out of the pandemic (even while dealing with the madness of Trump), as well as those researchers who developed our vaccines. Threatened with violence and facing a flood of misinformation, they kept there heads down and kept working. It was a war for which we had no weapons at the beginning, and little knowledge. The Moon in Aries card implies an instinctive protection - in this case, for science. These researchers are concerned with the well-being of humanity, and even though they make mistakes, they deserve safety and assurance too. 

Science is truth. It's amazing sometimes the denial there is. ―Anthony Fauci

Connection and Protection

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Lovers; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, 'Protection:'

Every negative emotion, every drama, comes down to one or more of the three most basic fears: the fear of losing safety and control, the fear of aloneness and disconnection, and the fear of unworthiness. —Ezra Bayda 

          We seek connection (Lovers) because we want protection (iron nails and salt). What or who do you turn to when life seems frightening, overwhelming and too much to bear? A young me wanted to prove John Donne wrong, that I could be an island. A middle-aged me wanted to surround myself with people who would never leave me. An older me realizes the insanity of both views; nothing is perfect or permanent. Stuff will happen that will make me sad, fearful and angry. But I can find people or things such as Buddhist teachings and the natural world to ground me. I can use them as my touchstones. I may not be able to avoid the uncertainties and challenges of life, but I can find ways to endure it when it gets hard.

Equilibrium and Equanimity

From the Alchemical Renewed Tarot, the Six of Vessels:

What I noticed about the clay jugs (besides the variation in shape) was that some had wide openings and some had narrow ones. The wide mouths would be easy to pour water into, but the narrow openings would be better for pouring liquid out into another jar. It is similar to my being more open to receive love in times past (wide) yet being more willing to give than receive during other periods. Yet the jug the woman holds has two openings - a small one for pouring and a large one for filling. It reminds me that I need this kind of emotional balance in my life to maintain an equilibrium.

From the Oracle of the Radiant Sun comes "Protection - Moon in Aries:"

The combination of Moon (security) and Aries (self-will) leads to a powerful need to respond emotionally and immediately to a situation. The mother figure with the tiger below indicates this display will be with claws extended and teeth sharpened. I do have emotional triggers when it comes to the people or pets I love, and I can be a little over-the-top when I react. This card reminds me that it is possible to show my strength without leaving mangled body parts behind.

Speak with Integrity

From the Deck of the Bastard, the Queen of Swords:

I was with a group of women the other day, and one was upset about her son who had gotten locked up with a possibility of serving some serious time in jail. Several women tried various ways of comforting her and encouraging her, but one lady took a different approach. She told her about her own daughter who had gotten into trouble; she bailed her out and tried to help her in all sorts of ways. She learned quickly that her child was looking for an enabler rather than assistance in turning her life around. The young woman wound up in the middle of a situation that left one person dead and ended back up in prison. Can you guess which words of wisdom the distraught woman paid more attention to? The Queen of Swords has lived through a lot, and she knows that sometimes tough love works much better than sweet words. She reminds me to cut through all the bull and see without the aid of my rose-colored glasses.

From the Marseille Oracle comes "Protection:"

The Queen has her sword, and this card has a shotgun in the shed. I am reminded by both cards that one of the best ways to protect myself is to be a watchful gatekeeper over the words that come out of my mouth. Miguel Ruiz, in his book The Four Agreements says it best: "Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love." My words do have the power to help or harm (both others and myself).

For Better or For Worse

  From the Illuminated Tarot this morning comes the Two of Cups:

In this image, the winged lion head is a symbol of divine protection; the caduceus, often mistaken as the medical rod of Asclepius, is a symbolic staff of Hermes/Mercury.  One myth suggests that Hermes came upon two snakes locked in combat.  He used his staff to separate them, and ever since the caduceus has been a sign of peace.  The two cups emphasize the need for both partners to each have their own "full cup" before they share it with another.  No relationship can be healthy (or peaceful) if either partner looks to the other for their own sense of happiness or self-worth.  Today I will be responsible for my own fulfillment rather than demand it from someone else. 

     The card chosen from the Dreaming in Color deck today is "Protection:"

The combination of the above tarot card and this oracle card reflects my evening yesterday.  My husband, who is also my best friend, experienced a case of vertigo last night that literally flattened him.  He spent an hour emptying his stomach in a trashcan.  There was little I could do except stand by with a cold washrag and the trashcan until (what seemed like many long hours) it passed.  There is an instinctive urge to protect those we love from harm and pain, but rarely do we succeed.  Perhaps it is enough to know that someone is willing to sit with us as we go through pain, fear, or grief and not run away from it.