Flip the Script

This week I'll be using the Forest of Enchantment Tarot, created by Meraylah Allwood (artist) and Lunaea Weatherstone (author) and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Mushroom Spirit Oracle, created by Nicola McIntosh and published by Rockpool. Today's draws are the Weaver of Boons (Queen of Pentacles) and Mycena Interrupta:

Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people, brings happiness. —Harold Kushner

There are gardeners who seem to know instinctively if their plants need more water or nutrients, which flowers the bees and hummingbirds enjoy, and what trees and shrubs the birds and other animals need. Such is this Weaver, not only with plants, but also with people. She notices details others might miss - whether it's dark circles under someone's eyes or a lack of spring in their step. She'll have some herbal tea, a hearty meal, or a soft spot for an uninterrupted nap to offer. Mycena interrupta, often called pixie parasols, are tiny mushrooms less than an inch tall. Their diminutive nature is misleading, as most of its mass is in the wood it is decomposing. They are like an iceberg, with just a tip above water but massive underneath. People love caregivers and nurturers, but we generally only notice what they do, not what they may need. Perhaps it's time to turn the tables and offer them with a little tenderness too.

Before Blooming

This week I'll be using the self-published Wayfarer Tarot, created by Stacy Salpietro-Babb with Margaret Shipman. I'll also be drawing from A Curious Oracle, self-published and created by Holly DeFount. Today's draws are the Queen of Earth and Lotus Fire:

People first concern themselves with meeting their basic needs; only afterwards, do they pursue any higher needs. —Abdolkarim Soroush

The practical Queen of Earth knows that no large project will be finished, and no family or community will be stable until bodies have the basics of food, rest, shelter and clothing. Taking time for daily needs is not a luxury but a requirement. Lotus Energy represents the fuel and resources needed for the seed to embed its roots in the mud, climb its way above the water, and then flower in the sun. No matter how we want to bloom, we must first take care of the bodily conveyance that will get us there. 

The No-Damseling Dame

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the State by State Playing Cards, Ohio (Ace of Clubs):

I don't damsel well. Distress, I can do. Damseling? Not so much.

―James Patterson

There are no high heels for this queen; she prefers being barefoot and grounded. The Queen of Pentacles deals with what is in front of her and what needs her attention rather than dwelling in what ifs. That's not to say she doesn't believe in planning and preparation - she does, she just doesn't waste time awfulizing what might happen. If there is a crisis, you want this resourceful woman's number on speed dial. Ohio's native buckeye tree produces lovely, dark brown nuts with a light spot (so named because they resemble a deer's eye). However, the seeds contain glycosides—a group of natural compounds that can lead to severe gastrointestinal and neurological issues when ingested. They are extremely poisonous to humans and animals (except squirrels). The Queen would say they remind us to have firm boundaries if we want to protect ourselves from getting entangled in unhelpful, emotional drama.
 

Waiting for Us

From the Urban Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Principles to Live By tiles, Acceptance:

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

—Joseph Campbell

Scott describes the Queen of Disks as the emotional center in the material realm. Like her husband, she appreciates what is tangible - her home, food, beautiful things and financial security. Yet because of her watery aspect, she also recognizes the resources she has in people, including family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers. How often has someone gotten a job because they knew someone who could speak up for them? Acceptance is being receptive to reality without fighting what cannot be changed. Many of us might think we don't have the perfect family or are a part of an unpopular social group, but wouldn't some of them help us in a crisis or support us when an opportunity opens? We may need to look at our connections from a wider perspective. 

Reaching Out

 From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Queen of Buttons (Pentacles); from the Button Oracle, Viking Ship:

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

― Charles Dickens

Granny is doing a jig because she got some great deals at the market, and now her basket is overflowing. She has enough for her family and can share with the elders who find it hard to get out as well as with the parents who are stretched thin to feed their family. The feeling she gets from reaching out to others more than makes up for a half-empty basket to take home. This Queen believes resources should be shared rather than hoarded; the community is healthy when everyone's well-being is considered. The Viking Ship button brings to mind those bold risk-takers who sailed most of the North Atlantic as looters, traders, colonists, and mercenaries. It suggests we practice fearlessness in reaching out to others, especially those we don't know well. Who knows, we might end up with a friendship we treasure.

Willful Waste

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Queen of Coins; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, Nasturtium:

Willful waste makes woeful want.

While this Queen enjoys her comforts, she would shudder at today's throwaway society. Her policy is if it's still useful, make use of it. Good does not need to be replaced with better unless there's truly a need for it. And if there is something we no longer use, there might be someone who would appreciate it. Nasturtium implies remorse and regret. Of all the things we regret most, it likely isn't the things we did but for the things we did not do when we had a chance. This Queen would tell us never to squash a generous impulse. Rarely will anyone regret being kind.

Accepting Help

From the Tarot Lukumi, the Queen of Coins; from the Diloggun Cards, Osa (nine mouths):

But then it occurred to him that any progress he had made on his quest so far, he had made by accepting the help that had been offered to him. – Neil Gaiman

We'd all like to have a little more stability and financial security for when life pulls the rug out from under our feet. Yet some of our ideas - like playing the lottery - will be unlikely to help. Oshun is an orisha associated with love, fertility, wealthy and prosperity. She was the only female primordial spirit sent with Shango to create the world, but the other male spirits excluded her. When their attempt failed, Shango forced them to respect her, as she was essential to creating not only the world, but all the life on it. Osa (nine mouths) also warns that rigidly following our own narrow ideas is not profitable:

Ifa: One must cease leading themselves to misfortune. One must cease bringing harm upon themselves.

Proverb: Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

Wise friends can help us see where we slip and how we sabotage ourselves. It's in our best interest to sincerely listen and heed their advice. 

Better Use

This week I'll be using the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, created and self-published by M. M. Meleen; I'll also be using the Words of the Brehon Oracle, created and self-published by Olivia Wylie. Today's draws are the Queen of Disks and 'Three things that make a wise man foolish:'

A great deal of energy is wasted in hating people, and I can honestly say I’ve no wish to expend such a precious resource on being outraged about anyone.

—Kevin McCloud

Known for her good heart, this Queen is industrious, resourceful and practical. She is a firm believer that people should have the basic necessities and tools to thrive. Like the goat above her, she'll climb any mountain to make that possible when it comes to her family or close circle of friends. The Words of the Brehon suggest that quarreling, anger and drunkenness can make a fool of a wise person. Even the Queen, as grounded as she is, can lose her clarity of mind when intoxicated by emotions or alcohol. Our time and energy deserve to be put to better use.

Judicious Buying and Giving

From the Stone Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Card, Dhammapada 12:166:

I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.

― Florence Nightingale

I am known as the 'practical' shopper in the house. I buy things because they have a purpose, either by being useful (and needed) or because they gladden the heart and are inspirational. The look on this Queen of Pentacles face suggests she's gotten a dull dust-around as a present. While she's grateful for the thought behind it, she probably would have preferred a gift card from Tractor Supply to buy some seeds to plant or feed the birds with. The Dhammapada quote deals with the flip side of the coin: generosity.

Don't give up your own welfare for the sake of others' welfare, however great. Clearly know your own welfare and be intent on the highest good.

In other words, we shouldn't be so generous with our time, money and energy that it leaves us unable to fulfill our obligations, in debt, or causes damage to our health. That would only create another person that needed to be aided. 

A Brain to Pick

This week I'll be using the Badgers Forest Tarot, a deck created and self-published by Nakisha VanderHoeven. Along with it, I'll be using my Gemstone Oracle (with actual stones). Today's draws are the Queen of Crows (Pentacles) and Aquamarine:

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.

— John Crosby

A friend's grandson and his wife are both well-trained, skilled RNs, yet they still call his mom for advice with their young children. No matter how much knowledge and experience we have, there is always someone who has more. When it comes to abilities like how to cook something, how to fix what is broken, how to build a kid's fort, or even directions to get somewhere, there are talented and generous people available to ask - as this little sparrow knows. Aquamarine suggests being prepared and using common sense. It helps in this regard if we can find a mentor or partner who is grounded and knowledgeable to guide or support us.

It Makes A Lighter Load

This week I'll be using the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot (Tarot of the Radiant Path), created by Alla Alicja Chrzanowska and published by Studio Astropsychologii. I'll also be drawing from the oracle Mirrors of the Heart, created and self-published by Lily S. May. Today's draws are the Queen of Pentacles and Helping:

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

~Lily Collins

This Queen seems to be infusing each gift basket with a compassionate wish for well-being to its recipient. Her assistant, with one gift already in hand, waits patiently. As Rosalyn Carter reminded us, we either have been a caregiver, are currently one, will be one, or will need one. We all be asked to help provide for the needs of another at some point, in a small or large way. My husband has been in the hospital for the last four days with a life-threatening infection (but is now home). Sometimes we are required to step up to the challenge life presents us. But this is what I've found - Love makes all loads lighter. 

Rhythm of the Universe

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Comfrey:

Everything in the universe has rhythm: The rising and the setting of the sun, the ebb and flow of the sea, the coming of the stars, the seasons. They go out in order to come in—rhythmical, measured order.

―Celia Caroline Cole

This Queen of Pentacles plays the bodhran, an Irish frame drum that is thought to have originated from an agricultural tray or sieve. Just as she keeps the rhythm of the music, she is in tune with the rhythms of the earth. She knows it is better to stay grounded in reality than trying to live in a fantasy world. Wearing summer clothes in the dead of winter won't make it warmer, it will just increase one's chances of freezing to death. Staying conscious of what is going on (whether pleasant or not) allows us to deal with it in skillful ways. Comfrey's early function as a poultice can be seen in its folk names - knitbone and boneset. Yet healing can only take place when we acknowledge that there is an injury that needs to be addressed. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Sometimes we just have to deal with what we've been given.

Better Than You Found Them

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, Raven:

Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.

―Marvin J. Ashton

It's one thing to provide for and protect, as the King does, but another standard to nurture. I can provide the basics for my cats - a safe place to live, food, water, and litter boxes. Yet it's another thing to give them attention - playing with them, cuddling them, teaching them and providing medical check-ups. Nurture encourages thriving, not just surviving. Known as birds of prophecy in mythology, Ravens are a highly successful species due to their high level of intelligence and adaptability. This bird implies the type of nurturing needed may likely be different for each person or circumstance. A little flexibility and intuition might help the whole rather than just a few.

It Doesn't Cost Much

This week I'll be using the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, created by David Sheridan and Alfred Douglas and published by Sheridan Douglas Press. The oracle deck I'll be using is Pages of Shustah, created by Ann Manser and Cecil North and published by Shustah Inc. Today's draws are the Queen of Coins and Cancer:

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. 

—Steve Maraboli

Did you know that all cattle - even females - have horns? Although usually cut off calves by humans, cows are a prey animal and their horns are a way to protect themselves. It seems this Queen of Coins, with her horn-like crown, is a quite capable of protecting her assets and growing a nest egg. She's no damsel in distress, and her husband depends on her resourcefulness and intelligence. However, she's not caught up in materialism; she appreciates resources for the nurturance and sustenance they provide. The crab of Cancer implies emotional sensitivity. He would remind the Queen that kindness doesn't cost money, only a little time and a tender heart. 

Grounded and Centered

From the Idiosyncradeck, the Queen of Stones (Pentacles); from the Mixed Emotions deck, Receptive:

Stay in the center, and you will be ready to move in any direction.

― Alan W. Watts

With the flowering vine wrapped around it, there is a sense that this obelisk is firmly planted in the ground. The Queen of Stones is also grounded, completely aware of the present moment which prevents thoughts and emotions from dragging her elsewhere. She is also centered, having a reference point or compass that keeps her body, mind, heart and spirit in balance during life's challenges. These traits are what make her dependable and resourceful because they allow her to be Receptive to whatever comes. Grounded and centered, this Queen is open to reality and has the clarity to see what is appropriate and needed in each situation. 

Laws of Nature

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Sturt's Desert Pea:

Here is a Queen who doesn't spend her days on a throne; she's worked in the fields, prepared food, woven baskets, and gathered herbs to help the sick. She nurtures others by providing them with physical necessities and comforts. Yet through teaching others how to care and provide for themselves, she also helps them to help themselves, just as she was taught. Even when she passes on, her skills won't be lost. Sturt's Desert Pea tells the story of a young woman who ran off with a man from a different tribe though promised to a medicine man in her tribe. The medicine man tracked them down and killed not only them, but the whole tribe. Bright red flowers sprang up where the people died, and the Great Spirit sent a lightning bolt to kill the medicine man. Aware of nature's flow, the Queen of Disks knows that good things can grow, even where there is loss, but those who cause harm will eventually pay a price. 

We don't live in some kind of crazy, accidental universe. Things happen according to certain laws, laws of nature. Laws such as the law of karma, which teaches us that as a certain seed gets planted, so will that fruit be. ―Sharon Salzberg 

Without Praise

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Queen of Coins; from the Radiant Sun Oracle, Discovery (Mercury in Sagittarius):

This Queen holds a cornucopia and looks toward the Discovery card. While her husband's joy comes from making money and finding resources to run his kingdom, his wife has discovered the happiness in sharing that abundance. It's not the amount given that's important, as she tends to give what is appropriate and needed, but to give without expectations. The Queen of Coins knows that material things can satisfy the body's needs, but being seen and cared for can nurture a person's spirit. 

The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.

― Carol Ryrie Brink

Providers

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Mother of Earth (Queen of Pentacles); from the Bird Signs/Ascension to Paradise decks, Thrush:

The Mother of Earth knows that no matter what your passion, it won't get accomplished unless the body's needs are provided for. She nurtures others with these things, yet she doesn't forget the hands, plants and animals that provided them. She might offer something like this Zen blessing at meals:

We receive this food in gratitude to all beings

Who have helped bring it to our table,

And vow to respond in turn to those in need

With wisdom and compassion.

The song thrush is known for its distinctive musical phrases, which have been referred to in poetry. It migrates mainly at night, flying in loose flocks across the sea. The birds call to each other frequently to maintain contact. This thrush is a reminder to check in with others, particularly those who are alone, and make sure they know they matter. And this Queen/Mother would tell us not to forget to take any food or supplies they might need.

Building a Better World

This week I'll be using the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot (Tarot of the Radiant Path),created by Alla Alicja Chrzanowska and published by Studio Astropsychologii. I'll also be drawing from the Mirrors of the Heart deck, created and self-published by Lily S. May. Today's draws are the Queen of Pentacles and Voice:

This queen doesn't just nourish what she grows, she breathes love into what she gives (like that fruit basket she holds). All the queens are nurturers in ways that honor their talents and abilities; the Queen of Pentacles does so in physical, tangible ways. She might send a packet of chamomile tea to someone who is stressed or offer a gas gift card to someone with a new job and a long commute. Her care is delivered in practical, useful ways. Yet the Voice card suggests something else may be needed. So often people doubt their worth and have little love or compassion for themselves. This queen could also send a note with her gifts to let the recipients know they are treasured, and that she believes they have something worthwhile to offer the world. 

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world. ― Dalai Lama 

 

Roots of All Goodness

This week I'll be using the Tarot in de Herstelde Orde (Tarot in Restored Order), created by Rob Docters van Leeuwen and Onno Docters van Leeuwen; it was published by Servire. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of Kabbalah, a deck and book set created by Richard Seidman and published by Thomas Dunne Books. Since the Kabbalah letter cards are rather plain, I'll be using the paintings of Victor Brindatch. Today's draws are the Queen of Pentacles and Nun:

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

~Dalai Lama

This Queen seems to be contemplating with gratitude all that she has. She pays attention to what and who is in her life, and through that attention has come to appreciate it all. Appreciation's natural course is to want to protect and nurture what we love. It's a shame that most of us have to be separated from these things (at least temporarily) before we realize how wonderful they are. Nun ("fish") refers both to the myth of Jonah and fruitful abundance (fish as fertilizer). Like Jonah, we are often cut off from seeing beauty and goodness because of the walls created by our hatred, fear and ignorance. But Nun suggests we can tear down those walls if we are willing to sincerely question our opinions and assumptions and instead see with fresh eyes the wonders and benevolence that still exist in the world.