The Antidote

From the Prairie Tarot, the Emperor; from the Medicine Cards, the Rabbit:

This Emperor holds the skull of a ram, a symbol of strength, determination and virility. Yet from earliest times, the ram was also seen as a prestigious sacrifice. Are there any true leaders - those who work in service of those they represent - who haven't made personal sacrifices? I doubt it. There will always be those who love the power and prestige, but few who embrace the humility that is needed. Jimmy Carter recently entered hospice, and though he didn't leave a large mark as President, he is remembered fondly for his diplomacy and his work to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering. Rabbit's message is about fear and worries about the future. I've always heard the best antidote for such anxiety is to reach out and help someone in need.

I have one life and one chance to make it count for something... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. ~Jimmy Carter

Open-ended Options

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Nine of Trees (Wands); from the Animal Tiles, Rabbit:

           In mythology, the goddess Inanna planted a tree in her sacred garden and tended it daily. But then a bird and a snake made it their home along with the goddess Lilith. We can be conscientious and work hard, but we may still find things don't work out when or how we wanted them to. It's hard to keep going when the hits don't seem to ever stop. Yet Rabbit appears with her ability to frequently produce a large number of kits any time of the year. Being on the prey end of the food chain, she knows survival for her species depends on creating lots of bunnies. Rabbit urges us to be creative, having multiple options and plans rather than only one. Focus on the task rather than the result. Things have a way of working out, just not in the shape expected. In the case of Inanna, the tree got cut down and made into a bed and throne for her.

When one's expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have. ~Stephen Hawking

Enjoy the Ride

This week I'll be using the Prairie Tarot, created and self-published by Robin Ator. Paired with it will be the Medicine Cards, a deck and book set published by St. Martin's Press and created by David Carson and Jamie Sams. Today's cards are the Ten of Cups and Rabbit:

          A family admires the view from their new homestead. Home is the place we can breathe deeply, relax and unwind. It gives us a place to recharge and a feeling of belonging. But Rabbit has shown up, a totem associated with fear (as it is a prey animal). I've been watching the months creep up to hurricane season, and there is a tiny bit of anxiety roaming around my mind about what is to come. I don't want my place of refuge to become a prison surrounded by flood waters or damaged by high winds. But I have no control over the weather, and right now things are okay. My focus must be on what is here and now, not consumed about what may happen in the future. I'll keep the insurance paid and acknowledge that today, life is good.

But rather than being disheartened by the ambiguity, the uncertainty of life, what if we accepted it and relaxed into it? What if we said, “Yes, this is the way it is; this is what it means to be human,” and decided to sit down and enjoy the ride? 

 ~Pema Chodron

Please Don't Wake Me

From the Prairie Tarot, Judgment; from the Medicine Cards, Rabbit:

Life is short. Stay awake for it. ~ Caribou Coffee slogan

          An angel has blown her trumpet and even uses a gesture to wake the dead, but still they sleep. There are times when we pretend not to know what we know. We use every form of denial and delusion available to stay in our cocoons, so we don't have to deal with the uncertainties and insecurities of life. Yet none of these strategies provides a mind wipe; we'll still have the knowledge tucked away and trembling in a dark corner. Rabbit represents fear that keeps us immobile. Instead of fighting or fleeing, we freeze. I think most everyone has been exposed to circumstances that leave their heart racing and feet in concrete while the mind invents worst-case scenarios. It is incredibly hard to leave our hearts and minds open to such vulnerability - it feels safer to build a wall or live in a tower. But since this type of reaction isn't going to change reality, we could instead stop reinforcing our walls and be awake and watchful. We don't have to believe everything we think (especially those emotion-fueled thoughts). We can just pause and be with what is without adding to our distress. With the extra mental space we've created, we will be able to see with clarity and respond with wisdom. 

Bunny Feet

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Gift of Trees (Queen of Wands); from the Animal Tiles, "Rabbit:"

       Pollack uses two snakes to illustrate the ida and pingala nadis, or energy pathways. While the third nadi (sushumna) runs up the spine and is connected with awakening, the ida and pingala are more directed at dealing with the day-to-day situations in our lives. The lunar ida is said to be nurturing and feminine; the solar pingala is described as stimulating and masculine. The Queen of Wands knows how to be supportive when needed, yet she can also challenge and inspire. Both sides are needed to reach the fruit on the tree.
       Rabbit (capable of producing forty offspring a year) is associated with creativity, a fitting partner with the Queen. But the rabbit is connected with lunar energy - prey not predator - and must constantly be on guard to prevent becoming lunch for a hawk, coyote or fox. I can sympathize with the hyper-alertness of the rabbit this morning. I've been tending to sick, struggling people and pets, none of whom seem to be improving. Unlike the Queen who will make sure she is taking care of herself while she encourages others, I have let those things slide which keep me sane while in a caretaker role. Yet I need to step into those big bunny feet when it comes to self-preservation, or I'm going to be the one who needs rescuing.

Unnatural Behaviors

     From the Shining Tribe Tarot this morning comes the High Priestess:

This priestess is as much at home in the waters of the unconscious as the fish and the Rainbow Serpent (of Aboriginal lore).  She rests quietly and waits patiently.  She knows that information will come of its own accord when she doesn't demand or actively seek it.  It does not come natural for me to be still and receptive.  I become edgy, and my brain wants to plan strategies and map out routes.  But the inner knowledge within me only comes when I calm my thoughts.  Meditation has helped me train my mind and body to realize that relaxation doesn't always equal sleep.  Just as silt in muddy water eventually settles when agitation ceases, clarity will come.  Answers, solutions and information will rise to the surface.

     The animal chosen from my wooden tile oracle today is the "Rabbit:"

Here in North America, where more than half the world's rabbit population resides, these mammals are often associated with spring and creativity.  It's no wonder that this animal symbolizes fertility, as its breeding season lasts 9 months, and each month it can produce up to 12 kits.  But the rabbit has other lessons to teach besides creative expression.  Because it is a prey animal, its senses are constantly alert to threats.  And though a rabbit has sharp teeth and back legs that can deliver an incredibly powerful kick, its main defense is to run, and run fast.  Unlike the rabbit, I have a wide stubborn streak in me, and will often choose to argue and fight rather than back down.  But this animal teaches me leaving may be the wiser choice.  Sometimes pride can be more of a hindrance than a help when all is said and done.