Closed Clam

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Tapestry Oracle, Reflection:

Listen to others, but do not become a blind follower. 

―Thurgood Marshall

Try to do anything new or different, whether it's learning a new language, writing a novel or changing careers, and the pessimists and naysayers will appear. Commitment can mean keeping our head down and doing the work without getting distracted. But this young woman has enclosed herself in a bubble, completely walling off herself from any comments. Reflection asks us to consider if there is no room for advice in the methods we're using. Have we taken such a rigid stance that we refuse to hear any other perspectives, compromises or alternatives? There might be a nugget of wisdom in what those worriers and cynics are shoveling at us.

Labor Lost

From the Gill Tarot, the Star; from The Circle, Reflection:

In the companion booklet Gill writes, "Following the period of instability (Tower), which invariably led to much inner questioning, many of us in fear and relief turn to constructing another Tower, again on our old ways of thinking." It's that instant reflex that seeks only to protect rather than understand that keeps us repeating old patterns. Yet the ibis, a symbol of truth and wisdom, suggests a better way - the one that the Reflection card represents. Of course it can be tempting to reflect on and blame the actions of others, but a true reflection shows only our own face. If we really want positive change, we need insight into our choices and their results. As Confucius stated, "Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous."

Weeding the Mind

 This week I'll be using the Spiral Tarot, a book and deck set created by Kay Steventon and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be drawing from the Sacred Journey Cards, a set created by Cheryl Thiele and published by Pomegranate. Today's draws are the Seven of Cups and Reflection:

          A woman stands in the rain while a foggy mist keeps her from clearly seeing the seven cups around her. She must make a choice, but what will bring fulfillment? The mist represents the way our mind is shaped by past information and experiences, which in turn leads to expectations and assumptions. The Reflection card suggests that when we drag along old mental file cabinets into new situations, we see only what's in those files, not what's in front of us. If we expect to find good, we do; if we expect to find bad, we will. But if we go in with an open mind and heart - with curiosity - we might just see what is actually there.

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles. ― Horace Walpole

Cat Naps

From the Tarot of the Pagan Cats, the Four of Swords; from the oracle Cat Wisdom, "Reflection:"

          Humans guzzle tea, coffee and energy drinks to stay awake and alert. But the stress of being "on" and at full throttle can work against us.  Cats on the other hand spend 15 to 20 hours sleeping each day. They've learned how to curl up in a corner and switch off. Last night at the meditation group, I handed out markers, clipboards and pages from Lucy Mucklow's book Color Me Calm. We each quietly colored for the first half of the meeting. Everyone was amazed at how enjoyable it was, and the peaceful feeling it created. Time-outs, whether a cat nap, meditation or a relaxing hobby, can refill my "tank." Then I'll be more likely to come up with innovative ideas or creative solutions.
          While the Cat Wisdom deck is full of adorable kittens, too many of the cards rely on the simple image of one gazing sweetly at the camera. I if were to choose an idea for "reflection," I would have a kitten looking down at a book of photographs. Which then made me connect the dots between the tarot card and this one. After I take time to rest and renew myself, I can look back on what I've done. What worked well and what didn't? Do I need to tweak something to make it work better, or should I start fresh? I may be curious about what I haven't tried yet, something completely opposite of my normal choices. Then I must take action; as Soren Kierkegaard put it, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward."