In the Labyrinth

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Searching the Past:

You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present. ―John Green

What do we think will fulfill us emotionally, that pie in the sky that will finally bring us contentment? As Green points out in the quote above, thinking about it is much easier than putting our feet in motion and our hands to work. Searching the Past cautions us to look back on previous choices to see how they panned out for us. Perhaps money and fame led to constant worry about losing them. Revenge was likely sweet for only a moment, followed by the fear of reprisal. As Shakespeare said, what's past is prologue- if we learn from it, we can chart our future with clarity and wisdom.

Bonded Pair

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Cedar Runes, Ehwaz:

Wants worth pursuing are carefully measured, intentionally disciplined, and thoughtfully organized.

—Scott Shumway

Two people dream - perhaps of finding a mate, building a home, and having stable finances. But while one is wishing on a star for such happiness, the other seems to be making a plan. Whatever we think will bring us emotional fulfillment will require more than plucking it from a tree. There will need to be steps taken to achieve what we wish for, possibly even changes made in us. Ehwaz ("horse") suggests a bond between rider and horse as well as movement. It underscores the necessity of pairing action with our passion. As Amelia Earhart stated, "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."

The Choice and the Duty

 From the Rohrig Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Moralist:

The power to make a choice goes with the duty of accepting the responsibility of the outcome of the choice. ―Michael Eneyo

This Seven of Cups card warns that we need to look carefully at our underlying motives when it comes to emotional fulfillment. What might bring a tidbit of pleasure can pull a caboose that carries a ton of pain. The intoxicating wish to escape reality and live in a fantasy is understandable but a fallacy in our physical world. The Moralist is someone who knows laws and ethics well. Yet his attitude of superiority and pretense of righteousness keep him on a pedestal, judging others while justifying his own flawed actions. Regardless of how we may sculpt our choices to look rational and acceptable, we just can't outrun reality.

Hard Choices

This week I'll be using Tarot by Caro, created and self-published by Caroline Clarke. The oracle I'll be drawing from is the I Ching, illustrated by Klaus Holitzka with instructions by Marlies Holitzka; it is published by AGM Urania. Today's cards are the Seven of Cups and Hexagram 17:

Your life is determined by the sum of the choices that YOU make.

―Frank Sonnenberg

Ask anyone what brings them pleasure, and they'll surely have a ready list. Yet ask what brings them fulfillment and contentment, and that's likely to cause a pause in the conversation. We're constantly making choices based on whether something will require struggle and challenge or if we'll receive instant pleasure and gratification from it. But sometimes what involves effort brings us the greatest joy and what seems easy bring boredom and restlessness. The hexagram 'Following' indicates moving smoothly and willingly with reality - in other words, adapting. Flowing down the river of life brings boulders we must go around, eddies to get unstuck from, and fast-moving rapids we must navigate. But those difficulties often teach us what we're good at, what excites us, and what might bring us emotional fulfillment. 

Making Our Own Luck

From the Slow Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the ROAR Oracle, Mary Fields:

For too many of us, dreams stay dreams. Or worse, they get stuck in the fantasy category — never acted on, and never invested in.  ―Rhonda Britten

Fantasies are easy - we just let the mind wander. But dreams about what will add meaning and purpose to our lives, whether a career, relationship, travel or a new hobby, take effort. Those cups won't float down to this young girl just because she chooses one; she's going to have to climb that tree or get a ladder. After emancipation, Mary Fields worked many jobs, many of them considered 'men's work.' Her tough spirit and industry did not go unnoticed. At age sixty, she became the first black woman to become a Star Route Mail Carrier, using a stagecoach to deliver mail in the harsh weather and terrain of Montana. Mary would agree with the words of Loretta Lynn: "In the long run, you make your own luck – good, bad, or indifferent."

Imagining

From the Gill Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Circle Deck, Moderation:

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. 

― Mark Twain

Imagination is a wonderful thing, allowing us to see beyond the reality of what is to the potential of what might be. Especially when we are looking for fulfillment, mental imagery allows us to try on different roles and put ourselves in diverse situations to see if they are a good fit. Yet the Moderation card cautions us not to get so excited about a change that we jump from A to Z. Better to dip our toe in before jumping in unknown waters - reality can be very different than we imagined it.

Less "You"

From the PetraK Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Astrodice, Sun/Capricorn/4th House:

The less 'you' there is, the greater the level of awareness. ~Michael H. Brooks

What is missing from this card? A person. Selfing (selfishness, self-centeredness, self-referencing) creates blinders and filters that separate us from reality, distorting the decisions we make. The best choice for emotional fulfillment often gets overlooked by the options that appear to be more fun, might improve social standing or could be the easiest way to success. When the real world impinges on our fantasy, the veil lifts briefly. If we can take our "I" out of the equation, if only briefly, we might make saner choices. In the Astrodice roll, the vitality and drive of the Sun merges with the patience and hard work of Capricorn. However, the 4th House suggests these efforts be made toward our home and family rather than seeking contentment outside of our domestic refuge.

Breached

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Seven of Cups; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk Oracle, the Hacker:

Most people, at one time or another, act foolishly. However, truly ignorant individuals exhibit a lack of introspection and stubbornly cling to their opinions, regardless of how irrational they may be.

—Manfred Kets de Vries

As one dragon happily slugs down cup after cup, the other sniffs and takes a cautious lick. This particular card illustrates the allure of fantasy, illusion and wishful thinking that often accompanies a quest for happiness. Those who desperately seek it can find overlooking reality quite easy. The overconfidence effect is another potential factor, causing people to overrate their abilities, knowledge, and accuracy of their beliefs. The Hacker is concerned with two things: systems and security. He would suggest that if we are oblivious to truth, our brain has been breached. It's time to plant our feet back on the earth and learn how to discern whether our assumptions and beliefs are grounded in accurate evidence.

Daydreaming

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Mystic Glyphs, Path - Go Back:

We’re looking in the places where society or our conditioning tells us to look—in the fulfillment of our desires. But that is not where true happiness is found.

—Joseph Goldstein

A man daydreams, fantasizing about all the wonderful things he might attain or achieve. Yet nothing he envisions will come to pass without making an effort to take action rather than just dream about things. The Path - Go Back glyph suggests we have made a mistake and are heading down the wrong road. If we are trying to find happiness for selfish reasons - to elevate and separate us from the rest - our happiness will last only briefly. No one stays on a pedestal for long. But if we are motivated by altruism, choosing a path that will benefit us as well as others, our joy will likely be more stable.

Viewing Our Options

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Dancer Seven (Seven of Cups); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Gooseberry (Iphin, Ifin):

Seduced by phantoms of the mind

Reality is left behind.

―Emily Carding

When we must make an exciting choice, all the options can look like a grand adventure. But if the decision is tough - say between radiation, surgery or chemotherapy - the options can all appear as frightening monsters. It's not just that we are optimists or pessimists, it is that we fail to accept that life is full of joy and pain, of gathering and loss. Yet we don't have to view our options through one lens but simply as it is.  Gooseberry (Ifin) has berries that are sweet, but it also has sharp thorns. One trait does not eliminate the other, just as life can be hard yet still full of goodness. There is no choice that won't at some point contain both. 

Choice and Effect

From the Somnia Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Spirits of Nature Oracle, Diamond (Radiance):

The hardest choices in life aren't between what's right and what's wrong but between what's right and what's best. ― Jamie Ford

There are times when we feel we don't have any options, and there are times when we are spoiled for choice. The latter can be just as challenging, especially when others are pressuring us, when we are under the influence of our emotions, or when we prefer an easier quicker path rather than a longer, more demanding one. It may be helpful to ask ourselves if our visions of the future are based in reality or fantasy. The Diamond card suggests that people also radiate a particular energy, whether warm and positive or manipulative and negative. Since we often want other's input regarding a major decision, it is important to ask those who will be honest with us and who hold no hidden agendas. As Sarah Dessen wrote, "The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the potential to affect your life, even who you are... "

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Seven of Cups; from the Faeries' Oracle, Solus:

Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.

– Paul O’Brien

When feeling bored and restless, it's not always the best time to make a big decision about what might make us happy. In that frame of mind, we're liable to choose a partner, career or goal that seems exciting because it is radically different. Then six months down the road, we find that what we thought was going to fill our cup only empties it as we deal with emotional drama, chaos and exhaustion. Of course there is no perfect choice, but using a balance of practicality and what makes our pulse quicken might allow us to live a more contented life. Solus arrives to help us with indecision, reminding us to burn away all the distractions, bling and fluff to see what lies underneath. Without the window dressing, our choice will be much easier to make. 

Meaningful Change

 

Sometimes we think everything needs to change because it's easier than accepting that we need to change, and then doing something about it. ~Lori Deschene

The Seven of Cups suggests frustration and the emotional intoxication that results. Wishful thinking and self-delusion might help us escape reality for a short time, but eventually our illusory bubble will burst. To borrow a teaching from Shantideva, when we attempt to walk barefoot and sharp rocks hurt our feet, we become insulted. Yet isn't it easier to put on a pair of shoes than demand the earth be wrapped in leather? The Father card represents Joseph who took care of Jesus as a child. He represents the ability to be selfless and to do the work that must be done without the hope of reward or fear of punishment. When the focus of blame and grievance transforms into accountability for ourselves, we can create meaningful change.

Bottomless Pits and Perspectives

This week I'll be using the Tarot of Durer, created by Manfredi Toraldo and Giacinto Gaudenzi and published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll also be using is the Philosopher's Stone, created by De Es Schwertberger and published by AG Muller. Today's draws are the Seven of Chalices and Insight:

Greed is a bottomless pit which only gets deeper as you feed it.

– Jaimie Lynn Bechtold

We all wish to be fulfilled, to accomplish something in our lives that makes us feel a pleasurable satisfaction. Yet these cups depict some avenues that seem more like vices: revenge, greed, spiritual bypass, and lust. Does anything provide contentment and ease when it is motivated by intense emotions? As Bechtold states, that seems to only dig a deeper hole the more we try to fill it. Insight is not simply knowledge or an observation, but a deep understanding about the reality of things. It offers a fresh perspective that allows us to respond in more skillful and wholesome ways. Perhaps with it we might discover that fulfillment requires genuine friendship, love, and connection, in whatever shape or form that may come in.

Give Me An Answer

From the Tarot of the Enchanted Forest, the Seven of Visions (Cups); from the Mushroom Spirit Oracle, Cordyceps:

In a gazing bowl, several possible futures are shown. How simple it would be if only a bowl, a deck of cards or a crystal ball could show us what to do if we wanted to be fulfilled. We are an impatient lot, and generally seek the easier, faster way to answers. The problem is that even if we were told exactly what would provide satisfaction, it wouldn't last because things are always changing. Cordyceps, literally 'club-headed,' is a parasitic fungus that infects bugs like ants and spiders. It fills these bug bodies with spores, then compels them to seek height and remain there before it expels these spores. Trying to find someone or something to tell us what will make us happy is like becoming a zombie bug. Instead, we could find our essence - our core values and what nourishes our heart. It's a harder, slower way, but we might try the suggestions of Matthew Jones which can adapt to change (Inc.com):

• Challenge yourself to grow.
• Contribute to others.
• Live in the present moment.
• End your sense of entitlement.
• Connect to something larger than yourself.

What We Put In To It

From the Slow Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the ROAR Oracle, Maya Angelou:

I live in two unique worlds, traveling between both with just the opening or closing of my eyes.

― Richelle E. Goodrich

In the twilight of a forest, a young girl looks at the dangling cups from the branches of a tree. The cups contain a mix of oddities: some strange (a mouse, a snake and moths), some delightful (gold coins, a heart-shaped locket, and an apple), and something mysterious (a key). We all have expectations of things based on previous knowledge and experiences, but do we dare make a decision based on the past and our limited information? The mouse might represent resourcefulness, the snake shedding old beliefs, and the moths transformation or guides. The 'good things' might represent what is easily gained and lost. Poet Maya Angelou reminds us that whatever we choose, we don't reap the benefits without effort: “Love life. Engage in it. Give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.”

Quality not Quickness

This week I'll be using the Hezicos Tarot, created and self-published by Mary Griffin. Along with it I'll be using the Way of the Horse, an oracle deck and book set created by Linda Kohanov with Kim McElroy and published by New World Library. The two cards drawn for today are the Seven of Cups and Sky of Mind:

The quality of your life is built on the quality of your decisions.

–Wesam Fawz

When we are spoiled for choice, it's easy to choose what we think we'll bring us the quickest satisfaction with the smallest of effort. Or if prone to fantasy, we may build grand expectations of one choice on assumptions with no concrete basis. Griffin suggests patience is needed as well as common sense in making any big decision. Sky of Mind encourages us to be a master of our own mind, allowing emotions and thoughts to come and go like clouds in the sky without attaching to any of them. Rather than focusing on what we believe our life should look like, we see it realistically, allowing discernment to guide us. There is room for possibilities if we don't demand specifics. Instead of being influenced by our grasping or clinging, we can consider Roy Disney's advice: "Decision making is easy when your values are clear."

No Magical Solutions

From the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Words of the Brehon Oracle, 'Three sounds of increase':

The Thoth keyword for the Seven of Cups is 'debauch,' a bout of excessive indulgence such as eating and drinking. Indeed, the color of the chalices gives the impression that too much of this emotional intoxication will make one green at the gills. These cups represent delusion or simply the wish to escape reality into a world of fantasy. The 'sounds of increase' referred to in the Irish triad all represent everyday work: milking a cow, the hammering of a smith, or the plowing of a field. Life can be hard, and humans would prefer an easier, softer way to deal with it's challenges than actually doing the work. But as Brad Warner wrote, "Our belief in magic solutions that may happen someday in the future keeps us from doing what we really need to do right here and right now."

Getting My Wings

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Seven of Cups; from the Insectorum Divinorum, the Caterpillar:

Expectations are the shackles that will not permit something to be what it actually is.

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

In my younger years, I've had relationships, jobs, and experiences that might have been truly fulfilling if it weren't for my unrealistic expectations. I assumed these things would make me feel happy, secure and content without much effort on my part. It was as though I expected them to have some sort of power or capability that I lacked. Much like the Caterpillar who fails to become a butterfly, I gave up before the real magic happened, before I realized my own agency. As Rod Stewart sings, "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger." But I know now, and so I'll be on the lookout for attitudes that will suck the life out of anything that could bring satisfaction and joy. I'm going to work on getting my wings.

Your Menu, Ma'am

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, The Siren:

Like a waitress with a menu, a woman holds a sheet and asks us to choose what we think will bring us happiness and fulfillment. The inside joke is that there is no 'thing' which will bring us endless joy. Fun and pleasure are nice, but they aren't fulfilling. We live in flux, so even our desires and goals don't stay the same. The Siren shows a singing enchantress looking with complete detachment as a sailor (drawn by her voice) drowns. Ask those who live at death's door what they think would bring happiness, and their answers would be very different from those who who have forgotten life has an expiration date. Perhaps they might long to breathe painlessly with ease, to see another sunset, to hug those they love, and to spend more time doing good in the world rather than chasing the next pleasure.