Seeds, not Bolts

 From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Tower; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Singer of Connection:

          Before moving in, I'm sure this little fairy researched which tree was less likely to be hit by lightning, uprooted by wind storms, or toppled by flooding. Yet even with all her preparation and knowledge, the crash came anyway. When we feel like we've figured the 'why' of things, it can be comforting and give the illusion of control. But sometimes having all the answers still doesn't prevent life from turning upside down. As John Ciardi put it, a good question isn't like a bolt to be tightened but a seed to be planted. The Singer of Connection prods us to get out of our roly-poly, self-pity mode by remembering the one thing all people have in common - the experience of pain. If our own suffering is acknowledged and held with compassion, it allows us to sit compassionately with others who are dealing with similar experiences.

We can bring empathy to ourselves by meeting pain with embodied awareness, curious about the sensations. It’s not that we long for the pain to continue. We can aspire for a release from pain, but we bring kindness and compassion to whatever is happening.

—Sebene Selassie

Stand Your Ground (When It Comes to Self-Care)

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Five of Pentacles; from the Faeries' Oracle, 'The Singer of Connection:'

          "Water moccasin" and "cottonmouth" are common names for Agkistrodon piscivorus, a semiaquatic pit viper found in the southeastern U.S. These snakes have a reputation for standing their ground rather than fleeing. The appearance of such a water snake crawling up a thorny branch may be here to give the same advice. The holidays can take a toll on finances, health, energy and time, especially since we are constantly reminded 'tis the season to be generous and giving. Yet we also must be good stewards of our resources. The Singer of Connection represents balanced empathy. For instance, a friend having a hard time might appreciate an attentive ear more than buying her a steak dinner that we have to put on a nearly maxed out credit card. The Family Alliance for Caregivers offers some self-care suggestions that would benefit anyone during the holidays:

~Learn and use stress-reduction techniques, e.g. meditation, prayer, yoga, Tai Chi.
~Attend to your own healthcare needs.
~Get proper rest and nutrition.
~Exercise regularly, even if only for 10 minutes at a time.
~Take time off without feeling guilty.
~Participate in pleasant, nurturing activities, such as reading a good book, taking a warm bath.
~Seek and accept the support of others.
~Seek supportive counseling when you need it, or talk to a trusted counselor, friend, or pastor.
~Identify and acknowledge your feelings, you have a right to ALL of them.
~Change the negative ways you view situations.
~Set goals.

Kicking the Hornets' Nest

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Eight of Wands:

We have a saying here that goes "Don't kick the hornets' nest," meaning don't upset the balance of things. All the bouncing around in the tree branches by this squirrel has stirred up the bees, causing them to swarm. While it's probably not a good idea to stir up trouble for trouble's sake, sometimes it is useful to shake things up a bit when stagnation or complacency have settled in. Staying in a rut just carves that trench even deeper. And though it may feel familiar and safe, we'll soon find ourselves so far down we won't be able to see all the wonderful things going on around us.

From the Faeries' Oracle comes the "Singer of Connection:"

Reach out and touch somebody's hand

Make this world a better place if you can.

~ Diana Ross

This fairy encourages us to remember the network of people and groups we are associated with (or perhaps want to be associated with). There is of a course a feeling of vulnerability when we reach out to others, but this card is a reminder that at times we need to let our defenses down. Together with the Eight of Wands above, I believe the message for me is to connect with people, both new friends and old, to shake myself out of my rut.