Inner Well-Being

From the Tarot of Mystical Moments, the Six of Cups; from the Inner Eye Oracle, Commitment:

One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. 

―Gretchen Rubin

It's funny how certain smells or sights can trigger a memory. Scientists now know that the brain uses a space-saving technique when storing memories - only key features are stored, not all the details. When retrieved, the brain uses its simulating capacities to make the memory seem whole. This rebuilding process allows us to shift our interior emotional landscape. Other things that are in our mind at the same time - particularly if they are pleasant or unpleasant - will shape the memory. As psychologist Rick Hanson explains, "every time you sift positive feelings and views into painful, limiting states of mind, you build a little bit of neural structure. Over time, the accumulating impact of this positive material will literally, synapse by synapse, change your brain." The Six of Hearts indicates commitment, a decision to sincerely dedicate ourselves to someone or something. What could be more worthy than devoting ourselves to our emotional and mental health?

Manna

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, a book and deck set created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem. This set was published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll be using is the I Misteri della Sibilla, created by Ettore Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's draws are the Six of Pentacles and Money (6 of Hearts):

          My first thought upon seeing this card was 'manna' - originally a biblical term that has also come to mean an unexpected or gratuitous benefit. This giant fey doesn't seem to be making judgments about who will or won't receive her goodwill. Her kind of generosity doesn't worry about worthiness, only need. Denaro shows a fellow deep in thought with a pile of gold on his table. Perhaps he is someone who has learned to live modestly and now wonders what in the world he should do with his good fortune. Surely there are repairs to make, bills to pay and a nest egg to add to, but what about the excess? He could wade into the sea of humanity and exercise goodwill when he encounters distress or destitution. In the words of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, "It takes generosity to discover the whole through others. If you realize you are only a violin, you can open yourself up to the world by playing your role in the concert."

Where the Heart Is

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem and published by Lo Scarabeo. This morning's draw is the "Chariot:"

To accomplish a purpose or reach a goal, we need two things: movement and direction. I can dream a thousand dreams, but unless I do something (move), I'll be no closer to my objective. I can also get moving but have so many distractions that I move in circles or chaotically and make no progress. The little frog-like fey has a whip to keep the mouse and lizard in motion, but no reins. However the lady fey sits in a trance state, with her focus solely on the place she expects to arrive. Her senses, emotions and unhelpful thoughts are all in submission to her directive. Her will gives boundaries and structure, so the effort made is not in vain. She pointedly asks me, "What do you need to put in motion? What is moving that needs the framework of self-discipline?"

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the I Misteri della Sibilla (The Mysteries of the Sibyl), created by E. Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's card is "Money / Six of Hearts:"

A man sits deep in thought at a table covered in gold coins. If not for the suit of hearts, I might think this card was only about financial matters. But it refers to what is meaningful and important to me in the physical world. A doctor may tell me I need to take better care of myself, or a relative might tell me to go back to school, but if my heart is not in it, I will surely fail. Before I hop on that Chariot and gallop off into the sunset, I need to make sure the effort is one I am not only willing to make but passionate about as well.

Who's Calling the Shots?

From the Tarot of the Masters, the High Priestess:

My first thought when I saw this image was, "Is she pulling taffy?" While I do advocate formal sitting meditation, I have found repetitive tasks can work too. Whether pulling weeds, coloring a sketch or walking, I can dive below my normal thought processes to a place of calm. This inner resource allows me to find answers or receive direction without interference of my emotions or prejudiced opinions. It moves me past the veil of the High Priestess - past the ego which runs around like Chicken Little yelling "The sky is falling." This resource enables me to intuitively know how to handle situations yet gives me the responsibility of using this knowledge in concrete ways.

From the Key to the Kingdom comes the "Six of Hearts:"

let me be your vacuum cleaner

breathing in your dust

let me be your ford cortina 

i will never rust

if you like your coffee hot

let me be your coffee pot

you call the shots

i wanna be yours

I remember these candy hearts from Valentine's Day; they were hard as rocks and tasted awful, but we loved them for the messages printed on them. The rhyme for this card, however, made me choke on my coffee. Okay, I get this fellow is probably just trying to express how much he loves someone, but does he really want someone else to call all the shots? I think not. I am reminded by this card that no matter how clear the message inside my head is, I need to make doubly sure when I say it out loud those who hear it, hear it correctly. I'm not volunteering to breathe in anyone's dust!