50 Casseroles

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Elemental Dice, Sun (Light + Fire):

God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. 

—Billy Graham

I once had a wise woman tell me that praying for someone is a reminder to reach out and offer concrete help - feet and hands on the ground. Sharing our time, energy and resources with others is not only good for them, but also us, as it increases our happiness and well-being.  As we engage in altruism, we create a sense of community and strengthen relationships. We build trust, learning new perspectives from others and allowing them to learn about us. The Sun provides more clarity, encouraging us ask rather than assume what is needed. No one needs 50 casseroles in their refrigerator. 

Competition

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Six of Disks; from the OH cards, Measurement:

They are consumed with envy. Surrounded by all they desire, they enjoy none of it. Instead, they are constantly at war with one another: competing, comparing and consumed with their perceived lower status. ―Kellie Schorr

White uses the angel Gabriel, bringer of good news and helpful information, in her vision of the Six of Disks. This card refers to harmony restored after a period of gain and loss. Hopefully by this time we have reconsidered our attachments to comfort and material things, realizing how easily they can disappear and later reappear in different form. Such an understanding keeps us from taking things for granted or placing an unfounded value on them. Measurement paired with the Six of Disks is like the Buddhist realm of the jealous gods. Those that dwell (psychologically) in this place have a good life, yet they think it's not as great as the gods that live next door. Such comparison completely wrecks our chances for contentment, gratitude and happiness. 

Right Action

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Six of Cast Irons (Pentacles); from the Southernisms Oracle, Playing Possum:

When we bear witness, the right action arises by itself. We don't have to worry about what to do.

―Bernie Glassman

We spay and neuter the cats we adopt (even though they are indoors), but here, like many places, we have a feral cat problem. Though some people can't afford to pay for the vet's services, others who have outdoor cats simply turn a blind eye to the kittens they produce who must make their own way. The "Playing possum" card points to this habit of pretending, yet the Six of Cast Irons encourages us to not turn away. We all have resources we can share, even if it is only attention or a kind word.

Transactions

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 draws are the Six of Coins and Snake:

I learned to value the small transactions as well as the large.

—Frank Lowy

Rather than an act of charity, this Six of Coins shows a transaction. Is this man buying just the horse or acres of land too? Either way, honesty and integrity are relied upon. The seller (or bank) wants payment in a timely manner, and the buyer wants to know he's not investing in something worthless. As one man reaches out to 'shake on it,' the other pauses to consider whether this is a deal he wants to commit to. Both parties need to do their homework before the deal is struck. Snake medicine represents the transmutation of poison into understanding and wisdom. Past lapses in judgment can help us be more wary of current transactions. As John Cena put it, " If you don't learn from your mistakes, then they become regrets."

In All Forms

From the Fey Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Two of Spades (Older Woman):

It is the heart that gives; the fingers just let go.

~Nigerian Proverb

A giantess of the fey world releases manna for everyone without judging who might be worthy. Charity and goodwill usually wind up in the media these days, but generosity needs no glory. The feeling of joy from seeing others' joy is reward enough. The Two of Spades card reminds me of my own mom, who at 86 plans to drive here to see me this coming weekend. My husband has been having some serious health problems; I haven't felt comfortable being too far away from him, so we haven't seen each other in several months. Generosity comes in all forms - even a visit from one's mom.

A Thousand Fibers

From the Somnia Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Spirits of Nature Oracle, the Sun:

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.

― Herman Melville

Giving is generally done from one of two types of motives: transactional or relational. Transactional giving is self-serving and aimed at getting something quickly with as little trouble as possible. Relational giving is rooted in seeing a connection between people; it recognizes the give and take of relationships as natural and rewarding. True benevolence doesn't expect praise or payback, because it comes from the compassionate understanding that the resources given are shared between equals - we're all in this together. The Sun represents faith, not based in a set of beliefs on which we cling but on what we observe and experience. Faith, Alan Watts explains, is like floating: "You don’t grab hold of the water when you swim... the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be." That sums up the fruits of our giving and receiving as well.

Seeing Patterns, Changing Habits

From the Songs for the Journey Home, the Six of Earth Songs (Six of Pentacles); from the Magic Neko Cards, the King of Clubs:

In reflecting on the past, we discover fragments of our present selves hidden within the chapters of our history — a realization that our journey is a continuous narrative, shaped by the echoes of who we once were. ―Monika Ajay Kaul

When we look at the life we have built so far, we might not see too many patterns; it may seem like a heap of jigsaw puzzle pieces. Yet if we sort those pieces and begin to put them together, we start to see how intentional choices became habitual. Some of those repeated actions were skillful and produced wholesome results, while others just created more problems in the long run. Being able to piece together our past actions and see what they produced can help us decide if we want to continue all of those patterns or if there are some we might change in order to influence our future. The King of Clubs is a sumo wrestler, a Japanese sport in which weight, strength and agility are needed to propel one's opponent outside the ring. It takes a lot of effort to change a habit, but when doing so can radically alter our future, it's a worthy goal.

Getting to Give

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Land Sky Oracle, Passion (Kali):

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

—Maya Angelou

After forty-four days of meditating, Siddhartha Gautama experienced an awakened mind - a wisdom, compassion and clarity that is now called enlightenment. It wasn't that he just had a great idea; he discovered why humans suffer and a way out of that suffering. He could have asked to be treated like a god and paid lots of money, but instead he offered his teachings freely. This card asks if we will control or be controlled by our money, possessions and time. As Amos Russel Wells wrote, "There are only two kinds of men among all that live, the men that live to get, and the men that get to give." Kali (Passion) is the fierce, protective form of the Hindu mother goddess. Her name is derived from kala which means time or death; she knows we have limited time to liberated from the ego's demands that cause our suffering. We must not be afraid to tear down so that we can build anew. 

Navigational Adjustment

This week I'll be using Lo Scarabeo's The Classic Tarot, with the original engravings of Carlo Della Rocca and printing by F. Gumppenberg Milan. I'll also be drawing from the Constellations Deck published by Carddia. Today's draws are the Six of Coins and Pyxis:

This is one of the most dangerous illusions. The moment we stand still, we begin to decay.

― Erich Fromm

The square of four coins and bloom in the middle of this card suggests stability, but the open ends and coins at the top and bottom suggest a 'coming and going.' Whether we're talking about investing, saving and spending or healthy habits, aging and lives of excess, nothing stands still. Stagnation does not equal safety. Instead, we stay aware, adapt and adjust, while embracing the coming and going. The constellation Pyxis is a small and faint group of stars in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica - Latin for a 'mariner's compass' - it suggests guidance when we feel surrounded by open sea and sky with no landmarks. We find ourselves here if we refuse to see life as it is and instead demand it be what we wish. But there is neither peace nor contentment to be found in these seas. Better to embrace navigational adjustment.

Not An Aspiration

From the Llewellyn Tarot the Six of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, Crane:

Don’t judge people in their reduced circumstances, nobody aspires to be there.

― Shon Mehta

Sixes often represent a return to harmony and balance; in the Six of Pentacles it depicts a sharing of resources to help ease the difference between 'haves' and the 'have nots.' But what is to be made of the scales the giver holds in her hands? Is she judging whether the woman is worthy of receiving her money, or is she simply weighing the financial need? The clothes of the woman and child are neither torn nor dirty, but perhaps she is in need after leaving an abusive spouse. The Crane was often depicted standing on one foot while the other held a stone. If the bird fell asleep, the stone would be dropped, making it wake up. Thus the Crane is associated with vigilance. If I am jealously guarding what I have with a mindset of scarcity, I am impoverished in spirit. The watchfulness of Crane would imply that I become aware that my fear originates not from anything outside of me, but from the inside. 

Worthy Summit

From the Tarot of Durer, the Six of Coins; from the Philosopher's Stone deck, Apogee:

Rather than being about sharing resources, the Durer booklet suggests this cards is about wasting resources. Here the falcon we saw on the Ten of Coins now drops money over the countryside. Yes, we all spend money impulsively at times, but there is another side to that coin. I am reminded of two quotes, the first by Bertrand Russell: "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time;" the second by Aesop: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Apogee signifies a high point of our life or a masterpiece. Genuine kindness and fun are never wasted and can make a difference in me. I can develop compassion for the suffering of others and realize that life is more than a daily trudge. An open heart is truly a summit to achieve.

Personal Responsibility

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Six of Disks; from the OH Cards, Spilled Milk/Guilt:

It is when we begin to witness interdependence that we see the true importance of personal responsibility.

—Ethan Nichtern

What would it be like if humans expected responsibilities just as they demand their rights? We much prefer dividing lines of 'mine' and 'yours' rather than 'ours.' Yet this angel in this Six of Disks shows a blending together of what we try to separate; in reality there is no separate other, as we're all a part of the same huge earth-bound organism. Yes, we are diverse, but we're still connected. If the left hand is hurt, the right hand will automatically come to its aid. The Spilled Milk/Guilt combo suggests that the shame of seeing our accountability might make us act with kindness and benevolence, but guilt is not a viable motivation. Perhaps the joy and satisfaction of doing good can encourage us to continue our altruistic actions until we can grasp and understand our interdependence.

Without Self in the Equation

From the Sun and Moon Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Jade Oracle, Tezcatlipoca:

Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world.

― Pema Chodron

Being Thoth-influenced, this Six of Pentacles is given the keyword 'success.' While it does imply stability in the realms of health and finances, it goes a step further. At this point, there have been both gains and losses, and a wiser understanding of of the natural flow of things in the material world has developed. With such an understanding, it can be easier not to hoard but to offer any excess to others. Tezcatlipoca means ‘smoking mirror;’ this name referred to the obsidian mirrors that were used during ceremonial divination. This god was constantly in conflict with his brother Quetzalcoatl; both were creators of the world but often worked in opposition to each other. Tezcatlipoca's card suggests our emotions have clouded our judgment about reality. Instead we can take "self" out of the situation, dropping our agendas, opinions and assumptions to see what is real and what isn't. We're likely to then gaze upon the world with a kinder, more generous heart.

Apportionment

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Six of Pentacles; from the Archetype Cards, Slave:

When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. ―The Dalai Lama

Yab-yum statues, seen in Tibetan Buddhist art, often just look like deities copulating to Western eyes. Yet this form actually represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion. The male symbolizes mercy and appropriate response (compassion) and the female depicts insight and intelligence (wisdom). As an illustration of the Six of Pentacles, it implies an equal footing when it comes to giving and receiving. But this is not always the case, as the Slave archetype warns. I am reminded of the phrase "I serve at the pleasure of the president," meaning that one's position depends solely on the contentment of another rather than our own. Giving up our integrity or agency in return for something we think we need is not a balanced or healthy type of apportionment.

A Sense of Responsibility

From the Gill Tarot, the Six of Disks; from The Circle, Conflict:

Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained. ~Helen Keller

Gill gives this card the keyword of well-being, not just for an individual but applying it to all. In Buddhism, the three poisons - greed, hatred and delusion - have antidotes in generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom. The first three bring discontent while the second three bring joy and a sense of well-being. But getting people to willingly share their resources usually creates a push back, as Conflict shows. Often, we don't want to imagine ourselves in a place of need, so we try to ignore those who currently are. But that worrisome feeling will dog us no matter how far we try to push it down. Psychiatrist and researcher Helen Riess found that physicians who turned off their feelings and created emotional distance not only had patients who distrusted them, they became lonelier and burned out themselves. As Riess explained, "All parties are equally enriched when we perceive and respond to each other with empathy and compassion."

Understanding Interconnection

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Six of Earth (Pentacles); from the Tattwa Cards, Water/Seed of Earth:

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. ―Erich Fromm

The Six of Earth is represented by the Kwaquitil wild woman of the woods known as Tsonokwa. She was said to eat greedy children, yet she was invited to attend potlatch ceremonies in which the host gave away possessions. Generosity was what Tsonokwa honored and rewarded. She knew that greed was destructive and devoured the heart. Water/Seed of Earth's keyword is alliances. When we are known for watching over and protecting the well-being of others, for leveling the playing field instead of creating pinnacles, we form trusted relationships. It's not an "I scratch your back, you scratch mine," mindset, but understanding that we are all interconnected and dependent on each other.

The Right Size and Color

From the Ferret Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Coyote:

Those unanticipated gifts - especially in today's economy - are generally a welcome surprise (unless reciprocity is expected). But the adaptable Coyote reminds us that it doesn't have to involve money. There may be someone who needs help with homework or deciphering instructions, a lonely person who would love a conversation, or someone facing a challenge who needs to be reminded they are loved and not alone. My mom is the queen of cards - she sends them out to anyone (whether she knows them well or not) if she finds out they may need a bit of kindness. Kindness is always the right size and color.

How to Give with Discernment

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Six of Coins; from the Post Psychedelic Cyberpunk, the City:

A person of integrity gives a gift with a sense of conviction. A person of integrity gives a gift attentively. A person of integrity gives a gift in season. A person of integrity gives a gift with an empathetic heart. A person of integrity gives a gift without adversely affecting himself or others.

—Anguttara Nikaya 5.148 (trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhu)

The Six of Coins combined with the City points to what can be so hard about generosity. In a small community, people are well aware of who has lost a job, a family member or is experiencing illness and can respond appropriately. But in a city with thousands of residents, most people are strangers, especially those with cardboard signs asking for money. Yet the Buddha's words do offer us some guidelines for giving with discernment. We give when convinced of a need, without indifference, at the appropriate time, with compassion for their suffering, and without causing harm to the giver or receiver.

Natural Reflex

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Pictish Oracle, the Arch:

In gardening, there are 'cut and come again' flowers like zinnias and dahlias. Cutting blooms stimulates the growth of new stems, rewarding the gardener with a bountiful harvest. When we share our resources, we make space for more. It's a balance that prevents stagnation on one end and scarcity on the other. But as the Arch suggests, attitude is important. The Arch was likely a torc (neck ring) that denoted status. If both the giver and receiver are considered equal, there is compassion and kindness exchanged too, rather than expectation.  

Nobody is forcing us to do something; we spontaneously do what needs to be done. This one treasure is found within ourselves. 

—MyoOn Chiko Maurine Stuart

Relinquishment

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Crow:

We can hardly call a beggar an obstacle to generosity.

~Dalai Lama

The Six of Coins is about balance in receiving and giving. It asks us if we have taken more than we need to sustain us, or whether pride has kept us from asking for what we need. The story of Crow is about trickery used to get a hoarded resource (fire), and Crow's sense of entitlement to control it once he had it (which didn't work out well for him). We all feel as though we have a right to what we own, and we find it hard to relinquish any of our comforts. Yet can we can we consider whether letting go of some things could create a little more balance in the world?