Adding, Not Subtracting

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the State By State playing cards, the Six of Spades - Wisconsin:

Forget bingeing on Ben and Jerry's and Netflix. There is nothing more stress relieving and joy inducing than hanging out with some close pals who have a sense of humor and love to have fun. It is as refreshing as standing in the cool spray of a fountain on a hot day. The Six of Spades illustrates what Wisconsin is often known for - it's cheese. The Dairy State's combination of fertile land and balanced climate allows milk production to excel; Wisconsin produces more than 350 varieties, types and styles of cheese–nearly double that of any other state. Cheese just seems to make a lot of meals better, and it is often added to some dishes considered to be 'comfort food.' Yet when we're feeling stressed or down, we often subtract the things that will make us feel better, whether good food, companions or something else. What do you need to add back into your life?

Chasing Pleasure

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Masters, created and self-published by James Ricklef. (I'll also be referring to Ricklef's Tarot Affirmations book.) The oracle deck I'll be using is The Key to the Kingdom, a set of transformational cards and companion book created by Tony Meeuwissen and published by Running Press. Today's draws are the Lovers and the Six of Spades:

 But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise."

― Stephen R. Covey

          The Lovers shows a young man making a choice between a sultry, fun-loving woman and another who appears overly modest and more serious. If he lets his decision be made by his hormones, it's a no-brainer. The verse for the Six of Spades is by John Gay and inscribed on his monument in Westminster Abbey:

Life is a jest,

And all things show it;

I thought so once,

But now I know it.

Gay obviously realized that the moment we are born, we begin to die. The evidence is all around, but if our attention is absorbed by self-pleasure, we likely won't notice. That's not to say we shouldn't enjoy the bit of life we've been allotted, but perhaps we should consider the intentions behind our day-to-day choices if we'd rather have contentment and joy rather than simply chasing pleasure. 

Dual Nature

From the Fey Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Six of Spades:

The shore has a dual nature, changing with the swing of the tides,

belonging now to the land, now to the sea. ~Rachel Carson 

          Like this half solid, half translucent fey, we all have the same dual nature as Carson's shore. There's a part of us that thinks we are basically good, but there's also an often hidden part that thinks we're entitled to much more (like always being right, or sticking it to someone we consider an ass). We would do best to heed the words of Dwight Morrow: "Remember, that we are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their acts." If we had someone recording all of our thoughts, words and actions each day, would it be as easy to rationalize how we behaved when replayed each night? 

          The Six of Spades has been given the keyword 'sighs,' the kind caused by the anguish of waiting. Impatience is another way that can tempt our entitled self out of the closet. That kind of thinking means we believe we deserve to wait less than anyone else. Perhaps both fey and human would do well to sigh about what is beautiful instead of worrying about boxes to tick off.

Spending It

From the Fey Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Six of Spades (Longing):

          A multi-generational  fey family (including their pets who look like fur-covered garlic cloves) gather around a giant pentacle sharing stories. Judging by that gold table, they seem to be prosperous, yet from this snapshot of their lives it appears that family is what they hold most important. Perhaps they are aware that as the candle taper burns down, so too will their family be changed by deaths and births. No one has to tell them it takes more than bread to nourish the body. The Six of Spades represents conflict, and this card's keyword - longing - makes it clear the root of it is found within. Adding it to the other card, I am reminded of how often people with gobs of money tend to lose their way. They run out of things to buy (looking for the next 'high' of happiness) and often end up with drug and alcohol problems. Yet there are wealthy people who've found meaning by using their money to support worthy causes and help others. They are the ones whose lives have a purpose, and from that purpose has come joy.