Washing Through

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Sibyl (Queen) of Cups; from the Mystic Glyphs, Spider:

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.

—Chinese Proverb

This Queen would advise us to relax and let the energy of whatever emotion we're feeling wash through us. But she'd also tell us not to feed it any narratives about what happened or what might happen. Stay in the body by connecting to the senses. When the emotion dissipates, we can look at the situation from a calmer, compassionate perspective. Spider cautions us to weave our own web and stay out of the webs of others. Getting entangled in people's dramas is not our business and doesn't do anything other than create more stress. We don't have to do something about everything.

Not Inconsequential

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the King of Earth (Pentacles); from the Curious Oracle, Spider:

 

The King of Earth gets up early and goes to bed late because he wants to be aware of what is growing in his kingdom. If he pays attention, he can influence what is good and deter what isn't. The Spider suggests catching things that don't notice its web. Both of these cards remind me how easily we can slip into a pattern of behavior and get stuck in it. And certain habits tend to get worse and create more suffering. The Anti-Defamation League's Pyramid of Hate show why we need to be aware of what we might consider inconsequential words and actions:

Acknowledgment

This week I'll be using the Buckland Romani Tarot, created by Lissanne Lake and Raymond Buckland; this book and deck set was published by Galde Press. Along with it, I'll be using the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, created by Archie Fire and Chief Lame Deer; this deck and book set was published by Inner Traditions. Today's draws are the Queen of Chivs (Swords) and Spider:

The Queen of Chivs sits before an open trunk with the hilt of a sword balanced on its hinge. The trunk represents openness; she will be honest and sincere and expects us to do the same in return. As she fixes us with a steady gaze, we realize that we will get only the unvarnished truth from her. Spider symbolizes becoming entangled in our fears of the unknown. In that webby darkness of the unseen, logic and reason are replaced by dread and terror. This queen would ask us to acknowledge our fears, then would advise: "If you can do something beneficial about this situation, do it. If you are powerless to change or influence it, then work on acceptance. Either way, worry is wasted energy."

Each time we are aware of fear, we have a choice: we can acknowledge our problem and work with it, or we can run away from it and seek refuge elsewhere: distractions, pharmaceuticals, weekend feel-good-about-yourself workshops, whatever. 

—Lama Tsony

Begin Again

From the Ferret Tarot, the Moon; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Spider:

This ferret looks a little unnerved by the shadowy presence watching her. Moertl's phrase for the Moon is 'trust your instincts' - in other words, respond with action that will ensure survival. Instinct is visceral, an embodied feeling that is hard to override. Intuition, which is based on past experiences, allows us to see patterns quickly without conscious thought. Both of these (one a response and the other an instant evaluation) can be helpful in keeping us safe, physically and otherwise. Spider, who must constantly fix or remake her web, suggests that such situations can help us become resilient. When we are flexible and adaptable, willing to add to our knowledge base, it's much easier to begin again. 

Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.

― Terry Pratchett

A Little Goes a Long Way

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Knower of Rivers (Knight of Cups); from the Animal Tiles, Spider:

The Knight of Cups represents fire in the element of water - a tricky balance. When I heat my tea kettle, the water inside can be useful for making hot tea. But left too long, the heat will evaporate all the water and burn up the kettle. This Knight feels his emotions deeply and passionately, which can help him be empathetic with others. But when too much fire (passion) is added, all logic and reason get tossed out the window (No, we cannot quit our jobs and live in a love shack forever). The Spider as a weaver of webs symbolizes creation. It doesn't build its webs haphazardly but with precision and focus. It asks, "What are you creating with your thoughts and actions? Have your emotions caused a loss in focus, creating not enough or too much tension?" 

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

~Benjamin Franklin

Living in Joy

This week I'll be using the Shining Tribe Tarot, a deck and book set created by Rachel Pollack and published by Llewellyn. The oracle I'll be using is a wooden set of Animal Tiles, hand pyroetched by my multi-talented friend Carole Beasley. My draws this morning are Nine of Rivers (Cups) and Spider:

          Pollack suggests the number Nine represents confronting the truth. Here, all the cups of delusion have been shattered - the myths of the perfect relationship, career, health, bank account or prestige that were supposed to bring lasting happiness. Perhaps this was the epiphany of Albert Camus: "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger — something better, pushing right back." Spider reminds us we weave our own webs. What is external may impact us in some way, offering us a choice to rant or repair, but only the latter will bring about positive change.

When we are not attached to who we think we are, life can move through us, playing us like an instrument. Understanding how everything is in continual transformation, we release our futile attempts to control circumstances. When we live in this easy connection with life, we live in joy.

—James Baraz

Nature's Pace

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Hanging Woman; from the Animal Tiles, 'Spider:'

          Everything has been put on hold in this woman's life. Instead of being busy, she listens in stillness. Surrender is not an easy mantle to wear, but once we place it on our shoulders, we can relax rather than fight the dish life has served us. Pollack suggests that we "attach ourselves to the rhythms of the universe." Control is not an option, but learning can be. Spider teaches both responsibility and patience. She asks, "What are you weaving in your life? Each thread in your web is a choice you have made, so why blame another?" Spider also knows that waiting (like the Hanging Woman) can have better results than trying to force something to happen. "Let things happen in their own time," she advises.

Don't cross the bridge til you come to it.      

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Concrete Expectations

This week I'll be using the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, created by Granny Jones and published by Kangaroo Press. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Button Oracle, a set I made myself from a collection of buttons. Today's draws are the Nine of Wands and "Spider:"

          I hope that thunderstorm is moving away from Granny, otherwise that metal bucket on her head might provide her with more inspiration that she bargained for. The eight wands stuck into the hillside suggest she's successfully met challenges before, but she still has one more to go before she can tie up loose ends. Spider scuttles over to suggest that detachment might be necessary in order for the outcome to be beneficial. This button immediately made me think of the lojong slogan "Abandon any hope of fruition," which teaches that I should focus on the task at hand instead of being so preoccupied with my expectations. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna constantly tried to impress this upon Arjuna:
The intention behind action is what matters. Those who are motivated only by desire for the fruits of action are miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results of what they do.

You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.

Perform work in this world, Arjuna, as a man established within himself – without selfish attachments, and alike in success and defeat. 
          I'm an organized, structured sort of person, and part of my planning always involves a vision of what the outcome will look like. Which, if I just had an objective to shoot for, wouldn't be a problem. But what often happens is that my joy and sense of self-worth gets tied into a very specific result. I get selfishly attached to what I want my labors to produce, which sets me up for being miserable if things don't turn out exactly as planned. My focus should be on my actions only; non-attachment will naturally lead to equanimity. 

He's Not All Bad

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Emperor; from the Animal Tiles, the "Spider:"

       I'm leaving shortly for a road trip (to visit my mom), so when I saw the Emperor I thought of how heavy my foot can get on the gas pedal when I'm rolling down the highway. If I don't want a speeding ticket, I need to be aware of how fast I'm going instead of getting caught up in the songs I'm singing along with. But then I noticed the bull on the card, and the phrase "bull in a china shop" popped into my head. The stag-like Emperor is blocking the way so this beast can't cause destruction in his city. I grew up during a time when people my age said things like, "Question authority!" Now that I'm older, I still think we need to keep an eye on those who govern us. Yet at the same time, I see the need for such a protective structure that keeps lawlessness and disorder at bay.
       Though their web designs vary, most spiders have a pattern of sorts when they spin their web. If they only spun one long strand from one tree to another, it is doubtful they would ever catch a meal. The sticky structures they create are formed with the intention of catching insects, so instinctive guidelines in weaving keeps them from starving. Spider reminds me that rules and regulations aren't just to keep me from doing things, they also help me do other things in a better way.

A Web of Ideas

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Ace of Swords:

Ah, the tool of the visionary....  She's been to the top of the mountain and has seen the lay of the land.  The sword will cut away any fluffy nonsense, because she's interested in ideas that bring fruit (as shown on the branches).  The sword pierces the center of the crown, implying that these ideas came from a source other than ego (crown chakra).  The sword is held in the right hand, indicating the active masculine side; she'll need this quality to bring these ideas down to earth to make them practical.

     From the Beasts of Albion, the "Spider:"

This particular spider has a mark on its back that looks very much like a sword.  She is the physical representation of ideas - she weaves the web to create what her inspiration imagined.  There is a spider web across two bushes in front of the gate I use before dawn every morning, when I take out the trash.  In the dark, I can never see it, but I feel it on my face when I pass through it.  The spider reweaves it every day - my morning intrusion and damage doesn't seem to deter her a bit.  Sometimes weaving those ideas into reality require us to be quite persistent...