Awe and Gratitude

From the Prairie Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Medicine Cards, Squirrel:

A family looks out in awe and gratitude - not at a million dollar house and a couple of BMWs that they take photos of with their new iPhone - but at the beautiful, natural landscape. As Marcus Aurelius stated, "Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life." It's not the material stuff that brings us emotional fulfillment. Contentment is found when our basic needs are met and we choose to live in the moment with appreciation. Squirrel's message about 'gathering' fits well with this card: "You have gathered nuts by the score, exactly predicting if you'll need more. Teach me to take no more than I need." There are more beneficial things to feel the hollowness within us than what we can buy.

True Wisdom

From the Prairie Tarot, the World; from the Medicine Cards, the Squirrel:

          The four figures in the World card seem to represent the four directions from a Native view: North (endurance), East (wisdom), South (growth), and West (endings). The Fool, having made his/her way through the various joys and challenges of life, now is able to find some balance in coping with the experience of living through knowledge and mindfulness. There have been some extremes along the way, but the middle ground has been discovered. Yet Squirrel, whose Medicine includes gathering and preparation, sends the message not to get too complacent as there is more to experience and learn. The right use of knowledge will bring wisdom.

True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. ~Socrates

Restoration

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the King of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, the 'Squirrel:'

          Like his son the Knight, the King of Pentacles enjoys building and growing. But because he has gotten older and matured, he also sees the practicality of saving and restoring. He would find our 'throwaway' society repulsive; his idea would be to at least make things serviceable if possible and give it to someone who could use them. While the King would appreciate Squirrel's forward-thinking in reserving a cache of food, he might not look favorably on its constant skittering to and fro. Busyness should have a purpose and not simply be a distraction, in his opinion. Yet lest we think him a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of guy, he would assure us that play and relaxation have a purpose too. As a believer in restoring things, that would include the body and spirit.

Ambition with Boundaries

From the Prairie Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Medicine Cards, Squirrel:

          This charismatic king is all about pursuing goals, having the courage to follow one's passion, and putting innovative ideas into action. Like all the kings, he is a guide for his people, which makes the barbed wire fence interesting. Even the most adventurous leader knows that it's wise to have some boundaries. In today's world the emphasis seems to be on bulldozing over boundaries with little regard for the long-range consequences. Yet boundaries are a way to show care and respect; they draw the line between ambition and greed by offering protection. Squirrel's medicine is about preparation and gathering - reserving resources for future use. These assets may be income or material things, but they could easily be energy as well. With the king's emphasis on boundaries, it is easy to apply the message of Squirrel to my own mind, body and spirit. It may be a good day to take Anne Lamott's advice: "No is a complete sentence."

A Life Well Lived

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Beasts of Albion, the "Squirrel:"

           His queen is fond of saying "follow your passion," but the King of Wands would tell you to achieve it as well. Some people might get lost in the forest along the way, but this King will climb a tree and make sure he's heading in the right direction. Unlike his son the knight, he won't start then stop something because it's lost its allure. He believes a life well lived means seeing things through, no matter how many challenges you might face. "Dream," he tells me, "then get off your bum and make it real."
          In Norse mythology, a squirrel (Ratatosk) ran the gauntlet of the World Tree, carrying messages to the eagle in the top branches and the serpent at its roots. Squirrel teaches the importance of communication, balancing the different levels of one's life and resourcefulness. Sitting still and expecting someone else to handle everything won't work; I need to be involved and put forth an effort. Otherwise, the "I" will be taken out of passion, leaving only "pass on."