Out of Motion

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Sun:

Unfold your own myth.

― Rumi

The Queen of Wands is straightforward, independent, and self-motivated. An elemental combination of water and fire, she is the steam engine that flies down the tracks to her goal. But because she is also a nurturer, she wants to inspire others to follow their dreams and passions too. She doesn't force but encourages, believing in us until we can believe in ourselves. Learning and doing something new and different can make us feel like a fumbling fool. But as the Sun indicates, having someone cheer us on can keep us going until we find our footing and develop some self-confidence. As Richard E. Byrd reminds us, "Progress grows out of motion."

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. 

Nature's Timetable

This week I'll be using the Mary-El Tarot, created by Marie White and published by Schiffer. I'll be pairing it with the OH Cards, created by Ely Raman and Joe Schlichter and published by Eos Enterprises. Today's cards are the Knight of Disks and the Sun:

Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor. 

―Hesiod

The Knight of Disks represents Air in the element of Earth, reminding me of the importance of wind driven pollination in bearing fruit. Besides being reliable and resourceful, he is also creative when it comes to improving material matters. But if this Knight is so hardworking, why is he resting in the shade of a large tree? The Sun from the OH cards suggest this is the heat of the day. As the poet and farmer Hesiod stated, balance and timing play a huge part in the success of what we're doing. Watering plants at noon when evaporation is at its peak does very little good (and wastes water). And working outdoors in such heat is an invitation for heat stroke. Sometimes we must work on nature's timetable and not our own. 

Vigor and Vitality

From the RainShadow Tarot, the Sun; from the Liminal Spirits Oracle, Star:

There’s always the sunshine, only we must do our part, we must move into it. 

— Clara Louise Burnham

Two stars appear in the cards drawn today, one that rules our days and the other our nights. The Sun brings warmth and light, creating vigor and vitality. In the tree world, vigor is the capacity to survive and thrive while vitality is the ability to respond and grow. It's a day for sending our roots down and our branches up and outward. The Star brings guidance into the mix. It would be easy to waste our energy on what we can't control or on situations that don't really matter in the big scheme of things. If we feel like we're spinning in circles, it might be a good idea to check and see if we've lost our focus.

Don't Lose Those Parts

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Sun; from the State by State Playing Cards, Texas (Three of Spades):

There is a wisdom in children, a kind of knowing, a kind of believing, that we, as adults, do not have. 

― Adam Gidwitz

Lying under the warm bright rays of the Sun, the Fool hears the laughter of children playing. In a moment of clarity, he suddenly realizes he is no longer the naive Fool, but a Wise Child. He’s gained a deeper understanding of life and how to effectively navigate it, yet he hasn’t lost his trust or sense of wonder along the way. He laughs out loud, feeling confident, energetic, and full of joy. To continue to hold on to our ability to be amazed, revel in beauty, and have an optimistic outlook as we grow older and wiser is a blessing. Texas is known for producing the first cowboy boots, inspired by the vaquero-style boots of Spain. A tall boot that hugged the calf, it was meant for protection and keeping the foot firmly anchored in the stirrups while riding. Nowadays, boots can be found in many colors with fancy stitching and designs. As the Wise Child knows, you can be practical while still joyfully being true to yourself.

Cleaning the Mirror

From the Gill Tarot, the Sun; from the Circle Deck, Sanctuary:

Only a child sees things with perfect clarity.

― Douglas Adams

There are so many things we hide in the shadows - what causes us pain or sadness, that which creates fear, and those matters we're just too stressed to deal with. But under the Sun, those shadows invite us to dance, to relate with them not as an enemy but as an ally that helps us see life with clarity and understanding. Its warmth soothes and its radiance releases the energy that we were using to keep everything concealed. Sanctuary is not meant as a place to avoid and hide from life; instead, it is a sheltered place to do such work with a feeling of safety. 

Right Use of Knowledge

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Queen of Swords; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, the Sun:

Without knowledge action is useless, and knowledge without action is futile. 

—Abu Bakr

This woman is no ice queen. While she's capable of the most abstract thought, she understands her life is relational. She offers snippets of truth and advice that are grounded in real life. These are the pieces of information people can put to use, a way for them to create change for the better. The Sun woman travels across the sky carrying a torch, creating daylight. Motion keeps her from being caught by those who would like to control her for their own purposes. Sun represents patterns, awakening and movement. Having helpful information does little good if it's not used. As Charles Spurgeon said, "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge."

Clarity

From the Fey Tarot, the Sun; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Two of Diamonds (Letter):

Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that. ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

The Sun illuminates all shadows, those that we're unaware of and those that we avoid. It shows us what is beautiful and good, but it also shows us the reality of life too. Yet once we see that reality without all of our assumptions and projections, it's so much easier to deal with what is. And with that gift also comes the ability to recognize the love and resources at hand as well. The Letter (Two of Diamonds) represents an exchange of news and information. Whatever it relays, it will help to shine some of those sunbeams on it, so we simply see it as it is. 

A Sense of Wholeness

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Cat People, created by Karen Kuykendall and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be drawing from the Insectorum Divinorum, created and self-published by Esmeralda Rupp-Spangle. This morning's cards are the Sun and Scarab:

When you come together with your other half, you immediately experience a sense of wholeness and completeness. —Andrew Cohen

Remember the children's song, the Hokey Pokey? You start out putting just one body part in at a time, but eventually you "put your whole self in." Our society often tries to force us to show only parts of ourselves - restricting the way we act, speak or think - so that we fit their definition of 'appropriate.' But that's like asking a bird to fly with one wing. The Sun tells us to put our whole self in, which gives us the energy we need to throw ourselves fully into life, allowing us to experience joy and deal with any challenges. The Scarab implies self-motivation and tireless effort in order to get important work done. It takes effort to erase those tapes in our head from our culture and upbringing. The whole you is worth it.

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.

Purpose Paired With Bliss

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Rune Cards, Sun (Sowilo):

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

When salmon have matured, they migrate up freshwater rivers to spawn, swimming with determination and purpose. Potter suggests the self-sacrificing Knight of Cups believes he also serves a greater purpose. This compassionate fellow knows through experience what researchers have now discovered: altruism has a positive effect on subjective well-being, including life satisfaction and positive emotions. Yet the Sowilo (Sun) rune reminds us that even the most devoted person benefits from time soaking in their own beam of joy and vitality. As Joseph Cambell explains:

[Sacred space] is an absolute necessity for anybody today... Our life has become so economic and practical in its orientation that, as you get older, the claims of the moment upon you are so great, you hardly know where the hell you are, or what it is you intended. You are always doing something that is required of you. Where is your bliss station? You have to try to find it.

Grief

This week I'll be using the Spacious Tarot, a self-published deck that was a collaboration between Annie Ruygt and Carrie Mallon. I'll also be using the Phenomena Oracle, a deck self-published by Jessica Bott. Today's draws are Death and the Sun:

I want you, I need you, oh God,

Don't take

These beautiful things that I've got.

–Benson Boone

There is nothing in the physical world that doesn't have an expiration date. Yet the booklet reminds us that Death is an unbiased, neutral force; life cannot exist without decay. As nature teaches, it is that decay which nourishes that which comes next. But first we grieve our losses. The Sun suggests clarity, warmth and energy, and in the case of an ending, acceptance. We begin to see that although the hurt still lingers, we recognize that joy, beauty, and goodness still abounds.

You will not ‘get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to. –Elisabeth Kubler-Ross​

A Little Shade in the Sun

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, the Sun; from the Ostinato Oracle, Mezzo:

Let's go outside and look at the beautifulness. 

~Grayson, age 4

The Marseille features on this toddler make him appear old in a young body - the naive Fool has now become the Wise Child. Having made many trips around the sun by this point, hard knocks have taught him humility and unexpected joys have created gratitude. He would agree with Albert Einstein: “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” Yet such an attitude helps him look with curiosity and playfulness while seeing with clarity what most people miss. Mezzo is an Italian word that means "middle" in music. Rather than singing or playing at full range, it moderates the fullness. When we are enjoying the Sun's influence, it can be tempting to want to drink it all in at once and over-indulge in whatever we are enjoying. But moderation will allow us to enjoy the sweetness and 'beautifulness' without any after-affects later.

Removing Hindrances

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Sun; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Friends:

The teachings emphasize removing hindrances to seeing clearly so that one can abide in the clarity of reality as it actually is. —Gaelyn Godwin

In the Secret Forest, the thick canopy of trees shelters most of the woodland, but occasionally trees fall and open up an area to the Sun. The the darkness is replaced with a brightness that clarifies what once was seen only dimly. What are the hindrances that keep us from seeing with clarity? Buddhists identify five categories: 

1) Sensual desire (craving and grasping for what brings us pleasure)

2) Ill will (hatred, jealousy, self-righteous indignation)

3) Sloth and Torpor (laziness, disinterest, confusion, sleepiness)

4) Restlessness and Worry (an undercurrent of irritation, rumination, anxiety)

5) Skeptical Doubt (cynicism, as opposed to questioning doubt that looks for answers)

When we see reality as it is, we can make better choices with skill. The Friends card reminds me of a dear friend; like these two beings, we are very different in some regards (race, religion and personality). Yet our values bond us, and our differences help us see each other's blind spots. 

Embrace the Day

This week I'll be using the Shadowscapes book and deck set published by Llewellyn. The artwork is done by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and the book is written by Barbara Moore. I'll also be drawing from a set of Cedar Runes; The Serpent and the Eagle by Chris Travers will serve as an accompanying text. Today's draws are the Sun and Raidho:

 The bright Sun, that brings back, not light alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man...

~Charles Dickens

We've had quite a few gray, rainy days lately, but as soon as blue skies and the sun return, the neighborhood will fill with people taking walks or gardening. Sunshine seems to be magnetic that way, pulling people (as well as animals and plants) upward and outward. It's no wonder the Sun is a symbol of vitality, radiant joy and growth. Our energy and optimism return, motivating us to embrace the day. Raidho ('riding') suggests an internal or external journey. As the Anglo-Saxon rune poem alludes, it's easy to romanticize such a challenge, but actually being on the road can demand energy and tenacity. As John Steinbeck put it, "we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." Keeping our mind clear of glamorous expectations can help us meet any obstacles with skill and humor, while appreciating new sights and insights.

Seeing Clearly

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Sun; from the Druid Animal Oracle, the Fire Dragon:

No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.

―George Jean Nathan

Although I've seen this card multiple times, I don't think I've ever noticed that this little boy is standing in the stirrups, getting an even higher perspective. The horse is a symbol of freedom; when we are no longer desperately grasping at what we want, fighting off what we don't, or clinging to what we think will leave us, we see reality clearly. When our energy is no longer wastefully expended, we relax and are filled with a joyous vigor and vitality. We can deal with what is. The Fire Dragon represents the energy of transmutation, the state of changing a condition or form to another. When we can see clearly, we can make changes that create better circumstances rather than adding to the confusion and chaos.

Feeling the Power

This week I'll be using the New Era Elements Tarot, created by Eleonore Pieper and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using the Tao Oracle, created by Ma Deva Padma and published by St. Martin's Press. Today's draws are the Sun and The Gentle (Hexagram 57):

Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. 

―Oprah Winfrey

The Sun represents a power that energizes us and brings joy, creative growth and clarity. It's easy to get caught up in our daily duties and forget to lift our heads and look for what excites us. Yet even in our busyness, we can keep an eye out for that which inspires and stimulates us. As Ceri Evans explains, "Being internally driven feels different. Instead of feeling the weight of expectation coming down on us from the outside, we feel power flowing up from within." Yet The Gentle (Hexagram 57) encourages us not to get so excited that we inhale it in one bite. Instead, we go slowly and mindfully, appreciating each part while we maintain our clarity.   

A Measure of Darkness

From the Norse Tarot, the Sun; from the Viking Lenormand, the Letter:

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness.

— Carl Jung

This Sun card is illustrated with Álfröðull ("elf-beam"), the daughter of the Norse goddess Sol. When Sol was killed during Ragnarok, she became the second sun to light then new world. The holidays are a tough time for many people for various reasons; rather than a celebration of light, these days can feel more like a descent into darkness. The Letter, a symbol of some form of communication, suggests a way to light a candle and illuminate our psychological night. We can reach out to others through emails, cards, calls or letters instead of focusing on ourselves. And when we receive the same from another, we can allow it to spark our gratitude when we realize that someone is thinking of us.

Purpose of the Storm

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Six of Wands; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, the Sun: 

But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about. ― Haruki Murakami

The Six of Wands ("Victory" in Thoth descriptions) shows the joy that comes after a struggle. There is such relief and wonder in our experience of freedom that we don't focus too much on the cause at first. But as we begin taking our success or ease for granted, we may want to blame or accuse those who seemed to make our challenge harder. Yet this card also implies that what we went through in our ordeal was meant to help us develop and grow, or in some cases, to bring insight and understanding. Like the Six of Wands, the Sun is about accomplishment. But it also shows the happiness and good that lie before us - the result of what we learned and experienced.

An Opening

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, Renewal (Judgment); from the Elemental Dice, Sun (Light + Fire):

Giving up one’s own certainties can open up a door toward a deeper intimacy with things.

—Henry Shukman

Judgment illustrates a crack opening in our minds and hearts, a transforming experience that causes us to perceive life in a radically different way. The dice roll of Sun suggests warmth and clarity. Together they bring the message of being with reality in a new way - relaxing, releasing attachments, and resisting nothing. When we're not constantly in battle mode, we can respond with clear insight and compassion. We begin to see that even within chaos and heartache, there is still beauty, joy and kindness to be found if we're not focused in one direction.