Not My Wishes

From the Prairie Tarot, Temperance; from the Medicine Cards, Prairie Dog:

If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. 

—Epictetus

This apothecary knows that only the right balances of tinctures make the medicine. Too much or too little might do more harm than good. I have a friend who is making some horrible life choices. I have gone through a range of emotions, from wanting to rage, wanting to fix or simply ignoring her (aversion, attachment, ignorance - the Three Poisons in Buddhism). Prairie Dog signals that it is time for rest and an internal quest. Self-awareness helps me understand what I can and can't control. Restraint allows me to recognize any reaction would be wasted energy and completely useless. The words of Jack Kornfield keep coming back to me: "The happiness and suffering of others depend on their actions and not my wishes for them."

Living Musically

From the PetraK Tarot, Art/Temperance; from the Astrodice, Moon in Gemini, First House:

In the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically. ―Vincent Van Gogh

Unlike Temperance in RWS based decks, the PetraK Tarot sees this card from a Thoth perspective. There is no walking a fine line between extremes, but a wholesale effort to combine contradictory or opposite elements into one pot. Nothing is ignored; all parts are included to enrich the whole. When researchers measure light as a particle or wave, they find what they are looking for. Yet in a sense, light is both wave and particle, and it is neither. When we stop expecting and assuming, separating what we prefer from what we don't, we discover a much more diverse and astonishing world. The Moon in Gemini within the First House describes a person who is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, while continually tuned in and soaking up those of others. All the while, nothing is hidden. There are no deceptive intentions or agendas. Receptivity and honesty are tools that can help us live "more musically."

A Second Look

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, Temperance; from the Gemstone Oracle, Pink Aventurine:

Sometimes the most significant power lies in what is left unsaid, in restraint, in timing, in the ability to pause. ―Egbearor Favour

This doe must feel a little bit squeezed as she walks through the trees growing so close together. It reminds me of being grounded as a teen, put on restriction for unruly behavior. Humans prefer to indulge their senses and emotions, not simply to satisfy but to submerge ourselves to the point of overflowing. Yet restraint is not a punishment, but a freedom; we don't allow our impulses to influence us irrationally and then end up being forced to deal with the consequences. Pink Aventurine is paired with Marcel Proust's words: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Restraint allows us to be resourceful rather than heedless. It allows us to find new, nourishing ways to create, say or do things that our impulses often overlook.

The Untrained

From the Greenwood Tarot, Balance (Temperance); from the Rune Cards, Oak (Ac):

Discipline is not the enemy of spontaneity but rather its foundation. Without discipline, our actions are dictated by fleeting impulses, external influences, and the whims of an untrained mind.

—Raffaello Palandri

Potter's Temperance shows a blending of dualities that creates someone who is grounded and at one with themselves. This card is not meant to rain on our parade or take away our fun. But it does ask us to consider what is pulling on our leash, what is driving our extremes in thought or behavior. The problem with extremes is that they always pour kerosene on the bonfire - we find neither peace nor contentment. Oak's rune poem reads: 

The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.

Often it traverses the gannet's bath,

and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith

in honorable fashion. 

 

The poem praises the oak for what it offers, yet note the last line about the ocean. It refers to the oak's strength being tested by the ocean when it is used in the building of ships. We need inner strength to resist the pull on our leashes, to develop the freedom to choose rather than simply follow our impulses.

The Road is Wide

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, Temperance; from the Ostinato Oracle, Key:

From a psychological perspective, extremism is something broader. It’s a state of motivational imbalance — a mental tunnel vision where one goal, belief, or identity becomes so dominant that everything else fades from view. — Arie W. Kruglanski

Extremism is a capacity we all have, an evolutionary part of our biology that allows us to mobilize in times of crisis. In today's world, it often shows up as a quest for significance, purpose or identity. Commitment and passion aren't necessary bad traits, but when our drive eclipses our relationships, health and joy, that's a red flag. Our foot slips off the stone of reason into the rush of feeling and emotion. In music, a Key is the major or minor scale around which a piece of music revolves, almost like a gravitational force. Other notes move away from then back toward it, making the music interesting. This notation reminds us that the road of moderation is wide, allowing us to move away from the middle without reaching the edges of extremism. 

Small Roles

This week I'll be using the Sacred India Tarot, a deck and book set created by Rohit Arya with Jane Adams and published by Yogi Impressions. Along with it, I'll be using Theresa Hutch's Land Sky Oracle: A Journey Through Patanjali's 8 Limbs of Yoga, now published by U.S. Games. Today's draws are Temperance and Satya:

Better to have a small role... than to cast yourself as the lead in your own fiction.

―Devaughn Moore LeCrae

Ganga, used to illustrate Temperance, was the personification of the river Ganges. She was a mighty heavenly river until Lord Brahma saw that her waters were needed on earth. Warned that her power might destroy the earth when she descended (she was not pleased about leaving heaven), Shiva made a maze of his matted hair that slowed the rush of her descent. Eventually, Ganga would temper her arrogance and learn to nourish others. Satya (truthfulness), the second of the five restraints described in the Yoga Sutra, encourages us to think, speak, and act with integrity. We don't need to embellish our roles and accomplishments to make us look good in the eyes of others. Exhibitionism is not a good fit for trustworthiness. 

Liberation from Extremes

From the Middle Way Arcana, Temperance; from the Vertical Oracle, Monkey Mind:

The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding these two extremes, leads to peace of mind, wisdom, & complete liberation from the dissatisfactions of life.

~Henepola Gunaratana

Buddha lived many years as an indulged prince, but when he acknowledged the inevitability of sickness, aging and death, he decided to try ascetism to find meaning. Neither approach showed him how to live a content and purposeful life until he sat down under a tree with a fed belly and meditated without expectation. He realized a path that accepts the pain inherent in life yet also offers a way to avoid dumping more suffering on top of it. He taught a Way that didn't involve extremes. Monkey Mind is a reminder that these extremes can be mental as well as physical. Ever found yourself making pointless lists of things or traveled down a rabbit hole searching the internet? It's all forms of intoxication, and Buddha would encourage us to seek mental clarity and peace instead.

Shades of Gray

From the Idiosyncradeck, Temperance; from the Mixed Emotions Cards, Confusion:

The spaces in between, where absolutes blur, are where growth and understanding thrive. 

―Liz Durden-Myers

The creator's comment on this card was, "Even when it's dark, there's light." We have been trained to think that our security and stability comes from choosing what is right and good and avoiding what is wrong and bad, as if things were clearly marked and defined. Confused is what happens when we experience cognitive dissonance, realizing that two different beliefs could both be true. While binary thinking may be helpful in making quick decisions, Durden-Myers explains that it stifles our creativity, creates societal divisions and overlooks the complexity of life. There's a lot of good in seeing in shades of gray rather than only black or white.

Do This First

From the Tarot of the Abyss, Temperance; from the Nature Mandala Cards, Change:

Combine the extremes, and you will have the true center.

―Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

In the fires of rage, the depths of despair, or the icy clutch of fear, what we think we should do is usually some extreme reaction. It's not that we should eliminate these feelings, as they may contain useful information. But we need to let them mix with a bit of calmness, hope, and courage to give us a clearer, more balanced view. Somewhere between "Off with his head!" and "I'll just be hiding under the bed covers," there is a solution that might be more effective. Effective Change is not brought about by getting hooked by our emotions, allowing our old habits and patterns to take over. It comes when we allow the mud to settle. As Jimi Hendrix put it, "In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first."

Contrasting Togetherness

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, Temperance; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, Tea and Coffee:

Why be a star when you can make a constellation? 

―Naomi Murakawa

This angel seems to encourage us to mix our personal goals with spiritual values. Doing so will require an other-centered approach rather than a self-centered one. We must be willing to add other views and ideas to our own, to create with a mix of colors rather than just one hue. Tea and Coffee represent friendship - a pairing of differences that make for a lively and interesting companionship. As Margaret Mead wrote, "If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place."

Stuck in Our Stance

From the Ellis Tarot, Temperance; from the Brownies Oracle, Revolution:

The people—confused and excited—hear only the strident voices of the audacious and refuse to listen to the voice of wisdom which, being wise, is temperate.

― Lloyd C. Douglas

When holding an extreme view - and we're so focused on being right, we rarely see it as such - we automatically close our mind to any other viewpoint. We think that to mix our opinions with another perspective only cancels them out, yet we actually cut off any avenue to the wisdom of reality. An open, temperate mind doesn't dump one view for another but sorts through, examines, and finds the best of both. Revolution suggests change, which will never happen (even beneficial change) if we can't soften our beliefs and attitudes. Who know what we might be missing by staying stuck in our stance?

Calmness and Clarity

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, Temperance (Camellia); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Salmon:

Calmness is the cradle of power. —Josiah Gilbert Holland

Temperance advises us that mindfulness leads to clarity and the ability to discern appropriate action. Camellias are known for their lovely ornamental blooms in the fall, but Camellia sinensis is known as the ‘tea plant.’  It is the most common plant in the world to be used to make tea (green and black), usually from young leaves. Making and sipping tea gives us a chance to slow down and widen our tunnel vision. Salmon invites us to return to the internal source of an issue. As Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche suggests, " If an emotion or a disturbing state of mind is too painful to look at directly, seek the underlying condition that holds it in place. You may be surprised at what you discover."

Mindful Courage

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, Temperance; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Ochre:

From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions create problems. Considered responses bring peace. With a peaceful heart whatever happens can be met with wisdom. 

— Jack Kornfield

We are constantly being influenced by what is going on in our heads and in our environment. How we relate to these things will determine whether we choose an emotional reaction or a wise response. Rather than being fueled by impulsiveness, a response is thoughtful and deliberate, seeking to improve the situation. Temperance suggests we choose what is constructive rather than destructive. The Dreamtime story of Ochre tells of a murderous, giant lizard and a brave dingo who faced it. When the lizard was killed, its blood soaked the earth and created ochre. In celebration, the tribe used this earthy pigment to paint their bodies. Mindful courage will take us down the middle path, avoiding any excesses that only create more problems.

A More Colorful Life

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Temperance; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Ash:

The aim of ideology is to eliminate ambiguity.

―Margaret Atwood

Temperance is a warning that we could be shifting to extremes in our ideas or actions. This slide is easy to make when we form a tight circle with people who think and behave as we do. Our attitudes seem normal when there is no one different with whom to compare them. As Gustave Le Bon explained, "they are always inclined to exaggerate the worth of their principles, and to push them to their extreme consequences." Nuin (Ash) is associated with part of a weaver's loom. Weaving in what is diverse allows for more wisdom and creativity, leading to a fuller, more colorful life.

We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.

―Tim Berners-Lee

What's in the Mix?

From the Out of Hand Tarot, Temperance; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Humphrey's Wentletrap:

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please. 

―Epictetus

Jamie sees Temperance as a bartender, asking what we want mixed together for our day. "Will that be neat - sitting on the couch in a funk all day - or would you like to add a slice of taking a walk and a splash of calling a friend?" In statistics, moderation occurs when the relationship between two variables depends on a third variable, the effect modifier. That modifier might be to consider how continuing to do what we are doing is going to make us feel in 24 hours. Will we feel better or worse? The Humphrey's Wentletrap has a succession of coils that have tall rib-like structures running up the sides. These ribs may offer some protection against other predatory snails, making it difficult or impossible to bore a hole in a shell with such obstructions. We often react to external situations as if we needed to shield ourselves from them. Yet what often hurts us more is the thoughts that drive our reactions to them. We may need to protect ourselves from the unfounded beliefs we think are true.

Tempered Transformation

From the Cosmic Tarot, Temperance; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Interdiction:

And where two raging fires meet together,

They do consume the thing that feeds their fury

―William Shakespeare

Temperance mixes elements in order to create something useful and beneficial. We see it in cooperation, when each person doesn't demand doing everything their way. It is seen in compromise, when countries give up some things in order to reach an accord. Temperance is transformational, helping us avoid extremes so that we can live more skillfully and peacefully. Yet Interdiction - the act of forbidding something in order to prevent something - suggests that Temperance can also save us from overindulging in anything that might cause us or others harm.

Wise Choices

From the Llewellyn Tarot, Temperance; from the Beasts of Albion, Weasel:

Craving creates tunnel vision: We see only what we yearn for. Mindfulness allows us to see that and much more, giving us the choice not to act on our desires. 

—Joan Duncan Oliver

According to legend, Cantre'r Gwaelod was a low-lying, fertile land fortified against the sea by a dyke with a series of sluice gates that were opened at low tide to drain the land. Seithennin (now known with the subtitle "of the feeble mind") - a drunkard and carouser - was responsible for the sluices. In the first version of the tale, he got drunk and failed to open the gates, flooding the village. In another, he forced himself on the well's guardian, and as a retaliation, the well overflowed and consumed the land. Temperance is a reminder that desires without discernment rarely cultivate good fortune. Weasel has a reputation as a fierce, agile and efficient hunter. He is the "Holder of the Strength of Mind;" the ability to help us focus the mind can help us overcome challenges and avoid dire situations. 

As Best As I Can

From the Middle Way Arcana, Temperance; from the Vertical Oracle, Reality Check:

The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding these two extremes, leads to peace of mind, wisdom, & complete liberation from the dissatisfactions of life.

~Henepola Gunaratana

Buddha began life as a pampered prince and later led a life of austerity as an ascetic. Neither approach led him to enlightenment and contentment. In our search for happiness and satisfaction, we often take an extreme approach, thinking it to be the fast track to our goal. But as Buddha found, it is a middle path between fundamentalism and excess that will light our way to liberation. Reality Check suggests that we have resorted to imbalance and need to find clarity. We might be trying to control a situation we have no influence over, demanding that things be different, and arguing with what are the facts. Instead, we might take the words of Vidyamala Burch to heart: "Out of acceptance grows a new phase, which I call flourishing. When you let go of the battle, let go of fighting with your spirit, then more energy will rise up. Let me love this life as best as I can."

  

The Swing of the Sword

From the Tarot of the Hidden Realms, Temperance; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the Hero:

That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. ―Tao Te Ching, Chapter 43.

Temperance is a reminder that when we take an extreme stand, we cause suffering to ourselves and others. We can easily find ourselves in the camp of fundamentalism, having a long list of things and people we are against, but very few groups or issues that we focus on healing or being benevolent toward. Our self-identity can easily become linked to our cause, further separating us. The Faerie's Hero is a feminine form; she does not fight battles fueled by intolerance and hatred. Her sword of truth swings like a cool rain falling on a parched land, bringing love, kindness and justice. 

Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.

― Joseph Fort Newton

One Shoestring

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, Temperance; from the Mahjongg Oracle, Fisherman:

Our true nature is like the infinite sky, unmarked by whatever drama temporarily appears in its vast space. —Kittisaro

Adulthood generally brings fixed ideas and behavior patterns, with a great divide between what we think is good and bad or right and wrong. Such is the foundation for a a feeling of discontent and unhappiness with the way things are. But instead of a chasm between what we cherish and what we abhor, imagine seeing them on a continuum - two ends of the same shoestring. The Fisherman is a symbol of patience and tolerance, qualities that are necessary if we are to see and hear the world beyond a rigid mindset. We rest in a mind that is as vast as the sky. Then we might follow Kofi Annan's encouragement to "confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity."