Not an Easy Job

From the Fey Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the I Misteri Della Sibilla, the Ten of Spades:

In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way. ― Tina Fey

Both of these cards show someone keeping an eye on things. Is it harder to hire people who want to do a good job vs. those who just want a paycheck these days? Lately I've seen a lot of restaurants fold, not because they didn't have a good product, but because they didn't have good management. Good managers manage the flow of business, keeping watch over the whole process while allowing skilled employees to do their job independently. They don't mind jumping into help, whether it's with a customer or a task, but only when it's needed. Yet they also expect their employees not to steal or be slackers (neither is a good way to "adjust" one's pay scale). Look for another job if the pay doesn't reflect the work required. Yet at the other end of the spectrum is the micro-manager (like the lizard on the fey's shoulder), who uses excessive supervision as a means of control and never asks for suggestions. I've been both manager and employee, and neither is an easy job.

Wipe Your Feet

From the Tabula Mundi Tarot, the Three of Disks; from the Words of the Brehon, "Three sons whom folly bears to anger:"

I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet. 

—Mahatma Gandhi

The Three of Disks is titled 'Work' - it shows what happens when our will flows consistently in a stream of effort. We begin to see our progress, which is encouraging and can keep us going. It's like mowing grass when it's hot outside; seeing how nice it looks when we're halfway done can keep us on task. This card encourages us to maintain our momentum and stay focused. The three foolish sons of anger from the Brehon card suggest self-absorption that shows up as resentment, a refusal to listen, and ridicule. Some folks can't abide others outshining them in any way. Don't get distracted or drawn in by their antics. Hold on to that determination!

From the Tarot of the Cats, the Three of Pentacles; from the Insectorum Divnorum, Sphingidae:

The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. 

―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Anyone able to train a cat to do a trick has some serious talent. We all have a natural aptitude for something (which we generally enjoy), but rarely are we encouraged to develop it if parents and teachers don't think we can make a living from it. It generally sits in the closet gathering dust until we're much older and have more free time. Since money rarely purchases joy, perhaps we should give more consideration to our gifts, even if they aren't flashy. The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths or hawk moths. Because of their agile and sustained flying ability, they are often mistaken for hummingbirds, thus they represent deceptive appearances. As the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover - there might be something amazing inside.

Collaboration

This week I'll be using the Russian Lubok Tarot, created and self-published by Eugene Vinitski and Sergey Savchenko. I'll also be drawing from the Marseille Oracle, a deck created and published by Lo Scarabeo with a little booklet written by Isa Donelli. Today's draws are the Three of Pentacles and Hearth:

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community… Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. —Cesar Chavez

This Three of Pentacles shows three masters in their respective field working together to build a temple. The booklet brings up the term "sobornost" - a term that expresses the need for co-operation between people as an alternative to individualism and socialist collectivism (group goals over individual interests). With each person using the skills and knowledge they have, they work together; what is important is the result that is achieved. Hearth emphasizes that families need the same type of collaboration and solidarity to prosper. Unity with diversity is possible if we aren't consumed with just our own or our group's desires.

Spending Addiction

 From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Three of Coins; from the Viking Lenormand, Key:

You’ll never out-earn bad habits. Fix those first.

―Joseph C. Kunz Jr.

We all know folks who are skilled, knowledgeable and work hard, yet they always seem to be broke. Becoming proficient in any field includes money management. Not only do we need to balance the costs of our resources with what we charge for our product or services, we must learn to spend what we make wisely. A big payday means covering our bills and putting some in savings before we splurge. The Key suggests looking for answers - in this case, controlling our addiction to spending. Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz created four steps to take when our craving begins to replace our common sense:

Relabel - Remind yourself of the reality: “I don’t need this, it’s only an obsessive thought, an unfounded belief. Even though there is a feeling of urgency, there’s not anything urgent actually going on.

Reattribute - Place the blame on your brain: “My brain is sending me a false message. Because my desires are ingrained in my brain, they are easily triggered when I’m stressed, tired, unhappy or bored. They feel powerful, but they’re only arising from an automatic brain mechanism, not a moral failure.”

Refocus - The compulsion will pass if given some time. Find something to do that is enjoyable and will keep you active. Teach the brain it doesn’t have to obey the addictive call.

Revalue/Devalue - Realize the impact of the addictive urge. The addicted brain puts a false value on the behavior. It has caused many more problems than it has ever fixed. 

Master of Patience

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from Rory's Story Cubes, the Turtle:

A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.

―George Savile

In the Three of Pentacles card, the illustrations on each coin offer symbols which represent the way to master a skill. Leonardo's Vitruvian Man (influenced by the writings of Roman architect and engineer, Vitruvius), suggests an understanding of proportion and measurement - or learning the basics. The four-axis labyrinth pattern (such as in the Chartres Cathedral) represents pilgrimage, an acknowledgement that this will be a journey (not a quick hop) in finding what we seek. The thirteen-pointed star, or tridecagram, is often linked to ideas of growth, transformation, and completion (developing expertise). Logging thousands of oceanic miles each year, Turtle reminds us that even when we become a master in our field, we need to keep looking for inspiration and exploring new developments. With any skill, learning never stops.

A Few Perks

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Three of Autumn (Pentacles); from the Handl Rune Cards, Nauthiz:

Not even Ares battles against necessity.

— Sophocles

The apple harvest has come in, and the fairies quickly get to work so that little is wasted. The elders could probably do these tasks blindfolded - having done them so often - but they teach the younger ones the steps of the process. It's hard labor, but when the snow falls, a cup of hot apple cider will be appreciated by all. Nauthiz is associated with need, hardship, and constraint that can encourage growth and transformation. Like Aesop's lesson of the ants and the grasshopper, adulting is not always fun, but it does have its perks.

Nothing Lacking

From the Urban Tarot, the Three of Disks; from the Principles to Live By, Contentment:

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

—Lao Tzu

The Three of Disks illustrates a concentrated effort enforced with determination and tenacity. We lean into what seems immovable, and slowly progress is made. It's not that things are finished, but our vision can be seen in the shape of what materializes. Such a project often requires a cooperative undertaking, like the construction of this building. The Contentment tile might seem as if to suggest that we don't need to be ambitious, but that would be a description of complacency. The root of the word contentment comes from the Latin contentus, which means “held together” or “whole.” This principle actually helps us be more discerning about what gives our life meaning, so that we can focus on what is important to us.

Collaboration

From the Spacious Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Phenomena Oracle, Tsunami:

When you need to innovate, you need collaboration.

~Marissa Mayer

This Three of Pentacles is based on Pando, a colony of aspen trees which are actually one living organism, all sharing the same root system. Working with others helps us see from other perspectives - one idea can be visualized from different viewpoints, creating multiple options. Big egos have a hard time collaborating; they easily forget what is most important, the cause everyone is working towards. Yet teams who remember their common goal, groups composed of people who don't try to outshine their partners, can accomplish what seemed impossible alone. Tsunami indicates a situation that feels overwhelming and catastrophic. Here is where the individual gifts of team members can be beneficial, with each person applying their specific abilities to right their ship.

Stretching to Grow

From the Rider Waite Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Ostinato Oracle, O'Alta:

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

― Pablo Picasso

A craftsman listens closely to a monk, who has an idea of what he wants to be created, and to a nun, who holds architectural plans that show what structures can or can't be changed. This fellow can't use a cookie-cutter approach, perfecting one skill to be used for every assignment. Skilled workers learn on the job, as each project has different requests and requirements; they must employ both knowledge and intuitive creativity. O'Alta (ottava alta) indicates that the notes on the music sheet should be played one octave higher than what’s written. Like the craftsman, sometimes we need to stretch ourselves if we want to develop new ideas and approaches.

The Work of Head and Heart

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Three of Coins; from the Elemental Dice, Dusk/Dawn (Darkness + Light):

The mark of all good art is not that the thing done is done exactly or finely, for machinery may do as much, but that it is worked out with the head and the workman's heart.

―Oscar Wilde

Petersen illustrates her Three of Coins with the symbol of Om, the primordial sound of creation from which all other vibrations are able to manifest. The footprint suggests making one's mark on the world, but the Om reminds us that excellence and complexity must start at the beginning. No one gets to jump to the head of the line without study and practice. Look closely at the artwork of AI; while it might be much faster and considered 'good,' it still seems to lack any heart or warmth. The Dusk/Dawn roll indicates a time of shifts and changes. Even if we don't receive outward acclaim, our efforts over time will be inwardly rewarded as we begin to see our progress. 

Tools and Small Pools

From the Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Rockpool:

Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. ~George Herbert

Poppy gives her Three of Pentacles the subtitle 'tools,' meaning our skills, resources and knowledge. Sometimes we learn how to do things differently with different tools - that is also part of mastery. It's easy to get comfortable with just a few and ignore the others. But such an expansion of our skills can help us not only be better at our craft, but to be more flexible if the project doesn't go as expected. Rockpool is is a shallow pool of seawater trapped in rocky depressions when the tide goes out. They are often homes for such animals as sea stars, mussels and small fish. The little pool separated from the ocean suggests taking a time out for rest, which can give inspiration a chance to arise.

Principles Before Personalities

From the Idiosyncradeck, the Three of Stones; from the Mixed Emotions deck, Frustrated:

To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility serve to remind one to place virtue before vice, values before vanity and principles before personalities.

~Matsumura Sokon

For the Greek Pythagoreans, the number three represented harmony, wisdom and understanding. Three is the only number equal to the sum of the previous numbers (1+2=3). It symbolized a collaboration and cooperation toward a common goal. Frustration, however,  shows what often happens when working with another person or group. Personal proclivities, our tendency to do things regularly in a certain way, can bump into each other when they differ. Yet if we can hold fast to the solution or objective we're trying to reach, we may be able to discuss rather than argue about our strategy.

Three Essentials

From the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, the Three of Pentacles; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, Joy of the Future:

The three grand essentials of happiness are: Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. ~Alexander Chalmers

This craftsman has honed his skills for many years; at this point his hands know the weight, shape and texture of everything he creates. Most folks, he would say, want to be instantly good at something without putting in the effort of practice and learning. But to be able to see one's own progress, even as one makes mistakes, can be a reward in itself. The Joy of the Future alludes to anticipation, the excitement of having something to look forward to. Sometimes our fantasy of how it will be doesn't match the actual event or result, but still, wasn't there some fun and pleasure in the waiting?

Tools of the Trade

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Three of Coins; from the Post Psychedelic Cyberpunk deck, the Internet:

This master of clay uses her sense of touch to shape her pot, relying on muscle memory. She's embodied her creative talent through years of repetition and practice. Author Natalie Goldberg listed three encouragements her Zen teacher taught her that have helped support not only her spiritual practice, but also her writing:

1. Continue under all circumstances – keep going.

2. Don’t be tossed away. 

3. Make a positive effort for the good.

The internet is a collection of information and misinformation, of support and callousness, of advertisements and fundraisers. But its biggest impact is how it has connected the world. Most artists and businesses rely on it, yet we must learn how to wisely use this tool without letting it use us. (And Goldberg's last two points might be helpful here too.)

In Addition To

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Mystic Glyphs, Village Abandoned:

A skilled artisan shows her portfolio of possible designs for a stained glass window to an interested buyer. She laughs when people tell her how lucky she is to have natural talent - she knows the reality of hard work and practice it took to hone her skills. And added to that, she had to learn how to sell it. Village Abandoned suggests that where there was once life, there are now only tumbleweeds. It might have been famine, battles, an epidemic or any number of factors that caused a thriving community to disappear. Whatever once nurtured and sustained this village has dried up. Likewise, what we pour our time and energy into which provides for us can also leave us feeling hollowed out. We all need a way to include fun and contentment in our lives, even if we must find it in a hobby rather than a career. 

Not As Before

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Gemstone Oracle, Citrine:

You could think you were starting something afresh, when actually what you were doing was carrying on as before. ~Rachel Joyce

For years, scientists thought birds had a built-in "how to" manual when it comes to building nests. But the latest research shows that birds are constantly learning and improving their skills through their own experience as well as from watching other birds. People who have mastered a skill tend to be the same way. While they might have some innate talents, practice and continually adding to their knowledge base helped them excel. But what happens when an artist or craftsperson wants to try something entirely new (Citrine)? While their previous foundation may be of assistance, they will still have to embrace a beginner's mind - learning different information and practicing other skills. Though it may be humbling, it may eventually produce some rewarding experiences.

Making the Best of It

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Three of Earth (Pentacles); from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 50:

Can you imagine these bees having a conversation about working solely with one type of flowering plant? "Bee balm only for me." "I prefer coneflower, but I can make do with goldenrod." The Three of Earth inspires us to make the best of what we have, to use the resources we have available. We might be amazed at what we can accomplish when we let go of any tightly held preferences and just begin. The Cauldron - hexagram 50 - underscores this idea of being able to 'cook up' something. With the ego out of the way, we can create something satisfyingly wonderful.

Making the best of what we do have, instead of begrudging what we don’t, has a way of creating all that we’ll ever need. ―Charles F. Glassman

When the Teacher is Ready...

From the Da Vinci Enigma, the Three of Earth (Pentacles); from the Insectorum Divinorum, Scarab:

Dimmi: What viewpoint is guiding or confusing the issue?

          Da Vinci wrote, "Perspective is the bridle and rudder of painting..." Indeed, drawing or painting a three dimensional subject in two dimensional form requires a knowledge of how to give the illusion of depth. The traditional meaning of mastery mixes well with the suggestion of a need for perspective. When we become good at what we do - no longer struggling with basic knowledge or skills - it may seem that others have nothing else to teach us. Scarab beetles are known for gathering dung then rolling it into balls for food for themselves or their larvae. The companion booklet describes them as symbols of tireless effort. Because life never stops changing, it is beneficial to continue learning, widening our knowledge and skills so that we can adapt and evolve.

It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning. 

~Claude Bernard

Collaboration

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Three of Earth (pentacles); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Quiet Moon:

Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.

– Virginia Burden

          Rather than viewing the Three of Earth as a card of master craftsmanship, Guthrie sees it as a call for collaboration and companionship. I've never picked raspberries, but I have picked buckets of blackberries, which entails dealing with thorns, snakes and the scorching sun. I'd much rather have some friends to work and share the bounty with than do it alone. It doesn't really matter if one person is a faster or more skilled than another if the joy of companionship is in evidence. Tasks are always much more pleasurable and gratifying when laughter and light conversation abounds. The Quiet Moon reflects a time when the days are short and the nights are long. It is a time that encourages study and seeking that which inspires us. I'm a part of several groups whose camaraderie and knowledge I enjoy, although these days we are meeting on Zoom. I have hope that one day in the not-too-distant future we'll be able to spend time together in person again. I miss the hugs and touch of others.