Reconciliation

From the Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, Dream/Two of Water (Cups); from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Tides:

The Two of Cups can suggest reconciliation and healing between people. To subtitle this card 'Dream' is a reminder that if we can't envision something, it likely won't ever get off the ground. We won't make the effort because we can't imagine anything changing, especially when it comes to relationships that have been damaged or neglected. The Tides card includes the phases of the moon; both are subject to changes and cycles. It can feel as if everything stays the same, but nothing does. Our relationships are either growing and developing in new ways or stagnating and disintegrating. But what if we were to extend a hand in peace and friendship without dragging the past with us? There's no guarantees our gesture will be reciprocated, but on the other hand, it might be just the balm needed for healing.

Moments of kindness and reconciliation are worth having, even if the parting has to come sooner or later. ― Alice Munro

Changing Tides

From the Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, Visionary Spirit (Hermit); from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Tides:

Your problems won’t change; only you can change. That’s the point.

—Gento Steve Krieger 

          This young lady looks perturbed, yet she is doing what most of us forget to do when we feel like life is closing in on us. She sits in stillness; the key she holds is what she will discover when her mind and body pause. Lately, it has felt as if everyone required too much of her, offering little help to handle all of the obligations. But in the calmness, she might see that on some level, she enjoys people depending on her as it boosts her self-worth and gives her a feeling of purpose. She may have given the impression (verbally or through omission) that she can deal with it all while ignoring her own needs. As the muddy water settles, it becomes clear that she has had a hand in creating this situation. She is no Wonder Woman. The Tides card is a reminder that life ebbs and flows. There will be times when we are required to carry more than our usual load, but it will not always be so. It takes practice, but when life slows, we should too. Neurotic busyness is an easy habit to make but not so easy to break.

Ebbing and Flowing of the Heart

From Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, the Nine of Water (Cups); from the Saltwater Reading Cards, 'Tides:'

          The Nine of Water/Cups generally implies a time of contentment and emotional well-being. The waterfall in this card suggests an active effort in keeping my 'cup' full rather than letting it go dry. It's much easier to get sucked into despair than to keep looking for the good in life. Mirabai's poem is a wonderful reminder:

I know a cure for sadness:

Let your hands touch something that

makes your eyes smile.

I bet there are a hundred objects close by

that can do that.

Look at

beauty’s gift to us–

her power is so great she enlivens

the earth, the sky, our

soul.

The Tides card represents cycles, both short (tides, sunrise/sunset) and long (moon phases, seasons). If I want to live peaceably, I must follow the natural cycles of life rather than attempt to rush them or slow them down. Yet if I take Mirabai's advice in keeping my heart full, I'll be better able to embrace whatever cycle may be waxing or waning.