I'd Rather Know, But...

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, Fire:

I'd much rather 'know', but then again, not-knowing keeps all the possibilities open. 

―Ruth Ozeki

A contractor doing some work inside the house once asked me why I had a small collection of gemstone skulls. I told him that they reminded me of the principle of impermanence - good or bad, things only last for a limited time. The Wheel of Fortune indicates change is on the horizon; like the skulls, it is a symbol of constant transitions. Fire is both a consumer and creator. How does it create? Nutrient-rich ash that improves the soil. Fire opens some seeds so they can sprout It also opens the forest canopy, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground, allowing new plants to grow. We humans hate uncertainty, but we actually can't see far enough down the road to know all the possibilities that might come because of change. 

Move to the Center

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Mystic Glyphs, Mountain Lion:

Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.

―Katherine May

I was reading a review of one of my favorite books yesterday by Pema Chodron, "When Things Fall Apart." The reviewer said she spent the first thirty pages disagreeing with Chodron, desperately hoping this nun who had spent decades studying the mind had it all wrong. But eventually she gets it, realizing that major fluctuations are not a malfunction but simply the normal life as a human. Instead of trying to separate ourselves from this reality, we can experience it and grow through it. As Chodron writes, "We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don't know." Mountain Lion represents a confident strength and leadership. It points to these words in the WS booklet: "In the midst of all the ups and downs, remember that the Wheel has a still center. That same calm can be found at the core of your own being."

Innie or Outie?

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Wheel; from the Gemstone Oracle, Carnelian:

Abiding nowhere, awakened mind arises.

—Diamond Sutra

This mouse will soon discover, as he climbs further out on that branch, good fortune doesn't last and misfortune doesn't stay away. As the Wheel of life constantly turns, "abiding nowhere" is a wise option in this world of flux and impermanence. We often work ourselves into a lather as we try to move the Wheel faster toward what looks enjoyable, pull the emergency brake on places of contentment, or backpedal when something unpleasant appears. The Sutra tells us to let our minds open to where we are - enjoying happy times, taking care of our emotions, and dealing with challenges as they appear. Carnelian symbolizes courage and determination, two virtues that can help us deal with the transitory nature of this life. Yet these virtues are states of mind, an internal perspective based on understanding. We can be innies, working with our thoughts, or outies, expecting the world to arrange itself to our desires. As Thomas Oppong wrote: "When you stop forcing reality, clarity arrives on its own."

New Forms

From the Brady Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Citadel, the Miser:

Energy surges through all things, giving rise to them, sustaining them, and transforming them into something else. What remains beyond the birth and death of all things is the energy that bounds forth into new forms upon the demise of the old. ―Dale S. Wright

Eggs, a caterpillar, a chrysalis and a skipper butterfly represent different stages on the Web of Life. The Wheel of Fortune is about movement - physical, mental and spiritual. Where we find ourselves on it is meant to help us develop and mature using the energy of life we've been given. However, the Miser (who hoards not just material things but is unyielding in all things) demands that everything be frozen in time to his liking. Yet stagnation is not healthy for our well-being or progress. As Eric Fromm stated, "Often we, the individual or the people who make up a society, have the illusion we could stand still and not alter the given situation in the one or the other direction. This is one of the most dangerous illusions. The moment we stand still, we begin to decay."

Seeds of the Past

From the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, the Wheel of Change; from the Pages of Shustah, Mammoth:

Out on the road today, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac

A little voice inside my head said, "Don't look back, you can never look back."

—Don Henley

I see a lot of posts on Facebook by people who seem to think the past was so much better than today. Psychologists have even named the cognitive biases for this: rosy retrospection (recalling the past more positively than it was actually experienced) and declinism (viewing the past more favorably and the future more negatively). Sure, some things were simpler and slower in the past, but life was also hard and distressing - for instance, having limited medical tools and knowledge. I don't agree with Henley that we should never look back, but I do think there's no going back. Mammoth shows up to tell us that we all carry seeds of our past. If we want a better present and future, it's time to take a look at them and see if they are worth cultivating or not.

Moving from Their Prime

This week I'll be using the Victorian Fairy Tarot, created by Lunaea Weatherstone with Gary A. Lippincott and published by Llewellyn (though recently republished via Kickstarter). Paired with it will be the Haindl Rune Oracle, created by Hermann Haindl and published by U.S. Games. As an additional resource, I'll be dipping into The Serpent and the Eagle by Chris Travers. Today's draws are the Wheel of Time and Ing/Ingwaz:

Whatever it is you're seeking won't come in the form you're expecting.

―Haruki Marukami

When we're down at the bottom, we look upwards, dreaming of how good things could be one day. But when life does change for the better, it rarely looks as perfect as we imagined it. And the smug fairy on top might do well to remember the words of William Watson: "all things move with all things from their prime." Life constantly shifts and changes, and while some phases may be more pleasant than others, none of them are always ideal. Ingwaz is connected to incubation and harvest. No matter where we are on the Wheel, what we plant will grow and affect other phases later on. Rather than dream or worry about what comes next, we'd be smart to focus on what we are doing now. 

But Impersonal

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune (Fortuna); from the Tattwa Cards, Earth: Seed of Water:

The world is vast, beautiful, and fascinating, even awe-inspiring - but impersonal. 

—Herbert A. Simon

Lorenzi-Prince writes that Fortuna is far more interested in change than fairness. It is simply how the world functions in order to sustain itself. Those who are adaptable can deal with the difficult until the wheel rolls over again. When things are great, we can enjoy them fully with the knowledge that these times won't last. Earth: Seed of Water symbolizes boldness and change, however we before we try a different approach, we need to assess why things went sideways previously. Part of that change may be that we need to let go of ideas like "It must be this way. It should be this way." Instead, we can choose an appropriate and beneficial response to the way things are.

A Reminder

From the Tarot of the Master, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Paracelsus Oracle, Albus (white):

Reminding myself that life is not personal, permanent, or perfect has kept me from falling into sinkholes of despair and destroying rooms with rage. It invites me to pause and turn inward.

—Ruth King

Sometimes we reap a harvest for our actions or inaction, but often life just unfolds in unexpected ways because it is a constantly changing flow. There are times we get inundated with a flood while other times we delight in a babbling brook. Ruth King's reminder that it is not personal, permanent or perfect is wisdom to live by. Albus (white) represents "the bearded one" in some traditions, symbolizing a purity of wisdom that leads to clarity. It might suggest that in times of change, we should move to the hub or our center - to hold onto what is truly important and trust our spiritual compass.

Ever-shifting Kaleidoscope

From the World Spirit Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Mystic Glyphs, Lizard:

Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope — a slight change, and all patterns and configurations alter.

—Sharon Salzberg

Change is afoot. Well, actually it's always in progress, we just usually don't notice it unless it's something that affects us directly. The Wheel is generally a sign of positive change, even if it is a little worrisome because it's something new and unknown. It may be tempting to respond to it in a habitual way, but Lizard's message is to step out of our ruts. We can't solve an old problem with worn-out solutions that we've tried over and over again. Neither should we expect to greet new opportunities or situations with 'tried and true' responses. If we pay attention to what's actually happening (rather than riding our assumptions), our intuition and wisdom can guide us.

Our Turn

From the Alchemical Renewed Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Empathy (Moon in Pisces):

I've seen fire and I've seen rain

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end

I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend

But I always thought that I'd see you again

—James Taylor

The Buddhists call their Wheel the Wheel of Suffering - not because life is awful, but because we fail to grasp the impermanence of it. When things are going great, we suffer when they change; when things are difficult, we suffer because we think they won't change or won't change soon enough. It takes stepping into the hub of the wheel to see that everything is always in flux, and that it's not personal but a natural part of existence. Empathy is the ability to tap into and feel what someone else is going through, both their highs and their lows. As Mohsin Hamid put it, "Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself." This is a healthy exercise, not only for cultivating compassion, but also to remind us that whether we're atop the wheel or below it, it's just our turn to be 'it.'

 

It Happens

From the Out of Hand Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Keyhole Limpets:

Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans. 

―Margaret Millar

We are currently having to replace the storm drainage system in our city to prevent constant flooding when there are heavy rains. The main area of construction this past year has been downtown, the section where the hospital and many doctor offices are. Lately, there are days when I understand this fellow's frustration of having plans to get somewhere important and on time, then having them upturned. No matter how well we plan, life happens, putting things into play beyond our control. The conical shape and low profile of the Keyhole Limpet allows this sea snail to withstand waves that smash against the rocks to which they attach themselves. Humans tend to expect life to bend for them, but we are the ones who must shape our attitude to it by learning to respond rather than react. 

Time Will Turn Things

From the Prisma Visions Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Secret Language of Color Cards, Cherry:

Life is simple, it's either cherry red or midnight blue. 

―Lou Gramm

Peacocks and snakes are natural enemies; snakes eat the birds' eggs and fledglings, and the peacock will kill and eat the snakes to protect them. Likewise, the Wheel of Life constantly shifts fortunes and the holders of power. No one stays at the top or bottom forever, as change - though sometimes incremental - happens daily. I've been caring for an older, sick cat, a very ill husband, and a daughter with a neck injury. I'm ready to rest, but life requires that I hang in there a bit longer. The Cherry card exhorts us to "Live an extraordinary life." The problem comes in thinking that we should always get the sweet fruit and not have to deal with the pits in life, which is unrealistic. The extraordinary part comes when we aren't consumed by our aversion or craving for whichever one we receive. Time will turn the Wheel.

A Privilege

From the Tarot of Durer, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Philosopher's Stone deck, Depth:

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

―Marcus Aurelius

The Wheel of life is constantly in motion, creating ongoing change. No amount of wishing or begging will make it otherwise. The phrase "seize the day" on this card reminds us to take each day as it comes, making the most of it. We might have a boring day and feel restless followed by a day of dealing with a crisis. We might have a pleasant, lazy day followed by a day of friendship and laughter. Things change. The Depth card reminds us to look deeper, especially when life doesn't roll along according to our preferences. We can get fixated on the one thing that we desire or want to be different and forget the other good around us. 

Whatever we fixate upon limits us because fixation makes us dependent upon something other than ourselves. Each time we let go of something, we experience another level of freedom.

―Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

Resisting Change

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Vertical Oracle, Zero Point:

The fact that impermanence and change govern our lives might seem obvious. It is less obvious that much of the confusion and anxiety we experience in our everyday lives comes from resisting change.

~David Nichtern

The Buddhist Wheel of Life shows six realms which illustrate how we relate to life and how such patterns can cause us misery. In the God Realm, there is blissful self-absorption, but also a niggling worry that things won't stay as good as they are now. In the Jealous Gods Realm, things are good but not as great as some have it, thus there is envy and constant comparison. In the Human Realm, our portions of pain and pleasure are driven by a longing for certainty. In the Animal Realm, rigid and defensive behaviors are an attempt to avoid all pain and discomfort. In the Hungry Ghost Realm, there is an addictive drive to fill an emptiness within us and find contentment. In the Hell Realm, anger and rage are the lens through which all of life is seen. Zero-point energy in quantum physics is the energy that remains when all other energy is removed from a system. In this case, it suggests we let go of our our struggle to force life into a form that we prefer. Instead, we can learn to relate to life with acceptance and adaptation; then our focus will be on flourishing rather than fighting.

Three Keys of the Wheel

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Way of the Horse Oracle, Transformation:

Griffin's Wheel is surrounded by the four elements of air, earth, fire, and water - representing the power of the mind/communication, the power of the physical/material, the power of passion/creativity, and the power of emotions/relationships. These powers impact our lives externally, and in turn, our personal relationship to them has its own effect. An infinite multitude of causes and effects keeps that Wheel turning, creating change. The Transformation card symbolizes the ability to relinquish restrictive beliefs and rigid patterns that keep us from freedom and joy through our ups and downs. Ken McLeod offers four keys that may help in this regard:

• Stop seeking security (relax and open to the fullness of life; there is no lasting stability or permanence).
•  Let go of expectations for emotional fulfillment (stop wanting people to be someone other than they are).
• Recognize that you are not an entity (without the burden of a fixed identity, you are free to respond naturally and appropriately to any situation you encounter).

Riding the Wheel

From the Urban Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Principles to Live By, Forgiveness:

The neurotic is nailed to the cross of his fiction.

~Alfred Adler

Just when we think we can't endure another thing, our fortunes change. Then weeks later, when we think life couldn't get any better, it goes into a tailspin. Do we blame the universe for the hardships we face and claim the glory of any good fortune? Our choices and actions can influence a lot of our luck, but sometimes we have absolutely no control over the roll of the dice. How do we deal with riding on this Wheel without becoming neurotic? Acceptance, adaptation and an appropriate response help. It's also beneficial if we can let go of any anger, whether it's directed at ourselves or the ebb and flow of life. The quote for Forgiveness cautions us what will happen otherwise: "The present is endlessly overwhelmed and devoured by the past" (Lance Morrow).

It's Messy

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Wheel of Change; from the Pictish Oracle, the Snake:

This Wheel of Fortune made me smile, because it is just as messy as real life. Rarely are things crystal clear; we think we're making progress only to find we're headed in the wrong direction. Yet there is change for the better too, which allows us an optimistic view of the sunny side of things. The Snake in Celtic lore had a mixed message. On one hand it instilled fear with its ability to strike quickly. Yet the ability to shed its skin also offered the alternative meaning of healing. Basically, the snake was seen as a symbol of unpredictability (just like our journey on this planet). 

Often the most unexpected, unpredictable moments in life are the ones that leave the biggest impression and that teach us to roll with the punches. ~Natalya Neidhart

Thinking Update

From the Fey Tarot, the Wheel (of Fortune); from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Merchant (King of Diamonds):

Two Fey sit and work on a spiral, the younger focused more on building in the center while the elder's attention is more on removing items on the outer arc. It is the older fey who has the wider perspective, who is able to see how things come and go, how things constantly change. She knows this is the natural order of life, so she doesn't get in a twist over unexpected turns. The Sibilla's Merchant repeats this cycle through buying and selling. As a business man, he is very connected to the ebb and flow of things, sometimes operating in the red and other times in the black. He knows it is insanity to expect things outside of us to meet any requirements or assumptions. As Peter Drucker stated, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”

Change and Effort

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Sword:

These two cards, one representing change and the other discernment, made me think of the phrase that I and others have uttered often lately: "When will I get a break!" The problem is not that things don't change - life is a constant ebb and flow, a movement of losing and receiving - but that we want our situation to be stuck in a way that pleases us all the time. The irony is that even when things are good (say we get a new car), we still worry and get angry (as when someone dings that car at the grocery store). Life is a constant effort, from the time we are born and learn to walk to our later years when we must navigate the process of aging. Yet at the center of life's wheel of change is a hub that keeps us from feeling like we're spinning out of control. It is our connection to the Ground of Being (to use the words of Paul Tillich) which we can tap into through the spiritual practices and rituals that have meaning for us.

Web of Connections

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Rumi Cards, 'You'll only enjoy the city:'

I am inextricably woven into an ever-changing web of connections.

—Lauren Krauze

Krauze makes a good point - because we are interconnected, when things change elsewhere, it naturally has an impact on other places and people. Pema Chodron often talks about groundlessness, that feeling of limbo when the foundation of our lives shift and we can find no certainty or security. Our habitual patterns get upended, and we realize the false sense of protection they provided. Chodron suggests that instead of freaking out, we might attempt to stay in the present moment, giving it our full, compassionate attention without weaving a story around it. This direct experience, free of judgment and interpretation, helps us find equanimity in the midst of change. Rumi's card suggests that we can better learn to appreciate things when the Wheel spins us away from our comforts and pleasures. When we ride it around again, things can seem much clearer and sweeter. (Unless we think it's permanent!)