The Value of a Moment

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Rune Cards, Joy (Wunjo):

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory. 

—Theodor S. Geisel

Like the trees in Potter's card, we are interconnected with others, and those moments of connection make memories. If we were to place these on a scale, we might find the bad outweigh the good ones. Yet we are often surrounded by beauty, laughter, tenderness or love. Psychologist Rick Hanson tells us that we must consciously take in the good to rewire our brain for happiness - even the simplest things. We then have a reunion with these memories - reliving those warm feelings over and over. Joy (Wunjo) represents emotional fulfillment, camaraderie, and the comfort of a supportive environment. These are what we can store in our mental treasure chest to take out and remember again and again. As Hanson writes, "Taking in the good is not about putting a happy shiny face on everything... It's about nourishing well-being, contentment, and peace inside that are refuges you can always come from and return to."

Unrealistic Demands

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Ten of Winter (Swords); from the Haindl Rune Cards, Wunjo:

There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them. 

~Anthony De Mello

This fairy, with wings torn and caught by briers, is about to meet his end because he's trespassed on a badger's territory. We all have beliefs and ideas that we are so sure are the Truth, we never question them (or listen to others who do). Buddha said that life contains suffering because we crave for reality to meet our preferences and specifications. It will never do so on a consistent, permanent basis. Wunjo is a rune often translated as 'joy,' and suggests that we must challenge our rigid ideas if we don't want them to challenge us. Do we enjoy life or simply trudge through it, grumbling about everything? If the latter, joy will only be found when we release our unrealistic demands. As Socrates said, "He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have."

Conscious Intention

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, Strength; from the Cedar Runes, Wunjo:

How do we feed our inner fire? Do we overfeed it, creating a raging blaze that is ready to knock heads and verbally blast those who get in our way? Or do we underfeed it, barely leaving one glowing ember that never speaks up for oneself or any other injustice? It requires a constant adjustment to keep our inner beast in good shape, willing to have the courage to act but without the impulse to crush. Yet we know we're in balance by how we feel; our rash words and reactions are replaced with calm composure, with resolve rather than revenge. The rune Wunjo literally means joy and harmony. It implies that to have such happiness requires an inner strength to wisely deal with the potholes and bumps we encounter. 

The Buddha saw: our thoughts, emotions, and actions are the primary sources of our suffering. Equally, our thoughts, emotions, and actions can be the source of our joy and freedom. Living, as much as possible, with conscious intention is the first step of this transformation.

—Thupten Jinpa

Valid Questions

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Cedar Runes, Wunjo:

You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there

Wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrows

 ~John Prine, "Bruised Orange"

The hummingbird above the swan counsels her to stop fighting the thorns and instead be still and observe them. When I ground my emotional energy, I can then ask myself some questions and understand the situation with more clarity:

1. Is this truly my business or my responsibility?

2. Am I exaggerating any part of this situation? Am I projecting my assumptions about an unknown outcome?

3. Am I making this more important than it actually is? Where should it be on my list of priorities?

4. What part of this situation am I powerless over? What part do I have control over?

5. What skillful, wise action (or attitude change) would benefit this situation?

Wunjo indicates joy, including a positive mental outlook and a healthy emotional state. I can often find joy when I realize freedom lies in questioning the validity of my own thoughts.

Pausing Practice

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Knight of Autumn (Pentacles); from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Wunjo/Wynn:

          I like this Knight - he knows that when you work hard, you need to pause every now and then to check your progress and see what might have been missed. Plus, the body (especially as we age), needs a chance to rest and recuperate. Wunjo is a rune that is associated with well-being in all its forms. It represents joy, as it recognizes the blessing of being well. When I am working in the yard, I take pauses to rest but also to bird watch and see how the season is changing the landscape. It restores both body, mind and spirit. The house and yard reconstruction seems to be two steps forward and one step back. Yet as I look at the earth and the way nature renews itself, it gives me hope.

Coming Together

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Rune Cards, 'Joy (Wunjo):'

          Potter describes the Eight of Wands as a coming together of intentions; those intentions have created the energy to get things moving quickly toward the goal. Intentions are not affirmations or vague promises about what we will eventually do. They keep us centered in the present rather than the future and are based on what matters most to us. Intentions are a commitment to align our actions with our values; they allow us to correct our path when we become distracted from what is important. Joy/Wunjo is a reminder to recognize our good fortune in the here and now, to find contentment in what we have rather than what we want. Phillip Moffitt writes, "Whatever is manifesting itself in your life right now is affected by how you receive it, and how you receive it is largely determined by your intention in this moment." Intentions are the GPS system that keeps us from running into emotional ditches caused by craving, aversion or mindlessness. Discontentment is the warning light that tells us to touch base with them.

Dance in the Sun, Kiss the Earth

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Sun; from the Haindl Rune Oracle, Wunjo:

          Weatherstone explains that the fairies dance in celebration of the source of light, warmth and growth. The sunflower they are using as a maypole reminds me of its ability to absorb toxic metals and radiation out of the soil. The Sun makes me feel like I've got a chance at a new beginning, a time to see with clarity and focus my energy accordingly. The rune card for the day seems purposefully paired with the Sun; Wunjo is translated as "joy." Look closely at Haindl's painting and you will see a wizard and a rose, an admonition that the happiness is one's own creation. People who understand this concept may seem hermetically sealed from all that's bad in life - stress, worries and woes appear to slide right off of them. But actually they are like the sunflower, able to thrive even in the worst situations. They don't hide from the truth, but seek it out. They choose to do the next right thing even when it would be more beneficial or easier to do what is wrong. They seek out companionship because they know such joy is even better when it spills over to others. It's so much easier for most of us to focus on what is lacking or negative. But Weatherstone reminds me to take a look from a different angle: "You may not fully realize exactly how fortunate you are." Her words are timely: my spiritual principle to work with for March is gratitude.

Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

The Beauty of the Ordinary

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Fool:

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

~ Mary Oliver

A woman stands on her toes, as if ready to make a free fall into whatever is below. Even the fox, normally cunning and quick, seems entranced by her. The doves swirl around, grabbing at the ribbons around her waist. At first I assumed they were trying to hold her back, to keep her from falling. But her body is a gift they are unwrapping, like an excited child with a birthday present. She's been given this amazing human incarnation as a vehicle with which to meet the world. The stone monkeys that make up the peak on which she stands hold a heart, a rose and a butterfly, indicating she will need a combination of feelings/intuition, passion, and reason on the journey ahead. The pair of bees buzz impatiently, "Don't waste time - jump! Let's go make something sweet with this beautiful life."

From the Cedar Runes comes "Wunjo:"

Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,

and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.

~Anglo-Saxon poem

It's simplistic to think that bliss comes easily to those who don't experience suffering, but I don't think that's the meaning of this rune. Rather it reminds me to use the tools I have in the place I find myself and discover my bliss. It's not a longing for what I don't have, but a contentment in knowing what I am capable of creating. It is paying attention to all those random moments that outwardly seem so ordinary but in reality are what fill my heart with beauty, awe and warmth. Life is good enough if I allow it to be.