In the Mind's Eye

From the Tarot of the Crone today comes the Ace of Swords:

This card makes me think of the phrase "in the mind's eye," the gift we humans have of visual mental imagery.  The sword suit makes me see with lucidity, cutting away what is assumption or fluff and leaving only truth.  Lorenzi-Prince calls this card the "root power of the mind;" such thought can allow me to think from a fresh perspective and create original ideas and solutions.  Yet to be useful, I must take the potential here and apply it in the real world...

     The card drawn from the Transforming Dragons deck this morning is "Koscao:"

This dragon represents being unresponsive and apathetic to one's life.  I must admit that over the past couple of week's this feeling has been wrapped around me like a cloak.  The problem is that it is so easy to get comfortable in this cloak, I may never want to get out of it, no matter how miserable I feel.  If life has lost its spice, I can't rely on others to make me feel better by giving me happiness or excitement.  I alone am responsible for finding something new or fresh that will motivate and inspire me, that will make me willing to throw off this horrid cloak...

Who Are You Attracted To?

This week I'll be using a nontraditional tarot by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, The Tarot of the Crone.  Today's card is the Six of Wands:

In the petal of an unusual flower is a hooded figure.  Six leaves face the flower, like sunflowers that turn to follow the sun.  This card illustrates how others are attracted to another who follows his or her passion and overcomes challenges to fulfill a purpose.  There is something irresistible about a person who is not afraid to live from the center of their being and be who they truly are.  I don't have to try to impress anyone, I just need to be myself and follow my own inner enthusiasm.

     The oracle deck I'll be using is called Transforming Dragons, a naively drawn deck (whose companion book can give some eye-opening insights) created by Sonia Cafe.  The card pulled for today is "Selbern:"

This dragon is associated with loquacity, or the tendency to talk too much.  It has been a blessing as I've gotten older to learn to be comfortable with silence, and realize I don't need to tell people they need to notice me.  Actions always speak louder and much clearer than any words could ever do.

Clarity and Knowledge

  Today the card drawn from the Golden Tarot is the Queen of Swords:

This woman holds a sword, but it acts more like an antenna as a BS detector.  Though she may seem like an ice queen, she's had too many life experiences to be without any compassion.  She just knows that trying to blame others, making excuses, or sitting in a pool of your own tears doesn't benefit anyone in the long run.  Her right hand extends down, much like the "touching the earth" mudra of the Buddha.  This queen can detach from praise, harsh words, or an avalanche of emotions, allowing her to see with clarity and objectivity.  With her advice, I'll not stymie myself with illusions, projections, or assumptions.

     The angel from the Angel Blessings deck today is "Raziel:"

This being is associated with knowledge, because Raziel supposedly brought Adam a book of medicinal herbs when he became sick.  I am reminded by this card of all the ways I've accumulated knowledge - through education, hobbies, training, and personal study.  What I know may be very different from what someone else knows.  It is not necessary for me to be as "smart" as someone else.  All of humanity shares in knowledge; it is a web that connects and provides for us all.

Sorting Out Feelings

The card pulled from the Golden Tarot this morning is the Five of Wands:

Five young men seem to be at odds over some object on the ground; a few want to whack it, a few want to protect it, and one just wants to wait and see what happens.  This card emphasizes conflict.  If it is external, it is usually people who have different ideas about how something should be done or handled.  In my case, I think the conflict is internal.  I have mixed feelings this morning that pull me one way then another. The rooster tells me that I've squandered enough time going back and forth on this issue - its time to deal with it and come to a decision.

     From the Angel Blessings deck this morning comes the angel "Stamera:"

Stamera deals with forgiveness.  I know that for me to hold a resentment against someone else only hurts me in the long run.  I've felt in the past that I was somehow letting someone off the hook by forgiving them.  Today I know that I don't have to hold on to my anger, but that doesn't mean I have to trust someone either.  I can discern whether or not someone has my best interests at heart; if not, I can choose to love them from afar.  The snake that has bitten once will probably bite again - my challenge is not to hate him, but to avoid him if possible.

See the Potential, then Act

  From the Golden Tarot this morning comes the Knight of Wands:

This image, with the fire in the background, makes me think of John Wayne's character in The Cowboys who says, "Slap some bacon on a biscuit and let's go! We're burnin' daylight!"  According to this knight, it's time to act, instead of continuing to make more detailed plans.  It doesn't surprise me that I've drawn this card today; I've been planning to teach a meditation class to a group for a week and a half now.  The last week has been spent printing booklets, making mala beads, and gathering an assortment of tools.  But today is the day the class starts, so hopefully I can imitate this knight's enthusiasm and confidence as I move forward.  The diamond design on the garments of the horse and knight remind me of a vesica piscis, a symbol of a gateway; I hope this is an omen of good things coming from this class.

     The card drawn today from the Angel Blessings deck is "Paschar:"

The name Paschar is Hebrew and means "angel of vision."  This angel encourages me to see the possibilities in life, and to take a chance on turning the potential into the actual.  There are times when I receive "spiritual nudges" to act (usually in the form of a random thought that persists).  I've found that acting on them can be life-altering...

What Heals and Unites Us

  From the Golden Tarot today comes the Six of Cups:

A young child listens with rapt attention while an older child reads to him.  Even the monkey on the ground and the bird in the small child's lap seem to be still and resting in the moment.  I do have memories of being a preschool child and being completely absorbed in whatever I was doing.  The number six represents a return to harmony and balance, and I find this state can come when I keep things simple and stay in the moment.  What is important is what is in front of me right now, not something years down the road...

     The card drawn from the Angel Blessings deck this morning is "Shekinah:"

Shekinah comes from a feminine Hebrew word that means "dwelling," and refers to the presence of God.  In Hebrew, masculine names of God are used when God is seen as a bestower; feminine names are used when God is spoken of as a receiver.  Here is a poem by Simcha Wasserman that beautifully describes this force:

The Shechinah

is like the ocean
turquoise deep
healing and smoothing
shores of inland discontent;
waves breaking white,
diamonds in the sun
spilling across the sand,
riches, for all who
immerse themselves
in her translucent waters.

Healing and uniting - sounds like paradise to me!