Receptive to Truth

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Shaman (King) of Swords; from the Toltec Oracle, "Kiawitl:"

          Like the Kings of tarot, the Shaman court cards represent the power and experience of their suit. But the Shaman also has some unique talents - the abilities to shapeshift and move in realms other than the present, physical one. This gift allows him or her to see from different perspectives and through different sets of eyes. It literally allows the shaman to live in the mindset of other beings and experience life from their viewpoints. Now that could come in very handy if you're trying to be fair and objective. The blue streak out of the figure's mouth symbolizes the necessity of this vision or truth being shared; it is meant to help other people, not be guarded as some personal knowledge.

          Kiawitl represents the rain deity of the Toltec people. Living in an area that has suffered occasional drought conditions, rain is almost always welcome. The dry ground soaks up the water, sustaining plants. It pools in puddles and refills streams and ponds, keeping the animals alive. Just as the earth is receptive to the rain, so I must be willing to receive the honest, unvarnished truth of the Shaman of Swords. Besides, it's useless to argue with reality.

          

If You're Breathing, You're Moving

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the Toltec Oracle, "Ollin:"

          The creators of the Motherpeace use symbols from various goddess cultures to represent the zodiac instead of the usual astrological glyphs. Rather than focusing on the ups and downs of life, they suggest each "station" holds the potential for insights; if we choose to embrace them, it will prove fortunate for us. This card fits perfectly with the one from the Toltec Oracle - Ollin, a symbol of movement. For the Toltecs, movement was an expression of life - to move was to be alive. Sanchez writes, "The only truth that remains is that nothing remains, everything is always change, movement." I can argue with reality or I can learn and adapt. Cycles and movement are natural; they remind me I am a part of this great adventure called life.

Burning Rubbish

This week I'll be using the Motherpeace Tarot, created by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using Noble's companion booklet published separately by Harper Collins. The other deck I'll be drawing from is the Toltec Oracle, a deck and book set created by Victor Sanchez and published by Bear & Co. Today's draws are the Ace of Swords and "Weweteotl:"

          The Ace of Swords bears the gift of intellect, the potential for new ideas and the ability to communicate them to others. But I am drawn to the woman in the background who is in the elevated lotus posture. The pose suggests the lotus flower that has risen from the mud and opens above the water. The thought forms of this Ace have been grounded in reality (mud) rather than based on assumptions; they have passed through the waters of compassion (ethics) and now rise in the air of logic. Yet the butterfly implies there is another transformation to come.
          Weweteotl, Grandfather of Fire, is one of the five natural forces in Toltec mythology. As an Elder, he has his own sense of time and way of doing things. In describing him, Sanchez writes of "impeccability," meaning a state of being without error. His fire can burn away what is unimportant - the excess and rubbish that hide the gem inside. Integrity and truth will remain, in the same way the lotus flower opens to the sun.

Get Out of that Bathrobe

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ace of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, "Pele:"

          A group of bright orange alevin start the process of learning to live in their fish bodies, while a fingerling begins a migration towards the ocean. I'm sure the river is a place of dangerous excitement for the newly hatched salmon just as the salt water and immensity of the ocean will be for the larger fish. Yet the Ace of Water/Cups reminds me that as a human, dealing with emotions is part of my adventure. I need to push out into deeper waters and not be content to hide. Not all of it will be scary.
          Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, is an odd pairing with the water card. Yet she is not just about fire but passion. Some of the questions Marashinsky asks in her companion book are:
Have you been sitting still for too long? Have you been lulled into sleep by the evenness in your life? Now is the time to wake up to your potential and power, to move and shake. I think I better get out of my bathrobe and slippers for this...

Diagnosing the Heart

From the Gaian Tarot, Justice; from the Goddess Oracle, "Changing Woman:"

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

          Like the endangered plants and animals behind him, Justice plainly states my life is off-kilter in some way. My first reaction would be that this is because I've been sedentary of late, as I allow my back to mend. But seeing him with a heart in one hand and a feather in the other, it definitely feels like more of a spiritual message. I've obviously made choices in the past that make my heart feel as if I've tied a net of stones around it. And carrying that heavy burden is hurting rather than healing me.
          Changing Woman represents seasons and cycles, and she immediately makes me think of people I haven't seen in a long while that I suddenly run into again - especially people who've hurt me in some way. I probably think I've forgiven them, as I let them go their way while I go mine. Yet when I see them, it's as if the wound is fresh all over again. Shutting them out of my heart is not real forgiveness. I've devised a quick test to diagnose myself in such cases: I imagine them losing a job or having their car repossessed, then check to see if I'm smiling inwardly. Ah yes, there it is... that hidden, lingering resentment. But with the appearance of these cards today, it looks as though I will soon have a chance to lighten my heart if I choose to do so.

Arms Wide Open

From the Gaian Tarot, the Nine of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, "Amaterasu:"

          I completely understand the use of this image for the Nine of Cups. Although I've never been in an ocean cave watching the sun shine through the entrance, I've had similar experiences. I distinctly remember a day in spring - the sun was shining brightly, a breeze made a swishing sound in the tops of the pine trees, and flowers were beginning to bloom. I held out my arms, closed my eyes, lifted my face to the sun and did a slow 360 degree turn trying to embrace all of it. It was a moment of joy, contentment and deep gratitude. Sure it wasn't going to last forever, but instead of worrying about that, I chose to be mindful of the wonder and delight right then.
          The Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu had a crude, cruel brother who so offended her, she went to hide in a cave and refused to come out. It's easy to feel happy when things are going good, but quite a bit harder when they aren't. Like Amaterasu, during those hard times I tend to want to isolate and have a pity party for one. What got her out of her cave? Uzume, a shaman-goddess did a bawdy dance that caused the other gods and goddesses to laugh long and hard. Curious, Amaterasu came out to see what she was missing. Contact with others is essential for me, even if it's on a one-to-one basis. They give me the courage to continue to stand outside with my arms wide until the clouds move away from the sun.

Choose Fear of Fun

From the Gaian Tarot, the Nine of Air (Swords); from the Goddess Oracle, "Bast:"

          The woman holding on to the standing stone is obviously in distress, emphasized by the storm clouds around her. The image in the clouds is a from a petroglyph found in Washington called "She Who Watches." It represents a chief who was turned to stone so she could permanently watch over and protect her people. I've been around a lot of friends and family lately, and their well-meaning questions often began with: "What are you going to do about..." "Have you made a decision about..." "Don't you think you should..." After several days of listening to that, I'm looking for my own security stone to keep my anxiety at bay. Yet these are just thoughts floating around; like a scary dream they're not solid.
          Janto's painting of the Egyptian goddess Bast never fails to make me smile. And I can't help but notice how much the petrogylph in the tarot card resembles a cat. Bast and Sekhemet (the lion-headed goddess) represented two powers of the sun: the life-giving aspect and the destroying aspect. Bast ruled pleasure, dance, music, joy and health. Marashinsky suggests Bast represents "play," writing "opportunities for self-amusement are endless." Indeed, who would want to waste time biting their nails, when they could be having a good time?