Swords to Ploughshares

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Knight (King) of Swords; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, the "Seal:"

          This fellow is obviously a scientist who looks like he was just about to dissect a brain. He believes that if everything is taken apart and analyzed, the answers to questions will become clear. Even the sunlight coming through the window has been separated into rays of color by a prism. Through observation and experiment, he gains knowledge that he hopes will improve the lives of others. Objective thinking without emotional fuzziness is necessary in his profession. I just hope he has a life outside that lab where he can enjoy the world without always scrutinizing it.
          The myth of Seal tells of an idyllic time when seals lived undisturbed on an isolated island. When man discovered them, he didn't hunt just a few but killed them all. Exploitation is the message of this animal. The spears in the illustration reflect the sharp instruments of the scientist, and the seal seems be swimming away from him. Knowledge is power, yet it can be used to heal and help or to damage and destroy.

They will walk behind the ploughshare,

They will put away the sword.

The chain will be broken

And all men will have their reward.

~ from the musical Les Misérables

Writing Fiction

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, the "Waratah:"

          Not too far from a Pueblo village, a collection of pots sit out in the rain. All of them have cracks or broken sections, so they're no longer useful. Yet I imagine the person who placed them there has a sentimental attachment to them. Perhaps a favorite aunt, grandmother or sister made them years ago. They remind me of the file cabinet of memories stored away in my head.
          The Waratah is a flower; the legend is that a bird looking for its mate flew above the tree canopy and into the clutches of a hawk. Even as she was dying, moving from flower to flower, she called out for her missing mate. Did the bird have a previous mate who was killed, and assumed it had happened again? Hakanson says this myth speaks of devotion, yet to me it also implies letting emotions outweigh common sense and logic. When I add the meaning of the broken pots, I see how influential the past can be on my present. Yet like the broken pots that don't retain water well, my memories aren't always complete or true. Though I can learn from the past, it is the present in which I need to be living.

When it comes to the past, everyone writes fiction. ― Stephen King

Start Where I Stand

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Empress; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, "Reconciliation:"

          Genetti says the Empress symbolizes "creativity in every realm of life." The apple trees in the background (one in bloom and one bearing fruit) as well as the apple she holds makes me ask myself: What are you growing that is healthy and wholesome? The basket of eggs between her feet suggests I think about what I am creating that is still in the first stages of infancy. Am I keeping these projects or aspirations "warm" with my attention, or has my effort wandered off somewhere more exciting?
          The Reconciliation card is lovely, illustrated with natural wonders and man-made wonders, native and non-native people, and various forms of animal life. This painting isn't a Dreaming, but a vision of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation that represents justice and equality for all. The earth and all its inhabitants sit at the same round table with equal importance. Hakanson explains the fruition of this vision begins by accepting the self, both strengths and limitations, and then ripples out to others. The Empress offers me the tools to create this peace, but I must start where I stand.

You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.

― Eckhart Tolle

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace. 

― Albert Schweitzer

Fire and Water

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Knight (King) of Wands; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, "Dolphin:"

          Normally when I think of the King of Wands (Thoth Knight), I imagine a CEO striding through the halls of a large corporation while barking directives in between talking on his cell phone. Yet Genetti uses a Tibetan monk who's idea of getting the job done involves sitting in meditation. He holds a dorje in his right hand (representing the masculine aspect of method or "skillful means") and a bell in his left hand (symbolizing the feminine aspect of wisdom). Their union represents the attainment of enlightenment, an abrupt and pivotal change in consciousness. This monk reminds me that sometimes "doing" doesn't look much like "busy."
          The myth of Dolphin reads a lot like the story of high school bullies who pick on those who are weaker, except in this case it involved dolphins and shells. The female dolphin leader refused to tease and treat the shells badly, and instead she tried to be their friends. It became a delicate balance to love both her clan and the shells. The group of dolphins were one day attacked by a shark (though warned about its approach by the shells). The female dolphin was the only survivor; she eventually was reborn as a human. Unconditional love for others is one of the main lessons of this card, which is interesting because the "skillful means" of the dorje is often explained as compassion. Like the female dolphin, sometimes it is the only thing that survives and thrives in a tumultuous world.

Tree Cutting and Truth-telling

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, "Crow:"

          We've had to have some huge pines cut down in our yard over the years for various reasons - disease, lightning strikes, and one sheared in two by a tornado. The damage was clear in the ones affected by storms, but the diseased trees often had to be exposed by cuts before the seriousness of the condition was obvious. The words of a truth-teller can do the same, cutting through denial or illusion. No matter if you're the speaker or the listener, it can be a painful experience. I was once described as a burn nurse by a friend I was mentoring. She knew what I said was done with compassion and was beneficial, but it still didn't take away the agony.
          The story of Crow tells how he tricked the Seven Sisters with snakes in order to get them to share their fire. Unfortunately, Crow ended up being as stingy as the sisters when the humans asked for a portion. The humans in turn burned him, turning his feathers black as they are today. Hakanson writes, "Crow people are brilliant at pinpointing the weaknesses and strengths of other people, yet can remain blind to their own." Crow reminds me to clean up the garbage in my own life before I start trying to tell people how to clean up theirs.

Principles Before Personalities

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Three of Disks; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, "Magpies:"

          A team of ants work together to keep their hole clear of debris and to stock their larder with food. Surrounding the anthill are three ammonite fossils, which according to Genetti were used by some Native Americans as money. I've been in jobs where a few people did most of the work, and I've been in jobs where everyone pitched in to get things done. Not only was cooperation and coordinated effort more productive, it was a heck of a lot more fun. The fossilized shells indicate the kind of transformation that can occur when everyone has a task paired with their talent which is then put to use.
          The myth of the Magpies explains how the sky was so close to the earth after creation, all the animals (including mankind) had to crawl around on their bellies. All of the magpies got together and hatched a plan. They each found sticks and began pushing upward as hard as they could. The sky slowly started to move but then suddenly split apart, giving way to the earth's first sunrise. In both of these cards today there was a job or problem, and all the players got involved to complete the work or find a solution. There were no drawn-out, argumentative board meetings about what grain of sand should go where or what tree the sticks should come from. The team kept their mind on their purpose rather than their opinions. As the 12th Tradition of 12 Step groups encourages: "Principles before personalities."

Conflict cannot survive without your participation.

~ Wayne Dyer

Let Down Your Load

This week I'll be using the Wheel of Change Tarot, a deck and book set created by Alexandra Genetti and published by Inner Traditions. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of the Dreamtime, a compilation of Australian Aboriginal art and Dreamings by Donni Hakanson; this deck and book set was published by Journey Editions. Today's cards are the Queen of Cups and "Rainbow Serpent:"

          Genetti describes this Inuit queen as a woman "certain of her emotional strength and solid in her love." Like the ice, she is supportive; like the water, she nurtures all those she touches. I'm sure that bowl she holds has fed many people, but I do hope she remembers to feed herself as well. It's impossible to sustain others emotionally if you aren't nourishing yourself.
          The Rainbow Serpent is an ancestral deity in Aboriginal culture. It was said to have awakened from the earth, then set about creating lakes, rivers and oceans. Once water was available, the plants, animals and mankind could survive. The Rainbow Serpent's message is to focus on one's source of strength in the midst of change and movement. I would add that as an "emotional mule" who carries both the burdens and joys of her people, the Queen needs to have a conscious connection to her source of strength. People who carry such heavy loads need to be able to rest them occasionally.