Burden of Proof

From the Ellis Deck, the Page of Pentacles; from the Brownies Oracle, "Burdens:"

          Ellis explains that this Page was given a young boar in order to learn responsibility. The story reminds me of a youth organization we have in the States called 4H. Administered by the Dept. of Agriculture, it is well known for the livestock shows it holds for the kids who've raised and cared for animals. The USDA found that adults in the farming community were wary of new technology, but the youth would readily experiment with new agricultural ideas. But what makes this Page a perfect fit for this program is the 4H slogan: "Learn by doing."
          The Burdens card from the Brownies didn't seem to apply to this eager-to-learn Page. But then I thought of the legal phrase, "burden of proof," an obligation to produce evidence of a claim. Now this idea is consistent with her mindset. She's not content to learn, she wants to test things out and see if they hold water. Offer her the latest self-help technique or the newest computer technology, and this Page is going to see if it's worthy of its claims. She takes on the responsibility of physically evaluating information instead of just blindly following it. The only blame she doles out will be for those who swallow the kool-aide without testing it first.

Light in the Darkness

From the Ellis Deck, the Star; from the Brownies Oracle, "Rescue:"

          Ellis describes the precursor to the Star as grieving a loss, feeling lost, and thinking we're utterly alone. Everyone's been to this dark place at some time or another. Exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically, we've got nothing left in our gas tank. But then comes a spark of hope. It often comes in the thoughtful, encouraging words of a person who has walked in our shoes. This guide tells us there is still goodness in life - joy and laughter, beauty and kindness - enough to bear any suffering. We are not isolated and forsaken; there are people willing to reach out a hand. Just look at the Brownies card; the little folk have made a sled to pull those who have been through an ordeal to safety. Will any of the down-and-out folks refuse the rescue effort because of pride, assuming they must do it all themselves? Their challenge is to accept the help offered.

I know it's hard to imagine, but one day you'll see the colors again. 

― J.B. McGee

Don't Believe Every Thought You Think

From the Ellis Deck, the Knight of Swords; from the Brownies Oracle, "Facade:"

          The bloody talon attached to this Knight's helmet lets me know he means business. He's a combative sort of fellow, and being from the Swords Clan, he knows how to use his words and intellect as deadly weapons. Now these aren't bad character traits if you're trying to rid the world of injustice and right wrongs. But what happens when things are a bit dull and there's no oppression to overcome at the moment? I think this guy is a little addicted to the rush he gets in battle, so during a peaceful time he might go give someone a few pokes just for fun. He refuses to take off his armor, which is a nice introduction to the Brownies card, Facade. In architecture, this term means the front of a building; in everyday usage, it means a superficial appearance. What is our knight hiding from? Ajahn Brahmavamso writes: "Buddha compared restlessness to being a slave, continually having to jump to the orders of a tyrannical boss who always demands perfection and so never lets one stop." Hmmm... this sounds (and feels) familiar. But what's the solution? Gil Fronsdal offers a wise suggestion:

Paradoxically, restlessness is itself sometimes a symptom of not being able to be present for discomfort. Patience, discipline, and courage are needed to sit still and face it.

One of the more profound skills for working through restlessness and worry is to let go of the beliefs that keep them going. Strong opinions about what is or is not supposed to be happening incite the mind; judgments of good and bad seldom lead to calm. Attachment to a self-image also tends to be agitating. It can be liberating to realize that we don’t have to believe every thought we have.

It's Mighty Noisy in Here

From the Ellis Deck, the High Priestess; from the Brownies Oracle, "Entanglement:"

[The real mind] is intrinsically pure. Within itself it's already peaceful. That the mind is not peaceful these days is because it follows moods...That gladness or sadness is not the mind, but only a mood coming to deceive us. The untrained mind gets lost and follows these things, it forgets itself. Then we think that it is we who are upset or at ease or whatever. But really this mind of ours is already unmoving and peaceful... really peaceful! Just like a leaf which is still as long as no wind blows. ~ Ajahn Chah 

I have a head full of barking sea lions and screaming sea gulls. Similar to the poor Brownies caught up in the May pole ribbons, these thoughts (sea lions) and emotions (sea gulls) can create a reality that feels intensely authentic. Like becoming tangled in sea weed, they keep me anchored so that the waves of life rock and toss me around. I don't realize until I become still and quiet that beneath the waves lies Original Mind, a calm, spacious place of clarity. The High Priestess reminds me how useful meditation practice is for turning down the volume knob. Then I can realize, as Pema Chodron put it, I am the sky, and everything else is just the weather.

Arena for the Ego

From the Ellis Deck, the Five of Rods; from the Brownies Oracle, "Connection:"

          I rather like the phrase Ellis uses for this card: arena for the ego. People train, study and practice, but when they go forth into the world, they find other people who are just as motivated as they are. They all have different perspectives, opinions and ideas about how things should be done, which is what can cause problems. In such a battleground, the reason why they are there doing the work they've chosen seems to get lost. Which leads to the Connection card with the broken bridge. It made me think of the great flood of '94 here that covered an area the combined size of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and caused great loss. In the midst of it, neighbors who had rarely spoken were helping each other, strangers with boats were rescuing people and pets, and churches with little previous community outreach were opening shelters and providing food. Age, race, religion and politics didn't matter anymore, but saving our city and the people in it did. I recently heard a quote (but can't remember who said it): No one sees the world more clearly than the convalescent. Why must we lose much or experience pain before we remember what is important? And for me that is the greatest lesson in these cards; I can stand up for myself but I shouldn't forget the ethical and moral foundation I stand on.

Conforming with Flair

From the Ellis Deck, the Six of Rods; from the Brownies Oracle, "Conformity:"

          Ellis explains this card as a victory parade held in honor of the Page. Now that he's met his challenge successfully, he's going to be given the rank of Knight. With most outstanding accomplishments, there is a new responsibility added to the accolades (for example, graduating seniors must find a job). The Conformity card show the Brownies having school; its meaning lends credence to the theory that expectations follow success. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. For someone who loves structure and organization in her life, it sounds like a great thing. But my Aquarian side, the independent freedom-lover, also feels very constricted by it. It makes me want to say things like, "Yes, rules are important and necessary - for other people." Yet I think there is a way to conform and meet those expectations with an innovative mind and spirit. And that might just be the Page-turned-Knight's real message for me.

Making Room

This week the tarot I'll be using is the Ellis Deck, created and self-published by Taylor Ellis. Paired with it will be the Brownies Oracle, created and self-published by Doug Thornsjo. Today's draws are the Five of Swords and "Plenty:"

          Ellis has a rather different take on the Five of Swords: "As he faced off against yet another opponent, all he could see was the man he was fighting, not a soldier to kill. He threw down his own sword and convinced his opponent to do the same. The two walked away from the battlefield, leaving their weapons to scavengers." Instead of a battle of wits and words, both sides suddenly recognized there was something more important and worth saving. It's hard not to view my opinions and ideas as better than another person's. Yet I can remember this if I don't take our differences as a personal attack, as if I will somehow be "less than" because someone disagrees with me. The mountain of mashed potatoes the Brownies are doling out remind me that there is plenty of room for all sorts of perspectives if my big ego will get out of the way.