Some Good, Some Bad

This week I'll be using the Ship of Fools Tarot created by Brian Williams and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Wisdom of the Four Winds created by Barry Brailsford, illustrated by Cecilie Okada and published by StonePrint Press. Today's draws are the Pope (Hierophant) and Whitebait:

          Now this card looks a lot like the church as I remember it. One fellow confesses his sins to the priest while two other congregants gossip about it. Whether a religious group, book club, PTO, community service organization or some other group of people with a common goal, there will always be challenges within organizations because they are made up of humans. Personalities may clash, and members may rank themselves and each other on scale of worthiness. But these groups aren't all bad, as I recently experienced. Not only do they give us a sense of belonging and purpose, but they can offer support, guidance and encouragement when needed.
          Whitebait is the juvenile form of inanga, a freshwater fish of New Zealand. During the high spring tides, these fish lay their eggs among the grasses; the eggs develop out of the water until the next high tide which stimulates them to hatch. The larvae are washed out to sea where they spend six months, then the fry migrate back to rivers and streams where they mature to adulthood. Whitebait are assigned the keyword "commitment" because of the challenges of their life cycle. Added to the Pope card, I am reminded that it does require a commitment to be a part of any group, including acceptance of the good with the bad.

Generations

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Ten of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the Jay:

          According to feng shui practices, when three coins are tied together with a red ribbon, it is symbolic of good fortune and prosperity. In Meleen's card, nine coins are tied while one coin remains loose (representing a return to the Ace). When my father-in-law retired as an auditor for Sears-Roebuck, he moved here in 1966 and opened a fried chicken restaurant. When he became ill, it was passed to my husband; my husband changed the decor to reflect a "hippie" style" complete with album covers on the ceilings and musicians painted on the walls. We added to the menu (smoked chicken and fried green tomatoes) before passing it on to our nephews five years ago. They in turn have changed the store's appearance and adjusted the food choices. I see those three generations in those three sets of coins, with each group making changes to adapt to new generations and customer demands. The loose coin represents what we decide to do with the legacy we receive - how we use and care for it.

          The Eurasian jay is related to the crow, and it is known for its intelligence and mimicry. The jay is one of several types of birds that take part in a behavior known as "anting." Ants are rubbed on feathers and skin, causing the insects to release formic acid. It is thought that the acid is a way to rid themselves of parasites. Each generation endows the next with both beneficial and unhealthy gifts. Part of receiving that inheritance is to discern what needs to be kept and what needs to be discarded. Clarity and objectivity can help break the cycle of harmful patterns as we continue to be guided by those that are valuable.

Put Away the Yardstick

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the Manakin:

          What I first noticed in this card was the six lavishly decorated wands and the one plain staff in front. When there is a battle of wills, it's easy to feel we don't have what it takes when we compare ourselves to others. "I'm not as educated or widely-traveled," we might think. Or we simply may believe we don't have the resources that are available to others. Yet the Thoth keyword for the Seven of Wands is valor, a boldness and determination in facing our challengers. That simple staff might have more wisdom and strength than those ornamental wands. After all, it's what's on the inside that counts.
          Manakins are tropical and subtropical birds that are found in parts of Central and South America. They are known for the cracking and whipping noises they make as they engage in "lekking" - competitive displays by males as a way to entice a female partner. The authors of this deck suggest this bird encourages us to move out of the judgmental mind and into the all-embracing heart. I may acknowledge the advantages and abilities of others, but that doesn't mean I should dismiss my own skills. In fact, it might be that a different asset or aptitude is exactly what is needed.

Water in the Earth

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the Loon:

          I often think of the Queen of Disks/Pentacles as a resource manager. She is both practical and creative, always guided by a healthy dose of common sense. But from an elemental standpoint, she is water in the earth. Like her aloe throne, she has a healing and nurturing aspect as well. She's not so much interested in amassing assets as she is in using them to care for the land and people she loves. It is interesting that a water bird is the second card drawn today, as if emphasizing the Queen's watery aspect. The loon is know for its mournful, eerie calls, and thus is associated with sadness and loss. This bird is well adapted for diving and swimming underwater to catch fish. It reminds me that holding grief inside without expressing it can be physically unhealthy. Better to dive down, acknowledge and feel it, then come back to the surface once again.

When we grieve we allow ourselves to feel the truth of our pain, the measure of betrayal or tragedy in our life. By our willingness to mourn, we slowly acknowledge, integrate, and accept the truth of our losses. Sometimes the best way to let go is to grieve. It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry. We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song. In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs, we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability, with helplessness and hopelessness. These are the storm clouds of the heart. 

~ Jack Kornfield

Can I Have a Do-Over?

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Seven of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise, the Bobolink:

           As today begins the first of two days of services honoring my mother-in-law, I was tempted to shove the "Failure" card back into the deck. That bullish fellow in the middle of the card perfectly reflected my reaction. But then I had to ask myself, what is my habitual pattern of behavior when something goes wrong or doesn't turn out as expected? I've got four options:
   1) Freak out - I can run around and pitifully wail about how life isn't fair.
   2) Flame up - I can angrily keep trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
   3) Forget it - I can bury my head in the sand or give up entirely.
   4) Face it - I can attempt to see what happened and try to correct mistakes, starting over if necessary.
This card doesn't mean success isn't possible, but that I need to take a realistic view of things first. No one likes to stop in midstream and refigure one's strategy, but when things go wrong that seems like the only mature option.
          The Cornell Lab of Ornithology gives some impressive figures for the bird chosen today: "The Bobolink is one of the world’s most impressive songbird migrants, traveling some 12,500 miles (20,000 kilometers) to and from southern South America every year. Throughout its lifetime, it may travel the equivalent of 4 or 5 times around the circumference of the earth." It is also well-known for the joyful, bubbling melodies it sings during breeding season. The Bobolink reminds me that life is good, even amidst the struggles and challenges. All I have to do is widen my perspective (beyond my self-absorbed orbit) to see it. And with that kind of attitude, even the adversities seem like something I can face with equanimity.

A Different Kind of Gain

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Nine of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the Ovenbird:

          The "Gain" card seemed like an unusual draw after the death of my mother-in-law. And while some may say it has to do with an inheritance, those who've spent a long period caring for a loved one will tell you that by the end you'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel. But the abacus made me think of something else as we plan for an in-town visitation and service as well as an out-of-state burial. Grief can overwhelm some folks to the point where they become nearly immobile and unable to make any decisions. Here is where the organizational skills I've honed have become valuable. With each task, I slide over a bead: pick out a casket and vault, take clothes to the funeral home, make phone calls, choose old photos to frame, write the obituary, send personal thoughts to the pastor and make more phone calls. It seems like I'll never get all the beads moved, but progress is being made. The South American Ovenbird constructs a clay, cave-like "oven" instead of a nest. The creators suggest this bird indicates reaching the end of a cycle. "Something that has taken you a lot of time, effort and energy is starting to coalesce now." And the biggest gain we'll receive is a consolidation of the family.

I was raised in a family that gave out love by the spoonful, and then only if certain conditions were met. Any disappointments or embarrassments would result in the “privilege” of that love being taking away as punishment. But what a heaping serving of love awaited me when I joined the King family. Once under Vera’s umbrella of care and kindness, I found her heart was always open no matter what mistakes or missteps were made. Her love was unconditional and all-embracing. I’ve come to think of her as “She Who Loved Fiercely and Completely.”

Soft Watchfulness

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Eight of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise, the Chat:

          The Eight of Disks signifies a period of development, and thus is given the keyword 'Prudence.' This entails caution and care taken in practical concerns and the management of  resources (time, energy, health and finances). That mother owl needs to protect all those eggs, but at some point she's going to have to feed herself too. No extreme measures are needed, just a constant watchfulness and attention before and as each action is taken. Yet the rose-breasted Chat pipes up to say there is one area where prudence isn't necessary - in the domain of compassion. Unconditional love and an open heart will soften any rigidness of this Eight of Disks.

In memory of Vera King - She Who Loved Fiercely and Completely

Nov. 26, 1920 - May 29, 2016