Lots of Loves

From the Whimsical Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Over the Moon Oracle, Leader (King of Clubs):

         Guinevere represents the Queen of Cups, a woman who loved a king for his kind heart yet also loved his best friend romantically. Several types of love are identified by the Greek philosophers:

1. Eros - sexual, passionate love
2. Philia - friendship
3. Storge - familial love, fondness for the familiar
4. Agape - universal love, unconditional altruism
5. Ludus - playful love with no strings attached
6. Pragma - practical love founded on duty
7. Philautia - self-love (which can be healthy or unhealthy)

I imagine all of us who've lived past the half century mark have experienced all of these. But the Leader card asks me which one of these loves motivates me and guides me. I'd like to say the Agape form, but I know too intimately my selfish, human nature. Still, it is a good intention to start my day with.

Short-cuts and Substructure

From the Whimsical Tarot, the Chariot; from the Over the Moon Oracle, Support (6 of Clubs):

          The Chariot is represented by Cinderella's pumpkin coach. I can just imagine the woman inside (having been mistreated and forced to live in poverty) not wanting to return to her old life after a magical night at the castle. I think we all face those kind of situations. Part of us wants to take the wise and prudent path, while the other side wants quick fixes and instant results. It's the reason why diet pills are such huge sellers, as well as other marketing strategies that promise fast, easy results. Cinderella did get her Prince, but not by taking a shortcut. The Support card shows us that while personal effort is a large part of the equation, having people that encourage and assist us along the way is important too. It's easy to see who these groups or individuals are - just wait until there's a crisis and see who shows up. It's nice to hear someone is thinking of you, but sometimes what is needed is compassion in action. Since the tornadoes, some churches have been out in the community with chainsaws and hot meals, offering to shelter those in need. Then there are those who are having weekly prayer circles. Want to guess which group is having the most impact? Fairy godmothers are in short supply, so the well-being of others is (for better or worse) in human hands. Yet I should always remember: one day I might be the supporter, and the next I might be riding in that wheelbarrow.

Balance and Dedication

From the Whimsical Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the Over the Moon Oracle, Doctor:

          The children's story of "The Owl and the Pussycat" represents the Two of Cups, and it reminded me of how different my friends and partners are from myself in many cases. Of course we share some common values (both the owl and cat are meat eaters), but the way we go about doing things and the lens we use to view situations is often very different. Yet my weaknesses are usually the strengths I find in the people I care about, and vice versa. Our relationship brings a balance that might not have existed otherwise. The Doctor, slogging through knee-deep water, reminds me of the line in Robert Frost's poem: "But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep." I've always imagined Frost's night traveler as a country doctor making visits to people who need his care. His profession requires deep commitment and dedication, much like what is needed to sustain a healthy relationship. The good doctor's oath of "do no harm" is just as important in relationships. Self-absorption is what will sink that little boat, while compassion is what will keep it afloat.

The Great Benefactor

From the Whimsical Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Over the Moon Oracle, Increase (3 of Diamonds):

          The Pages all learn in different ways; the ones from the Pentacles and Cups group are very much grounded in the present, aware of what is immediately around them. But those in the Swords and Wands bunch have an eye to the future, imagining what they will accomplish there. The old telescope reminds me not to get so mired down in the details of today, but to also look towards the horizon. If I keep looking at my feet, I might miss that train headed in my direction. Which in this case is rain, meaning we have a few short days to save what can be saved in my friend's house. Yet even though she has lost her home and 95% of what was in it, I feel like the Increase card confirms that most all of what was lost can be replaced. It may take time, but patience is a great benefactor when matched with effort.

Luminous Goodness

From the Whimsical Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Over the Moon Oracle, Division (2 of Diamonds):

         The High Priestess is portrayed by Cinderella's fairy godmother; she knew Cindy needed more than to run away from the life of a slave. She needed to learn to trust and love again - she needed someone to run toward. The High Priestess knows there is a difference between a brief interlude of happiness and a joy and peace that isn't easily disrupted. The first comes from the ego's desires, and the second from something deeper. Mystics have described this inner space in various ways. Walt Whitman wrote, "I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness." However it can be hard to get past our self-absorption to this luminous place of true wisdom and compassion. As the Division card implies, the ego wants to be satisfied immediately without much effort. Much like the parched man dying of thirst who drinks ocean water and vomits it back up, those self-gratifying options will leave us even thirstier.  

The Fool's Wisdom

This week I'll be using the Whimsical Tarot, a deck created by Dorothy Morrison and illustrated by Mary Hanson Roberts; it is published by U.S. Games. The other deck I'll be using with the Whimsical is the Over the Moon Oracle, created and self-published by Kristen through PrinterStudio.com. Today's draws are the Fool and Sweetheart (Queen of Hearts):

          The Fool is represented by the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. The Scarecrow's deepest desire was to have a brain; he didn't realize that his actual problem was ignorance. His subsequent adventures with Dorothy teach him that reality is full of joy and perils. He lacked education, but not insight. He might leap into the fire, but he'll learn from his mistake. Here in the South, 'sweetheart' is meant not as a romantic term, but as a description of someone who is kind and thoughtful. This lass appears to be communicating with a plant; every living thing deserves respect in her eyes. I'm sure she would willingly nurture the Fool and patiently teach him (while replacing his singed hay with fresh stuffing). People who are childlike can be frustrating when they act impulsively, but they can also teach us how to embrace each moment.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. ~ Jim Elliot

The Spacious Heart

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Rune Cards, Algiz:

When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space. 

~ Pema Chodron

          The Queen of Cups reminds me of this quote by Chodron. She's one of those folks who leans in to strong emotions instead of collapsing or running away. She knows that when you stay present, especially during the hard stuff, you can find gems of wisdom (the eel in the heron's beak) that can help dislodge the suffering we're mired in. She is like the sedge grass of Algiz - resilient and able to withstand harsh conditions. Yet the sedge grass has razor-sharp edges; as the poem reminds us: "The blood burns of every man who makes any grasp at it." I can't save another person, and neither can they save me. But I can draw strength from their support and wisdom, just as I can offer the same to another person.