Wide Context

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Two of Cups; from the Druid Animal Oracle, Eagle:

The Two of Cups symbolizes a commitment born of the heart. Whether between spouses, partners, friends, or family members (including pets), such a vow is rooted in love and kindness rather than obligation. Yet life can act as a spade or hoe, disrupting those connections with hardships and pain. The Eagle offers us the spaciousness to see situations in a wider context, providing clarity and objectivity. Rather than being stuck in a mindset of how things should or shouldn't be (based on our particular conditioning and experiences), such a perspective allows us to step into other people's shoes and see through their lens. As Tim Burton put it, "One person's craziness is another person's reality."

Inspiration and Revivification

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Magician; from the Druid Animal Oracle, Hare:

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.

~Michael Jordan 

It can feel like rolling Sisyphus' boulder when we try to move from inspiration to manifestation. But the worst obstacle is often a fear of failure, so we easily convince ourselves our idea is not worth the effort. But the Magician suggests we gather our resources, make a plan, and do it anyway. If we don't get the results we want, we haven't lost anything, and we might discover a flaw that we can correct and try again. The Hare represents renewal, a good practice when one is involved in a challenging project. The revival of one's spirits might come from a good night's sleep, a long walk, or laughing with a friend. If those eggs are going to hatch, the hare tells us, we need to make time to revivify ourselves.

Flaws and All

This week I'll be using three decks, all created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and illustrated by Will Worthington. The Druidcraft Tarot and the Druid Plant Oracle were published by Connections; the Druid Animal Oracle was published by St. Martin's Press. I've combined the two oracles and will be using them as one deck. Today's draws are the Three of Cups and Poppy:

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

~ Lt. Col. John McCrae

The Three of Cups is a card celebrating friendship, connection, and camaraderie. Every summer my cousins and I gather at my mom's house to relax, have fun, and enjoy each other's company. We weren't sure what to do this year, but after getting tested for Covid-19 in advance, we felt it would be safe to gather. The isolation we'd endured beforehand only seemed to make our get-together a gift to be treasured more than usual. The Poppy became a symbol of remembrance as a result of Canadian surgeon John McCrae's poem. Serving the Allies in World War I, McCrae was struck by the bright poppy blooms on the broken ground where so many soldiers had fallen and penned "In Flander's Field." The poppy flower is a reminder of the transience of life and encourages me to love and appreciate those around me while I have the opportunity.

Just My Way

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Four of Fire (Wands); from the Tao Oracle, 'Standstill' (12):

          In the Four of Wands (illustrated with a fire juggler), discipline has brought about a level of completion and perfection. Right timing, right order, and the proper amount of energy have been found to keep things in balance and flowing smoothly. But Hexagram 12, Standstill, suggests the flow has suddenly been frozen. This lack of positive movement maybe because what works smoothly for me may not work that way for another person. Until I see that my way is simply a particular approach that works well for me, not necessarily the right way of doing things, there is likely to be little thaw in the situation.

What makes us miserable, what causes us to be in conflict with one another, is our insistence on our particular view of things: our view of what we deserve or want, our view of right and wrong, our view of self, our view of other, our view of life, our view of death. But views are just views. They are not ultimate truth.  —Norman Fischer

Not Always So

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Two of Water (Cups); from the Tao Oracle, 'The Wanderer (56):

          Pieper uses seahorses to illustrate her Two of Cups, a card that reflects union and partnership. In the case of these marine fish, it is a more equal relationship than most among animals. The female meets the male in his territory, and they go through an elaborate dance of mirroring each other's movements and spiraling around objects. They may dance for several days until both are ready to mate. The female then deposits her eggs in the male's brood pouch where he will fertilize them internally and carry them until they hatch. The family Syngnathidae (pipefish, seahorses, and the leafy seadragon) is the only one in which males give birth. The Wanderer, hexagram 56, offers the advice to stay alert but make no assumptions when we're traveling or around people we don't know well. Their roles or ways of doing things may be different, but it doesn't make them wrong.

“Not always so” is a good little phrase to carry around when you’re sure. It gives you an opportunity to look again more carefully and see what other possibilities there might be in the situation.

—Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Advance, but Carefully

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Daughter of Fire (Page of Wands); from the Tao Oracle, 'Treading' (10):

          The Daughter/Page of Fire is illustrated with a young Maasai girl, a people who still practice a semi-nomadic way of life regardless of pressure from the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments. She represents curiosity that is expressed through adventuresome activity, not simply learning. While enthusiasm and excitement can be positive traits, the 10th Hexagram warns against impulsivity. Advance, yes, but do it cautiously and mindfully. There is a wide gulf between following one's intuition and following one's impulses, but in the excitement of the moment, both sides can seem the same. Yet one operates on understanding and the other is simply a reaction.

Influencers

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Sun; from the Tao Oracle, 'Influence' (31):

          Even with sepia tones, the radiant joy, energetic creativity and clarity shine in this Sun card. It suggests we turn our faces to the sun and see what is good and beautiful rather than focusing on what isn't. We all need to spend part of our days cultivating a 'big sky' mind that sees beyond the click-bait we are often drawn to. Our well-being depends on it. Hexagram 31 - Influence - brought to mind the 'influencer' of social media. This person has the power to affect the purchasing of others due to their knowledge and the ability to connect to their audience. Influence implies an attraction that can be stimulating and enriching or a magnetism bent toward self-gratification. Its positive slant hinges on whether mutual respect and consideration are a part of the equation. Most adults, when giving advice to children, would agree with the words of Jim Rohn, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Who has been shaping our attitudes and behaviors?