See What is Shown

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Button Oracle, Bugler:

People may not always tell you how they feel about you, but they will always show you. Pay attention.

 ― Keri Hilson

          The tradition of cutting a tie or scarf originally started with pilots; after successfully completing a solo mission, cutting the scarf meant they were no longer under the supervision of their instructors. In the Three of Swords, it suggests letting go of our attachment to someone in order to free ourselves from the power we've given them. Yet the swallowing of pride indicates a reluctance - likely because we fear what others will think. Ironically, most folks will already be aware that a husband is a cheater or a boss gives his employees managerial responsibilities while paying them like paupers. The Bugler, in historical times, was used to send messages to the troops during battle. It's message with this card might reflect the words of Charles J. Orlando: "You don’t let go of a bad relationship because you stop caring about them. You let go because you start caring about yourself."

Intensity is Addictive

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, Temperance; from the Button Oracle, Flowers:

...people are increasingly seduced into believing that intensity equals being alive. When that happens, the mind becomes wired for drama and the soul is starved of meaningful purpose. 

—Dr. Keith Lee 

          Our society has produced a population that believes mental stability is boring or unnatural; these people are convinced they thrive on the over-stimulation that stressful or dangerous situations can bring. Then there are those who grew up in dysfunctional households or who were exposed to ongoing threats (such as soldiers); their  bodies and minds learned to survive by constantly expecting danger. When the danger is eventually removed, the calm feels so unfamiliar that it produces anxiety. Emotional drama and chaos become a way to reduce that feeling (much like an addict or alcoholic depends on substances). Yet any medical doctor will tell us that continually immersing ourselves in a pool of stress hormones is detrimental to our well-being. The Flowers button is a symbol of transience, the passing away of things, even our feelings and moods. Tools such as meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy can help us become aware of and retrain our bodies and minds. We can learn that sitting in that uncomfortable feeling won't hurt us and will eventually fade away.

Stepping onto a Boat

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, Death; from the Button Oracle, Skull:

Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.

― Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

          Considered a megalithic tomb, there is a mystery surrounding dolmens. Though human remains and artifacts have been found around some of these magnificent structures, no one knows if they were placed there at the same time as the stones. Regardless, these spectacular construction feats are likely markers of importance. In Buddhism, the symbol of the skull represents emptiness - a lack of labels and views we normally use to explain who we are and the world we live in (allowing an experience of clarity). When major endings of any type occur, I want the whole world to pause and take notice. But instead, it just keeps turning. I can still mark and grieve my loss; however, it is helpful to accept that this natural impermanence flows throughout every being's life. As Shunryu Suzuki said, “Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink.” That doesn't mean I can't appreciate the joy and beauty that is floating all around me now.

Not the Absence of Commitments

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Knight of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Seahorse:

 ...the compelling urge of man to explore and to discover, the thrust of curiosity that leads men to try to go where no one has gone before. ~The President's Science Advisory Committee, 1958

          The only thing we see of this adventurous Knight is the dust kicked up by the wheels of his vardo. He loves the thrill of excitement and the rush of adrenaline, but he isn't much help in the tasks of day-to-day life. As James Ricklef described him, "If he hurries in, he will probably hurry out again." Commitment doesn't jibe with a curiosity that requires being constantly stimulated by new things. The Seahorse's keyword is 'reversal;' rather than the female, the male carries the fertilized eggs in a pouch for two months. Is it possible to maintain one's adventuresome spirit while also being responsible and dependable? As the Knight of Wands matures, he might come to agree with Paulo Coelho: "Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose - and commit myself to - what is best for me." 

Part Of

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the World; from the Button Oracle, Teddy Bear:

Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are. ―Anne Lamott

          Granny's version of the World reminds me of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. Rather than narrowly focusing on his immediate worries, the main character gets a chance to see the big picture of his life. Were we to have such an opportunity, what would we discover with such a wide perspective? Yet today starts a new chapter, one that we will write by how we respond to the day. Teddy Bear's keyword is 'comfort;' first responders often give these toys to children in a crisis to help calm them. Life can seem too big and overwhelming at times. Yet as Yuri Kochiyama reminds us, we have company on this journey: "Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another."

The Character of Flaws

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Five of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Liberty Bell:

"Progress not perfection" is a comforting thought because for many of us being perfect was a part of our problem. ~ Kathy L/BellaOnline

          Rather than a bunch of guys brandishing sticks, Granny's card shows one lone fellow trudging up a very steep hill. There are no people with competing ideas; this creative problem sits in our own laps. It may be writer's block, not being able to find the materials we need, or simply not understanding the next step we should take. Such frustration can make us throw up our hands in despair or just pause and reset. The Liberty Bell's keyword is 'imperfection;' some officials wanted to repair it for the centennial celebration, but its custodians felt like the crack had become part of the bell's character. We may prefer that our creative endeavors flow smoothly and flawlessly, but those obstacles we face may just turn us in a new direction even better than the one we were headed toward. Cracks in our perfect plans can pluck our work out of the monotonous lane and give it some character.

5,4,3,2,1 Go!

This week I'll be using the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, created by Granny Jones (Rebecca Jones) and published by Kangaroo Press. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Button Oracle, a set I made myself from a collection of buttons. Today's draws are the Chariot and German Shepherd:

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.

~Ellen Glasgow

          Granny, accompanied by her feline companions, energetically pedals her bike. Perhaps she is going to visit a friend in need who lives in the vardo down the road. Hopefully she centered herself before her journey or her frantic anticipation may have caused her to forget something important. I once got a call that my mother (who lives in another town) was being taken to the emergency room. In my anxious and hurried state to get to her, I packed a suitcase full of socks and no underwear. The German Shepherd, long used in search and rescue as well as narcotics and explosive detection, has been assigned the keyword 'investigation.' Being able to work regardless of distractions, this dog encourages me to sharpen my focus in order to discern the moment's needs. I recently came across a grounding exercise (called 5,4,3,2,1) that is quick but useful for such times of anxiety:

• Name five things you see around you.
• Name four things you feel.
• Name three things you can hear.
• Name two things you can smell.
• Name one thing you can taste (taste currently inside your mouth).
• For any 'blanks' you draw, substitute something you are grateful for.