The Mind's Creation

This week I'll be using the Greenwood Tarot, created by Chesca Potter and published by Thorsons. The oracle I'll be using is the Rune Cards, created by Tony Linsell and Brian Partridge and published by Anglo-Saxon Books. Today's draws are the Seven of Arrows (Swords) and Homeland (Othila):

Our mind creates our world. An angry mind sees an angry world. A fearful mind sees a threatening world. But when mind is stable, we see a world as that world is. We see a world that is open, fluid, workable, moveable. —Tim Olmstead

Rather than the RWS version of someone stealing swords from another, Potter's illustration shows an insecure person letting her peace of mind be stolen. I recently corresponded with a friend to let them know what was going on with my husband and my fears surrounding his health crisis. I was looking for, in all honesty, support and encouragement. What I got was mostly a litany of all the bad things happening in their life. It felt more like a slap in the face than comfort. But the words of Olmstead and the rune Othila (native land) remind me that my true peace lies within the 'borders' of a stable mind, not any external source. As Charlotte Joko Beck bluntly put it: "Nothing in the world will ever protect us; not our partner not our life circumstances, not our children. After all people are busy protecting themselves. If we spend our life looking for the eye of the hurricane, we live a live a life that is fruitless."

Enduring Courage

From the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Courage:

Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't – surrender to events with hope. – Alain de Botton

This is a new twist on the Ten of Wands; the heavy burden usually seen has now become the fuel for a bonfire. But when we're still in the middle of the struggle, it's easy to let our attitude sink into resentment or despondency. When the road ahead is long, it can help to make our goals small instead of focusing solely on the finish line. Then we can celebrate the small successes of each day. The Courage card is paired with a timepiece, suggesting that enduring courage will be needed for the long haul.  The words of Eleanor Roosevelt are an encouragement in this regard: "We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down."

The Process

From the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Sexuality:

Patience doesn't mean making a pact with the devil of denial, ignoring our emotions and aspirations. It means being wholeheartedly engaged in the process that's unfolding, rather than ripping open a budding flower or demanding a caterpillar hurry up and get that chrysalis stage over with. 

―Sharon Salzberg

The ladder leaning against the tree in this illustration suggests this man has acknowledged his position of powerlessness; he no longer battles what he can't control. Like the caterpillar who wraps itself in a chrysalis in order to transform, he needs time to cultivate a different perspective and gain a broader understanding of what is going on. Patience, watchfulness, and listening with an open mind are what will create his metamorphosis. The Sexuality card encompasses gender identity, orientation, attitudes, and behavior. The great divide between those who accept those who identify as LGBT and those who denounce them squeezes my heart. I long for the day when people are judged by their kindnesses and cruelties rather than their sexuality, but that will take patience, openness and getting to know rather than label others. As Amandla Stenberg put it, “The continual process of unlearning heteronormativity and internalized homophobia can be difficult, but one of the biggest blessings lies in the magic that comes from having to understand love outside the confines of learned heterosexual roles.” I regret that some of the more hardhearted folks might die in their cocoons.

More Than the Basics

From the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Mirrors of the Heart, Earth:

People first concern themselves with meeting their basic needs; only afterwards, do they pursue any higher needs. ―Abdolkarim Soroush

It's hard to be concerned about collecting art when you're barely able to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. The Nine of Pentacles illustrates that point in life when there is enough time to engage in education, enjoy the arts or hobbies, take care of one's health, or simply relax with friends. Yet it is all too easy to have arrived in this place, have a bad day, and think our life sucks because it is not meeting our expectations. If we take a breath and open our eyes, we just might see how fortunate we are. Earth suggests something that has been planted and given the chance to grow. If we are not happy with the fruits of our labors, perhaps we need to check what seeds we've been planting and cultivating.

It Makes A Lighter Load

This week I'll be using the Swietlistej Drogi Tarot (Tarot of the Radiant Path), created by Alla Alicja Chrzanowska and published by Studio Astropsychologii. I'll also be drawing from the oracle Mirrors of the Heart, created and self-published by Lily S. May. Today's draws are the Queen of Pentacles and Helping:

Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It's one of the bravest things you can do.  

~Lily Collins

This Queen seems to be infusing each gift basket with a compassionate wish for well-being to its recipient. Her assistant, with one gift already in hand, waits patiently. As Rosalyn Carter reminded us, we either have been a caregiver, are currently one, will be one, or will need one. We all be asked to help provide for the needs of another at some point, in a small or large way. My husband has been in the hospital for the last four days with a life-threatening infection (but is now home). Sometimes we are required to step up to the challenge life presents us. But this is what I've found - Love makes all loads lighter. 

Inner Well-Being

From the Tarot of Mystical Moments, the Six of Cups; from the Inner Eye Oracle, Commitment:

One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. 

―Gretchen Rubin

It's funny how certain smells or sights can trigger a memory. Scientists now know that the brain uses a space-saving technique when storing memories - only key features are stored, not all the details. When retrieved, the brain uses its simulating capacities to make the memory seem whole. This rebuilding process allows us to shift our interior emotional landscape. Other things that are in our mind at the same time - particularly if they are pleasant or unpleasant - will shape the memory. As psychologist Rick Hanson explains, "every time you sift positive feelings and views into painful, limiting states of mind, you build a little bit of neural structure. Over time, the accumulating impact of this positive material will literally, synapse by synapse, change your brain." The Six of Hearts indicates commitment, a decision to sincerely dedicate ourselves to someone or something. What could be more worthy than devoting ourselves to our emotional and mental health?

It Can Be A Gift

From the Tarot of Mystical Moments, Strength; from the Inner Eye Oracle, the King of Hearts:

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. 

— Francis de Sales

This young girl, with her cat ears, nose and tail, knows she is part beast. To her, it is a gift. Intense emotions that make her want to wound with sharp claws and teeth can be tempered with practice. That energy can then be channeled into patience, courage, resilience and receptivity. The real struggle, she realizes, lies within. When life gets overwhelming, she reminds us of Dieter F. Uchtdorf's words: "It's your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life's story will develop." The King of Hearts represents a guide to our emotions. His ram horns indicate that he won't back down from strong feelings; the armor he wears on his chest is his heart. He models calm behavior and gives us a safe space to explore the root of our emotions and see how our impulsive reactions create more problems than solution. He knows that it is only by working through our challenges that we will find an inner strength that will keep us grounded.