Stay on It

From the Daniloff Tarot the Two of Coins; from the Kuan Yin Poems, Verse 85:

Sometimes when you're overwhelmed by a situation - when you're in the darkest of darkness - that's when your priorities are reordered.  —Phoebe Snow

When we're trying to keep our balance while dealing with too much, it helps to have a sense of humor. This clown's barrel reminds me of rodeo clowns who must protect a thrown cowboy from a 2000 lb. bull until he can get to safety. They began using reinforced barrels to jump in and protect themselves when the bull turned on them. But his barrel is full of holes and water. This fellow needs a safe space to catch his breath too. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

On the way to the summit,

the clouds part.

The way is hidden in the mist.

Having too much on our plate can create a pattern of running back and forth from one task to another without getting much done. The wisdom in this verse tells us to pick a path and stay on it; the way will become clearer as we make progress.

Light Not Heat

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from Stephen Karcher's book The Kuan Yin Oracle as well as from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the Two of Swords and Verse 46:

One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat. 

―Woodrow Wilson

The two rocks on either side of this woman seem to indicate she is between a rock and a hard place - she faces a situation that doesn't have great options on either side. The blindfold and 'earmuffs' head covering suggest she is shutting out all the people trying to steer her in one direction or the other. She will rely on inner wisdom and intuition to make this decision. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

Even a withered tree will bloom again one day.

Count on the rhythms of nature.

Stay still for now

and let things be just as they are.

Sometimes people or situations won't show their true colors unless we wait patiently instead of poking them. As Lao Tzu asked, "Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?" We must put our stirring sticks down if we want to see with clarity.

Highest Form of Prayer

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Ten of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, Messiah:

Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. 

—Alan Cohen

Do celebrations equal emotional fulfillment? While they can be pleasurable, they are without the ability to sustain good feelings for long. Contentment, on the other hand, is rooted in appreciation and gratitude, able to navigate the ups and downs of life. While it's always up for some fun or a new experience, it doesn't rely on them. Messiah archetypes are people who desire to humbly serve others. It may look like its shadow at first glance - people who never say no to anything that's asked of them. But such people are looking to feel worthy and needed (though they often just end up feeling used and resentful). True service doesn't look for anything in return - it has a well full of appreciation and contentment already.  

Anyone Listening?

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Five of Wands; from the Archetype Cards, Healer:

Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.

—Parker Palmer

America, in its present divided and volatile state, needs another leader to show people how to protest peacefully without resorting to violence. MLK, Jr., Thich Nhat Hanh, and Gandhi all showed that beneficial change is possible if we have patience and avoid letting our frustration turn to rage as we oppose injustices. Unfortunately, such a leadership position isn't often sought after, as the leader often ends us dead, imprisoned or exiled. Yet violence is inevitable if the voices of those who suffer go unheard. Healer suggests a way to soothe and heal relationships through communication, but this only works if both parties are willing to be open-minded and listen sincerely to another perspective. However, folks generally behave as Steve Covey described: "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." 

Doorways

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Archetype Cards, the Pioneer:

Sovereignty is deeply connected to personal freedom —the ability to live according to your own values, beliefs, and desires, rather than being swayed by societal expectations or pressures. 

—Kimberly Presley

Commitment and diligence in one's work as well as the ability to apply self-discipline when it comes to spending and saving can create a place of self-sovereignty. It doesn't mean we have a mansion with a butler and a maid, but it does mean we are at a place of material sufficiency; we now have more time to spend in pursuits that feed our spirit, not just our body. Pioneer asks us to embrace the innovative, to explore (internally or externally) areas that we've not had time to investigate before. Don't worry about making mistakes or learning about something that produces no harvest - they can also be doorways to discovery.

Stagnant Disposition

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Queen of Cups; from the Archetype Cards, the King:

It's a desperately vexatious thing, that after all one's reflections and quiet determinations, we should be ruled by moods that one can't calculate on beforehand.

― George Eliot

This lovely Queen of Cups does not try to dam the flow of water; she does the same with her emotions. She knows that when we listen to how our emotions speak through the body instead of winding them up with our thoughts, they will pass. But if the mind is permitted to create stories around our feelings, it turns them into moods, which can stick around a while. The King archetype suggests a leadership that is benevolent. Yet our mind can sit on either throne - that of a kindhearted king or a raving tyrant. Awareness is the key that can open another door - and turn our thoughts - so that we are not at the mercy of a stagnant disposition.

Narrow Focus

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Magician; from the Archetype Cards, Detective:

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. – Alexander Graham Bell

The companion booklet notes that the number of the Magician is the root number of the Sun and Wheel of Fortune. It is a hint that although we may have the resources to produce what we want, we also need a laser-like focus to get things to go the right way. Feeling like we have too much to do might cause us to try to multitask. Or, if our mind is on something more entertaining that we'd like to be doing, we might not be fully concentrated on the task at hand. Detective suggests that if things didn't turn out as expected, we might look carefully to see why. It might be that we left out something important, that our timing wasn't right, or that we simply need another pair of hands to help.