Shifts in Perspective

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Crone, a book and deck set created and self-published by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. I'll be pairing it with the Wondering Traveler's Oracle, created and self-published by Marika McCoola. Today's draws are Sacrifice (Hanged Man) and Time Brings:

I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation - either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.

―Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ellen designates this card Sacrifice rather than Hanged Man, emphasizing the suffering we endure as we are forced to bend to life as it is. Without thinking we're special or making it into a lifestyle, she encourages us to discover what is at the root of this pain and learn from it. Seeking a new perspective rather fighting reality is what can bring transformation. The oracle card reminds us that even though the world seems to be on a never-ending rinse and repeat cycle, time brings change and wisdom. A philosopher on PBS reminded his listeners that it was in the middle of the Black Death (the bubonic plague) that Julian of Norwich had a vision and proclaimed, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." Such a shift is shown in the crone's smiling face in the water. 

Making a Crack in the Mind

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Sunset:

Intellectual humility involves understanding that we can’t fully trust our beliefs and opinions because we might be relying on faulty or incomplete information or are incapable of understanding the details.

—Mark Leary

The fool smiles because he won the argument, but what he doesn't yet realize is that he's lost all of his friends. Intellectual humility acknowledges that we could be wrong, no matter how much we think we know. Choosing not to be an expert allows us to expand our knowledge and understand new perspectives. This trait takes some effort to develop - we naturally bow up and become defensive when others question what we accept as truth. Yet being open-minded opens up new avenues of thoughts and ideas and helps us sustain our relationships. Sunset suggests it's time to let go of our need to be an expert on everything. It might help us to use the fictional Armand Gamache's statements he teaches his new recruits: "I don't know. I need help. I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Lobster Limo

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Tree Fern:

The more we are able to connect with ourselves, the better we are able to connect with others.

—Todd Baratz

Bless his heart. This fool is ready for love, and he is riding a lobster limo to find "the one" who will complete him. Even the bird (who is likely waiting for the lobster to croak) knows he's clueless. Healthy relationships require inner work before we go out seeking. We need to know who we are - our values, likes and dislikes, and boundaries - as well as how our history and upbringing has shaped our ways of relating and our expectations. But perhaps most of all, we need to have developed self-compassion, so we don't go looking for someone to give it to us. The Tree Fern has korus, or unfurled fern fronds, that remind us that all things need time to unfold and develop. Working on ourselves, with the idea of progress not perfection, is the best way to meet a companion we'll want to grow old with.

The Soft Spot

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Six of Cups; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Moss:

Care is a state in which something does matter; it is the source of human tenderness. 

—Rollo May

Have you ever been watching a younger generation at play and fondly thought, "I remember when..." This fool, meeting the young boy on his hobby horse, is likely having the same thoughts. Such moments are important; in a harsh world, we need to be reminded that our hearts can still be tender. Moss, with its beauty and cushiony softness reminds us that we need to nurture this quality. We cultivate the softness of our hearts so that we don't lose our empathy and goodwill. As Robert Frost wrote, "There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate."

A Whiny Edge

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Ten of Staves; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Obsidian:

You can only whine for so long. Then you need to get your life back. 

―Marya Hornbacher

This fool's body is in a strange position because he is twisting backward instead of looking forward. My guess is that he's looking for someone to complain to about the load he's carrying. Venting can help reduce our stress if we express what's bothering us (without going on and on). But Obsidian suggests we might take a sharper, reflective look to see if our complaining has taken on a whiny edge. Using this checklist may help us be aware if this habit is hurting rather than helping:

1. We feel even worse than before.
2. We resist every helpful suggestion or solution.
3. We ignore any silver linings.
4. We complain in a mean-spirited or catastrophic way.
5. We're starting to wear out our support system.

What We Put Into It

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Antares/Rehua:

What you put into life is what you get out of it.

―Clint Eastwood

Researchers in the U.S. found that people of lower socioeconomic status are actually more altruistic than those higher on the economic ladder. And what happens when these kindhearted folks are in need? People reach out to help immediately. The original text by Sebastian Brant says: "He who has riches and delights in them/ paying no heed to those in need/ will be forsaken, so that he too shall beg." Antares (the summer star), known as Rehua in Māori lore, was visited on behalf of the humans by two brothers - the benevolent lord of light and the angry lord of darkness. The deity gave the first lord three baskets of knowledge, but the latter's basket was filled with pain. As the companion book explains: "Gentleness came asking and gathered seeds of hope; Anger came demanding and garnered seeds of war." The acts and attitude we carry into life will affect the quality we get out of it.

Don't Worry About It

From the Ship of Fools, the Tower; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Octopus:

Why are you, or anybody, afraid? Is it based on not wanting to be hurt? Or is it that one wants complete security? —Krishnamurti

This fool's house is on fire, but he seems to be thinking, "Maybe it will go out on its own" instead of getting to safety. For him, the Tower is his security, his escape from all he fears. Everyone is scared of something, but reality has a way of finding us whether we like it or not. The Octopus, an adaptable, intelligent creature, has had legends told about it that make it into a hideous monster. From 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to Ursala in The Little Mermaid, it was something to be feared. Yes, it is unusual, but it is also wonderful. Sometimes what we fear - if we face it - can teach us how to be more adaptable to what shows up unexpected.