Masters and Their Cheering Squads

From the Albano Waite Tarot, the Three of Pentacles:

Is it just me, or does the craftsman standing on the bench look ready to knock out the other two with his tool?  Here's a guy who knows his stuff - an expert in his field - yet these folks insist on telling him how to do his job.  Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with expecting something to be done a certain way when you've paid for it.  But, people who have no proficiency and knowledge in the area concerned shouldn't tell a professional how to do the job.  As the saying goes, "too many cooks spoil the soup."  Stop trying to take charge of everything and allow the poor guy to do what he's great at doing.

     From the Rumi Cards:

 

It is certain that an atom of goodness on the path of faith
is never lost.

Do the kindnesses I do really make a difference?  Does any of it really matter?  I suppose in the big picture of things, the answer would be no.  But then I think of the story of the little boy, walking among hundreds of starfish washed up on a beach, who attempted to toss them back out to sea before the sun dried them.  A man, seeing the overwhelming number, told him he would never make a difference.  The boy held up one starfish, and before throwing it into the water said, "It does to this one."  And who knows, maybe there will be a kindness done or some encouragement given to that one in particular who will paint the next masterpiece, find a cure for cancer, or eliminate world hunger...

Past and Present

From the Albano Waite Tarot, the Six of Cups:

The children and flowers in this card represent healing the past and integrating it with the present.  The number six symbolizes a return to harmony; it may be a memory I need to come to terms with, a person I need to reconcile with, or someone I've lost contact with whose reunion will benefit me.  These children are outdoors, away from the protection of the castle.  I must let down my guard (see the one walking away in the image?), and become vulnerable.  Honesty, gentleness, and goodwill will serve me well in this process.

     From the Rumi Cards:

Don't despair if the friend sends you away;
He may chase you away today;
He'll call for you tomorrow.

It's funny how time can change your perception of things.  What seemed like the end of the world at one point in my life barely even registers in my memory banks now.  It's good for me to take a long range view of things when I feel hurt or angry.  I could be laughing about the same situation a year from now...

Decisions, Decisions

Today's draw from the Albano Waite Tarot is the Two of Swords, one I seem to choose a lot lately:

This particular card seems divided into three sections: the yellow (air), the blue (water) and the gray (stone).  Here is an impasse - the woman's thoughts are wrestling with her emotions, and she has become as immovable as the rock bench she sits upon.  At this point, she sees no resolution between them, so she chooses to do nothing.  In the sky is a waxing crescent moon, indicating this struggle will grow until it can't be ignored - for better or for worse, a decision will have to be made.

     From the Rumi Cards this morning:

Your grief lasted so long...
Look, healing is here.
Your door was locked.
Look, here is the key.

I have an issue with honesty and trust; it someone is dishonest (and in my book untrustworthy), I close the door of our relationship and lock it behind me.  I don't hate the person, I just don't care to associate with them anymore.  As I grow older, I'm reconsidering burning all those bridges.  Perhaps the person made a huge mistake, and what they did was not a pattern of behavior but a big error in judgment.  Maybe some of those doors I locked should be opened again... 

It's on the Table

My daily tarot card this morning from the Albano Waite is the Magician:

Life consists in what a man is thinking of all day. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This fellow is dressed simply with four tools on his table: a rod, a chalice, a coin and a sword - motivation/passion, relationships/feelings, financial/physical health, positive thoughts/honesty.  I don't see an Iphone, Ipad, BMW car, or a pair of Nike sneakers anywhere.  The Magician reminds me that I have all the resources I need to have a life that is fulfilling and satisfying.  The roses and lilies that surround him symbolize the garden he has grown with his tools.  I don't need to wait until this or that happens, or until I get something I don't have.  The time to act is now, if I want to grow a beautiful garden.

     The draw from the Rumi Cards today is:

Eat on and on, you lovers, at Eternity's table;
Its feast is forever;
And spread out for you.

I don't think it's a coincidence that there is a table in the first card and a mention of one in the second.  A table is made to hold a variety of things; we each have them (literally and metaphorically) in our lives.  But do I wander past, not knowing or appreciating what they hold for me?  Or am I so busy I think I don't have time to sit there?  I might worry that once I "eat" it may disappear forever, but according to Rumi these gifts are always here.  My only task is to sit down and enjoy them.

HALT and Halos

The tarot deck I'll be using this week is the Albano-Waite, a re-colored version of the RWS by Frankie Albano.  This morning's draw is the Knight of Pentacles:

Here is a knight who most epitomizes those we read about in legends - chivalrous, looking to help the downtrodden and right all wrongs.  He's carried his cup of water across the desert (a symbol of love and compassion), offering it to all those in need.  But he must keep his cup filled for himself as well; he's come to a river to refresh himself and get a refill.  In 12 Step programs, there is an acronym called "HALT" that is used.  It is a reminder not to get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired - in other words, take care of yourself.  I hope this knight has the letters tattooed across his fingers, because he'll need the visual cue in his line of work.

     The oracle I'll be using this week is the Rumi Cards created by Eryk Hanut and Michele Wetherbee, and feature quotes from this Sufi poet.  The cards are divided into six groups around themes: birth, love, ordeal, transformation, warnings, and rewards.  Here's today's draw:

The more you strive to reach the place of Splendor,
The more the Invisible Angels will help you.

If I want to grow spiritually, I can't sit home and polish my halo.  I must go out into the world and practice patience, tolerance and compassion.  The more I strive to be a person filled with loving-kindness, the more I'll be receptive to those who are willing to encourage and support me.  As Truman said, "the buck stops here."

Clearing Your Head

The Two of Swords from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot is based on the Church of Our Lady Before Tyne (in Prague):

  

The woman in the Two of Swords has come outside on the balcony to clear her mind.  She has a decision to make, and her head and heart are battling over the choices (thus the blindfold and crossed arms).  Of course she has plenty of advisors who tell her what she should do, as well as those who try to manipulate her to see things from their point of view, but this has only served to confuse her more (and why she needs some fresh air).  In the stillness she will find an inner resource, one that will guide her without an agenda.  The two twin towers of the church aren't really alike - one is more solidly built than the other.  In the same way, looking within will show her which choice has a firmer foundation.

     The Oracle of Shadows and Light offered me "Amara the Menehune" this morning:

In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune were little people who lived deep in the forests and hidden valleys of the islands.  This card represents the sensual pleasures of the outdoors - the smell of flowers blooming, the warmth of the sun, the sound of the breeze in the treetops.  It is in the natural world where we can unwind, relax, and ground ourselves - better than any pill or drink, with none of the nasty side effects.

Get the Hell Out of Dodge

From the Bohemian Gothic Tarot today comes the Three of Swords:

One dove stands over its mate that has been killed; a woman watches nearby with a look that says, "I did it, but it was an accident."  The image makes me think of Steinbeck's Linnie in Of Mice and Men, a huge man who was like a child because of a mental disability.  He loved to pet soft things, but unintentionally killed them.  Words can cause more damage than often intended.  Ideas can creep in - assumptions made but not proven - and wreak havoc.  For some people (those who are relationship-disabled), this is a recurring pattern.  Hopefully the dove that's still alive will face facts and fly off down the lighted path before he too becomes an "oops."

     The card pulled from the Oracle of Shadows and Light this morning is "Death and the Maiden:"

Lately I've heard the term "psychic vampire" used in describing folks who metaphorically suck the life force out of others.  They use people, draining them emotionally, without ever giving of themselves in return.  If you try to discuss this with them, they will only cling harder and try to convince you that you're the one with the problem.  The only solution in such out-of-balance relationships to leave - and do it quickly!