Creative Effort

  From the Art of Tarot, the Two of Pentacles:

I've been to a few ballets, and have always been amazed by the dancers' fluid gracefulness, their sense of balance, and their ability to work together with such harmony.  In Roosevelt's words, they use their bodies in "creative effort" - translating original ideas into reality.  This card makes me pause and consider how I am using my resources of money and energy.  Is there a balance between hoarding and impulsive spending, between being constantly active and being a couch potato?  I know neither extreme will bring me happiness or security, so I must find a middle path between them.  I may need to stretch my imagination to find it...

     From the Tao Oracle comes "Treading:"

Here is a beautiful rendition of another balancing act - between the conduct of the ego and the conduct that arises from essence (higher self).  The ego functions from habit, based on conditioned behavior patterns.  Essence allows us to act with awareness and sensitivity, rather than from self-centeredness.  As Padma writes, "When you act from essence, you understand that marching to the beat of your own drum is not contradictory to playing in harmony with the band."  Better dust off that bodhran and listen for the rhythm... 

Retreats and Deliverance

From the Art of Tarot, the Hermit:

The name of this painting is Solitude, watching the horizon at sunset in hope of seeing a vessel.  This card reminds me of the long walks I take in the early morning, away from the distraction of phones, internet, TV and people.  It gives me a chance to touch base with my inner self, a spiritual check-up if you will.  It allows me to peel back the layers and see what is behind any obsessive thoughts, emotional turmoil, or any sense of apathy.  It also allows me to acknowledge and appreciate all the things for which I can be grateful.  But most importantly, I can form a plan of action for getting myself back on track when I've wandered off.  I love time-outs for adults.

     From the Tao Oracle comes "Deliverance:"

We've been under drought conditions for some time now, and in this area where so many farmers depend on rain for their crops it has become quite serious.  But last night we had a band of thunderstorms come through, bringing life-giving rain.  Unfortunately, the front triggered a migraine in me, and I spent most of the night wondering if I should try driving myself to the emergency room.  But at dawn when I awoke for my walk, most of the pain had gone; everywhere I looked what had once been brown now glowed with green.  It was a feeling of deliverance, and my heart is full this morning with thankfulness.

Priority List

From the Art of Tarot, the Six of Wands:

What a difference a day makes...  Yesterday I was overwhelmed with responsibilities (some of which I took care of and others I postponed), but I had a good night sleep last night and I woke up feeling positive and enthusiastic about the day ahead.  I am reminded that sometimes successes are built on the foundation of simple things.  Taking care of my body through exercise, healthy eating and rest is a must.  But I also need the emotional support of friends with whom I can share my deepest fears, my greatest joys, and my darkest sorrows.  Anything I achieve will be built on these basic things.

     From the Tao Oracle comes "The Well:"

According to Padma, the Well represents the place within each of us that offers an ever-present source of renewal.  She writes: "To drink form the source of clarity within the depths of the self is to know the taste of Tao.  It is available to all those who thirst and are willing to dive into the core of being to be nourished."  For me, this card is a reminder to make a daily connection to my Higher Self through the spiritual tools I have available.  That connection is just as important to my sanity and serenity as all the things I listed above, and it is just as essential as any of my physical needs.

Restoring Equilibrium, Relieving Excess

From the Art of Tarot, the Ten of Wands:

This painting may not represent my home, but it definitely represents how I feel inside - completely overwhelmed.  There are doctor appointments today (a specialist for my husband and an internal medicine doc for my mother-in-law) and a vet visit for an old, ailing dog.  My cupboard is bare, a trip must be made to the pharmacy, and I need to prepare to lead a discussion for the book club I'm in.  Most of these duties are necessary, but the only way I'll be able to manage my day is start with what's at the top of my list and work down, doing one thing at a time.  As Emerson says, patience and fortitude can do wonders if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

     From the Tao Oracle comes "Small is Beautiful:"

Practice not doing, and everything will fall into place. ~ Lao Tzu

A small butterfly rests on a red line that represents the "tipping point," a thin place of balance; if the harmony or equilibrium is disturbed, instability will result.  With all the multitasking I had planned for today, this is sage advice.  "Practice not doing" doesn't mean I sit on my bum, but instead it encourages me to pause, be patient, and pay attention.  When a juggler has seven balls in the air, he's not paying attention to any of them - he's focusing on the juggling itself.  When I run around trying to check things off my list, my attention is on what is coming up next, not where I am now.  Time to take a deep breath and pay attention to what is in front of me right at this moment...

Restoring Balance

From the Art of Tarot, the Six of Pentacles:

This is a painting of the Good Samaritan, a parable of one enemy helping another.  In his speech I've Been to the Mountaintop, Martin Luther King, Jr. examined what might have been going through the two religious men's minds as they passed the injured man: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"  But then when the Samaritan comes along, a man considered to be scum among the Jews, King reflects that he must have asked, "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"  The Samaritan could have had a self-righteous attitude but instead he chose a selfless one.  The Six of Pentacles involves restoring balance and doing the right thing (compassion) rather than following my ego's advice.  I may not leave behind a big bank account, but a legacy of love will last much longer than a few dollars.

     From the Tao Oracle comes the card "Work on What Has Been Spoiled:"

After a forest fire, a woman tries to heal the earth by planting a tree.  In her companion book, Padma writes about leaving leftovers in the refrigerator until they spoil, and instead of cleaning things out, just pushing the container to the back and trying to forget about it.  I've had a resentment that I've tried to hide in the back of my mind; it is a relationship that I do not have the power to fix.  But I do have work I can do, which is to change my attitude and stop replaying the tapes that only stoke the fires of my anger.  We each have our own lessons to learn in this mess, but instead of pointing the finger, I need to concentrate on learning my own.

Looking in Dark Places

This week I'll be using a new deck created by Charlene Livingstone called the Art of Life Tarot.  Today's card is Justice:

This quote is the advice given from a father to his son in the play Hamlet.  Associated with Justice, I believe it means to look objectively at myself - to acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses, my assets and liabilities.  If I don't desire to deceive myself, I won't feel the need to wear masks around others either.  Of course this approach to life can make other people uncomfortable!  The painting above is a self-portrait by Van Gogh, who had no illusions about himself - he realized he suffered from mental illness.  He originally tried to be a pastor (like his father) but soon realized that was not his calling.  As an artist, Van Gogh altered or abandoned traditional painting techniques and put his emotions into each brushstroke.  His integrity and truthfulness led to beauty, even in the dark places of his life.

     The second deck I'll be using this week is the Tao Oracle by Ma Deva Padma.  Today's card is "Contemplation:"

This is a time for reflection - a time to retreat from busyness, enter the silence, and observe with detachment.  Padma encourages me to "become familiar with the landscape of yourself, recognize what your truths are."  Here is a challenge for me to plumb the depths rather than skim the surface.  Like walking through a dark forest at night, I may at first be fearful, but I'll soon find that the illumination I bring back is worth it.

It's an Ongoing Thing...

  From the Restored Order Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles:

Three generations of a family enjoy the fruits of success with each other.  The ten pentacles in this card are arranged in a diagram resembling the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.  This diagram represents the process by which the Universe came into being.  But what is also important to understand is that this progression doesn't have a beginning and an end - it is a dynamic state of continuous creation.  Likewise, I must remember that while I can take pleasure in my blessings, I must be a good steward of what I have.  I can enjoy my health, home and assets, but I need to put forth the effort to continue to create this abundance.

     From the Oracle of the Kabbalah comes the letter "Yud:"

Yud is the smallest of the Hebrew letters, and the only one suspended in midair.  Yet as Rabbi Ginsburgh states, it is the "little that holds much."  In his companion book, Seidman writes, "According to the big bang theory of the creation of the universe, all matter emerged from a tiny point that exploded outward, expanding and gradually coalescing into galaxies and solar systems.  Yud represents that beginning point, that small seed from which the whole creation sprouts."  This letter reminds me that the ideas I have won't do me any good as long as they are "hanging in midair."  They must be grounded in reality - the seed I must plant with my own hands.