Pouring Out the Present

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Six of Cups:

Pouring the present

Into the past.

The words above are my own, not those of Lorenzi-Prince; when I saw this image, this thought was what came to me.  Unlike the Temperance card, where the flow goes both ways, here the water from the bowls goes into the larger receptacle.  I can spend many of my present moments living in the past.  Funny thing about when I do this though, I tend to remember the good and never the bad.  Yet in the present I can take a frustrating or painful five minutes and stretch it into a full day.  I think the past can be a useful learning tool, but I don't want to spend my life wishing things were the same as they were "back then."  I need to refill my bowl with the beauty and blessings I have around me now, because that is what will give me the strength to  deal with the struggles and challenges I face today.

From the Transforming Dragons deck comes the dragon "Suboc:"

Trap: Somber or Sarcastic

Treasure: Playful and Open-hearted

Suboc has two sides; either he thinks life is serious and you should act accordingly, or he is a cynic who constantly makes snarky, sarcastic remarks to prove how knowledgeable he is.  While I have my moments as a skeptic and naysayer, I tend to relate more to his stern and somber side.  This dragon reminds me that it is okay to laugh and play (in fact it is healthy) and to remember to make charitable assumptions about others who see things through a different lens than my own.  If I'm going to live in the present moment, it would help to have an attitude that makes me want to stay there.

Revelations

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Ten of Swords:

Truth pierces me.

I will never see the world the same.

Lorenzi-Prince uses the keyword "revelation" for this card, a new slant on the interpretation.  My revelations have been of two types.  With the first type, I believed something just because someone I respected told me to believe it.  But eventually my experience did not match what I was led to believe, so I embraced real life instead.  The second was more sudden, when an idea or opinion I treasured was proved to be false or misleading.  It is like living in a house with no windows or doors, and unexpectedly one appears and is opened.  I see the truth, and though understanding it might be uncomfortable, I can never close that door or window again because now I know.  I've always felt a bit in limbo after one of these revelations, as if the foundation I was standing on crumbled abruptly.  But if I can explore the new idea instead of attempting to run from it, I will find a more grounded reality that offers freedom.

 

From the Transforming Dragons deck comes "Xuxutaco:"

  Trap: Irresponsible Consumption and Collection

Treasure: Accountability and Sustainability

Xuxutaco is a dragon whose goal is to accumulate and spend recklessly.  Now I do have my moments of overspending, but they are rare; I tend to live a very simple life.  So I was puzzled with this card, until I realized a person can accumulate more than just material things.  What about gossip?  Or what if I keep a scorecard of every "bad" thing someone ever said or did to me?  These type of thoughts can create a sickness just as unhealthy as the habits of a person who spends or squanders resources indiscriminately.  Perhaps there is a new type of diet I need to think about...

Birds of a Feather...

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Crone, a deck and book set created by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince.  Today's draw is the Witch of Cups (Knight):

I dance where the stars and tides align,

And create movement that will last a thousand years.

Here is a woman that could be described as a "mover and a shaker" in the realm of relationships - not only is she influential, she gets things accomplished.  The image makes me think of both a hook and a vessel; this woman has the ability to "catch" and "receive" others in her life.  This card reminds me that I have the ability to allow or refuse certain people in my life - I am the one who chooses whether to let them in my head and heart or not.  And who I allow in tends to influence my attitude and actions, for better or worse.  It might be better if I take a few of them off the hook and toss them back into the lake...  

The oracle deck I'll be using this week was created by Sonia Cafe and is called Transforming Dragons.  This morning's draw is the dragon "Axidox:"

Trap: Criticism and Judgment

Treasure: Ability to see Beauty and Potential

This dragon faces away from the mirror because she doesn't want to see what is within herself.  She believes she knows what is best for everyone; her wisdom should be acknowledged and followed.  She's not distracted by her own shortcomings, because she's too busy pointing out those of another person.  She rationalizes that she is only trying to help them.  The irony is that these people have become her mirror; what she sees in them that is at fault also lies within herself in some form.  When I can honestly look at my assets and liabilities, I'll be much more likely to concentrate on the what is possible and good in others.       

Ignoring "To-do" Lists

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Hermit:

This hermit has climbed a mountain in order to find the solitude needed for spiritual study and reflection.  At his feet are an hourglass turned on its side and the carved figure of a woman.  The hourglass represents symbolically stopping time - ignoring the busyness of "to do" lists and being still.  The carved figure indicates leaving behind the pleasures that can be distracting rather than helpful.  Although he's alone, he hangs out a lantern so others can find him.  He doesn't mind helping people, but they're going to have to take the initiative instead of waiting for him to go in search of them; while being of service is a big part of most spiritual paths, it needs to be balanced with solitary endeavors as well.  This card sums up what I hope this new year will bring.

From the Kuan Yin Oracle comes stick #49, "Ice that Turns to Water:"

The chilly waters turn to ice

when the year gets colder.

One day the ice

will turn to flowing water again.

Have you ever felt stuck, like you are floating in a stagnant pool of water?  That's what this past year has felt like to me.  So many issues to deal with, obligations to fulfill, and crises to ride out that I've become numb; I've put one foot in front of the other to deal with the day to day and placed my spirit in a drawer for later.  And though all the answers haven't been found and problems solved, it's time to let my heart thaw and step back into flowing water again.  Now where is my inner tube...

A Shield for Suffering

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Three of Swords:

Three swords pierce a heart painted on a shield; a drawing of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns hangs below.  Regardless of one's religious or spiritual persuasion, I think most people would generally agree with Jesus' philosophy that "Love trumps the law."  Whether seen as myth or historical fact, his life was lived with a heart exposed rather than shielded from the words and actions of others.  I have felt my share of pain, yet I have been the cause of it as well.  Intentional or not, humans are quite adept at causing sorrow.  Over the years I've built a nice little wall to try to ward off such suffering, but the problem with this barricade is that it can keep out joy too.  I think I can survive the hurt caused by others, but I don't think I could endure being without their friendship and love.

From the Kuan Yin Oracle comes stick #82, "The Water Lily and the Fire:"

The scorching heat of a forest fire.

Through a happy chance, the lily survives the blaze.

It is not only spared from the flames,

but new leaves and tendrils sprout on each stem.

Looking through the lens of the tarot card above, the scorching fire is the anguish caused by my own or others' actions or words.  Yet in the poem, the lily not only survives, but sprouts new leaves afterward.  I am reminded by these verses that it is usually my ego that feels insulted and hurt by the what people do and say, not my Higher Self; when I am the aggressor, it is usually my ego in action.  If I can get past my hurt pride, I will find new growth follows.  As Karcher states in his book, "We learn who we are through our suffering."

Queen of Soul

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Empress:

This woman looks a little more like a queen than a version of Mother Nature.  She does rule and guide, but with more of a motherly touch than the Emperor.  I can almost hear her telling me, "Mind your manners!"  She reminds me that I don't need a machete to drive home a point and that being casually cruel is not what honesty is about.  If I squint just a bit, I can see her morphing into the Queen of Soul and singing, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me..."

From the Kuan Yin Oracle comes stick #73, "Sudden Thunder:"

Sudden spring thunder wakes the insects and the worms.

They sing together gaily and dance in a circle,

free from winter hibernation

deep in the earth.

The thunder is a wake-up call for the parts of myself that have been asleep, parts that I've had to put on a dusty shelf until "later."  It's time now for those things, whether they involve creating, learning, or gathering with a group of people.  New changes are ready to emerge, if I will only wake up and get moving.  In keeping with the tarot card's message above, I must remember these changes are for me; I can't force anyone to adopt my vision or views - they can only dance along if they are willing.

What am I Leaving Behind?

This morning, the first day of the new year, I ask the second question (see previous post), "What do I leave behind?"  From the Daniloff Tarot, the Chariot:

A statue-like figure (that seems to have had its arms broken off) rides in a chariot pulled by a griffin and a unicorn.  On his breast plate is a crab, an astrological symbol that often represents the emotions.  Interesting that I drew the Strength card yesterday and the Chariot today, as I see a connection between the Empress and Strength (dealing with the "heart") and the Chariot and the Emperor (dealing with the "head").  The griffin represents the masculine traits of physical strength and courage; the unicorn symbolizes the feminine traits of innocence, healing, and mercy.  Neither of these are good or bad - different situations require the use of both.  But the emotions can short-circuit these choices.  If I am angry or resentful, I may choose to react with aggression when benevolence would be the better choice.  If I love someone in a needy or insecure way, I may choose to be lenient when a tough stand would be a healthier reaction.  The armless charioteer has learned to use his intellect to control where his feelings might otherwise take him.  As someone who has lived life with a firm grip on her emotional side, pulling this card for what I am leaving behind is a bit unnerving.  Maybe I don't need to hold my feelings quite so tightly...

Stick #89 was chosen from the Kuan Yin Oracle, "The Hidden Jade:"

Who can look

at a simple stone

and see that it hides

a piece of pure jade?

What is real and what is wishful thinking?  I have a confession to make.... I've secretly thought that optimists were deluded, over-emotional Pollyanas.  Not that I consider myself a pessimist - I'd label myself more of a realist.  But in regard to the question and card above, maybe I'm not looking deeply enough at what I think is only a simple rock.  Is there something beautiful inside waiting to be carved from it?  I must learn to see the potential and possibilities of life, not to pin my happiness on, but as a vision to work toward.  Realists can have dreams as long as they are making an effort to materialize them, right?