Balancing on the Edge

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Two of Coins:

With his arms outstretched and his feet lined up heel to toe, I could draw a line underneath this fool and turn him into a tightrope walker.  But with his head turned back, he looks as if he has become distracted and in danger of losing his balance.  When I have a lot of my plate that I'm trying to take care of, it's extremely easy for me to get sidetracked by something other than the task at hand.  Last week I was working out in the yard, and I was supposed to be cutting down weedy trees and brush growing along the fence line.  But then I noticed some weeds that needed to be pulled....  And then I noticed the hummingbird feeder needed to be refilled...  And then...  Well, you get the picture.  Though I may have a lot to juggle, concentrating on one obligation at a time will help me get things done faster than losing my focus as I run around trying to do everything at once.

From the Wisdom of the Four Winds comes Atares, "Knowledge:"

Atares is a bright summer star in the Maori world known to them as Rehua, keeper of lore.  The star shared her knowledge with the people, but they discovered that such information contains both light and darkness.  The authors suggest we need wisdom to deal with what we learn, as we walk "the blade of a two-edged sword."  I remember when I discovered the director of a charity I supported was a power-hungry, vindictive bitch with a few screws loose.  I immediately wanted to withdraw my aid and convince everyone else to do the same.  But I eventually realized that the women this program was helping would ultimately be the ones who were hurt, not the woman who ran the organization.  A two-edged sword indeed... 

Dangling Bait

This week the book and deck set I'll be using is the Ship of Fools Tarot, created by Brian Williams and published by Llewellyn.  Today's draw is the Five of Swords:

A fellow waits in a back alley, holding three swords but leaving two on the ground.  I can almost hear him whisper, "Come on, pick them up... they're waiting just for you."  But I know this guy's mindset.  He loves a fight, and will tempt people with inflammatory remarks and biting opinions to draw them in.  He's the Glen Beck of television, the Rush Limbaugh of radio, and the trolls of internet forums and Facebook.  They don't want to discuss, they want to debate.  They draw their energy from goading people into a war of words and watching the subsequent chaos with glee.  The trick to avoiding them is to remember "don't take the bait."

The oracle I'll be using this week is the Wisdom of the Four Winds, created by Barry Brailsford, illustrated by Cecilie Okada, and published by StonePrint Press.  This morning's draw is the North Guardian, "Limestone:"

The place I live is built on ancient limestone beds.  Recently the city dug out a holding pond about 100 yards from my house that is on a lime sink.  They ended up with huge machines there when they hit the limestone, and pulled out boulders the size of cars.  Before they smashed them up, I slipped over there and gathered a few small fossils of shells to bring home (the city discouraged people from going there because the boulders were mixed with flint, and one slip could result in a life threatening gash).  I wish I could have recorded all the plants and shells that had been preserved in the limestone before the city smashed them to pieces and hauled them away.  The book suggests this card means to "look back that you might go forward with purpose."  In adding its meaning to the tarot card above, I see that I must be aware of my behavior patterns and "triggers" to keep from reacting to something that will result in resentment rather than anything beneficial. 

Life is No Abyss

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Two of Cups:

Two dolphins rise from the water, one a gold color representing the solar masculine, the other silver symbolizing the lunar feminine.  A lotus flower has grown above the water into the light, and from it spills two streams that fill two cups.  I am hoping for the chance to meet a friend at the local coffee shop today.  Like silver and gold, we have our similarities, yet we have different views and approaches to doing things.  But our relationship isn't just based on emotional needs; like the lotus it stretches into the air of intellect.  It is nice to have someone to share ideas and beliefs with even if they differ, because we've learned how to respectfully agree to disagree when necessary.  But her views have helped open my mind in many ways, exposing petals to light that have never felt the rays of the sun.

From the Ascension to Paradise deck comes the "Bluebird:"

And when he sings to you,
Though you're deep in blue,
You will see a ray of light creep through,
And so remember this, life is no abyss,
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

~ "Bluebird of Happiness," 1934 by Harmati and Heyman

I was curious as to how the bluebird came to be associated with happiness and found this song was the first known reference to it.  Apparently the lyrics encourage a person to look for the "bluebirds" in his or her life, even when joy seems to be hiding.  Underneath the image of the bird above is a winding road that leads to a heart-shaped sun.  When I don't get a straight-shot to what I think will bring me contentment, its easy to consider leaving the path for another.  But the authors encourage me to let go of judgment and criticism of what isnt' "right" and instead look for the good in the people and situations around me.

Into the Darkness

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Hanged Man:

The Hanged Man is associated with the Hebrew letter Mem ("water"), a symbol of the fountain of  Divine Wisdom.  The man's relaxed posture into this stream reminds me of "tubing" as a kid, when we would float on tire inner tubes down a river, letting the current carry us along.  Meleen describes this card as the "descent of light into the darkness," bringing to mind camping at night in a forest and relying on a flashlight to find my way around.  This man's fingers have become roots, willingly plunging into the dark earth.  The "dark night of the soul" occurs when I find myself overwhelmed, confused and helpless to change what is going on.   Only when I give up my need for control and detach from my emotional need to do something about everything (see the heart-shaped beehive?) will my flashlight click on.  Relax, breathe, pay attention...

From the Ascension to Paradise deck this morning comes the "Skua:"

Skuas are gull-like birds of the polar regions and nearby continents.  They are strong, acrobatic flyers and generally have aggressive dispositions.  Skuas are often called avian pirates because of their habit of stealing food caught by other birds.  They strike by attacking in midair and forcing their victims to drop their kills in flight.  I don't think it's a coincidence that this image shows an eclipse, and the tarot card above referred to a plunge into darkness.  The Skua pushes me to look at the way I may be trying to force my will on people or situations.  I have no right to "steal" their freedom to make their own decisions.  Goodness knows I have enough of my own to make.
    

Seeking my Song

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Hermit:

Two symbols stand out for me in this card: one is the cosmic egg in the Hermit's staff and the other is the labyrinth he walks.  Both represent an inner place, one that holds potential and one that holds wisdom.  Introspection is the task of the Hermit, a spiritual audit of sorts.  He spends time in isolation on a pilgrimage to higher guidance, looking for something greater and more lasting than his ego can provide.  Like the farmer in the Seven of Pentacles, he can see what fruit has grown from the spiritual seeds he's planted in the past. The hexagram of his lantern indicates he shouldn't just carry around what he learns in his head, but should allow it to permeate his reality. 

From the Ascension to Paradise deck comes the "Mockingbird:"

More than any other songbird, the mockingbird can imitate not only other birds, but a variety of sounds in its environment.  My husband used to have a car alarm that would go off for no apparent reason, and we had a mockingbird who could imitate it almost perfectly.  But his talent at replication makes me question myself - am I singing my own song, or have I become one of the "sheeple," blindly doing what someone else tells me is the correct way?  The Ka-ta-see tradition has a ceremony for finding your "song" - the signature of who you are.  It involves bringing back the details of a time when you felt an intense aliveness and joy; it is the feeling that accompanies this memory which is imprinted with my song, the purpose and meaning of my life.  It is personal to me, yet is what connects me in a spiritual way to all others.


 

Honey in the Heart and on the Table

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Queen of Disks:

This queen sits on a giant aloe plant in a desert; a stream runs from her leading to a small oasis.  The disk she holds resembles a honeycomb, and reminds me of a blessing common among the Tzutujil Indians of Guatemala that a friend of mine likes to use: "Be blessed with long life, honey in the heart, no evil, and thirteen thank-yous."  Like the aloe, this queen soothes what is painful, and like the honey comb, she offers something sweet to replace the bitter.  She's not one to "tweet" or text a quick message, she's going to offer tangible support where possible.  As she well knows, mere words are often tossed around with no real substance; the Queen of Disks believes in literally bringing something to the table.

From the Ascension to Paradise deck this morning comes the "Frogmouth:"

Frogmouths get their names from their wide beaks and are almost entirely insectivorous.  They hunt at night, but unlike an owl who hunts on the wing, they typically wait for food to come to them.  I included a photo of a tawny frogmouth to show their excellent camouflage; when they stand still, they look just like a part of a trunk or a tree branch.  Frogmouth encourages me to conceal myself when I give to others.  I don't need to make a big show of things or expect kudos for my efforts.  I need to remember that the motive should be to help another person rather than give my ego a pat on the back. 

Fancied Fallacy

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Seven of Swords:

Even through genetic modification, there is no such thing as a naturally occurring blue rose; they are created only by adding dye to a white rose.  Because of this fact, they often symbolize a longing for the impossible.  In this painting, the rose has been pierced by a central sword, surrounded by six others.  Here the desire has become all-consuming, like an intense hunger.  Such an obsession makes me self-centered, focusing only on the unobtainable.  But the irrational thought not only damages that which once was pure, it leaves behind a residue of thoughts that will bind and haunt me later.  My only protection may be the feedback of trusted friends, who can see my twisted thinking and name it for what it is.

From the Ascension to Paradise comes the "Loon:"

These diving birds can hold their breath for 90 seconds while feeding underwater, but what they are most often known for is their eerie, other-worldly call.  Because of this trait, the authors associate this bird with grief and sadness.  For me, I easily recognize the emotions of fear and anger, but the depression that comes from loss can creep over me before I'm consciously aware of it.  This feeling, more than any other, can lead me to isolate myself, making me vulnerable to thoughts only loosely based in reality.  Even the loon must come up for air when it dives deep in the water; I too need to release my pain in order to clear the fog from my head.