Turning Down the Volume

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Empress (detail of Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Raphael):

Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. ~ Denis Diderot

The Empress has a passion for creation, but also a fierce devotion toward nurturing and protecting what she loves. There is no logic or limits to her feelings, and they will motivate her to do both courageous and crazy things. Every thought that precedes action is channeled through her heart rather than her head. The phrase "no greater love" defines her well. But such a passion can gently water a garden just as easily as it can flood a valley. There is no off/on switch, and there is no volume control to be found.

From the Tao Oracle comes "The Taming of the Small:"

Padma explains that this card refers to times when our sphere of influence is small. Like the spider who weaves her web and then blends in to her surroundings, sometimes I need to attend to details of the small stuff without trying to change the world. As Padma clarifies, there are times to "work with what is, even when it feels as though all the excitement is happening somewhere else." Repairing the small may not seem like much, but it may have a huge impact later down the line.

Where's the Steering Wheel on this Thing?

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Chariot (detail from The Balloon by Pal Szinyei Merse):

Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The hot air balloon is not the most practical vehicle to use, because there is no steering mechanism - it only travels at the speed and in the direction the wind blows. The only controls are the burner, which heats the air in the balloon and causes it to rise, and the vent at the top of the balloon that allows air to escape in order to descend. Like the balloon's burner, it's possible to control my inner desires and urges (for instance bypassing the frosty at Wendy's when I purchase a berry salad). Yet what I can't control (like the wind) is the actions and opinions of other people. If I don't want to use up all my "heat" and crash, I need some type of vent like the balloon. The air in this craft reminds me that it is the intellect that can act as a vent and keep me afloat and moving.

From the Tao Oracle comes the card "Opposition:"

I'm a member of a book club that discusses theological books. The group is an eclectic one with people who've each had a wide variety of life experiences. So it's no surprise that there are disagreements when we have discussions. But the interesting thing is no one is promoting a particular opinion, they're just sharing the knowledge they have. Such respectful exchanges help us to see the strengths and weaknesses of any argument. This card reminds me, like the one above, to stick to the evidence and facts if I want to continue to make progress.

The Joy of Doing

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Three of Pentacles (detail from Tightrope Walker by August Mack):

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The fellow on the tightrope didn't just hop up there one day and do it perfectly. I'm sure he had people and tools to help him: a mentor to teach him, a pole to help him balance, special shoes to wear, and a net to catch him if he fell. And though he may be a master of the rope now, some of those resources he continues to use to perform his act. Yet it is more than just a job and a paycheck; I'm sure the thrill of accomplishment and the awe of the crowds encourage him too. As Emerson reminds me, loving what you do and being able to do it is the true reward. And I can't think of a better way to thank those who help me do what I love by doing it joyfully.  

From the Tao Oracle comes the card "Conflict:"

Two robot-like beings struggle with each other, creating steam above their heads from the water they stand in. The bricks and stones that make up their bodies make me think the conflict is one between the two different beliefs of institutions and individuals. I feel this card indicates an internal struggle for me between the "shoulds" of society and what my heart wants to do. Money is necessary, but it sure can't buy happiness. If I look for where the greater benefit will be found, the choice is easy. If I'm doing what I love, then that joy will spill over to other people too. 

Shake-up That's a Wake-up

From the Art of Life Tarot, the Page of Swords (detail of Paul Writing by Camille Pissarro):

When the student is ready, the master will appear. ~ Often attributed to Buddha but actually a Theosophical saying.

This kid is probably writing down everything he heard and saw during his day, and I can guarantee it was a lot. He's like a sponge soaking in everything, even stuff that most people would never notice. But does he make any connections in his outer world to his inner one? In a way, I can relate to this Page; I'm always stashing bits of trivia about random things in my brain. But every now and then, some of what I hear or see is like getting doused with a bucket of icy, cold water. It changes from something trivial to something important, because I see its relevance in my life. The "master" can appear in all sorts of guises - human and otherwise - and hopefully I'll recognize its worth when it does. 

From the Tao Oracle comes the card "The Arousing:"

Padma calls this image "a shake-up that's a wake-up." It made me remember an incident when I first started driving on my own as a teenager. I was on a curvy, country road going too fast when I ran slightly off the road. I instinctively jerked the wheel to get back on the pavement, and the car tried to flip. I was in a heavy, old Chevy Impala, so instead of flipping, I rode on two wheels a ways before the car eventually rolled down on all four wheels. I was so scared, I don't think I took a breath the whole time. But the experience did teach me a valuable driving lesson. Like the Page above, I need to pay attention and apply what I've been taught so I don't have to learn all my lessons the hard way.

Married to Amazement

From the Art of Life Tarot, Death (detail of Death and Life by Gustav Klimt):

Death twitches in my ear, "Live," he says "I am coming." ~ Virgil

I don't know what caused it, perhaps the deaths of my father and father-in-law, but years ago I started reading the daily obituaries in the paper to see if I knew any of the people listed there. Death has become a part of what I think about and plan for now, with Living Wills and cremation requests. As I look at Klimt's painting, I notice all the crosses on Death's robe and wonder if religion has fueled our fear of endings. I was brought up in a fundamental church that believed sinners would live in anguish for eternity in the bowels of hell; emphasis was definitely placed on the hereafter instead of the now. Although I don't subscribe to that man-made belief anymore and haven't a clue what comes afterward, I refuse to believe it is something gruesome. What I do feel is important is appreciating the present moment in front of me instead of worrying about the future. When my ending comes, I want to be able to say (in the words of Mary Oliver), "I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms."

From the Tao Oracle comes the card "Keeping Still:"

In Padma's book, she explains that many traditions use the mountain to symbolize the stillness of our Buddha nature. Just as the mountain rises above the valley below it, meditation can shift our attention away from the busyness of the mind and give us an objective overview. In this state, we can look without attachment to the comings and goings of life. Such detachment doesn't mean we attempt to distance ourselves from life; rather it gives us a chance to enjoy and appreciate it without trying to strangle it with our likes and dislikes. There will be happy endings and sad ones; either way training my mind to be still will help me deal with them.

The Magic of Gentle Love

This week I'll be using the Art of Life Tarot created by Charlene Livingstone and published by U.S. Games. Today's draw is the Queen of Cups (from a detail of Mary Cassatt's painting Breakfast in Bed):

"Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another." ~ George Eliot

Put a sleepy adult in a comfy bed, and it automatically becomes a magnet for kids and pets. This image reminds me of growing up with my grandmother. Every morning I would rise at some ungodly hour and pad into her bedroom to see if she was awake. Of course she would play "possum" as long as she could, but eventually she would gather me into her bed. We would snuggle together while she told me stories about her own childhood. That memory of feeling so close and loved by another human being is still fresh in my mind many years later. Eliot had it right - the unconditional love one person can have for another can truly work magic.

The other deck I'll be using this week is the Tao Oracle created by Ma Deva Padma and published by St. Martin's Press. This morning's draw is "The Gentle:"

This painting looks soft and fuzzy, like seeing it through sleepy eyes. In our society, not much could be described as gentle. We expect people and situations to act or change quickly, as if they were a car with the gas pedal pushed to the floor. But it is an impossibility in many cases, and this card encourages me to take the opposite approach. Just as a gentle stream can polish the rocks it flows past over time, I need to commit to the long haul of taking the path of least resistance. Circumstances might not change overnight, but following the way of kindness and tenderness can leave relationships intact instead of broken.

Complete Focus with Claws Extended

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Eight of Pentacles:

There's nothing like working with molten metal to help keep your focus. This fellow has had to learn innumerable skills to get to this point: the amount of each metal to use, how to carve a mold, the temperature needed to melt the metal, how to pour it into the mold and how to file and smooth the figure once it comes out. Without distractions, he can practice and perfect his knowledge and craft. I've had a project I've been working on, but the daily unexpected stuff I've had to deal with has kept me from making too much progress. It's hard to keep plugging along when it seems you're moving inches instead of miles toward the goal. Today promises to be a day that I'll have time to devote to my work, which would be a welcome gift.

From the Druid Animal Oracle comes the Scottish wildcat ("Cat"):

This animal is my ancestral clan's symbol, so it is doubly important to me. The wildcat is no domestic cat; it is both fierce and cautious. It will watch with detachment to see if the object of its attention is prey, predator or a something that it doesn't need to be concerned about before it takes any action. But if they feel threatened, they can be a force to be reckoned with - rangers and others who have tried to capture them are quite aware of their ability to bite clean through protective gloves and hands. This cat suggests I guard my work and share it only with those I trust. Plagiarists lurk everywhere, particularly on the internet.