Who's in Charge Here?

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Cart (Chariot); from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, "Kauri:"

Why is it I get the feeling that the donkey pulling the cart is the only one who has a clue about where this group is supposed to be headed? What a perfect example of the committee that rides around in my head. There's Mr. Fear of the Future wondering if they should be ducking for cover instead of moving. Behind him is Mr. Regret of the Past bringing up all those mistakes and misfortunes of days gone by. The rest of the wagon is filled with the Sense Family. I can hear one of them shouting "Oooo, pretty flowers! Can we stop here?" Another one declares he smells fresh biscuits baking and demands that they stop for breakfast (again). Somewhere in that madcap congregation Mr. Present Moment is sitting; I think he's the only one that is going to keep that cart progressing in the right direction.
Brailsford describes Kauri as the "Mother of the Trees." She is said to bring the gift of balance and reminds us to "focus on the greater purpose." What a fitting companion card for the Chariot. Yet while Kauri has her roots sunk deep into the earth, her branches reach for the sky. Her leaves flutter and dance in the breeze, while her trunk offers support. I do need to stay grounded and balanced if I am to grow and move toward my goals. However, I need time to play too. I doubt I'll reach any objective if I can't have a little fun along the way.

Pause and Set Aside

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Knight of Staves; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, "Tuatara:"

This jester-knight doesn't ride on a grand steed but on a donkey. The smile on his face suggests he's headed for a new adventure. But in his excitement, he seems to have forgotten a few things, like a bridle or halter to guide the donkey in the right direction. And I don't see any kind of saddle bag that might include food, water or a blanket for sleeping on. He might have enthusiasm to spare, but preparation is obviously not one of his strong suits. If I don't have the basic resources and at least a loosely based plan, I doubt I'm going to arrive where I want to go.
Tuatara is the Protector who guards the ancient wisdom and sees what is unseen. I see him as a sort of scaly high priestess, though Brailsford describes him as a gatekeeper. Tuatara's message is to leave "aside those things that are of the old ego" and open ourselves to our inner horizons. Pausing for such contemplation instead of galloping along will cause me to reflect on some questions first. What is my motive, my purpose for doing this? Will it be of benefit in the long run, or is it just a distraction for what I really need to be focused on? I might find I need to turn that donkey in a new direction.

What's the Point?

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, the "Kingfisher:"

Here is an odd twist of fate (or turn of the Wheel): the Fool lives in a comfortable home and has a chest full of coins while a former king sits outside with a begging bowl. The Narrenschiff verses explain:

He who has riches, and delights in them,

Paying no heed to those in need,

Will be forsaken, so that he too shall beg.

If that's the kind of king he was, then it is hard to feel sorry for him. Should the Fool help him? We have quite a few homeless people here; the majority of them are veterans, addicts and alcoholics, or people with mental illness. We fed many when we still had the restaurant (we would find them eating out of the dumpster). Yet most of them never seemed to get better even when a variety of aid was extended.

The Kingfisher is a bird I've grown to love; I see them around the local ponds here. They chatter nonstop from a treetop, then suddenly dive in the water and out again before I can hardly blink. Brailsford describes this bird as "the epitome of vigilance transformed into swift action." That message seems to encourage me to do something (no matter how small) when I see suffering. The point is not to get the sufferer to change, but to keep my heart open and compassionate. 

Mark of Existence

This week I'll be using the Ship of Fools Tarot, a deck and book set created by Brian Williams and published by Llewellyn. The oracle book and deck set I'll be using is the Wisdom of the Four Winds, created by Barry Brailsford and Cecilie Okada and published by StonePrint Press. Today's cards are Death and "Comet:"

 That nothing is static or fixed, that all is fleeting and impermanent, is the first mark of existence. It is the ordinary state of affairs. Everything is in process. Everything—every tree, every blade of grass, all the animals, insects, human beings, buildings, the animate and the inanimate—is always changing, moment to moment. ~ Pema Chodron

As the fool anticipates taking his bouquet to his lady friend, Death pulls on his tunic and says, "Excuse me sir, but we have a pressing appointment." Isn't that how change is? We're skipping merrily along and suddenly get blindsided. We refuse to acknowledge impermanence because we superstitiously think we might cause it to happen, when in fact it occurs anyway. We create our own suffering by living this way; we refuse to accept change and demand that it shouldn't happen to us. Is it wrong to feel sad, worried or angry when we lose a job, a loved one or hear bad news? I don't think so - that's only human. But we'll never find permanent security in a world that is constantly changing. Perhaps we could take Chodron's advice:

But rather than being disheartened by the ambiguity, the uncertainty of life, what if we accepted it and relaxed into it? What if we said, “Yes, this is the way it is; this is what it means to be human,” and decided to sit down and enjoy the ride? 

The Comet, with its sudden appearance and the excitement it causes, fits perfectly with Death. Brailsford suggests it brings tidings of hope and joyful, new beginnings. Yet if I want to receive the good things to come, I'm going to have to unclench my fists and release what was. 

Expressed or Repressed

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Princess (Page) of Cups; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the "Frogmouth:"

This Princess/Page is known for her sweetness, sensitivity and intuitive nature. Being "Earth of Water," she connects to her suit in physical ways (which explains the tortoise she holds and the salt crystals at her feet). Her kindness is shown by small gifts or notes, and she acts on any intuitive information she receives. Her emotions are displayed with tears, happy or sad.What she feel or senses is expressed outwardly.
The Frogmouth is a type of owl know for its wide beak. Its plumage is designed to enable it to blend into the tree branches and trunks it rests on. This owl is the opposite of the Princess; it prefers to stay hidden instead of showing itself. The companion book speaks of replacing fear with joy. How many things have not been done, and how many opportunities have been missed out of fear? For me, there have been many. The Princess of Cups encourages me to follow my intuition, no matter what my anxious ego natters on about.

Rewiring the Hardwired Brain

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the "Cockatoo:"

The red background and the group of swords successfully camouflage the open bloom of the red rose. I read an article in Tricycle magazine by Dr.Wendy Hasenkamp this morning that brilliantly sums up the problem behind this card:
 Through the continual process of neural association, we slowly build up strong networks related to the things we experience frequently. These neural networks reflect our personal knowledge about a given object, person, or situation—in the form of sense perceptions, memories, emotions, thoughts, and behavioral responses. As we move through our lives, brain circuits that are used more frequently become “hardwired”; that is, they are easier to activate than new or unused connections. Because less energy is needed for these familiar circuits to become active, patterns that are practiced become quite literally the “path of least resistance.” ...The result is our inability to truly perceive others (or ourselves) in the uniqueness of each moment. Thus viewed, delusion—our misperception of the world—is part of the natural result of a fundamental biological process, one that is beautiful in its elegance and utility, but also dangerous in its capacity for distortion.
The Eight of Swords is a Thoth-based deck, so this card is subtitled "Interference." Our hardwired thoughts interfere with reality. Yet according to Hasenkamp, we can build a bridge over these deep mental grooves through conscious effort; we can eventually weaken them and build healthy mental habits. 
Cockatoos as pets require a commitment. They are intelligent, social birds who can live to be 70 years old, and they bond strongly with their owner. Their message is to be unafraid of making a deep connection with others. Immediately, those eight swords pop up around me when I hear this advice. I can count on one hand the number of people I open my heart to without reservation. Hmm.... maybe I can pull up one sword at a time, and make a small opening as a start.

Maximizing Assets

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Nine of Disks; from the Ascension to Paradise, the "Skua:"

Meleen uses an abacus to illustrate this card; the green beads moved to one side suggest the tally is a favorable one. There is a sense of counting my physical blessings here, the good fortune of health, financial stability, and time and energy to spend on what brings me joy. Yes there are bumps in the road, but life is good.
I had to laugh when I drew the Skua card. Here I was feeling all positive and happy, and I then I get splatted with bird poo. The Skua is a large gull-like bird in the polar regions known for attacking other birds. They do so to get the other bird to dislodge its food, so they can steal it. The bird's message is an attempt to dislodge an issue I need to deal with, mainly my health. I was just talking to a friend the other night about how shocking it is to find that as I get older, my strength and energy quickly decrease while my weight increases. Maintenance didn't require so much work when I was younger. At this point in my life I find myself wanting to concentrate on spiritual development, but the Skua reminds me I can't exclude taking care of my body. While my eating habits aren't bad, I don't always make time for exercise. Yes, life is good, but if I want it to keep enjoying it, I need to start making use of my weights, rebounder and yoga mat that are gathering dust.