Clearing Out

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Aeon (Judgment); from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the 'Spoonbill:'

          In December of 1914, ten buildings that were part of Thomas Edison's plant caught fire. Fueled by chemicals, the fire was too powerful to put out quickly. Edison told his son, "Go get your mother and all her friends. They'll never see a fire like this again." When he objected, Edison said, "It's all right. We've just got rid of a lot of rubbish." The phoenix of the Aeon represents the same idea: the fire of liberation gets rid of what is dead and useless to allow transformation to occur. By releasing what was tightly held, we create space for a fresh perspective. The roseate spoonbill is often described as "gorgeous at a distance and bizarre up close." It uses its flattened, spoon-shaped bill to sift through the muck in shallow water to detect prey by feel. Its message is to sift and sort, keeping only what is worthwhile. In combination with the phoenix, there is a caution not to try to instantly fill the void with more stuff (material or otherwise). Instead, we should be prudent and selective about what we put in our newly cleared space.

Vibe Check

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

          Tender and sensitive, it might be easy to dismiss this Page as too child-like to take seriously. Yet it is her emotional sensitivity that heightens her intuitive perception. She rarely misses subtle clues that others might not notice. She is a bit like the family pet who knows something is out of balance long before the human family members do. Cockatoos have been kept for their intelligence and engaging personalities. They are social birds and tend to live 30 to 70 years; if they are neglected or don't have enough to engage their curious natures, they can become very unhappy. As pets, they require a commitment for the long haul from their owners. This card combination suggests it is time to slow down and become aware of the emotional state of those around us. We may not be able to make someone else happy, but we can at least give them our compassionate attention and emotional support.

Probing the Mind

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Tarot; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, 'Snipe:'

          This Prince/Knight has a chariot drawn by fairies, which offers a glimpse of what his mind looks like. Meleen suggests he has what the Buddhists call 'monkey mind,' with thoughts that never rest long in one place. Being Air of Air elementally, he is intelligent and has an inexhaustible supply of creative ideas. Unfortunately, these ideas aren't always valid, as they may not be grounded in the real world. Even when useful concepts or theories are produced, this Prince rarely follows through (because a new set of ideas has caught his attention). Yet anything he believes, he considers the truth. The Snipe is a wading bird with a long slender bill with which it probes marshy ground in search of food. The bill is so sensitive, the bird can tell immediately what it touches. It's up-and-down movements resemble a sewing machine needle, and thus it reflects the question, "What needs mending in your life?" Combined with the Prince, it suggests that certain beliefs need to be softened with a gentler, more compassionate approach.

Blindspot

This week I'll be using the Rosetta Tarot along with its companion book The Book of Seshet. This set was created by M.M. Meleen and published by Atu House. The oracle deck I'll be using is Ascension to Paradise, a book and deck set created by Jane Toerien and Joyce van Dobben and published by Binkey Kok. Today's draws are the Four of Cups and 'Loon:'

          Many people wish for a stable and secure relationship, but when it occurs, the relationship can easily be taken for granted. We forget what made us care about the other person and begin looking for excitement elsewhere. Infidelity can happen in many other ways besides just with another person. We may spend the weekends absorbed in Netflix or on the computer, or we may become obsessed with work or a creative project. All of our attention moves away from relating to the other person, because we assume our connection is rock solid and not in need of nurturing. While individuals in every relationship need time apart to allow each person to grow, there's a huge difference between a time-out and escapism. The Loon is a diving bird that nests around lakes in colder regions. It is known for its eerie, mournful call (that sounds like a wolf howl) and its looney-laughter call. This bird card represents a feeling of sadness and loss. Though the easy interpretation might be the loss of an unappreciated relationship, the root goes much deeper. People seem to think there is something wrong when life isn't constantly filled to the brim with fun and happiness, misunderstanding the natural ebbs and flows of life. A habit of chasing the next pleasure may develop, and a lot can get lost in that kind of ongoing chase.

Not About Owing

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Elemental Dice, Light + Earth (Mountain):

          Earth supports our feet and grants us the resources to live in this physical world. Hands allow us to create, work, love and play. Just as we have a vertical relationship with the Earth, we also have a horizontal relationship with the other beings we share this planet with. What we do with these resources can create balance or imbalance, harmony or discord. Do we feel entitled to hoard or moved to share? Do we use resources prudently and with discernment? The Elemental Dice roll of Mountain suggests a healthy form of stability that grants us equanimity even in the most trying of circumstances. Yet it isn't the security of external things that provide this place of calm abiding; life is far too changeable. However, an open heart and an open mind can create a spacious outlook rather than a narrow view, relieving us of that feeling of constriction. Such a mindset reminds me of a poem by Daniel Ladinsky (inspired by the Sufi poet Hafiz):

Even

After

All this time

The Sun never says to the Earth,

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that,

It lights the whole sky.

Drifting with Desires

From the Margarete Peterson Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Elemental Dice, Darkness + Darkness (Night):

          An elderly person imagines different versions of himself sailing in various boats. These aren't memories, but a stream of desires and fantasies that play through his mind. He may imagine winning the lottery and buying a large vessel with a captain included. The problem is not that he dreams, but that he feels like his present life is empty and meaningless without having his desires fulfilled. Petersen suggests watching these movies of the mind without getting attached to them. The Night roll of the dice suggests a darkness so impenetrable that we lose all sense of direction and balance. We can no longer see what is around us. Geshe Kelsang wrote, "Delusions are distorted ways of looking at ourselves, other people, and the world around us." Like being in complete darkness, it represents not being in touch with reality. Yet the mind has the potential to detach through the use of awareness.

Do everything with a mind that lets go... If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom. ~Ajahn Chah

Making a Point

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Five of Feathers (Swords); from the Elemental Dice, Fire + Light (Sun):

 You don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too.

― Anne Lamott

          My husband and I were having a discussion about DNA yesterday, in particular about whether a person might know if they had a Jewish heritage. His point was that it couldn't since this was a cultural identity; my version was that if they had a database of other DNA to compare it to (such as on Ancestry.com), they would likely know through the ethnicity of their living relatives. My husband loves these types of discussions where each person must dance with the other's point of view. As I left our debate for a meeting he said with a grin, "I wasn't trying to start an argument, I was just trying to prove I'm right." If such humor (and candor) was used in heated discussions, there likely wouldn't be bloodied relationships left on the ground afterward. The dice roll that produced Sun emphasizes the need for clarity. So many people hold on to beliefs because they make them feel secure, and any challenge to them creates a feeling of groundlessness. Yet views that are 'truth' for today might not hold water later when changes come, so why create an enemy in defense of them?