It's About Me

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, Judgment; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Water:

 Putting out of our minds the wrongs that others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? Fear set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn't deserve. But did not we, ourselves, set the ball rolling? ~ AA basic text

          A plague of locusts and frogs descends on the Fool. Like most folks, he will complain that this is unfair and undeserved then immediately start pointing out the faults of others. I thought of our current President who is excellent at deflecting and distracting, but this too is simply a diversion for not looking at my own stuff. I can't change other people, but I can change my thoughts and actions and the misery they will inevitably cause. The Water card is associated with cleansing, and in relation to Judgment, it makes me think of forgiveness. As Gina Sharpe reminds me, "Forgiveness is really not about someone’s harmful behavior; it’s about our own relationship with our past. When we begin the work of forgiveness, it is primarily a practice for ourselves."

Closer of Further

This week I'll be using the Ship of Fools Tarot created by Brian Williams and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Wisdom of the Four Winds created by Barry Brailsford, illustrated by Cecilie Okada and published by StonePrint Press. Today's draws are the Six of Cups and Pohutukawa:

          Could a Fool resist an invitation to play? No more than a fish could refuse to be in water. This Six of Cups is a reminder that having fun isn't just for children - adults need to remember how much it can help relieve stress and lighten one's outlook. The two cards in the Cups suit before the Six show burnout and sadness, and although time can help with both, a bit of play can help us remember the joy of living. The Pohutukawa, found on the windswept coasts of New Zealand, is sacred to the Maori people. On Cape Reinga, an ancient tree sits on a rocky outcrop that extends into the sea. The dead are said to move down its roots to make the journey to their ancestral home. "Begin again," the Pohutukawa might tell us when we feel we can't go on. And perhaps a little less seriousness can help us do that.

At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Common Bonds

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the roll of the Elemental Dice, Tornado (Air + Darkness):

There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other. 

~J. K. Rowling

          Whether through something we've endured, a challenge met together, or a love shared, we find common bonds and develop friendships. Tribes help us honor what is lost or celebrate what has been gained; they help open our hearts and minds to multiple viewpoints. These groups can provide a sense of well-being as long as they remain inclusive, considerate and compassionate. Yet the Tornado pairing suggests that these priceless friendships can easily be destroyed. Past grievances, petty irritations, and unreasonable expectations can be just as destructive as the winds of this storm. These mindsets only destroy and never nourish or sustain.

Thoughts of “we” connect us, reminding us of our common humanity. Our individual sufferings are seen as being shared by others, and as being part of the difficulties we all have in being human. Our sufferings are not a sign of us being broken, but of us belonging to a greater whole. Our sufferings connect us with others, rather than pushing us into a sense of separateness.

—Bodhipaksa

A Third Option

From the Margarate Petersen Tarot, the Two of Flames (Wands); from the roll of the Elemental Dice, Lightning (Air + Fire):

          Between a Moon and a Sun, two figures embrace. The Twos are about choice; in this card, we choose the alliances and purpose that spur us to action. Will we be receptive like the Moon, or assertive like the Sun? Will we serve our own desires or consider those of others? In which direction will our drive and determination be steered? The Lightning roll implies an epiphany or inspiration - rather than either/or, it offers a third option.  In Buddhism, prajna (wisdom) is perceiving the true nature of reality. It's like looking everywhere for our glasses, then suddenly realizing they are on the top of our head. Such discernment helps eliminate the pull of emotions, opinions, and attachments in order to see what is needed.

Once we perceive, we habitually jump to thoughts and feelings about what is being perceived. These thoughts and feelings, rooted in past experiences and conditioning, then influence the mood of our mind. When perception, thoughts, and feelings are repeated or imprinted through experiences, they solidify into view or belief. —Ruth King

The Ripples of Grief

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the roll of the Elemental Dice, Earthquake (Darkness + Earth):

          Grief ripples out, like the drops of water in the lake. No matter where we are, what we are doing, or who we are with, we are constantly reminded of the person we loved and lost. Those ripples seem to go on infinitely, but eventually, we may notice the good memories outweigh the heaviness of the hurt. Compassion comes when we realize our drops are a part of a huge body of pain shared by all humanity. Earthquake speaks of a shake-up, something that gets our attention. What gets your attention when your heart is heavy? What helps you to see beyond the hurt?

Grief is a sign that we loved something more than ourselves. . . . Grief makes us worthy to suffer with the rest of the world. ~Joan Chittister

Seed Sowing Time

This week I'll be using the Margarete Petersen Tarot, created by M. Petersen and published by Königs Furt. The oracle I'll be using is the Elemental Dice, an idea developed by my good friend Carole Beasley. Today's card and dice roll are the Ace of Coins and Land (Earth + Earth):

          In the center of this card lies a seed surrounded by a serpent. The seed represents the potential inherent in this earthy, physical suit and the coiled snake implies the energy and effort required to plant it and nourish it. As if to back up this push to action, Land suggests being grounded in reality followed by a concrete response rather than simply dreaming and planning. The possibilities of this particular seed will eventually dry up if it isn't cultivated. But it would be wise to heed the words of Gandhi as we work the soil:

It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there will be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Spaciousness

From the Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, Soaring (Nine of Air/Swords); from the Saltwater Reading Cards, Coral:

          The traditional Nine of Swords shows a woman in a bed waking up from a nightmare (or being unable to sleep because of worries). It illustrates how our emotions and thoughts can create disturbing stories that appear to be real. But Palin's card shows the solution - to rise above those thoughts and seek a spacious, wider perspective. There are many more possibilities than what I create with my limited thinking. Coral are marine animals that secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Not only does this hard structure help protect them, it also acts as a refuge for other ocean animals. Its ability to create its own stronghold reminds me that I too have an inner source I can tap into when I need to ground and center myself.

 Mind’s nature has two qualities: a sense of spaciousness, expansiveness, or totality, and a vivid, wakeful awareness. —Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche