The Cost of Getting Along

From the Gaian Tarot, the Two of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, Artemis:

          The Two of Cups shows how we learn to soften our edges, temper our tempers, and practice compassion and kindness. For some of us, it may be through caring for a pet or elderly parent; for others, it may be our interactions with coworkers, clients, or friends. We cultivate emotional maturity when we practice finding joy or contentment without always having things go our way. But the goddess Artemis warns us not to cast aside our values in these relationships, perhaps 'going along to get along.' We need the ability to think for ourselves, even if it means risking the harmony of a relationship.

There is much to be said for a spirit of cooperation, and getting along – top-performing teams, for example, thrive on harmony. On the other hand, when this means turning a blind eye to major ethical wrongs, then avoiding action is unethical.  We need people willing to speak the truth, even to power.

~Daniel Goleman

Hiding in the Fabric

From the Gaian Tarot, the Child of Earth (Page of Pentacles); from the Goddess Oracle, Nut:

          The Page of Pentacles is the Student of Earth; there will always be something to draw his attention and make him curious, longing to know what, how, and why. Learning about his environment feeds his insatiable urge, and though it may be briefly satiated, there will always be more to discover and understand. From bugs to the Big Bang, it's all fascinating. Yet Nut, the Egyptian goddess of the skies and heavens, brings with her the keyword Mystery. As Anais Nin wrote, "The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." Mystery and discovery are a joy often forgotten. Perhaps today I will carry Sue Monk Kidd's words with me: "there is nothing but mystery in the world, how it hides behind the fabric of our poor, browbeat days, shining brightly, and we don't even know it."

Dew Drops

From the Gaian Tarot, the Ten of Water (Cups); from the Goddess Oracle, Shakti:

          As a card of transition, the Ten of Water shows salmon completing their life cycle: swimming from the ocean to freshwater where they spawn and die. Even in times of normalcy, we lose loved ones through geographical moves, death, or disinterest. It is the nature of life to be impermanent, though that doesn't make the grief easier to bear. Shakti represents the universal energy that animates and energizes everything, yet even her power moves in a cycle of creation, maintenance, and destruction. To reflect on the fact that everything which arises will pass away is not morbid; it allows us not just to get our worldly affairs in order, but our inner affairs as well. Yet it also allows us love more deeply and offer compassion without conditions, knowing that we all share the same fate.

Like dew drops

on a lotus leaf

I vanish.

–Senryu

Diving in and Embracing Grace

From the Gaian Tarot, the Star; from the Goddess Oracle, Pele:

          The Gaian companion book suggests the phrase 'Opening to grace' for the Star. What is grace when you don't fall under a Christian umbrella? For me, it is the opposite of mental and emotional constriction. Instead, grace involves tenderly opening and accepting what is around me, seeing and appreciating the innate goodness in life even amid the filth, carnage, and suffering. But like the little kingfisher bird in the card, sometimes we have to dive deep to find and embrace it. Pele appears as an old woman who lights a cigarette with the flick of her gnarled fingers when she rests, but as a beautiful and vibrant woman when she erupts. Her message is to awaken; added to the Star, she suggests an active effort of rawness and courage in seeing the good shining beneath the grime.

For his heart was in his work, and the heart giveth grace unto every art.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Trowel in Hand

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert. I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are the Gardener (Empress) and Minerva:

We spend decades of our lives wanting happiness, peace, and contentment—without sowing the causes for that aspiration. Why did we not plant the seeds of the fruition we aspire to?

~ Khandro Rinpoche

          The Gardener (Empress) asks me what seeds I've been planting in my garden. If they have been seeds laced with fear, anger or delusion, will it be a surprise when I reap thorny brambles? These seeds have a way of spreading, causing harm not only to myself but others as well. And like the reseeding they will do, similar future experiences may trigger me to continue the same pattern over and over if I'm not mindful. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, asks me to consider the beliefs that might be nurturing these seeds:

My life is shaped and formed

by what I tell myself.

The contents of my mind

are what I choose.

I make sure that what I carry

is of my own careful choosing.

The world may not be spinning according to my wishes, but that's irrelevant to what I'm planting in the garden of my mind.

On the Fly

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Two of Pentacles; from the Beasts of Albion, Hound:

          The fox's tail on this fellow indicates a need for cunning, the ability to artfully change paths and adapt as necessary on the fly. The fox rarely moves in a straight line, nor does life. The companion book suggests that we 'think on our feet,' in other words, have several alternate plans and strategies if our primary one doesn't work out. It means we can't hide under the bedcovers - we have to take action in a new direction. Balancing responsibilities requires such constant readjustment. One plan is to know who is trustworthy (like the Hound) and who is willing to temporarily accept some of our obligations when we are overwhelmed. This is the person who is credible, consistent, and considerate. In turn, we can repay them with our own loyalty and aid when they find themselves in need.

If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one.

– Mother Teresa

Endless Possibilities

From the Llewellyn Tarot, Judgment; from the Beasts of Albion, Bear:

          One legend of the death of King Arthur describes how the bodies of Arthur and his men were put into a special cave. It is said that when the world is in need of admirable leadership, they would rise again. Likewise, Bear represents a dormant quality or ability that is awakened and emerges. It is easy to point the finger at political leaders and the self-serving management they presently offer. But what if this is personal - not 'out there' - but something that needs to be nourished and cultivated within me? The list of possibilities is endless, but perhaps today I could just choose one to water and nurture.

Grace, respect, reserve, and empathetic listening are qualities sorely missing from the public discourse now. ~Meryl Streep