Extremes and Excess

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Devil; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Seal:

          Genetti makes a comparison between the Emperor (who believes in the supreme, infallible leadership of the ruler) and the Devil (who believes in anarchy and complete individual freedom). The first loves rules and order and the second prefers the uninhibited pursuit of pleasure and chaos. It's easy to find oneself in one camp after being in the extremes of the other. Somewhere in the middle are the practices of use without abuse and enjoyment without attachment. Seal Rock was created, according to the Dreaming, as an island for the seals to live on in safety and contentment. But when white men arrived in their ships, all of them were killed. It's easy to see that both of these cards deal with the consequences of excess and greed. Can any solution be healthy for the long run if it involves an extreme?

Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

―Alexander Hamilton 

The Greatness of Humanity is...

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Gymea Lily:

          The Queen of Disks is profoundly aware of the bounty that pours from the Earth. Yet rather than use this abundance wastefully, she is both creative and prudent with these resources. Having learned the art of simplicity, even small supplements make her family feel affluent. She realizes that having less means enjoying more fully what one has. In the Dreamtime story, a tribe was trapped in a cave after a great deluge and landslide. One warrior, though badly injured, managed to squeeze through a small hole he discovered after exploring the many dark tunnels of the cave. For weeks he fished and hunted for the people still trapped inside, lowering food into a small opening. Eventually he succumbed to his injuries, and a red lily grew where he died to mark the sacrifice he made for his people. Both the Queen and this warrior understood the importance of sacrificing wants for the needs of others. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane."

Fine Print for Following the Heart

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Cups; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, the Black Swan:

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

― Rumi

          Using his intuition as a guide, a young man follows his heart into unknown waters. There are sure to be some emotional ups and downs along the way, but hopefully they will foster a mature, deeper understanding of what it means to be fully human. His plentiful supplies suggest that while physical preparations are often made, emotional equanimity is a skill few folks are taught when they launch out into the world. The Black Swan is the story of a tribe of skilled boomerang craftswomen tricked by a greedy group of men who stole their weapons. White swans were used as a distraction, but ended up being collateral damage when attacked by eagles. Being left plucked in the desert, crows kindly offered some of their own feathers so the swans could cover themselves. In this story of envy and hatred, humans illustrated the damage emotions can do. Yet the crows took the higher road, not wasting time on who was right or wrong, but on helping the innocents caught up in the fray - a story this knight/prince and the rest of humanity could learn from. 

Personal Responsibility

This week I'll be using the Wheel of Change Tarot, a deck and book set created by Alexandra Genetti and published by Inner Traditions. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of the Dreamtime, a compilation of Australian Aboriginal art and Dreamings by Donni Hakanson; this deck and book set was published by Journey Editions. Today's cards are the Two of Disks and Frilled-neck Lizard:

          Genetti shows the orbital balance of Earth and Sun kept in check by gravity. What tethers us and keeps the many dimensions of our life from throwing the other parts out of line? A laser-like focus held for too long (on our life or someone else's) will create imbalance and be a detriment to our well-being. As the Dhammapada implores, "Let one not neglect one's own welfare for the sake of another, however great. Clearly understanding one's own welfare, let one be intent upon the good." The legend of the Frilled-neck Lizard is an example. The land was in a period of great drought and all the animals argued about what to do. No one listened to the lizard who just happened to be a rainmaker. Filled with frustration and self-righteous anger, he brought a storm that destroyed many living things. Yet what might have happened had he calmed himself instead of acting out rage? He might instead have sent a steady, gentle rain and become a hero rather than a brutal punisher.

Immense Treasure

From the Fey Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the I Misteri Sibilla, Riunione (Eight of Clubs):

          A family of fey sit around a coin-shaped table topped by a single candle. No bags of gold or feasts are in evidence, yet they seem content. This past year has dramatically changed many people's priorities. I don't hear too many folks bragging about their new iPhone or luxury car these days. Most people feel blessed if they and their loved ones are healthy, and if they still have an income, a home, and food in the cupboard. To use the words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it's been a stark reminder: "Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." Riunione (reunion) shows a chance meeting of old friends. Good friends and family, though we've been physically separated, have kept me sane and on an even keel as I navigated the losses, heartaches and challenges of this past year. What an immense, undeserved treasure I've been given.

Keeping the Line Open

From the Fey Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the I Misteri Sibilla, Conversazione (Ace of Hearts):

          Like a parkour practitioner, this fey leaps from branch to branch looking for the fastest and most efficient way possible to the top of the tree. Yet no matter how quickly things are moving, the Conversation card indicates that communication should not be sacrificed. Just as in an ER where doctors and nurses are constantly announcing blood pressure, oxygen levels and heart rates while looking for injuries, it helps to have an open line from various sources to keep us apprised of what we might miss as things move at a rapid pace. The best communicators are like great dancers, each letting the other take their turn at leading. 

The two words 'information' and 'communication' are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through. ~Sydney J. Harris

Web of Relationships

From the Fey Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the I Misteri Sibilla, Allegria (Nine of Clubs):

          Our world is a web of relationships, a constant cooperative effort of creating, caring for, and repairing. But there are those in this web who would prefer to cut out certain strands simply because of greed or because they don't conform to their preferences. It is up to the rest of the web's strands to protect the integrity and well-being of the whole. Such a goal is not based on aggression and hatred but aimed toward defense and support of those in harm's way. In the words of Jan Chozen Bays, "We can only try to keep our minds as clear as possible and our hearts as open as possible to face each situation as it arises." We do not want to become the people we are defending against. To prevent this, all defenders and repairers need to refuel their spirits as Allegria (cheerfulness) implies. In the words of Daisaku Ikeda, "A truly warm human relationship—how much in the way of hope and courage and conviction it is capable of giving!"