Know Thyself

From the Gill Tarot, the Priest (Hierophant); from The Circle, Choice:

“Know thyself” is the first practice of love. When we practice this, we see the conditions that have caused us to be the way we are. ―Thich Nhat Hanh

          Learning anything generally requires a mentor (whether in-person, through a book, etc.), even if the object of study is myself. My personal evaluation of whether a spiritual teacher is beneficial depends on whether they help me develop kindness and compassion while lessening self-centeredness and selfishness. Awareness is the key, but it involves more than introspection. As psychologist Tasha Eurich explains, we do not have access to many of our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motives, which leads us to invent answers that feel true but are often wrong. Simply asking 'Why?' invites unproductive negative thoughts and ruminative patterns. She suggests observing the consequences or situation then asking 'What?' questions to help us stay objective, future-focused, and empowered to act on our new insights. When it comes time to make an important decision, such self-awareness can help us not be led astray by our moods or biases.

Under Construction

From the Gill Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Discs; from The Circle deck, Responsibility:

          The Prince of Discs represents Air in the element of Earth, making him a person who is thoughtful and innovative as well as dependable and industrious. While his earthy side might make him slower than some, it allows his contemplative side to be aware of necessary steps to be taken rather than skipped over. Thorough in his work, he takes things one step or stage at a time. Responsibility suggests being aware of one's own strengths and weaknesses and having the integrity not to pretend otherwise. The University of Zurich suggested five types of strengths:

1. Interpersonal - leadership, teamwork, kindness, forgiveness fairness
2. Intellectual - love of learning, creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness
3. Emotional - zest, hope, courage
4. Restraint - prudence, self-regulation, honesty
5. Spiritual - faith, gratitude, appreciation of beauty

Hopefully this Prince will realize there's more under construction than just that wheel.

Words of Wisdom

From the Gill Tarot, the Two of Cups; from The Circle, Forgiveness:

If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love. We must look deeply in order to see and understand the needs, aspirations, and suffering of the person we love. This is the ground of real love. You cannot resist loving another person when you really understand him or her.  ―Thich Nhat Hanh

When you recognize that pain and response to pain is a universal thing, it helps explain so many things about others, just as it explains so much about yourself … It essentially tells you what everybody needs. You know what everybody needs? You want to put it in a single word? Everybody needs to be understood. And out of that comes every form of love.  ―Sherwin Nuland

Forgiveness is a deep process, which is repeated over and over and over again in our hearts. It honors the grief and it honors the betrayal. And in its own time, it ripens into the freedom to truly forgive. And if we look honestly at our own lives, we can see the sorrows and pain that have led to our own wrongdoing. We’re not just victims; sometimes we also need to be forgiven. And in this way we can finally extend forgiveness to ourselves and hold the pain that we have caused in the heart of compassion.  ―Gina Sharpe

The process of forgiveness demands courage and a continual remembering of where our deepest happiness lies.  —Sharon Salzberg

A Bit of Both

From the Gill Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from The Circle, Harvest:

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. ―George Bernard Shaw

          The Thoth version of the Eight of Swords is a battle of ideas between rational, science-based thinking and imaginative, fantasy-based thinking. If we were to limit ourselves to one or the other, we might languish with a lack of fresh possibilities or live in a dream world where nothing ever is rendered into reality. The truth is that useful ideas need both visionaries and analysts, even when both concepts seem to conflict with each other. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind, at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." Harvest suggests we plant a few of these 'seed' ideas, nurture them, and see what kind of fruit they bear. 

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

―Brian O'Driscoll

A Fall and a Reunion

From the Gill Tarot, the Tower; from The Circle deck, Intention:

          My first thought upon seeing this card was "a fall from grace." I don't mean this in the same way as organized religion, but in the mindset of forgetting that my personal knowledge and will power won't allow me to control others or protect me from the natural laws of this physical world. I easily forget how much I depend on all the other beings on this wonderful planet that is my home. As Dharmavidya David Brazier explains, "Grace provides the framework within which a meaningful life is lived. Love is the substance of it day to day." Grace reunites me with life and gives me a purpose that is not self-centered. The Intention card suggests that I use a blueprint to guide and remind me of my chosen framework. When I get up in a grumpy mood or with an emotional hangover, it's easy to forget what is important. Yet as with blueprints, I'm rarely going to follow my intentions to the letter. But they can at least point me in the right direction and remind me of my purpose.

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move through

each moment

mindfully

lightly

and with clarity.

a heart

bursting with love,

a mind

propped open,

may i shine

to lessen

the darkness

of

another being's

suffering.

―Mary Jane Dodd

 (my personal morning intention)

Righteous Cause

From the Gill Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from The Circle, Destiny:

The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. ~William Jennings Bryan

          Seeing this fiery figure made me think of the phrase 'a righteous cause.' Yet if an undertaking is motivated by rage and fundamentalism, it has no noble foundation. Such people will fly this banner, but their true purpose is to protect their own power. They can easily be spotted by their tactics - fueling hatred, blaming others, condoning inequality, and demonizing other points of view. A true righteous cause may be passionate, but it is rooted in kindness and selflessness. Destiny brings up the question of whether it is a matter of chance or choice. While we are all shaped by conditions outside of our control, I personally believe in the power and responsibility of the decisions we make. An irritant in an oyster can be turned into a shimmering pearl or chalky-looking lump. As William J. Bryan stated, "It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

There's Always More

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Eight of Discs and Mystery:

The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don't know.

― Sherman Alexie

        A metalworker, so in the flow of his work that he resembles the element he creates with, designs a huge figure of the number eight. The companion book describes this card as the application of concepts. The two circles that make up the number nicely symbolize the way mental skill rests on physical skill. Yet the Mystery card suggests delighting in - rather than being frustrated by - the unknown in the creative process. A teacher once gave me some great advice: "Be willing not to be an expert." Curiosity keeps the doors of the mind open to learning, producing more skills and knowledge rather than complacency and stagnation. That mindset can be much more exciting than being an expert.

The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery. ― Anais Nin