A Passing Memory

From the Somnia Tarot, the World; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 2 (Regard all experiences as dreams.):

The fool's journey has come to a temporary end, and she spends time reflecting on her journey. Dramas and chaos, insights and transformations are all described in her journal. But she shouldn't get to comfy in that bed-chair. This is just one complete turn of the spiral; she will take what she's learned as she begins a second, wider and higher turn. Slogan 2 doesn't mean everything is literally a dream, but that our thoughts and emotions as well as external things are constantly in flux and changing. We'd like to believe things are stable and solid (as this gives us a feeling of security), but that is not how the real world operates. The wise fool knows she can't stay in her nest forever because she will need to add more tools and knowledge as she adapts to this ever-changing world.

Every situation is a passing memory.

~Pema Chodron

Habits of the Mind

From the Somnia Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Lojong for the Layperson, Slogan 15 (Four practices are the best methods.):

We all have those nights when restorative sleep can't be found. Often our worries meld with our imagination - we think of every worst outcome possible. It can feel like we are being proactive, but really we are only exhausting our mind and body. It helps to remember the advice of Shantideva (via the Dalai Lama): "If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry." Slogan 15 offers four practices to change our conditioned thinking and behavior: cultivating generosity without an agenda; acknowledging and refraining from our neurotic patterns; using challenges to wake up to reality; and seeking out wise mentors. We can let circumstances and 'what ifs' mold us, or we can use them as agents of change.

We have an infinite number of ways that we distort our experiences through habits of the mind.

~ Sharon Salzberg

Mornings and Evenings

From the Somnia Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 41 (Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end.):

The Knight of Cups leaves his heart open and vulnerable so that he can connect with people emotionally. Yet there is a danger that he will overcome by despair or burnout if he does not monitor himself closely. His bucket poured into the sea is his outlet in the form of music, poetry and all art forms that help him regain his bearings. The umbrella is the timeout he's given himself until he's ready face the world once again. Slogan 41's two activities refer to a thoughtful intention to begin and guide us in the busyness of the day and then a review in the evening to check where we veered off and where we stayed on track. This assessment isn't meant as a way to gloat or feel guilty, but to understand how we got triggered in some cases and stood firm in others. Awareness can help us self-correct so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. Hopefully the Knight's artistic outlets will be a review of sorts for him and not just an emotional dumping ground.

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.

—Meister Eckhart

Careful - Sharp Teeth

From the Somnia Tarot, Strength; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 58 (Don't be frivolous):

Strength is one of of those traits that requires a careful balance lest we get caught in its sharp teeth. It requires a measure courage, the willingness to say 'enough!' and stand up for what is right. Yet if not tempered, it can turn into a rage that mangles. It also requires compassion, which can turn into martyrdom or the role of victim (putting our head in the trap) if we don't tap into self-compassion. Slogan 58 - Don't be frivolous - cautions us to be aware of how we spend our time and energy. Just as the daylily bloom lasts only a day, we don't have unlimited time or energy. Unlike actual play or fun, frivolity is simply a distraction from reality that leaves us feeling restless and unsatisfied. Attention to those thoughts that are running through our mind can be a clue as to whether we're about to expend (or waste) those resources in ways that help or harm.

Start Here

From the Somnia Tarot, the Hermit; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 10 (Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself.):

Rather than standing on a mountain top, this Hermit looks out to the sea's horizon. Does he think of the country he left and the people he left behind? Does he ponder the lessons he's learned in this new place and the wonders he's seen? The Hermit is a symbol of a solitary pause that looks at where we've come from and where we are now. It is a self-inventory of sorts, an assessment that allows us to see if we're traveling a skillful path or if we've taken an exit ramp along the way. Slogan 10 (Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself) suggests that when practicing tonglen, we begin with our own pain. As we inhale, we tenderly hold our suffering (not the story around it), then breathe out compassion and kindness to ourselves. To be willing to attend to the pain of another, we must first be willing to care for our own. When we can experience our pain without disengaging, we will then deeply comprehend the pain of others. For the Hermit, he knows that taking a look at his own struggles will help him when holding his lantern out for others.

Perhaps the greatest irony of healing is that it occurs when we accept our felt experience, rather than rely on willpower or focused effort to get rid of the unwanted. ~Josh Korda

Widening Our Weave

From the Somnia Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Lojong for the Layperson deck, Slogan 21 (Always maintain only a joyful mind.):

It's no wonder this woman is so charismatic and confident; creative inspiration flows from her and never seems to diminish. What's so extraordinary about the Queen of Wands is that she loves to encourage others, so she'll gladly share her ideas to jump-start someone else's creative process. The lojong slogan "Always maintain only a joyful mind," reminds us that conditions don’t have to control us; we can choose where to place our attention. Zen teacher Darlene Cohen reassures us that we can "widen our weave," creating space to see beyond our pain and struggles. In regard to the Queen, it can be easy to be jealous of her - feeling less creative, outgoing, and talented. But if we widen our weave, we might just discover some pretty amazing and wonderful things about our life too.

You need to cultivate skills that enable you to be present for all of your life, not just the moments you prefer. ~ Darlene Cohen

It Always Rolls Back

This week I'll be using the Somnia Tarot and its companion book, created and self-published by Nicholas Bruno. I'll also be using the Lojong for the Layperson deck, a set of cards based on the 59 Buddhist mind training slogans. Today's draws are the Six of Cups and Slogan 32 (Don't wait in ambush.):

An older family member pours water from the ancestral well into the bucket of a young woman. Instead of just sharing memories, helpful wisdom is offered about how to deal with life on life's terms. Perhaps one lesson contributed might be this lojong slogan: Don't wait in ambush. When we have been hurt in some way, we may seek revenge with the same concentrated focus as the ladybug seeks aphids. We can convince ourselves that retribution is only fair and will teach a lesson to the other person. Meanwhile, resentment locks us in a cycle of misery and any retributive action leads us to worry about a backlash. If history has shown us anything, it's is that acts of revenge never lead to peace. 

Revenge... is like a rolling stone, which, when a man hath forced up a hill, will return upon him with a greater violence, and break those bones whose sinews gave it motion. ~Jeremy Taylor