The Healing

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the Five of Water (Cups); from the Curious Oracle, Apple Blossom:

The despair and hurt of the Five of Cups/Water paired with the Apple Blossom (Renewal) remind me of the words of Mark Nepo: "when feeling miserable, we must look wider than what hurts." This does not mean we attempt to suppress our feelings with false optimism. Rather we take the advice of Pema Chodron: "The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy."

Not Inconsequential

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the King of Earth (Pentacles); from the Curious Oracle, Spider:

 

The King of Earth gets up early and goes to bed late because he wants to be aware of what is growing in his kingdom. If he pays attention, he can influence what is good and deter what isn't. The Spider suggests catching things that don't notice its web. Both of these cards remind me how easily we can slip into a pattern of behavior and get stuck in it. And certain habits tend to get worse and create more suffering. The Anti-Defamation League's Pyramid of Hate show why we need to be aware of what we might consider inconsequential words and actions:

Fidelity

From the Wayfarer's Tarot, the Queen of Air (Swords); from the Curious Oracle, the Orange Grove:

When I was a kid, I longed for my own set of World Book Encyclopedias. In my young mind, I imagined those books contained all the knowledge in the world. I had no idea that each set had to be reprinted each year to include new and updated information. This Queen of Air/Swords feeds her crows, a symbol of the way she feeds her own intellect and understanding in order to stay abreast of changes and discoveries. The Orange Grove represents fidelity, meaning (in this case) accuracy and exactness. An orange tree will not produce apples or cherries. In the same way, a rigid, obsolete understanding of the world is like an outdated, dusty set of encyclopedias. We may be comfortably attached to our ideas, but to live a useful life requires being fully aware of reality, not just the parts we prefer.

Stability at Sea

This week I'll be using the self-published Wayfarer Tarot, created by Stacy Salpietro-Babb with Margaret Shipman. I'll also be drawing from A Curious Oracle, self-published and created by Holly DeFount. Today's draws are Six of Water (Cups) and the Anchor:

 

Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are,

the things you never want to lose. ~Kevin Arnold

Most of us likely remember when we moved away from home, from all those people and places that were familiar. Even those of us who were happy about leaving and being on our own probably experienced a little wistfulness along with our excitement. But memories of the people, places and things we left behind - what we learned and how they shaped us - are the same things that can give us a feeling of stability in our new environment. The Anchor suggests that we don't have to let these things stultify us; we can lift anchor and sail to other waters. But those memory anchors can remind us of our roots, what we've accomplished and overcome. 

FWMO

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Four of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Safety:

How well I know with what burning intensity you live. ...you just have to have these rest periods in between. ― anais nin

Most of us are aware of FOMO (fear of missing out), but there's also a FWMO (fine with missing out). Any big project or commitment we're involved in takes not only physical and mental effort, it can also sap emotional energy too. When we've invested a lot of our spirit into anything, we need a chance to recharge, which might involve rest or play. But the Safety card suggests there is a mental line we should be wary of crossing. When we begin feeling as though we have no worth, purpose or support, we need to seek out our friends (especially those who make no demands). We need to be reminded that we are connected to more than just our accomplishments.

A Lack of Definition

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Moon; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Inspiration:

Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.

―Alan Watts

The Moon's light softens all the harsh, sharp edges. The details and specifics of things dissolve, leaving a lack of definition, empty of 'this, not that'. The night invites us to relax and let go of our meticulous and selective nature. We become a part of rather than apart from. In this spacious place with its lack of boundaries, Inspiration is free to arrive. Without any preset limitations, we discover the words of Maya Angelou to be true: "You can't use up creativity."

Don't Become One

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Seven of Pentacles; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Resilience:

There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don't allow yourself to become one of them.

―Ralph Marston

This baker checks each loaf that comes from her oven. Some were experiments with added nuts, fruits and spices, and others were her customer favorites. She knows that the smell and appearance will entice buyers, but it is the taste and texture that will bring them back. There are times when she is tired and misjudged the ingredients, and the bread turned out like a hockey puck. At other times the oven wasn't heating properly and the loaves didn't cook completely. It can be frustrating, but the Resilience card reminds her to redirect her energy into adapting to each circumstance as needed, being willing to be flexible. As Marston wrote, "If you so choose, even the unexpected setbacks can bring new and positive possibilities."