A Wide Canyon

From the Norse Tarot, the Five of Discs; from the Viking Lenormand, Birds:

The love of money may be the root of all evil, but poverty is its wicked offspring. Hungry children have a harder time learning in school; parents who struggle financially are more susceptible to physical and mental health conditions. What makes this worse is that people who could help are stymied by a mindset of scarcity - the belief that there is not enough of something to go around, and that one must compete with others for limited resources. Motivated by insecurity, generosity doesn't stand a chance. Birds suggest a gathering and a shared conversation. Rather than judge, it invites us to sincerely listen to the stories of those who lack the basics for well-being. We may see that there is wide canyon between their reality and our ideas.

A Measure of Darkness

From the Norse Tarot, the Sun; from the Viking Lenormand, the Letter:

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness.

— Carl Jung

This Sun card is illustrated with Álfröðull ("elf-beam"), the daughter of the Norse goddess Sol. When Sol was killed during Ragnarok, she became the second sun to light then new world. The holidays are a tough time for many people for various reasons; rather than a celebration of light, these days can feel more like a descent into darkness. The Letter, a symbol of some form of communication, suggests a way to light a candle and illuminate our psychological night. We can reach out to others through emails, cards, calls or letters instead of focusing on ourselves. And when we receive the same from another, we can allow it to spark our gratitude when we realize that someone is thinking of us.

A Toast and a Broom

From the Norse Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Viking Lenormand, Broom:

May the hinges of friendship never rust, or the wings of love lose a feather.

—Edward Bannerman Ramsay

This group of folks raise their glasses to commemorate a special occasion. Toasts often include wishes for a long life, health, and prosperity - basically all the good things we'd want for ourselves. Such moments not only allow us to honor others, they give us a chance to recognize our own blessings and the love that surrounds us. The Broom is a symbol of clearing away that which prevents a fresh start or growth in our lives. Bill Wilson wrote, "It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness." That doesn't leave much fertile ground for any relationship to grow. Wilson suggests that we offer a daily blessing for those we resent, wishing for them everything we would want. Even if we don't really mean it, we do it anyway. Eventually we'll sweep away the anger and bitterness, replacing them with a deeper understanding and compassion.

Still Water

From the Norse Tarot, the Princess of Cups; from the Viking Lenormand, Tree:

It is only in still water that we can see.

– Zen Saying

A young lass stands beside a lake, peering into a chalice. She knows that the truth can only be seen in stillness and quiet. She lets the stirrings of her heart and mind settle; what is luminous will shine brightly when the silt and mud within her come to rest. The Lenormand Tree asks us to consider our well-being and stability. It's leafy branches reach for the sun yet it's roots anchor it in the soil and provide nourishment. Wholeness requires balance - an impossibility if we are constantly at war with reality. When in battle mode, we are obsessed with our ideas and entangled by our emotions, making muddy water even muddier. Stillness and quiet, however, allow us to put down our weapons and find clarity, getting us unstuck from our rinse and repeat cycle. 

Neither Punishment nor Reward

This week I'll be using the Norse Tarot, created by Clive Barrett and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using the Viking Lenormand, created and self-published by my friend Carole Beasley. The draws this morning are the Prince of Discs and the Child:

Everything that ends is also the beginning of something else. Pain is not a punishment; pleasure is not a reward. ―Pema Chödrön

This Prince stands in front of what's left of a burial mound. Feeling a deep connection to earth and nature, he is aware of the seasons and the cycles of birth and death. He does not expect grains to grow in the dead of winter; neither does he expect them to continue to grow after being harvested. The Prince understands that the force that moves the circle of life is independent and does not take sides. The Child represents fresh starts and innocence. In this case, it points to embracing the truth that both pain and pleasure are inherent in life. To recognize that all beings are subject to these states can keep us from grasping or hatred, which only serve to forge man-made suffering.

ABCs for Empathy

 From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Rumi Cards, Breeze at Dawn:

Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.

—Moshsin Hamid

Empathy and kindness define the Queen of Cups, yet here she has a cover over her chalice. She's aware of how easy it is to become submerged in another's suffering when trying to be of help. Breeze at Dawn suggests mentally stepping out of the situation for a moment and seeing with new eyes to refresh our own spirit. Ramos Tsosie*, a 25-year veteran firefighter-paramedic, suggests some ABCs to help:

A)  Recognize the activating event - anything that happens that grabs your attention in a negative way.

B)  Identify your beliefs about the event and challenge those that are not factual or do not align with your short- and long-term interests. These beliefs influence how we respond.  

C)  Consider the consequences, or how you respond in feelings and actions. The consequences are functions of our beliefs. Blame and judgment lead to frustration, cynicism, and anger - and ultimately burnout. We can reduce our own stress and when we respond from compassion (including for ourselves) without holding on to any expectations.

*Taken from an article in Tricycle magazine (April 2022)

Check Your Shoes

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Rumi Cards, You Are:

There's none so blind as those who will not listen.

― Neil Gaiman

The Seven of Wands is generally about standing up for yourself and defending your ideas - a worthy ideal. But this young man has a shoe on the right foot and a boot on the left, suggesting a lack of preparation. Perhaps the wielders of of the other staves are just trying to point out the holes in his theory or plans. They might not want to throw out his ideas, but simply patch them up so they hold water. Rumi's card warns about hyperfocus - having blinders (and ear plugs), attending to only what we seek and desire. That results in our whole identity being centered on one limited thing. Or, we could consider Dorothea Brande's words: "Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier."