The Way You Carry It

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Ten of Wands; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Topsy Turvets:

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.

― Lou Holtz

Snapping turtles hibernate during the winter months, and when they emerge, they sometimes unintentionally carry part of their winter home with them. Humans too can suddenly find such a weight on their shoulders, especially if they are in a caregiving role. Stress can show up in feelings of frustration, sadness, loneliness and anxiety as well as a strain on our physical health. It is important to realize that the caregiver needs care too. It also helps to remember: nothing lasts forever, humor can lighten the load, and we often find help when we ask others for it. The Topsie Turvets visit when we are in a mental muddle and give us a chance to see from a different viewpoint. They tell us to ask different questions and question our assumptions. There's always another side to every story.

When we cultivate mind in everyday life, we have to let go of everything we experience. We don’t need to add any more baggage. If you just keep letting go of everything and moving forward, you’ll reach the top of the mountain. –Daehaeng Kun Sunim

A Real Seeker

From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Knight of Swords; from the Faeries' Oracle, the Journeyman:

If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things. ― René Descartes

It is ironic that the Knight of Swords doubts nearly every other person's ideas but not his own. Why is it that we're so willing to slash and burn what others say and think, but we never question our own opinions? Rainer Maria Rilke wrote that helpful doubt isn't simply a cynic; it questions and looks for proof. And having such an accessory in our saddlebag can turn our to be a very intelligent and useful tool for building a life. The Journeyman goes into the world with a childlike trust and a beginner's mind. Testing himself and his knowledge, he willingly lets go of that which he finds useless or false. He would tell this Knight that any concept that is not tested against reality is not worth holding in a tight grip.

Finding Our Core

This week I'll be using Tarot of the Secret Forest, created by Lucia Mattioli and published by Lo Scarabeo. I'll also be drawing from the Faeries' Oracle created by Brian Froud with text by Jessica Macbeth; it was published by Simon & Schuster. Today's cards are the Two of Swords and The Laume:

It is only in solitude that I ever find my own core.

—Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A lone figure stands on a rocky ledge next to an evergreen tree as he ponders a decision. The booklet states that this is a time for renouncing emotions and analyzing things rationally. This is often easier when we follow Lindbergh's words above. Solitude can remove the pressures of others trying to influence us; it allows us to see at our core not only what we want but what we need. The Laume is a fairy who knows the joy in giving without expectation, but she also encourages receiving without shame. As Jane Goodall said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” What would be a kindness to others as well as oneself - not just now but in the long run?

Those Who Dream

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Cedar Runes, Dagaz:

The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were. 

~John F. Kennedy

From high atop a rocky outcrop, a woman surveys the land. This view gives her a much wider perspective than being closed in by the trees below. The companion book states that this card encourages us to expand our horizons and discover uncharted territory. But to do these things we must first believe in such a possibility, then we must push away from our comfort zone. We step away from our assumptions and broaden our scope, moving toward what is different rather than away from it. Dagaz means 'light' and suggests an awakening - a truth breaking into our reality. Moving out of our routines and usual trajectories can't help but awaken us to a wider, exciting world.

Slow Engine of Destruction

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Page of Swords; from the Cedar Runes, Sowilo:

Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.

~Richard Steele

The Page of Swords always likes to have an intellectual edge, so she and the swans have a daily gossip fest. She explains that it's important to have as much current information as possible, although most of the scuttlebutt shared is greatly exaggerated or untrue. Gathering such hearsay is simply a way for her to feel like she has an advantage over others. She has not yet learned that this is a sieve that will never fill and hold what she seeks. Sowilo is translated as 'sun' and considered a guide to success. The rune poems call it the light of the world and the destroyer of ice; it gives clarity, shows us the truth, and thus destroys any deceptions. It would suggest the Page take a clear look at her self-serving motives for gossip and see that it doesn't really serve her at all.  

The Way Appears

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Eight of Swords; from the Cedar Runes, Ansuz:

As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.

― Rumi

The Eight of Swords depicts those periods when we feel powerless and trapped by circumstances. Like this swan surrounded by thorny brambles and unable to fly, we think we can't move. But the swan, using it's sharp beak, could move some briers and walk out of them. We often feel stuck because we fall back on old patterns of thinking and acting, which only further entrenches us in a feeling of helplessness. Instead, we could do something different, even if that action seems to have no connection at all to the issue. But it could help the real issue - getting our mind unstuck and giving it a slightly different view. Ansuz is said to symbolize the mouth of the wise Odin and suggests divine or ancestral wisdom or inspiration. When we feel powerless, it is easy to forget that others may have advice and encouragement that could help us. All we need to do is ask and listen.

Emotional Tethers

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the King of Cups; from the Cedar Runes, Uruz:

You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.

—Timber Hawkeye

The King of Cups is the calm in the storm, modeling and guiding others with steady patience and composure. I can imagine the male seahorse, with his pouch full of incubating babies, telling the King of his worries for these young ones when they hatch. The King would likely tell the seahorse that risks and challenges are a part of life that help us mature and develop wisdom. But everyone needs an emotional anchor when the waves get rough, and and that tether will be different for all. The rune Uruz is based on a primordial wild ox. It suggest endurance and strength will be needed in our endeavors. In the case of an emotional anchor, it may be best not to tie ourselves to a person, but to our own spiritual practices that provide us with resilience.