Filtering Information

This week I'll be using the Prisma Visions Tarot, created and self-published by James R. Eads; the companion booklet was written by Katherine Tombs. The oracle I'll be using alongside it is the Secret Language of Color Cards, created by Inna Segal and published by Beyond Worlds. Today's draws are the Hierophant and Purple:

hierocracy: government by the clergy; ecclesiastical rule.

This horned celestial being brings to mind the Emperor and hierocracy. The companion book states that the Hierophant represents the enduring traditions that have shaped history. He invites us to learn and conform to his man-made system. Although humans are not infallible, we naturally seek connection and belonging. Do we trust this wisdom and institution enough to pledge our allegiance to it? It doesn't hurt to sincerely listen as long as we use the filter of discernment. Purple suggests cultivating mental clarity, implying that our firmly held opinions, intense emotions or what we crave might affect our ability to see clearly. Before we sign up for anything, we need to make sure we're not under the influence of anything that might bias our perception.

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it. ― Terry Pratchett

Interests that Stick

From the Spacious Tarot, the Guardian (Queen) of Wands; from the Phenomena Oracle, Blizzard:

You can't really predict with certainty what will capture your attention and what won't... Without experimenting, you can't figure out which interests will stick, and which won't.

― Angela Duckworth

The Queens are devoted nurturers, especially when it comes to their suit. The Guardian of Wands believes everyone should have an interest, a hobby or a cause - something that brings them joy and fulfillment. She loves to expand people's exposure to new ideas, places, and things to do in hopes that it will widen their possibilities for developing a passion. Yet Blizzard's card shows a white-out, when both visibility and mobility are stymied. It can be tempting to push what we are fervently interested in onto people close to us. But kids may care less about the sports their parents are nuts about, and a friend may prefer painting to a book club. What stokes our passion can be our own; we don't need to force anyone else into its flames to still enjoy it. 

No Gold in this River

From the Spacious Tarot, the Eight of Cups; from the Phenomena Oracle, Decompose:

There ain't no gold in this river

That I've been washin' my hands in forever

~Adele

The heart often pulls us in a new direction, but it can take our mind some time to catch up. We drag our feet, rationalizing that we've invested too much time and energy into a job or project or have too long a history with a person to give up. But the heart knows that if we have not found fulfillment by now, we likely won't in the future. It's time to move on before we miss the opportunities that are waiting for us that may bring us contentment and meaning. The Decompose card is a reminder that everything will break down at some point, but it will provide the nutrients to grow something new. Knowing what doesn't work can help guide us towards something that will.

Collaboration

From the Spacious Tarot, the Three of Pentacles; from the Phenomena Oracle, Tsunami:

When you need to innovate, you need collaboration.

~Marissa Mayer

This Three of Pentacles is based on Pando, a colony of aspen trees which are actually one living organism, all sharing the same root system. Working with others helps us see from other perspectives - one idea can be visualized from different viewpoints, creating multiple options. Big egos have a hard time collaborating; they easily forget what is most important, the cause everyone is working towards. Yet teams who remember their common goal, groups composed of people who don't try to outshine their partners, can accomplish what seemed impossible alone. Tsunami indicates a situation that feels overwhelming and catastrophic. Here is where the individual gifts of team members can be beneficial, with each person applying their specific abilities to right their ship.

What We Expect

From the Spacious Tarot, the Star; from the Phenomena Oracle, the Rainbow:

Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect.

― Margaret Mitchell

The Spacious guidebook describes the Star as a "peaceful reprieve." Indeed, it is a place where we can rest, find our bearings and reflect on how we wound up flat on our face. The Star often represents hope; yet there is wishful hope tied to specific expectations, and wise hope that simply believes that conditions will eventually change. When we find our feet again, it might be wise to take Brandon Sanderson's words to heart: “Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” The Rainbow is the promise of sunny skies after the storm. The only tempest that can last is the one we continually stir in our mind.

I Don't Know

From the Spacious Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the Phenomena Oracle, Drought:

The Spacious Tarot guidebook suggests the Ten of Swords is what happens when the mind is left to run unchecked. We don't stop to consider that it is the instigator of our actions and often motivated by ideas that are wrong. I am reminded of how easy it can be to slide into the role of advisor and problem solver. It is an addictive position, giving us a feeling of being needed and wanted. But it can also be a snare that that traps and drains us; any honor we feel doesn't energize us for long. Resentment and blame are the red flags to look for, the hint that we should at times rely on the phrase "I don't know" instead of attempting to be the Oracle of Delphi. As Joko Beck urged, "Be willing not to be an expert." Drought shows what happens to the mind when we are busy telling rather than listening. A satisfied mind does not open to new knowledge and refuses information that conflicts with its current ideas. A dried-up mind can neither produce nor sustain any growth.

Add the Fuel

From the Spacious Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Phenomena Oracle, Wind:

No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.

~Plutarch

It only takes one match to start a fire, but we've got to quickly add fuel. That match will burn out otherwise, leaving behind only a vague scent of smoke. Although we might engage in some free association planning to fill out our idea, we still have to get moving if we want it to materialize. Wind is no friend to matches, seeming to blow them out as soon as they're struck. Cynical doubt can be the same way, trashing our creative nudges before they are brought to life. Questioning doubt may be helpful, as it looks for answers and solutions (even a fire needs fresh air).