What is Given

From the Gill Tarot, Death; from the Circle Cards, Surrender:

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Intellectually, we all know that we will die, that we will lose the things and people we love one day. But knowing it doesn't mean our hearts will embrace it. Lemony Snicket wrote that it is always a surprise when it happens: "It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things." The Hanged Man tries to prepare us for those moments, giving us a chance to feel our powerlessness over certain situations. Thus, the Surrender card advises we need to stop fighting reality and accept it. If and when we do, we'll know to tread with more care and attention.

There's a Difference

From the Gill Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Circle Deck, Partnership:

There is a significant difference between encouraging people and enabling them. No matter what the situation may be, you can cheer them on, but you can’t carry any of their steps or lessons out for them. 

― Morgan Richard Olivier

Like the codependency her sister the Queen of Cups must avoid, the Queen of Wands understands how easy it is to get sucked into other peoples' passions. If she got involved in everyone's projects, she would quickly become overwhelmed and find no time for her own aspirations. Instead, she acts as a mirror, reflecting the heat and light of each person, supporting them through encouragement and suggestions only. Partnership implies an alliance that compliments strengths and offsets weaknesses but does not require one person to pull the ox's load. The Queens know that boundaries are needed because we have limits on our time, energy and resources. As Shawn Meghan Burn cautioned, "One way to think of it is that when it’s a pattern, it’s a problem."

Because It is Holy

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Prince (Knight) of Swords and Caution:

When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix, I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve, I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

The Prince/Knight of Swords acts on what he sees as a miscarriage of justice or a perversion of truth. His ideas of how things should be (the yellow light of his sword) are made manifest (the yellow light from his hand). Yet the Caution card suggests a pause before acting. Are we trying to help when we don't really understand the circumstances and situation? Homeless people living in a car don't need us to buy them a new TV. To truly serve others, we must see them as equals, not as people who need to be fixed. As Remen wrote, "We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy."

Effort and Attention

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Four of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Anchor:

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.     

—Theodore Roosevelt 

This carpenter's hard work seems to be paying off in many ways. The tools in both his hands suggest his steady effort. Often known as the 'effort heuristic,' research shows we tend to appreciate and put more value on things we acquire through exertion and labor. Such success, even in the early stages, is so much sweeter. The Anchor button implies stability and being grounded. When we work hard for something and receive it, we then channel our effort into sustaining and caring for it. What is appreciated is not ignored and allowed to disintegrate from lack of attention.

Reaching Out

 From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Queen of Buttons (Pentacles); from the Button Oracle, Viking Ship:

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

― Charles Dickens

Granny is doing a jig because she got some great deals at the market, and now her basket is overflowing. She has enough for her family and can share with the elders who find it hard to get out as well as with the parents who are stretched thin to feed their family. The feeling she gets from reaching out to others more than makes up for a half-empty basket to take home. This Queen believes resources should be shared rather than hoarded; the community is healthy when everyone's well-being is considered. The Viking Ship button brings to mind those bold risk-takers who sailed most of the North Atlantic as looters, traders, colonists, and mercenaries. It suggests we practice fearlessness in reaching out to others, especially those we don't know well. Who knows, we might end up with a friendship we treasure.

A Proper Investigation

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Button Oracle, German Shepherd:

Make a proper investigation first. 

~ Buddha

Looks like Granny has all her tools at hand - cards, runes and a crystal ball - for tapping into the universal self. She knows these tools aren't really necessary, but Granny is aware the ego is a rascally rabbit. Sometimes we need props to get past its preferences and prejudices to find the wisdom within. The German Shepherd button represents searching and investigating, as these dogs have long been used in search and rescue, discovery of explosives, and narcotics detection. It suggests we check the information we uncover, making sure the ego's demands haven't tainted our insight. Is this intuitive understanding skillful and wholesome? Or is it a cookie-cutter copy of just what the personal self craves?

Home Base

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Button Oracle, Horses:

Setting out on an adventure is thrilling, but coming home is even better.

–Maurice Sendak

This King of Wands stands in front of Uluru, an inselberg (island mountain) which formed under the sea about 550 million years ago. When the oceans dried up around it, Uluru appeared; the sandstone formation is 1,142 ft. high above ground and lies about 1.5 miles underground. For the Anangu Aboriginal people, it is a place of great power. The King of Wands may be a goer and doer, yet even this daring fellow knows he needs a home base, a place where he can relax and recharge before his next venture. The Horse button suggests freedom and independence, like the free-roaming mustangs of the Western U.S. There is nothing wrong with wanting to travel and explore - it can expand our mind and perspective. But we shouldn't forget to spend time where our roots are too; that keeps us grounded.