Fear and Food

One of the decks I'll be using this week is the Jolanda Tarot, published by AG Muller; it was created by Rose Bjorkman (Jolanda) and illustrated by Hans Arnold.  Today's draw is the Devil:

Though the woman serving the goat-man has a smile on her face, and though the chain she wears is made from a flowering vine, she is a slave nonetheless.  I am reminded by this card of the stories I have heard from some Southerners about how their ancestors were kind to the slaves who worked on the plantations, as if this somehow excused human bondage.  Any partnership that is based in fear is not real, no matter how pretty the outward appearance may look.  A true connection is based on love and respect with no undercurrent of terror or anxiety.  Fear comes in many sizes and shapes, from the subtle to the obvious. So today I examine my relationships, and look for what binds me to them.

The oracle book and deck set I'll be using this week is Bird Signs, created by G.G. Carbone and Mary Ruzucka and published by New World Library.  Today's card is "Nutrition:"

When I first drew this card, I was shocked to see a cricket and worm on it until I remembered, "Ah, nutrition for birds."  The bugs, berries and seeds show the many food sources for birds; the message of the card encourages me to pay attention to how I feed my body, mind, and spirit.  Around 2am this morning, I woke up in a cold sweat, in pain and feeling sick.  The next thing I remember was coming to face down on the cold tile floor of the bathroom.  Though by noon today I am feeling much better, the experience was a wake-up call for me.  There's nothing wrong with helping others as long as I'm taking care of my needs too. 

Emptying the Pot

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Page of Swords:

I love the way the RWS Page of Swords turns his head, as if he has heard something and is listening intently.  This Page is a reminder that being able to listen is a skill that can be developed.  But being open-minded, without automatically wanting to process the information I hear as right or wrong, takes some real effort.  His sword represents truth, but not the kind that prejudges first without holding it up to the light of experience.  Like all pages, he implores me to test what I hear and learn rather than simply accepting or dismissing it.  But here's the kicker - just because the test doesn't prove positive for me doesn't mean it won't for someone else.  I need to remember to let others have their truth too, without trying to tell them otherwise.

From the I Ching Pack comes "Fire over Wind - Cauldron of Emotion:"

In the image above, the pot is being emptied.  It reminds me of the story of the Zen master who overfills his visitor's tea cup to point out the importance of "beginner's mind."  I've been alive over half a century, and in that time I've studied and experienced many different things.  Each of these bits of my past rest in my memory, along with an emotion I've attached to them.  If I am truly going to have an open-mind, as the card above suggests, I have to let go of that emotional attachment.  I must empty the pot so that new experiences aren't polluted with old associations.

Seeds of Receptivity

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the High Priestess:

 In the area where I walk every day, there are a few pomegranate trees.  Most of the fruits are gone now, but a few still lay on the ground, torn open by squirrels and other animals looking for food.  I'm amazed that such a small fruit can contain anywhere from 200 to 1400 seeds.  I can't help but think of the High Priestess when I see these trees, as she is associated with this fruit.  She encourages me to be quiet, still and receptive; there are hundreds of bits of knowledge hidden within if I'll only take the time to discover them.  These are the spiritual seeds I can plant in my daily life that will help me grow in compassion and wisdom if I will tend them.

From the I Ching Pack comes Water/Chasm over Mountain - Meeting an Obstacle:"

On a mountain path covered with snow and ice, a man comes to a section blocking his way.  The smart thing to do would be to turn back; he could find another path or wait until spring when the path wouldn't be so treacherous.  People tell me I'm persistent, but underneath that compliment is the understanding that I can also be stubborn and downright pushy when it comes to some things.  This hexagram, like the card above, encourages me to step back and give things a rest.  Expectations and unrealistic demands will bring nothing but trouble.  Time to detach, and then maybe I'll see another available approach.

Spending Time

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Six of Pentacles:

“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.” ~ Brian Tracy

At the local library here, I can freely check out books, music, and dvds.  But there are some books with the words "Reference Only" on the spines; these books are considered too valuable and hard to replace to be taken from the library.  As I get older, I find that it is my time that I weigh more carefully than my money when it comes to giving it away.  Whether I'm at a movie or listening to a friend on the phone, I don't want to feel like my time would be better spent doing something else.  Otherwise, I'll not be able to "give without remembering" and will end up with a resentment.  Likewise, if I am the one taking up a person's time, I want them to know I realize its worth.  Whining or airing my opinions about the same thing over and over is not quality time.  Those scales of balance work both ways...

From the I Ching Pack comes "Lake over Lake - Truth and Joy:"

Truth and true friends - two joys that bring delight and success.

Lake over Lake suggests that not only can I see deeply, I can also see clearly.  This hexagram reminds me that as I communicate with others, I need to forgo the surface stuff and speak from the heart.  I need to speak authentically and have enough respect for others to allow them to do the same.  Honesty and integrity can be a source of freedom and can help me weigh how I spend my time as well as with whom I spend my time.

Clean Up on Aisle 3

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Seven of Pentacles:

"Clean up on Aisle 3."  "Ravioli is out of stock on Aisle 7."  "Check for expired milk in the Dairy Aisle." "Seasonal items from the holidays need to be marked for clearance."  The Seven of Pentacles brings to mind running a store and keeping an eye on the quality, quantity and sales potential of inventory.  Except in this case, the store is me, and the goods are what I'm reaping in my life.  As a wise man once said, "There is a time to plant, and a time to uproot what has been planted..."

From the I Ching Pack comes "Wood over Fire - Family Concerns:"

When there is warmth and security at home, it is easier for me to deal with life outside its walls.  How I get along with the people closest to me, and how I communicate with them tends to spill over in other areas too.  The Seven of Pentacles above encourages me to make an assessment, and paired with this card I see it deals within the home.  My family isn't squabbling, we're just not communicating.  Technology has created steel walls - everyone seems to be connected to a computer, video game, smartphone, Kindle, or some other device constantly.  I'm thinking it's time for a family board game night - no electronics allowed.
 

Peace vs. Individual Pursuits

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Emperor:

I know I wouldn't make a good Emperor.  After one day of listening to whining and squabbling about how things should be done, I would be ready to use that scepter to put some dents in people's heads.  The Emperor is  a fearless leader, but taken to extreme, his personality could be hot-tempered and headstrong too (which is probably why the ram symbols are on the arms of his throne rather than above his crown.).  Yet his  ankh-like scepter represents life and protection, what he feels is his duty as a ruler to offer his people.  He serves by helping keep the peace, a challenge he presents to me today.

From the I Ching Pack comes "Wind over Water/Chasm - Dispersion:"

“I believe that people have a right to decide their own destiny...Along with this comes a responsibility to ensure that individual actions, in the pursuit of a personal destiny, do not threaten the well-being of others while the 'pursuit' is in progress.” ~ Frank Zappa

When I look at this image of the neglected, run-down house, I wonder what caused it to be abandoned.  Was is due to an "I want what I want when I want it - the hell with you" attitude?  This hexagram reminds me of the importance of selflessness instead of always making my wants a priority.  I must seek the greater good, what will benefit everyone rather than just myself.  My own well-being cannot be separated from that of other people.

Natural Guidance

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Star:

I've only recently become interested in the constellations - Orion caught my eye early one morning this past autumn.  I'm in awe of the people from long ago who were able to use them for navigation.  About the only star that I can find my direction from is the sun.  I wish all forms of guidance were as easy to come by as finding east and west.  Instead I must often look for subtle clues, pay attention to spiritual nudges, and recognize synchronicity.  The woman with one foot on water and one foot on land reminds me that though I might tap intuition and the unconscious for assistance in which track to take, I still must rely on common sense grounded in the real world.

From the I Ching Pack comes "Earth over Lake - Approaching:"

"I dreamed that, as I wandered by the way,

Bare Winter suddenly was changed to Spring."

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

A natural process of growth is at work; although it's winter here, the paperwhites are in flower and the red maples have leaf buds about to open.  As much as I would like to enjoy warmer temperatures now, I'll just have to be patient for nature to work things out on its own.  This card indicates that my challenge as I move toward my goal is to remain both attentive and adaptable as the changes progress at their own pace.