Slowly Savoring

This week I'll be using the Fairy Lights Tarot created by Lucia Mattioli and published by Lo Scarabeo. This morning's draw is the Hermit:

Under starry skies, an aged man slowly makes his way along a forest path. The booklet that comes with this deck encourages the querent to "retreat into silence and study to deepen your comprehension of the Universe." The rounded back of this elder reminded me of a snail, and indicates the understanding I seek must be achieved at a snail's pace. No weekend workshop will do; I must take my time as I learn and reflect, or else I might miss out on something important. The way he watches the ground closely as he moves along tells me that the wisdom I seek is right under my nose, rather than far off in the heavens. Though an exotic trip might be nice, it's not necessary.

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Heart of Faerie, created by Brian and Wendy Froud and published by Abrams. Today's card is the "Green Woman:"

I recognize that look of serene pleasure; it's the same expression on my face when it is chilly and I suddenly feel the warm rays of the sun (or when it's hot and I feel a gentle breeze). The Green Woman is the other side of the coin from the Green Man. While he is the raging river rapids, she is the trickling stream; while he is the mighty oak, she is the fragile wildflower. She balances his "wow" factor with gentle beauty. I think the combined message of the Hermit and Green Woman deals with the personal study I've decided to undertake. Both cards tell me to go slowly and savor the details. The Green Woman reminds me that I don't need every book on the subject - a few good ones should suffice. This exploration is supposed to be enjoyable, not a grueling challenge.

Spewing Soda Bottles

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the King of Cups:

This king's body language (sitting on the edge of his seat) tells me he is listening intently to what is being said. Yet he keeps the lid on his cup (staying composed regardless of what he is hearing). I'm sure you've had the unpleasant experience of opening a soda can or bottle that had been shaken hard. As soon as the top is popped or the lid lifted, it spews everywhere. The King of Cups reminds me to get out my umbrella instead of my own can of soda when drama is going on. If I let myself get emotionally sucked into the situation, I'll just be adding another spewing soda. Then there will be two messes to clean up, and one will be my responsibility.

From the Lenormand de Marseille, the "Snake:"

I couldn't help but think of the Garden of Eden myth when I pulled this card. The serpent tells Eve if she'll eat from the Tree of Knowledge, she'll be as wise as God. The serpent didn't actually lie, he just didn't tell her the rest of the story. She and Adam would get kicked out of their idyllic home, have to learn to survive on their own, and eventually die. There are plenty of manipulative folks around who excel at dangling bait and catching people on the hook. Like the serpent, their motives are entirely selfish; they are so good at being slick, sometimes it's hard to see behind their veil of half-truths. The King of Batons in this card would probably take his staff and give the snake a solid whack on the head, as it would only misdirect him from the goal he seeks. With the King of Cups above, I am warned to be aware of those who might attempt to emotionally manipulate me today.

Staying Afloat

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Six of Coins:

Probably because of all the recent storms and flash floods, this card made me think of a flat-bottomed boat. The "people" in the boat are nicely balanced now, but what would happen if two folks decided they liked the view better on the other side and moved? The imbalance would likely tip the boat over, and everyone would end up wet. The coins represent my resources - time, physical energy, and finances. It is a bit overwhelming to think I need to share my resources with the whole world; in fact, that kind of thinking only makes me want to hold tighter to them. But what if I shared with the people in my "boat" - those folks I come in contact with day to day? And if they in turn did the same, it seems eventually we would all be afloat instead of treading water.

From the Lenormand de Marseille comes "Bouquet:"

I've gotten flowers delivered to me when I've had something to celebrate (like a birthday), and also when I was feeling out of sorts or grieving a loss. They warm my heart, letting me know someone is thinking of me. But bouquets are made of cut flowers; they will eventually wilt and fade, no matter how much water I keep in the vase. This card reminds me that all things are transitory, including the pleasurable ones. The queen associated with the Bouquet warns me that to blindly ignore such a fact is faulty thinking.  Life is like nature; it ebbs and flows, and we will experience both fullness and emptiness.  With the tarot card above, I am encouraged by this morning's reading to remember that freely giving and receiving can help balance out those transitions of gains and losses.
 

Quick Fishing Trip

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Eight of Wands:

Wow, these are some serious, Bamm-Bamm (of the Flintstones) sized wands. Interesting that none of them have any sprigs of green leaves. In the Four of Wands a foundation has been laid, but now that has been doubled. This particular Eight of Wands reminds me of the completed construction of a house. I've never had a house built, but I've watch my parents do it. Once the foundation, walls and roof are up, there are a thousand creative decisions to make. What kind of flooring do you want? Wood, laminate or carpet? Wallpaper or paint? And what color? There are choices that most people would never even think about until they had to make them, like what style of knobs you want on your kitchen cabinets or the type of faucets in your bathroom. It can be almost overwhelming because of the time-frame.  Sometimes when time is of the essence, I can make quicker creative choices with my gut than my head, which tends to want to over-analyze that kind of thing.

From the Lenormand de Marseille come "Fish:"

  The King of Coins insert in this card is a huge help in interpreting the Lenormand meaning of the Fish as "resources." For people who make their living from the sea, this interpretation would make perfect sense. In addition, resources - financial or otherwise - can lead to freedom and independence. With the Eight of Wands above, I am encouraged to acknowledge and use the resources I have available to complete my creative projects. And here's a hint - some of those resources are not "things" but knowledgeable, skilled people.    

Careful with that Lid...

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Ace of Cups:

Under the lid of that cup can be found love, joy, inner peace, emotional security and a sense of belonging. Who wouldn't want that? Unfortunately in the human world of relationships, we know that when we open this cup we also become vulnerable to sadness, hurt, worry and humiliation. Is it worth the risk? When I married my husband, I inherited stepchildren and a manipulative ex-wife. And I don't care what the self-help books say, there is no such thing as a "blended family." I was not mature enough to handle what came with such responsibilities, and my first impulse was to run. But because we truly did love each other, we held on and battled together whatever life threw at us. That cup was a bit of a Pandora's box, but I have no regrets. When the opportunity to develop a new friendship arises, I still can be a bit hesitant. I know that with the good will come a challenge, but I also know that bond can be worth it.

From the Lenormand de Marseille comes the "Star:"

The thought "follow your own star" ran through my head when I saw this card, meaning allow your heart and your passion to guide you. But while I like the idea of being led and encouraged to move in a certain direction, I know my ego can lead me astray. How can I know if what I'm following is good and true? The "star" I can navigate by can be found in these words of Rami Shapiro: "You know you’re on the right path if your capacity for holding paradox expands, your sense of humor broadens, your commitment to justice deepens, your compassion for and protection of life grows, and your love of people transcends race, color, creed, tribe, religion, politics, and sexual preference."

Spiral Dynamics

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the World:

In the World card, the Fool has completed a level of his life experience and gained a slice of wisdom. The information has given him a new and larger perspective; he will no longer see the world through the same eyes. Just as he walked off the cliff into the physical world, he (or she) now dances through the gateway of a wreath, emphasizing accomplishment but also the entrance to other insights yet to come. The fixed signs of Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus and Leo in the corners of the card indicate the ongoing cycle will repeat itself over and over. Yet the journey is not traveled in a circle, beginning at one point and ending at the same place again, but on a spiral that allows for expansion and greater understanding as he continues his journey.

From the Lenormand de Marseille comes the "Anchor:"

The combination of a new insight offered by the World tarot card above with the Lenormand's Anchor card brought to mind the addict's awakening when he (or she) realizes what once made him feel better no longer works. The fears not only don't go away, the addiction and its consequences just add more anxiety and problems. He realizes there must be a better, more fulfilling way to live, and so he steps through the gateway of the laurel wreath. Almost immediately he finds himself in a kind of limbo - how can he live day to day without something to rely on? The Anchor emphasizes the need for stability, perseverance, and security. Whether he uses a support group or a spiritual practice, he must find a way to live life on life's terms without resorting to old thoughts and behaviors. The Anchor will become his GPS when he is lost and needs help to stay on the new road he has chosen.

The Whole Package

From the Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, the Eight of Swords:

Have you ever had an insight that allowed you to see into your thoughts and behavior - a spiritual epiphany of sorts? I always think that once I have such a realization, I'll never again let my thoughts go unquestioned, leading me like a ring in the nose. Yet it takes no time at all before I find myself overwhelmed by emotions caused by thoughts left to run amok. As I look at this card, I see half the swords pointing upward and half downward. The skyward ones imply that half of my ideas are based upon fantasy and assumptions, while the ones with points toward the ground symbolize ideas based in reality. An example would be like me thinking "I would like to build a bicycle" (which might be possible) followed by "and ride it to the moon" (definitely not a possibility). The Eight of Swords encourages me to examine all my thoughts; just because a few are based in reality doesn't mean the whole package should be labeled as truth.

From the Lenormand de Marseille comes the "Rider:"

When I think of the horseback riders from years ago, I imagine them as the Pony Express or visitors who brought information from distant places. The keywords generally associated with the Rider are news, approach or delivery, and because Lebrowski uses the Nine of Cups with this Lenormand card, I interpret it as the arrival of something beneficial. With the tarot card above, I see it as information that will ground my thoughts back into the reality of "what is" instead of "what may be."