Taking Off the Blindfold

From Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille, Justice; from the Greek Alphabet Runes, Psi:

          Though later statues and illustrations of Justice show her with a blindfold, Bursten writes, "In the 15th century a blindfold would have suggested unfairness or ignorance, while the lack of a blindfold on the tarot's Justice shows she is clear-sighted and impartial." Plato considered it one of four virtues, which also included wisdom, temperance and courage. According to the philosopher, Justice depended on the proper interplay of these other three virtues. Deciding what is right and fair isn't always a clear, unambiguous choice, and thus the other virtues help in balancing the scales.
Psi is the Greek letter that stands as a symbol for psychology; it is also the first letter of the Greek word psuche, meaning mind or soul, from which the term 'psyche' arose. If there is one thing that both my degree in psychology and my study of Buddhism have taught me, it is the importance of knowing how the mind works. My mind can convince me of just about anything if I'm not paying attention. When that happens, it can become a noose around my neck, much like the braid of hair Justice has draped from one shoulder to the other.

We think we know our own life, but what we know is only an edited version, colored by our emotions and narrow vision. How close can we come to the original draft? By staring at truth, the soil is warmed, and we begin digging toward the sky. — Gregg Krech

Between Wolf and Dog

From the Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille, the Moon; from the Greek Alphabet Runes, Omicron:

          I've been reading a novel by Karen White called Flight Patterns, and in it she uses the phrase "between wolf and dog." The saying refers to the time of day when it is neither light nor dark, but somewhere in between. What is perceived may be not be reality, just as a wolf might be believed to be a dog or vice versa. Bursten suggests a similar meaning of this card - a truth partially obscured. There is a natural feeling of uneasiness; most folks don't like being unsure about things and living in limbo. Added to that is the Greek letter Omicron. Almost all of the Greek letters have been used in math or science except this one. It is too similar to the letter 'o' and the number zero, and therefore it would only cause confusion. Its oracular meaning is thus a lack of discernment. Both of these draws imply a need to recognize that clarity is a issue. I don't need to be paranoid, but neither do I need to put a bag over my head. Simply staying awake and paying attention is enough for now.

Temporary Shelter

From the Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille, the Six of Swords; from the Greek Alphabet Runes, Theta:

          According to Bursten, Swords represent defense and boundaries while Sixes suggest an ongoing method that is now running smoothly. The center flower looks like the bloom of a peace lily, an evergreen tropical plant (and one often sent to people after a loved one has died). The four tightly closed buds outside the swords make me wonder if all the energy is being channeled to keep the peace. If so, there may be none left over to do much else (such as allowing the buds to open). I took a car ride yesterday for the first time since the wreck. When my husband drove by the site of the accident, I thought I was going to be ill. Like the protected peace lily, I can feel my body and mind being cocooned while in protection mode. Yet Theta has shown up, a letter used in ancient Greece on ballots to indicate a sentence of death. It's archaic form was written as a cross within a circle, signifying a wheel. It reminds me that my guarded reaction will end, that I won't desire to be insulated forever. This too shall pass.  

Stop Spinning

This week I'll be using Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille restored and reconstructed by Kris Hadar and published by Mortagne. Lee Bursten's The Marseille Tarot Companion will be a resource for reading this deck. The oracle I'll be using is one I created myself called the Greek Alphabet Runes. AlaskaLaserMaid on Etsy burned the designs on cedar tiles for me. Today's draws are the Two of Coins and Zeta:

          Bursten suggests the Two of Coins means weighing and comparing resources. The two flowers on this card are indeed different - one is a bud about to bloom and the other appears to be a rose hip formed after a successful pollination. An example might be if I have the money to go do some shopping but not the energy or time. Some kind of compromise will have to be made if I want to make sane choices that will lead to constructive results. Zeta is a Greek letter that is used to represent vorticity, the measure of rotation in fluid or air. This spinning motion can be observed in such things as whirlpools or tornadoes. I had a boss years ago who used to call me 'Hurricane Hattie' due to my forceful, single-minded nature when I wanted to get things done. And though I'm not nearly as pushy and energetic as I used to be, I can still get so focused on accomplishing something that I forget to check the balance and availability of my resources first. Stillness rather than spinning can help me see with clarity and take a more rational approach.

Don't Know Mind

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Place of Trees (Page of Wands); from the Animal Tiles, Owl:

          The labrys (double-headed ax) was a symbol the goddess in ancient Crete and was associated with the beginning of creation. Pollack suggests it's symboism the Page has chosen her element (wands/fire) and has begun to study and practice it. This Page has entered a new place in her life that will allow her to use her creative talents she develops along the way. Wholehearted enthusiasm and the desire to make a difference will sustain her in the work ahead. It seems appropriate that Owl has flown in, since the Page is at the learning stage and this bird was connected to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. According to folklore the owl illuminated Athena's blind side, revealing unseen truths to her. I think there is a natural tendency to be so fired up when first delving into something, that we may think that we know and understand more than we actually do. What I think I know may block the actual truth.

Not-knowing means not being limited by what we know, holding what we know lightly so that we are ready for it to be different. Maybe things are this way. But maybe they are not.

~ Gil Fronsdal

Repairing the World

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Nine of Rivers (Cups); from the Animal Tiles, Eagle:

          According to Lurianic kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), Ein Sof ('The Infinite') contracted itself to make room for creation. Its divine light shattered the vessels of creation it filled, but some of its light attached itself to the broken shards. Tikkun Olam ('repair of the world') is the idea that people can bring the world back to its original wholeness through acts of social justice and loving-kindness. This myth is what Pollack's card illustrates, and it reminded me where most of my moments of joy come from - not in getting, but giving. I was at the vet the other day when an elderly woman (so tiny she could barely see over the counter) came in to purchase some medicine. As she slowly counted out her dollars and change, she realized she didn't have enough money. My spiritual principle for this month is generosity, and I realized here was a chance to put it in practice by paying for the difference. She was shocked that a stranger would make such an offer, but I assured her it was no big deal. And though I'm sure she was grateful, I was the real recipient because I felt buoyantly happy the rest of the day. The Bald Eagle is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply, as it is a fisher rather than a hunter. It reminds me that if I want to feel contentment and joy, I might need to actively look for opportunities to act. A fishing pole and a positive attitude is all that is required.

Wake Up and Grab the Peanut

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, Awakening (Judgment); from the Animal Tiles, Woodpecker:

          Roshi Melissa Blacker described a riverboat trip in Costa Rican rainforest during which the tour guide stopped the boat and had them gaze at a large tree while being still and breathing deeply. After a few minutes, he said "Let me know when you see the iguana." Sure enough, as each passenger became relaxed, they were suddenly able to see the camouflaged lizard. This is what awakening is like - to encounter reality just as it is without preconception. When we drop our bias and assumptions, our hearts and minds open much wider. Our perspective completely changes.
          I've been putting raw peanuts mixed in with sunflower seeds in my feeders this year, mainly to attract several varieties of woodpeckers. But because these birds are built to grip tree bark so they can drill for insects, they don't have the ability to perch like songbirds. They first hang upside down from the feeder's ledge then sort of flop themselves ungracefully over and upright. Their babies first spend a lot of time just hanging on that ledge, unable to figure out how the parent gets to the food. Eventually through the effort of trial and error, they too figure out how to get to the peanuts. Like the woodpeckers, awakening to raw reality generally means I need to readjust my attitude and actions. Otherwise I'll keep hanging upside down, trying to convince myself (even though I've seen differently) that life is unfair.