Expanding Worldview

From the Bonefire Tarot, the World; from the Day of the Dead Lenormand, Child:

          The young woman who sits comfortably in a thicket reminds me of the tale of Br'er Rabbit who begs Br'er Fox not to throw him in the brierpatch. When Fox does, the wiley Rabbit is able to escape and calls out, "I was bred and born in the brierpatch!" In the little booklet that comes with her deck, Gabi describes the World card as "knowing who you really are, not what you have been led to believe." We all have labels others have applied to us, as well as categories we've put our own self in. What happens when those labels are stripped away? Do we see all the potential we hold instead of just the limitations? The funny thing is, once we recognize it in us, we see it in other people too. William Blake wrote, "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern." The Child appears from the Lenormand deck and suggests that we hold on to that thought as we go explore without stamping a classification on all that we see. In the words of Yeats, "The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."

Where's the Love

This week I'll be using two self-published decks: The Bonefire Tarot by Gabrielle Angus-West (soon to be released by Schiffer) and the Day of the Dead Lenormand by Edmund Zebrowski. Today's draws are the Knight of Swords and Clouds:

As long as your ideas of what's possible are limited by what's actual, no other idea has a chance. 

― Susan Neiman 

          The Knight of Swords is an idealist who is concerned with truth and justice. He's the whistleblower that alerts others to the abuses of corporations and the civil rights worker who attempts to educate the masses and change unfair laws. His spirited horse is symbolic of his optimism and expectation; a little thing like reality doesn't slow him down one bit. But the Lenormand Clouds card shows he can cause confusion and complications with his inflexible ideas and refusal to compromise. In his intellectual world, wrongs get righted and injustice gets slayed without any casualties. But idealism and change in particular do put innocent people in the line of fire. This doesn't mean truth and justice shouldn't prevail, but all participants should recognize the dangers they face. Above all, hate should not be what fuels any movement. This post made me think of a song by the Black-eyed Peas (Where's the Love) that was redone as a collaborative effort. As our world changes in both good and bad ways, I think it's message is quite relevant.

The Tool of Perseverance

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Magician; from the Toltec Oracle, Witsilopochtli:

          Motherpeace's Magician is a shaman, a person who accesses wisdom from the natural and spirit world for purposes of healing. But Noble also calls her a 'tool-maker;' she not only brings knowledge to help her people, she creates something that will be useful to them. She is the hollow bone through which information flows as well as the ability to manifest that which would be helpful in a practical way. Yet Noble also points out that this will require "a certain diligence or self-discipline that is hard to come by." Nothing gets dropped in the lap fully formed with instructions attached. From the Toltec Oracle comes Witsilopochtli ('left-handed hummingbird'), who was considered a god of war. The hummingbird was sacred to the Toltecs, a symbol of mysticism and strength. The relative direction left was considered the side of mystery and spirituality, while the right side was associated with logic and matter. Witsilopochtli represented the spiritual warrior, a person who works to improve or correct her own weaknesses. Sanchez warns against self-pity and while encouraging the warrior to maintain a peaceful heart even amid the struggles. I am reminded that moments of challenge don't exclude moments of joy just because work is involved. In the words of N. Gingrich, "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did."

Stream of Life

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Fool; from the Toltec Oracle, Miktlantekutli:

          The Fool represents that part of us that lives in the flow of life, fully trusting and filled with wonder. Oblivious to what most people would fear, she moves through her days with curiosity and excitement. The Amanita muscaria mushrooms, known for their hallucinogenic properties and use by Siberian shamans, suggest an openness that is not hindered by the ego. Miktlantekutli, the Lord of Death, was a sacred figure who reminded the Toltecs that there was only one thing of which they could be certain. There was no time to waste; a purposeful life with heart was of utmost importance. In the card, a man's water pot shows a crack, representing the body that wears down. Sanchez writes, "What used to give you life is not giving it anymore. You should move on to the next stage. Don't hesitate..."

Strength in Darkness

From the Motherpeace Tarot, Strength; from the Toltec Oracle, Sholotl:

          All that crawls, slithers, hops and runs has come out to see this woman in the light of the full moon. I've noticed that when I'm sitting quietly in meditation, I often find a cat in my lap. People are also attracted to those who are grounded and radiate an inner calm. Yet to courageously stay centered while being tested or challenged is much different than meditating on a cushion. It is the mark of inner strength. Parallel to this card is Sholotl, Lord of the Underworld. The underworld represents a place of darkness, not as punishment but as a time of confusion. It is a bridge to a new level of understanding if we have the courage to walk it with an open heart and mind. This awareness will likely require letting go of what I imagined to be true in order to embrace Truth.

Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. ~ Carl Jung

Reassembled Parts

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Toltec Oracle, Ehekatl:

          Sixes are generally about restoring harmony, and this card from the Motherpeace Tarot indicates different parts of the self have reconciled into a whole. I think of it as cognitive dissonance, the mental stress one experiences when trying to hold on to contradictory beliefs, attitudes or behaviors. The discomfort becomes so great that these ideas or conduct must be altered to restore balance. For instance a gay woman might work for a boss who constantly makes snide remarks or hateful jokes about homosexuals. She eventually decides to find another job with a more open-minded employer. The Toltec card - Ehekatl - can literally be translated as breath, spirit or wind (similar to the Hebrew word ruach). For me, this represents the part of myself that is greater than the ego; I prefer to call it the luminous mind. This part does not seek pleasure, power, fortune or recognition but perceives impartially with wisdom and compassion. When dissonance makes me feel miserable, the luminous mind can guide me in making saner choices that will reassemble me in a healthier whole.

Adding and Subtracting

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Seven of Discs; from the Toltec Oracle, Mikistli:

          The Seven of Discs represents growth but also waiting. The down time allows an opportunity to assess how things are going and what changes might need to be made. When I look at the woman sitting among the melons with her swollen, pregnant belly, I want to ask her, "Are you ready for this?" Whether it's enlarging one's family, expanding one's business or adding to one's daily duties, it pays to be prepared for the changes that will be unavoidable. Mikistli (Death) for the Toltecs was not an enemy of life but a partner. Death represented an ending, but also a time for embracing what was new. The woman in the last stage of pregnancy will soon have her life irrevocably changed. Her choices will soon be dictated not just by what she wants to do but also by what benefits her little one. What happens in the world will now be viewed through the lens of raising and protecting a child. All additions require a letting go of something; we can only cram so many clothes in our closet, pieces of furniture in our house and hours in our day. Adding necessitates subtracting.