A View from a Point

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the I Ching Pack, 'Lake over Earth:'

          I can relate to this guy sneaking away with his armload of thoughts. I did this during the past holiday when the subject came up about the NFL players who knelt during the national anthem (I immediately left the table and became the dishwasher). I'd already gotten into it with this same person over ObamaCare, so I'm well aware of her rigid belief system. If we could have had a discussion rather than an argument, I would have loved to sit down and exchange viewpoints. Last week I had such a open-hearted talk with someone about whether addiction is a disease or not. My perspective is that I don't care whether it's called a disease, disorder or cognitive dysfunction, as long as people don't make it into a moral issue. It felt good to be able to talk without either of us feeling attacked. And both of us came away with a clearer view of why we each think as we do. Which brings me to the 45th hexagram, a symbol of gathering and mingling as the water in a lake does. Is it possible to do this when one party refuses to listen respectfully to another and tries to convert them to their ideas? Richard Rohr says that every viewpoint is just a view from one point. It seems like if we would all take the time to walk around that large lake and see from other perspectives, we might learn more than we think we already know.

Butting Heads

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Emperor; from the I Ching Pack, 'Lake over Wood:'

          Looking at the Emperor's throne, I'm reminded of the slogan for Dodge trucks: "Built Ram Tough." I'm sure he's done a lot of fighting and butted a lot of heads to take that seat, but he'd rather not make it an ongoing thing. Which is why he is big on rules and responsibilities - when there's order and direction, there's less conflict. Except when those boundaries and laws are inequitable and biased. In the words of Honore de Balzac, "Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught." Hexagram 28 shows a lake overflowing its banks, and with the mounting pressure, there is the threat of a dam breaking. I am reminded of the 2017 Women's March on Washington, the Black Lives Matter movement and the spread of #MeToo through social media. Society operates smoothly only when the rights of all are equally important. When that doesn't happen, the pressure will build and the dam will break.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

~ John F. Kennedy

Fall-Out

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the I Ching Pack, 'Thunder over Lake:'

Two heads are not better than one if they each want to go in a different direction.

~ James Ricklef

          I am often of two minds - one of logic and one of emotion. I wrestle with what I should do and what I want to do, with the rational choice and the nicer choice. It's helpful when there's a middle alternative, but sometimes it's just an either/or decision. Thunder over Lake shows a woman planning a marriage that is doomed to fail. The wisdom this hexagram represents is in thinking things through rather than just jumping into what looks good (or what is expected) at the moment. Like the Two of Swords woman, she needs to be still and check her motives. Why is she about to make this choice? Even when outward appearances suggest I am being kind, I may make unwise decisions simply to hide or distract myself from a problem. I just don't want to deal with the dilemma right now. But such a fix is short-lived; the dam will eventually break, and I'll have to deal with a flood of issues even worse than the original problem. I'd do better to pause and consider the long view - what the outcome will likely be not just in the next few minutes but in the days and months to come.

Breathe, Just Breathe

This week I'll be using the Hoi Polloi Tarot published by Hoi Polloi Inc. The oracle I'll also use is the I Ching Pack created by Richard Gill and Anthony Clark, and published by Thorsons. Today's cards are the Four of Swords and 'Earth over Wood:'

          I actually slept well last night (more than 3 or 4 hours) and feel energized this morning. Seeing this knight lying so still makes me want tell him, "Get up! There are packages to track, presents to wrap and cards to send!" Tis the season to be running hither and thither, but this card advises me to slow down and rest not only my body but my mind. There's been a lot going on here at home besides holiday preparations, and so a day dedicated to rest, contemplation and meditation is actually a good idea. And the benefit of being well rested means I won't nod off while meditating. Besides, he's already got three swords on the wall, so there's only one left to deal with. Hexagram 46 suggests striving upward and making progress. It seems at odds with the Four of Swords, until I consider that the advancement has to do with internal development rather than external activity. Looking at the man making his way up the rocky path, I imagine he will soon be clear of rocks and trees with nothing but sky to gaze upon. Clarity and spaciousness is waiting at the top of that mountain, a result of spiritual effort exerted. As Anna Nalick sings, "Breathe, just breathe."

Joy Times Two

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, 'East:'

When someone rejoices in our happiness, their appreciation fills us with joy and gratitude. Yet is it not a rare quality to feel truly happy when others are happy? ~ dharmanet.org 

          Because she is so passionate and charismatic, the Queen of Wands sometimes gets a bad rap. Her presence turns head and her personality can turn the direction of events. She has the eye of a tiger, which makes some cower and sulk in the background (thinking this queen is full of herself). Yet those who don't disparage her discover a wonderful trait of this queen - sympathetic joy. Because she doesn't consider happiness a limited commodity, the Queen of Wands can rejoice in successes that are not her own. In fact that torch is held not only for herself, but as a symbol of her enthusiasm for others; she enjoys seeing other people fulfill their potential too. East is associated with spring and sunrise. This direction encourages me to let its light shine on how I view the happiness and success of others. If I find judgment or envy, I can let it go and thus add to my own joy rather than diminish it.

Pebble of Choice

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the King of Swords; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, 'Jade:'

          This King of Swords appears to have a bird holding a pebble (his vote or selection) as well as a set of scales attached to his sword. He is well-known for making objective choices without the confusing influence of emotion. The booklet states that his 'sword' (mind) is able to cut away four things that might prejudice an objective decision: attachment to what is liked, hatred, delusion (ignorance) and fear. What is presently clouding my clarity? If I can be consciously aware of it, I may lessen its leverage over my choices. According to the Mah Jongg booklet, Jade was prized above gold in ancient China. Although it looked dull and lifeless when in the rough, after polishing it became an object of beauty and great value. For this reason, it represents hard work that leads to a worthy result. In any encounter I can strengthen my attachment, hatred, ignorance or fear by making an unconscious, reflexive choice, or I can make a reflective one. The first is automatic and keeps me mired in old behavior, while the second relies on wisdom and compassion and helps me widen my heart and mind.

We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs — or we don't. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality — or we begin to challenge them. ~ Pema Chodron

Turned On Its Head

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Five of Pentacles; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, 'Unicorn:'

          In the Dhammapada (Buddhist scriptures), chapter 23 is called "The Elephant." A well-trained elephant could be used in battle (steady even when pierced by arrows) and in parades (unfazed by celebratory crowds). The elephant represents great strength and power - the same qualities that can be found in a well-trained mind. But here, the elephant has been turned on its head and the potential lost. The booklet calls this card 'impoverishment' (spiritual or material), a term that brings to mind HALT, an acronym of things to be aware of:

• Hungry - Am I feeding my body regularly with good, healthy food? Am I feeding my mind with 'junk food' (ex. nonstop news), making it crave more instead of the nourishment it needs?
• Angry - Do I allow the energy of my anger to pass, instead of being reactive and simply adding fuel to the fire? Is there a physical cause that is making me overly sensitive? Do I need a 'time out' to cool down?
• Lonely - Am I isolating because I have submerged myself in an emotion? What small thing could I do for another person that might help me get out of my head and back in the company of others?
• Tired - Am I multi-tasking, not getting enough sleep or taking on too many responsibilities? Can I take time each day to relax my body and mind so that both parts can get some rest?

The Unicorn is associated the ability to foresee events, but instead of being a clairvoyant gift, it is simply from the practice of prudence. Prudence is being wise and practical when it comes to managing resources, and there is no greater resource than the body we ride around in every day. Today I intend to give mine more gentle attention, no matter what is going on around me.