Even Ground

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Five of Flames (Wands); from the Elemental Dice, Earth + Earth (Land):

 The silence is the worst part of any fight because it's made up of all the things we wish we could say, if only we had the guts. ― Pete Wentz

          The shouting, posturing, and frustration will gradually burn itself out in this card. Peterson suggests that an argument can be like the fury of a thunderstorm, leaving things clear and clean once it has passed. I'm not a fan of yelling or aggression, but talking things out (even when it gets terribly uncomfortable) can create more healing than leaving things unsaid. The double Earth roll of the dice suggests stability, or at the extreme, stubbornness and rigid thinking. In any heated discussion, I need to be aware of what lies beneath my words. Do I believe my words carry more weight than those of anyone else? Do I think I'm entitled to air my opinions and feelings while invalidating another person's? If a dialogue is truly what is sought, then everyone should stand on even ground. 

Reckoning and Responsibility

From the Margarete Petersen Tarot, the Ten of Feathers (Swords); from the Elemental Dice, Fire + Darkness (Wildfire):

 Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you never learn

Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel turn.

~ Blood, Sweat & Tears

          'Spinning' is a good description of the agitated state of the mind when we adamantly insist our ideas are the right ones and reality refuses to cooperate. Depending on our constitution, we can ride that carousel for a long time before falling off. Peterson's painting shows feathers coming to rest among the branches of a plant. When our beliefs eventually become grounded, we see them for what they are: assumptions, projections, and emotional thinking. Hopefully, that full moon will come out from behind the clouds, bringing the light of discernment. The dice roll of Wildfire inspired some research into what causes the majority of forest fires. Unsurprisingly, the National Park Service reports that 90% of wildland fires are caused by humans - unattended campfires, burning debris, discarded cigarettes, and arson. When our beliefs and perceptions are finally ground to dust, it is tempting to blame our situation on other people or situations (so that we look like the victim). Yet such thinking will only place us right back on that spinning wheel. Yet it would be better to accept responsibility than have to deal with another reckoning. 

Labor and Resources

This week I'll be using the Margarete Petersen Tarot, created by M. Petersen and published by Königs Furt. The oracle I'll be using is the Elemental Dice, an idea developed by my good friend Carole Beasley. Today's card and dice roll are the Three of Flames (Wands) and Fire + Fire (Combustion):

The magnificent squatting image of the Mexica goddess of childbirth, naked, solitary in the ecstasy of total effort, does not represent a woman in “labour”. Here we look upon the face of battle. If men challenged the death anguish on the jaguar meadow of war, women confronted it on the bloody field of childbirth. ~ Inga Clendinnen (Aztecs)

          The deer-like figure in Petersen's painting lets out a bellow, and the Mexica figure gives birth. We first express on paper or in words what we want to create or do, then we go through the hard work of accomplishing it. I prefer MP's view of the Three of Wands rather than the RWS version, which is a little too idyllic for my tastes. I've never been involved in any kind of new project or creative endeavor that required me gazing out to sea; labor was always a part of it. The dice throw of double Fire implies a lot of fiery energy. Because fire consumes, it needs a fuel source (just as that infant is going to need sustenance and nurturing to stay alive). Hopefully, the project plans include a way to renew the energy and resources that will be used.

Getting Unstuck

From the Transformational Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Wands; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the 'Island of the Rainbow Stream:'

          Ah, the fun-loving, risk-taking bad boy of the tarot court shows up today. He reminded me of the wildest ride I've ever been on in my life - on the back of a motorcycle doing speeds in excess of 90 mph while trying to outrun a police car (with neither of us wearing a helmet). The grown-up in me nearly hyperventilates at the memory. As an adult, I usually shake my head at this young man who lives for the moment, never thinking things through nor following through. But lately, I've had several people tell me they feel stuck in a rut, that they keep doing the same thing with the same result. Perhaps the Knight of Wand's purpose is to help us shake off our cobwebs and have some harmless, spontaneous fun just for the heck of it (my inner adult wants me to emphasize the 'harmless' part). The Celtic travelers saw a rainbow of leaping salmon upon coming to this island; even filling all their buckets with fish didn't seem to make a difference in the number. Had they been self-absorbed and felt victimized by their hunger, the men would never have made it to this island of abundance. Both these cards suggest that if I am frustrated with the status quo, I should stop waiting for life to change and do something different myself.

Spice Rack

From the Transformational Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the 'Island of Many Birds:'

Some boys take a beautiful girl

And hide her away from the rest of the world

I want to be the one to walk in the sun

Oh girls they wanna have fun 

~ Cyndi Lauper

          "But Barb," Brad whined, "I want to spend the weekend with just you!" "Sorry babe, but the girls and I are having a night out," she firmly said. Whether a romantic relationship or a friendship, most everyone has experienced an intimate bond with another at some point in our lives. It generally works well until one person wants exclusive rights to the other's time and attention. Bond soon becomes bondage, and the world shrinks down to a very small, claustrophobic size. Multiple connections help us develop emotionally rather than stagnate and offer a wider perspective through which to view life. The Island of Many Birds is a symbol of being spoiled for choice. When we have several options, we may start overanalyzing and become so finicky that we don't choose anything. When developing friendships, it can be tempting to look for someone who likes and has the same opinions we do. But if the purpose is to expand our experience, then variety might be the spice worth choosing.  

Appropriate Use

From the Transformational Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the 'Island of Recognition:'

          A woman sits by a stream with a graduation cap atop a stack of books. She looks out at the bridge, a symbol of moving from one challenge (the university) to another (becoming a self-sufficient adult). Her education has helped prepare her for finding a job, but she knows the actual experience of being in the workplace will be far different from learning about it through books. Still, she sits resolutely. On the Island of Recognition, the Celtic travelers were attacked by the people who lived there. They recognized impending change with the appearance of these strangers. Instead of using weapons, the islanders pelted them with nuts (a symbol of wisdom). Rather than using them for their purpose (to eat), the hazelnuts were used inappropriately. Our past experiences and knowledge can create a cocoon in which things are certain and predictable. Yet life is not about standing still and being satisfied with what we've learned, but continually moving along with its flow, adding other experiences and new information as we go.

We spend all our energy and waste our lives trying to re-create these zones of safety, which are always falling apart... As long as we believe that there is something that will permanently satisfy our hunger for security, suffering is inevitable. ~ Pema Chodron

The Key to Liberation

From the Transformational Tarot, Liberation (Judgment); from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the 'Dragon-stone:'

          The Liberation card and its archways reminded me of an article by Thich Nhat Hanh about the 'Doors of Liberation.' The first door is emptiness, but not in the sense of non-existence. (As TNH says, "In order to be empty, you have to be there.") Instead, it means to be empty of a separate, independent existence - everything in this world is interconnected and depends on other things. The second door is signlessness, realizing that forms change and attempting to permanently label something is folly. Old forms change and take on new forms. As the Buddha states, "Where there is a sign, there is deception." The third door is aimlessness, meaning not getting attached to pursuing a certain object. In TNH's words, "What you are looking for is not outside of you; it is already here. You already are what you want to become." The Dragon-stone was a symbol of strength and invincibility to the Celtic travelers. The booklet suggests that success is in one's own hands, but in considering the Liberation card, it might be said to be in one's own mind.