Planting Manual

From the Stone Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 13:176 :

 Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. — Nido Qubein

This particular Ace resembles the seed head of a dandelion, full of possibilities. Those seeds are ready to be planted and grow if we'll give them a chance. Yet like the lowly dandelion, opportunities are often disguised as the ordinary. When we use the resources available (rather than waiting on something that looks more exceptional or extraordinary), we take advantage of the moment and the probability that some of the seeds we plant will sprout. The Dhammapada selection reads:

For people who speak falsely,

who transgress in this one way,

and who reject the world beyond,

there is no evil they won't do.

People who lie often want everything they touch to turn to gold. And with such ambitions, little untruths can lead to greater transgressions. Just a few drops of dishonesty can poison the water that is supposed to nourish the seeds. Better to grow seeds of humility than lose our integrity and the respect of others.

The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means. 

— Georges Bernanos

Unwinding

From the Stone Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 23:331 :

 I have to let go; I opened my hands. Free

in this dark land, I drift, memories

unwinding like thread.

~Alison Stone

We had supercell storms with multiple tornadoes in the Southeast late yesterday. After the hurricane and flooding we endured, I have a case of PTSD; the emergency weather sirens and alerts going off every quarter hour for hours on end made me feel like I was becoming unmoored. I finally shut off the TV and muted my phone and meditated. It wasn't so much a spiritual practice as it was an attempt to slow down and quiet the tornado in my mind. In the words of Joan D. Oliver, "Beyond the internal mess is clear space, a clear mind." The quote from the Dhammapada reads:

Happiness is having friends when need arises.

Happiness is contentment with whatever there is.

Two blessings of life are having friends (knowing we are cared for gives us strength) and the ability to be content in any circumstance. The second requires inner work. Contentment only comes when I stay present in the moment, and when I am able to "cherish neither for nor against" so I don't have to suffer the "disease of the mind" (as Seng T'san wrote). It seems a paradox, but resting the mind can take some effort.

What Scares You More?

This week I'll be using the Stone Tarot, a self-published deck by Alison Stone. I may also dip into her book of tarot poems (Ordinary Magic), although it wasn't written as a companion book. The oracle I'll be using is the Buddhist Quote Cards, painted and published by Diana Altenburg. Even though she has spiritual quotes (from John Lennon to Lao Tzu) on the back of the cards, I have decided to pair each card with a verse from the Dhammapada. Today's draws are Justice and Dhammapada 4:53:

Stone's first keyword that she lists for the Justice card is 'understanding' before following it up with more traditional words like fairness. Who would want to stand before a judge who saw everything in black and white while refusing to look at the circumstances that surrounded the event? The opening and closing lines of Stone's poem for Justice reads:

I am not blind

you are blind -

Which scares you more,

to believe that life is unfair

or to believe that life is fair?

For me personally, to label life as unfair or fair is to fall into that black or white thinking. Reality doesn't pick and choose, it just naturally unfolds. The verses from the Dhammapada encourage this practical way of understanding:

Just as from a heap of flowers

many garlands can be made,

so you, with your mortal life,

should do many skillful things.

No person's heap of blooms (life) include only the pretty, sweet-smelling flowers. We all get a mix. The true test is in the skillful way we use what we have been given.

What Can I Control?

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Chariot; from the Gemstone Oracle, Picasso Jasper:

It is not possible

To control all external events

But, if I simply control my mind,

What need is there to control other things?

—Shantideva

I thought it insane that the artist would use the aggressive swan and a rat (known to eat bird eggs and baby birds) together for the Chariot. But when we're trying to move forward, it can feel just as crazy - as if everything outside of us is working at opposite purposes. Yet the words of Shantideva encourage us to train the mind rather than trying to control external situations. My thoughts are what will cause me to give up prematurely way before any outside thing brings me to a complete halt. Picasso Jasper represents conflict and the desire for resolution. If I go into a situation thinking that my opinion is the only right one and no one else brings any wisdom to the table, there won't be much accomplished. Dale Partridge puts this in perspective: "Remember, confrontation is about reconciliation and awareness, not judgment or anger." If I want things to move forward, I need to be openminded enough to realize I don't know everything and that perhaps there are those who can fill in my gaps.

Grow the Good

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hermit; from the Gemstone Oracle, Sunstone:

Nakisha uses an opossum for her Hermit and describes this card as a time of solitude for soul searching. I personally think a spiritual inventory is a good idea; I can use my own past as a yardstick to see if I've grown or stagnated. If I take an honest look at my behavior and thinking and compare them to the principles I want to live by, I will discover when I've gone off track and when I've maintained my course. The phrases assigned to the Sunstone are 'playfulness,' 'seeing the joy and beauty inherent in life,' and 'not taking things so seriously.' This stone's quote comes from Michael Dolan: "Anticipate the day as if it was your birthday, and you are turning six again." Any spiritual inventory would be unbalanced (and probably lead to self-indulgent pity or morosity) if it didn't include the beneficial things I've done. This is not an exercise in self-flagellation, but a way to grow the good in me.

Inner Obstacle

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Ten of Cups (Foxes); from the Gemstone Oracle, Rhodochrosite:

This Ten of Cups card is often seen as emotional fulfillment, and indeed it is. But it isn't like winning the lottery and getting the perfect family or the perfect group of friends and acquaintances. It comes about because of our own emotional maturity. Individual demands are replaced with what would benefit the group as a whole. Rhodochrosite's key phrase is 'unconditional love,' and its quote comes from Stephen Kendrick: "The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love." Such deep, sincere love means we are willing to be open-minded and admit when we are wrong; it means being willing to forgive and work on becoming less self-centered (whether that comes in the form of being the center of the universe or a doormat). If we find ourselves searching for emotional fulfillment and never reaching it, we may need to heed the words of Les Brown, "You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life."

Clear Seeing

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the King of Cups (Foxes); from the Gemstone Oracle, Quartz:

This King of Cups knows how to stay composed even when action is required. His equanimity comes because even though he realizes emotions are very real and powerful, he knows they don't always represent reality. He pauses in this card to watch each moment as it unfolds in the forest, keeping his mind where his feet are planted. Quartz symbolizes clear thinking, something not always employed when emotional chaos is at hand. The quote for this stone comes from Rebecca Solnit: "The coolness of Buddhism isn't indifference but the distance one gains from emotions, the quiet place from which to regard the turbulence. From far away you see the pattern, the connections, and the thing as a whole..." This King's ability to maintain compassion while seeing the whole with clarity is one of his greatest assets.