Informed Generosity

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Queen of Disks; from the OH Cards, Listening/Dream:

          Like the sustenance and stability provided by the Earth itself, the Queen of Disks shapes the environment, providing comfort and nurturance. She has no time for pity; her tears turn to diamonds, illustrating her compassionate action that is tangible rather than just emotional. The OH card shows an adult listening to a child, not with one ear or eye on a smartphone, but truly hearing what the child is saying. The Dream word card suggests that the child is enthusiastic about the ideas or goals she wants to materialize. Both these draws are a reminder not to give someone what we think they need, but to ask first then listen deeply to what they tell us.

Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.

~Kathy Calvin

Learn, Don't Lean

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune; from the OH Cards, Dismember/Fail:

          White describes the Wheel of Fortune as "the ever-changing nature of life and the perfection of struggle." Today I am celebrating a recovery birthday - 32 years. When I look back at the past, I see how conditions shaped my choices, and how those choices first helped me survive but later nearly destroyed me. I am grateful for the chance encounter with someone who showed me another path and those who encouraged and supported me as I attempted to walk that road. Life is ever-changing, but today I have some spiritual tools in the hub of that Wheel that help me navigate them. The Dismember/Fail cards remind me that trying to forget my past is neither helpful nor healthy. The "perfection of struggle" doesn't mean I make only wise decisions, but by remembering the choices of my past and their consequences, I can choose not to repeat them.

You must learn from your past mistakes, but not lean on your past successes. ~Denis Waitley

The Shape of Motivation

This week I'll be using the Mary-El Tarot, created by Marie White and published by Schiffer. I'll be pairing it with the OH Cards, created by Ely Raman and Joe Schlichter and published by Eos Enterprises. The OH draw is actually two cards - one a picture and the other a word. Today's draws are the Five of Wands and Middle/Hope:

          At what age does our will develop, when we transform from a submissive lamb to a lion willing to stand up for what we believe? Likely, it's how the phrase 'terrible twos' came into being. In the Thoth world, the number five stands for motion and change that shake up the previous structure and stability. Applied to the Wands suit, we find assertiveness and courage to speak up and defend our views regardless of the blowback. Yet the Middle/Hope combination suggests we don't burn any bridges just yet. If we're looking for group support, taking an extreme perspective will not be where we find it. Extremists don't care what anyone else thinks or feels - they only cherish their personal beliefs. Khentrul Rinpoche said, "Behind every idea is a motivation that is shaped by hopes and fears." Rather than simply driving a stake in our own viewpoint, can we listen and look for what has shaped the viewpoints of others? Can we attempt to see from another's personal landscape? Perhaps there is a middle path we can all travel on, even if some of us hug the edges.

Stretch Goals

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Nine of Oaks (Wands); from the Southernisms Oracle, 'Keep your head down and your tail up:'

          The nutria is a large, semiaquatic rodent. This mother is flashing her teeth and making nasty noises in order to prevent any interloper from bothering her babies. Feeding and protecting her young is a round-the-clock task, and her role can require a lot. Yet she is persistent; her instincts keep her moving even when she would like nothing more than to eat a big meal and sleep all day. This particular Southernism was often repeated by my father-in-law. Just as a tracking dog holds his nose to the ground and his tail up (a sign of confidence), this saying is an encouragement to continue doing the job at hand by staying focused, completing one task after another, without getting overwhelmed by how much there is to do. The intensity of our job or duty won't last forever, and when it's over, we can congratulate ourselves on a challenge surmounted.

Success is due to our stretching to the challenges of life. Failure comes when we shrink from them. ~John C. Maxwell

Eyes on the Prize, Hand to the Plow

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Six of Acorns (Wands); from the Southernisms Oracle, 'That field's been plowed:'

          This fellow holds his prized show rooster aloft after winning first prize at the Parish Fair. He deserves acknowledgment for his skill in raising such a fine cockerel. Yet he didn't gain the victory simply because of his desire for a ribbon, but because of the time, effort and knowledge he applied. The saying 'that field's been plowed' means that a farmer isn't going to keep tilling the soil; once the field has been plowed, it will be planted. Likewise, over-thinking or over-discussing a subject is a waste of time. In the case of the Six of Acorns, it would suggest this fellow enjoy his win but he shouldn't rest on his laurels if he wants to win next year. (It might also be a subtle hint that his friends are tired of hearing him brag!)

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. ~Thomas Jefferson

Dogma and Discernment

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Southernisms Oracle, 'Hold your horses:'

          This preacher wears two faces - one that appears concerned about his congregation and another that looks greedily at the cash collection. This version of the Hierophant reminds me of a story told by Krishnamurti:

You may remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, “What did that man pick up?” “He picked up a piece of Truth,” said the devil. “That is a very bad business for you, then,” said his friend. “Oh, not at all,” the devil replied, “I am going to let him organize it."  

In the same way, organized religion seems to have been poisoned by greed, feelings of superiority and power. What should be a community of support and encouragement has become a monument to the ego held together by judgment and separation from 'other.' Yet the saying 'hold your horses' reminds me not to be too quick to throw shade on everything associated with religion. If I dig down beyond the dogma and look with discernment, I'm likely to find something useful. In the words of Krishnamurti, "A belief is purely an individual matter, and you cannot and must not organize it. If you do, it becomes dead, crystallized; it becomes a creed, a sect, a religion, to be imposed on others." 

Pursuit of Knowledge

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Novice of Moths (Page of Swords); from the Southernisms Oracle, 'Playing possum:"

          The pursuit of knowledge can be witnessed in even the very young. Like this young girl, they listen, observe, and ask questions with a tireless intensity. What this Novice hasn't learned yet is that some sources of information are better and more reliable than others. She's about to touch a saddleback caterpillar, whose spiny hairs contain a venom that can cause severe pain and other severe reactions. She might learn after the fact that using an insect book is a wiser alternative to touching. The saying 'playing possum' comes from the American opossum, which has developed the ability to avoid a fight through an involuntary physical reaction that makes it appear dead. When folks want to avoid being annoyed, they pretend to be ignorant or feign misunderstanding (play possum). I'm sure this young gal has seen plenty of this when her barrage of questions wears people out. As her patient observation and literacy skills grow, she'll be able to find the answers she seeks on her own.

Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

― Albert Einstein

Happy holidays to all my friends. May you be surrounded by love and anchored by peace.