This is not That

From the Stone Tarot, the Moon; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 6:76:

Monsters unmask when you surrender to me.

~Alison Stone

          The unconscious is a storehouse of our past experiences and includes associations, impressions and feelings drawn from these encounters. It works in tandem with the conscious mind; when something that is similar to a past experience occurs in the present, the unconscious swiftly sends information. The brain is constantly considering and often acting on these suggestions before we are consciously aware of them. While this system can be helpful in surviving and making intuitive choices, we can also get stuck habitually reacting to stimulus that may seem the same but isn't. The Dhammapada quote offers a solution: "Like someone pointing to treasure is the wise person who sees your faults and points them out. Associate with such a sage. Good will come of it, not bad, if you associate with one such as this." Having an objective person kindly point out our knee-jerk reactions can make us aware of what we're doing and hopefully search out the root cause. Then perhaps we can see that 'this' is not 'that.'

SOS

From the Stone Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 17:222:

Cracks showed through the new paint.

~Alison Stone

          To be a responsible adult involves taking on commitments, whether the duties are related to family ties, work obligations or volunteer services. Usually we can juggle these tasks, but sometimes the perfect storm arrives and we find ourselves floundering in a tsunami-sized sea of debris. To stay afloat, we may need to let go of some duties that aren't critical and ask for help in shouldering some of the load that we carry. There may even be a few things we've taken on that aren't really our responsibility. But above all, we need to find a few minutes of solitude to breathe. The Dhammapada quote speaks about an emotion that often accompanies such a tsunami: "The one who keeps anger in check as it arises, as one would a careening chariot, I call a charioteer. Others are merely rein-holders." If we want to find a way back to sanity and calm, lashing out in blame and anger won't be of help. Self-restraint will enable us to communicate an SOS without the drama attached, and perhaps get the support we need.

Head on a Swivel

From the Stone Tarot, the High Priestess; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 12:166:

There are lands you enter

after midnight, pages you

can't read with open eyes.

~Alison Stone

          These days, we keep our head on a swivel, constantly vigilant about everything. We are hair triggers, reacting to whatever we perceive as a threat, crisis or confrontation. Yet the High Priestess encourages us to push the safety catch on our tendency to fire into the fray. She encourages us to be still, quiet, and receptive to what is happening without judgment. We are missing vital information that we need if we are to respond wisely instead of habitually. The Dhammapada quote reads: "Don’t give up your own welfare for the sake of others’ welfare, however great. Clearly know your own welfare and be intent on the highest good." The Buddha reminds us that there is a middle way between being completely self-centered or emotionally entangled. What is the best choice for everyone's well-being, including my own?

Boxed Up

From the Stone Tarot, the Four of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 1:5:

          In her poem for the Four of Pentacles, Stone writes about someone who represses every part of her life in an attempt to control food issues. People with addiction problems or those who've faced monstrous trauma or challenges can imprison themselves by trying to control everything in order to feel secure. Unfortunately, what develops isn't safety but rigid thinking, restrictive routines, and a disconnect from relationships. Yet the quote from the Dhammapada gives a suggestion for beginning to heal: "Hatred never ceases through hatred. By non-hate alone does it end." People who hate themselves may be completely self-centered, but they have no self-compassion. Self-loathing keeps us constricted, yet gradually developing an attitude of unconditional friendliness toward ourselves can help us find a way out of our box.

Fair or Unfair

From the Stone Tarot, Justice; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 26:390:

I am not blind

you are blind

~

Which scares you more

to believe that life is unfair

or to believe that life is fair?

-Alison Stone

          I've begun to realize that causing pain when I've been hurt doesn't make my own go away. That nurturing a resentment doesn't change history and revenge doesn't heal my heart. Yet I can hold someone accountable for their actions and refuse to enable them to take advantage of others. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "I came to the conclusion that there is an existential moment in your life when you must decide to speak for yourself; nobody else can speak for you." The quote from the Dhammapada is a reminder not to unintentionally tilt those scales in the other direction while seeking justice: "Whenever one turns away from the intent to harm, suffering is allayed." [The suffering it alludes to is our own.]

Small Drops

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 9:122.

          Stone's poem for the Queen of Pentacles is a letter from Lilith to Adam. In Jewish folklore, Lilith had been formed from the same clay as Adam, but when he told her she must be subservient to him, she grew wings and flew away. She makes clear to him that she would much rather have her integrity intact and hang out with with the flora and fauna than be a slave to anyone. Like all Queen of Pentacles, she is grounded in reality and very resourceful. She may not have much, but she sure knows how to be creative with what she has. The verse form the Dhammapada reads: "With dripping drops of water even a water jug is filled." Tossed into a situation where we must choose between what we value and security, it's easy for confidence to waver. But each small step we take can help our courage and assurance grow. 

Because (s)he demands no honor,

(S)he will never be dishonored. 

~Lao Tzu

The Width of It

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Page of Wands; from the Gemstone Oracle, Red Jasper:

          This little bunny is up early to explore the meadow this morning - there are so many things to see, sniff and nibble on. With all his natural-born eagerness and energy, he learns best by experiencing things rather than reading or listening (just ask his mother about that last one). It would be wise to at least try to temper his excitement with some words of caution, but Red Jasper ('passion for living') suggest we don't throw too much cold water on his inner fire. We would do well to heed the words of Diane Ackerman to balance out any tendency to be overly cautious: "I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."