Relinquishment

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Crow:

We can hardly call a beggar an obstacle to generosity.

~Dalai Lama

The Six of Coins is about balance in receiving and giving. It asks us if we have taken more than we need to sustain us, or whether pride has kept us from asking for what we need. The story of Crow is about trickery used to get a hoarded resource (fire), and Crow's sense of entitlement to control it once he had it (which didn't work out well for him). We all feel as though we have a right to what we own, and we find it hard to relinquish any of our comforts. Yet can we can we consider whether letting go of some things could create a little more balance in the world?

Wisdom for the Heart

This week I'll be using the Wheel of Change Tarot, a deck and book set created by Alexandra Genetti and published by Inner Traditions. The second deck I'll be drawing from is the Oracle of the Dreamtime, a compilation of Australian Aboriginal art and Dreamings by Donni Hakanson; this deck and book set was published by Journey Editions. Today's cards are the Prince (Knight) of Cups and Gray Owl:

Genetti suggests the Knight/Prince of Cups represents a journey into the complex realm of human relationships. Like the food and supplies carried in his boat, we each carry lessons learned from close friends and family when we move beyond our circle of origin. Some of that wisdom may serve us well, while other bits may end up as flotsam and jetsam in our new environment. Gray Owl tells the story of a gentle man with no skills in hunting or fighting, but who did have extremely keen hearing. This trait saved his tribe on many occasions, so when he died, they performed a sacred ceremony in his honor that night. As the smoke from the fire billowed up, they heard a loud call and saw his spirit rise as an owl, warning his people of an attack. The Gray Owl implies that we need to be alert rather than careless. And some of the wisdom from our elders that we tossed overboard might be more useful than we thought.

Something Different

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Five of Staffs; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Discrimination (Venus in Virgo):

Rather than five people knocking each other about, Place has turned a single hand into five burning staffs. Five is the number of change, but Place suggests it is also the number of creativity: "the energy and enthusiasm directed into the project." There is nothing like an inspiration that gets us out of a rut, but the challenge is often in bringing the mental into the material. As the Discrimination card hints, the difference between what we've done before can bias us against what we do that is new. Yet it is possible to recognize the variation without undermining it. It's not easy to step out of our creative cocoons, but if we do, it can open so many new doors and windows in the mind.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something. ~Neil Gailman

Protective Influence

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Six of Wands; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Protection (Moon in Aries):

An artisan, rather than a warrior, is honored for his work. It makes me think of Anthony Fauci who helped lead us out of the pandemic (even while dealing with the madness of Trump), as well as those researchers who developed our vaccines. Threatened with violence and facing a flood of misinformation, they kept there heads down and kept working. It was a war for which we had no weapons at the beginning, and little knowledge. The Moon in Aries card implies an instinctive protection - in this case, for science. These researchers are concerned with the well-being of humanity, and even though they make mistakes, they deserve safety and assurance too. 

Science is truth. It's amazing sometimes the denial there is. ―Anthony Fauci

Rage Spread Thin

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Eight of Coins; from the Radiant Sun Oracle, Restlessness (Mercury in Aries):

The number eight is a symbol of stability - a good thing when it comes to a career. It also suggests someone who has become so good at what they do, they are in great demand for more. Unfortunately in such cases, the craftsman begins to feel like a machine rather than an artist; the surgeon feels like an automaton rather than a healer. The Restlessness card suggests what was once loved has now become repetitive and boring. Paul Tillich once wrote, "Boredom is rage spread thin." Holding on to that can easily cause us to blow up what once had meaning for us. Doing something differently doesn't mean we need to burn any bridges. We just need to transform how we're engaged now.

Saying No

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Nine of Coins; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Influence (Mercury in Libra):

The investment of discipline and effort have produced a tree that now bears the fruit of prosperity. Because the tree is steadily nurtured rather than neglected, it will continue to naturally provide. However, with good fortune comes those who will try to persuade us how we should spend it, as the Influence card implies. It may be a good time to ask ourselves what their motivation is in telling us what to do with our money, time or energy. And before we immediately answer 'yes,' we should check to see if we are simply trying to please rather than being discerning.

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. 

~Abraham Joshua Heschel

Without Praise

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Queen of Coins; from the Radiant Sun Oracle, Discovery (Mercury in Sagittarius):

This Queen holds a cornucopia and looks toward the Discovery card. While her husband's joy comes from making money and finding resources to run his kingdom, his wife has discovered the happiness in sharing that abundance. It's not the amount given that's important, as she tends to give what is appropriate and needed, but to give without expectations. The Queen of Coins knows that material things can satisfy the body's needs, but being seen and cared for can nurture a person's spirit. 

The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.

― Carol Ryrie Brink