Loving Life

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Princess of Disks; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Spirit:

Sometimes, I think that I love life so much, that I make death jealous.

―Lionel Suggs

The Princess of Disks is the pure manifestation of making and growing. Like Spring, she represents changes and new beginnings (as symbolized by the egg-like disk on her belly). In love with and excited by the sensual experience of physicality, this Princess lives life fully. The Spirit reminds us of the essence or inner spark that enlivens all things. Victor Frankl wrote that it is only through love that we can recognize this essence and potential in others. Once we see those sparks, we can help fan them into flames so that those possibilities can manifest in wonderful and constructive ways.

A Great Discovery

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), the Prophet:

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises,

is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.

―Henry Ford

The usual Seven of Wands shows a person standing up to others, fighting for what he or she thinks is right. But as this illustration shows, sometimes what we must stand against is not external, but a deep chasm of self-doubt. This ravine usually opens when we must face a challenge or change that alters our lives in a major way. We might try to bury ourselves in collecting knowledge, but at some point, we need to make a leap. As Dale Carnegie reminds us: "Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." The Prophet is John the Baptist, the man who saw Jesus for the extraordinary person he was. This card encourages us to seek out those people who can recognize our skills and talents, those who will remind us that we have what it takes to deal with the unexpected paths we must walk.

Too Much

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Master Tarot (Oracle), No Law:

It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

―Aesop

Indulgence without obligations may sound wonderful, but even good things need limits. We all need a certain level of stress to keep our minds and bodies alert and ready to respond. Challenges can keep us motivated rather than feeling rudderless, and they help us learn. No Law emphasizes that love cannot be made a law or else it will simply become a duty. When it is genuine and freely given, there is mutual (as opposed to transactional) support and kindness. Over-indulgence, whether physical or emotional, is not triggered by self-love; it is a way to bypass what actually needs our attention. 

Con Artists

This week I'll be using the Rohrig Tarot, created by Carl W. Rohrig and published by Sirio. I also have a companion book written by the artist and Francesca Marzano-Fritz and published by Bluestar Communications. The other deck I'll be drawing from is called a tarot, but I'll be using it as an oracle: the Master Tarot. It was created by Amerigo Folchi and Mario Montano and published by AG Muller. Today's cards are the Four of Swords and the Wolves:

Con men look for human frailty to exploit.

―Pamela Meyer

The keyword given to this card is stillness, and in this case, stillness of the mind. For most people, it is much easier to rest the body than allow their thoughts to settle. When I'm exhausted from trying to solve the unsolvable or from keeping too many plates spinning, mantras and meditations do little to bring my mind to roost. Instead, I first find something beautiful or enjoyable to occupy my thoughts (music, a walk outdoors, etc.) and then afterwards use a meditative practice. The Wolves card is based on the bible verse in Matthew that warns of people who outwardly look like sheep but inwardly are ravening wolves. Such con artists scam people who are stuck in fear or anger. The 'wolves' fuel those emotions then promise resolution. Exhaustion, mental or physical, does not lend itself to logic, inquisitiveness or clarity. Take care of your mind so it can take care of you.

Empathic Distress

From Tarot by Caro, the Queen of Cups; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 37:

Technology amplifies empathic distress. We’re exposed daily to the world’s grief in real time. Every tragedy can feel personal, every injustice, a summons to act.

―Shermin Kruse 

Though this Queen is quite comfortable with the world of emotions, she protects her cup as a giant wave threatens to sweep it away. Seneca reminds us, “Reason wishes to give calm to our emotions, not to root them out.” Rather than indifference or drowning, logic and critical thinking can guide our actions. Shermin Kruse offers three ways to practice:

• Pause Before You Fix - expand the space between stimulus and response.
• Redraw the Circle of Concern - distinguish what can be controlled from what cannot.
• Practice Connection with Boundaries - witness and assist, without allowing empathy to become ego (their emotion is theirs).

Hexagram 37 refers to family or kinship; it is a safe place where there is a mutual sharing of support. This group is what helps us have the confidence and strength to meet the suffering in the world with compassion that has cognitive boundaries.

Just a Steak

 From the Tarot by Caro, the Six of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 53:

The greatest stress you go through when dealing with a difficult person is not fueled by the words and actions of the person - it is fueled by your mind that gives their words and actions importance. 

–Stephen White

This card invites us to learn from past experiences in order to stop repeating them. My husband decided he wanted to grill a steak this week and went up to Publix to talk to the butcher (wanting a quality cut for what he would pay). The butcher told him he was a Trump supporter, but my husband sidestepped that landmine and said, "That's okay, I just want a good steak." He knows it's useless to try to reason with unreasonable people. Hexagram 53 is titled Gradual Progress; instead of pushing our way to where we want to be, we take the steps we need to get there. A quote from Marc Chernoff ties these two cards together well: "The most effective way to move away from something you don’t want, is to move toward something you do want, one step at a time."

Coming and Staying

From Tarot by Caro, the Ten of Cups; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 13:

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

―Henry Ford

Anyone who's ever owned a house knows that no matter how nice it is, it will require upkeep. Families and partnerships are no different. People change as the years go by and develop new ideas and activities. Unity can thrive with diversity if we don't assume everyone needs to be the same. Emotional awareness (the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of others) and emotional intelligence (using emotional awareness to guide thinking and behavior) are important keys. Hexagram 13 is about gathering with others; it encourages us to step out of our comfort zone and interact. Outside groups can teach us how to deal with disruptions and disagreements without resentment or animosity. Sounds like a great way to learn some skills to keep a family together too.