I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Spark of Essence

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Ostinato Oracle, Marcato:

Inspiration is God making contact with itself.
~Ram Dass

A sword holds a crown on which an olive branch and a palm branch hang (symbols of peace and victory). The crown is an open rather than a closed one, suggesting an open, curious mind. Six yuds (yods) surround the sword, a letter that represents the spark of Essence within each of us. The Ace of Swords breathes inspiration into us, giving us a chance to create and problem solve in a fresh and exciting way. It only requires that we let go of our preferences and receive it without contempt prior to investigation. Marcato ("marked") is a musical instruction indicating a note, chord, or passage is to be played louder or more forcefully than the surrounding music. Parkway suggests it means that we act with intention - mindfully and purposefully instead of impulsively or haphazardly. As Kristin Armstrong stated, "We either live with intention or exist by default."

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The Task at Hand

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, the King of Wands; from the Ostinato Oracle, Bar:

 

When the mind is diffuse and many-pointed, it cannot be effective. The mental powers are divided up, and less remains available for the task at hand. 
—Eknath Easwaren

This King has a one-pointed focus on what he wants to get done. He has priorities, and nothing distracts him from the top of his list unless there is a real emergency. I'm sure today's habit of people constantly checking their smartphone while doing other tasks would make him blow a gasket. He would definitely agree with Daniel Goleman: "One way to boost our will power and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us." In music, Bars are vertical lines used to bound segments of music, usually indicating one of more recurring beats. Parkway suggests this symbol implies a need to set boundaries. Boundaries can help keep our distractions at a minimum so that we can take care of our obligations in a timely manner. But they can also help us make time for the things we enjoy as well.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Healed Pain

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, the King of Pentacles; from the Ostinato Oracle, Repeat:

Impermanence is everywhere we look. We are all going to suffer our losses. How we deal with these losses is what makes all the difference. Can we do so with wisdom? 
 —Lama Surya Das

This King of Pentacles is giving someone a serious glare off to the side. Even the bulls on the top of his throne seem to be watching to see the showdown. It reminds me of when I was informed by the city that through the law of eminent domain, they would be taking part of my backyard in order to pave an alley. There are some losses that, no matter how much we plead, yell or threaten to bonk heads, we have no recourse. We can only grieve and accept these truths with as much dignity as we can muster. The Repeat symbol on the oracle card implies cyclic repetition. We all suffer losses of various degrees throughout our lives, but the small losses can help us learn to deal with the larger ones. It's not an enjoyable practice, but it is a worthwhile one. As Robert G. Lee wrote, “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.”

Monday, March 25, 2024

At Full Stop

This week I'll be using the Rider Marseille Tarot, created by Alejandro R. Rozan and published through Artisan Tarot. I'll also be using Ostinato Oracle, created and self-published by Mellie Parkway. Today's draws are the Hanged Man and Accolade:

I'd rather be a comma than a full stop.
~Coldplay

I arrived weeks earlier than I was due to a first-time mom. I've been in a hurry ever since, constantly on the move and busy doing. Pausing was something I had to learn when I finally realized there are some things that I just can't do anything about - or even at times influence. It requires a certain resilience to watch and wait, allowing situations and people to just be. But relaxed observing can give us the chance to notice things we missed before and allows insight to arise. It may be a forced reset, but nevertheless it can be helpful. Accolade is a brace used in music to join two or more staffs carrying concurrent parts. Parkway suggests the message of this symbol is "embrace in full." What better advice could there be when we're at full stop?

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Taking Time to Practice

From the Songs for the Journey Home Tarot, the Magician; from the Magic Neko Deck, Kendama:

Sometimes, magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect. ―Teller

The work of a Magician has no end point; it is a willingness to apply one's intention and effort in the world on a daily basis.  This particular magus seems to be a student of the Earth, learning from and working with nature. He knows that growing a tree or flower is a special kind of magic, and creating a way to use resources sustainably is just as astonishingly wonderful. The Five of Diamonds shows a kendama ("sword and ball"), a Japanese toy that is a version of the cup-and-ball game. It requires a lot of practice and good eye and hand coordination to handle it skillfully. It's message is something the Magician understands well: the more you practice with focus, the better you get.

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Lay Down My Sword and Shield

From the Songs from the Journey Home Tarot, Flame Resolving (King of Wands); from the Magic Neko Deck, the Six of Clubs:

I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
—Pete Seeger, Study War No More

The King of Flames/Wands has learned to channel his passion in less aggressive ways. He's realized that 'big sticks' are rarely the best way to settle disagreements, maintain justice or fuel his creative outlet. Some of his restlessness and pushiness is his nature, as he still enjoys a good adventure or challenge. But when the urge to be combative rears its head, he should take Chuck Berry's advice: "If you want to release your aggression, get up and dance." The Six of Clubs shows a kitten asleep on Saturn, implying that it's good for us to get out of our comfort zone and learn to enjoy new places and things. This would also apply to learning to handle situations mindfully rather than impulsively, and practicing a different approach to having our voice heard rather than yelling.


Friday, March 22, 2024

Rupture and Repair

From the Songs for the Journey Home, the Five of Wave Songs (Five of Cups); from the Magic Neko Deck, the Ten of Hearts:

If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger – we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to re-commit, to be whole-hearted once again.
— Sharon Salzberg

The Five Cups are symbolic of broken dreams, self-recrimination and anguish. While it's good to reflect on and grieve our loss, we need to be careful that our suffering doesn't become a sinkhole that swallows us. The companion book, since this card shows a butler dropping a tray, offers another angle to consider: create a balance between serving others and taking care of oneself. The issue is not to be more devoted to others but to be concerned about our own well-being too. The Ten of Hearts shows a stargazer watching the night sky. She knows that moments of wonder, curiosity and awe help settle the mind and fill the heart.