Mind-made and Heart-made Darkness

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Moon

The light which darkness creates. Lon Milo DuQuette
There is a thought. I love the moon. I go out and howl at it when I'm feisty. It is my favorite card in any deck. But DuQuette's phrase makes the hairs on my neck rise.

I'm reminded by this card, not of the literal dark, but the mind-made and heart-made darkness. The things that even surprise us when we tip over internal rocks and something scurries by just outside our mental field of vision.

"What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him." ~ Louis Mann 1865-1931

Emotional Connections

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Knight of Cups

Look at this boyo carrying that golden cup forward with it's prize riding high inside. Today is the first clue to Bonnie Hunter's annual quilt mystery. Where many 1000's of us around the world leap from our beds to print out the first of 7 or 8 weekly Friday morning clues...with no idea what the finished 4-8000 piece quilt will look like.

I'm reminded by this golden cup, why beyond that her mysteries are always well written and well explained, so many of us do them each year. The emotional connections of once again gathering together with all the faceless usernames we've grown to like and respect. We  may not be riding toward our printers on golden horses, but our goal is the same thing. Messing about with our needles and fabrics and visiting while we do it. Welcome to the ride.

"The heart is a strange beast and not ruled by logic." ~ Maria V. Snyder

Houston, We Have A Problem

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 5 of Cups

The problem? Holidays, too often combined with unrealistic expectations, resulting in chronic disappointment. Which is then carried forward, with interest, into the next holiday.

I'm reminded by this card we need to like our own company before we can appreciate other people's company. Expecting someone else to make the world bright and fulfilled for us is courting sorrow at best, disaster at worst.

"At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets."  ~ Steve Maraboli 1975-

Fills and Flows

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 3 of Cups

Such an exuberant 3 of Cups, filled and filled and filled again by the lotus.

I'm reminded by this card without the lows we wouldn't recognize the highs, and all highs would become, like everything else in over-abundance, too much, too boring, too commonplace. I'll take my high days, not compare them to other high days, and be thankful for my lot.

"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance."
Yoko Ono 1933-

Buttons

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 9 of Swords

Rationalized criticism
Self-inflicted injustice
Devastating doubt.  Ruth Souther, The Heart of Tarot

Ever see any better short-speak for the 9 of Swords? I'm reminded by this card of all the times I've fulfilled the promise of this card. Why do we do this to ourselves? We can talk abusive and dysfunctional environments all we want...doing it to our self is far worse. Who knows our buttons better?

"Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people." ~ Carl Jung 1875-1961

Peanutbutter Thothpaste

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Prince of Wands

From Ruth Southers book: cultivate bursts of genuine ingenuity.
Setting aside what nongenuine bursts might be...(peanutbutter thothpaste? Windows 8?) I'd think we've all had ingenious right past the ah-ha ideas, in fact strokes of genius.

I'm reminded by this card those two words might well mean the same thing. Or be a noun and adjective. What do I know, I'm mostly the doorknob type. What I do know is when we take what we are passionate about, and apply our minds to creative solutions, there they are. Two of mine here and here. Not rocket science but we aren't building rockets.

Question whether there is a better way rather than the only way. Break from the usual and new ideas flow in like water." ~ Nathaniel J. Wyeth 1802-1856

Probably...

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 3 of Wands

The 2 of Wands asked us to meld our innie with our outtie person. This 3 of Wands asks that our heart body and mind be aligned and whole.

I'm reminded by this card that is an admirable goal, one to build everything else on, but when we live in the real world, not so easy to carry through. My hip is freezing up this morning, what does that say? That my heart and mind are aligned but my body betrays my love for my mother because she was up and dressed and ready for coffee and breakfast at midnight? Or did I sleep funny? Probably...

"Seek a sanctuary
Walk into it with a bare mind, bare feet, and plain clothing.
Nurture your body, mind, and spirit through a healing ritual.
Leave it with a pure heart until you find your way to it again."
Master Jin Kwon ~ 1957-

Obfuscation

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 6 of Swords

The Thoth defines this card as the clear and systematic thinking of an analytical mind. Which I can do in the daytime. But part of a sleepless night? Oh brother, whir whir whir with no respite at all. Want to know the silly subject? My AT&T bill.

I'm reminded by this card we had US Cellular for 12 years and never had a problem with the billing, not once. We switched to AT&T because they are the only provider that gives good reception at home which is where I am when using the computer. If I could take back my decision I would. Their billing is a convoluted mess, every month and I am just giving up and paying it. But my mind heart and gut are furious. Does their whole subscriber base feel this hornswoggled? Or am I dumber than a doorknob?

"The truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others." ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld 1613-1680

Zealot + Weasel

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 2 of Wands

This card calls for the innie me and the outtie me to be combined in outward personal truth. I wonder if it has ever been politically correct to let innie out.

I'm reminded by this card, for me it's far more peaceful to let sleeping dogs lie. It doesn't matter to me what anyone else's innie is, and I'm old enough to know I don't need to defend my own personal truth from zealots on any subject. Is that true adulthood or weaseling out?

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." ~ Nelson Mandela

The Ledge Is There

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Princess of Wands

The Thoth Princesses connect to the aces of their suit, in this case the grounding of personal efforts and their active expression. Here she tears along, tiger by the tail exuberance, with the Ma'at cap of true heart.

I'm reminded by this card of the many times I've taken what appears to be the Fool's first step right off the ledge, taken on more than I can chew, surrounded by people shaking their heads in disapproval. Try something new and different? Good Gad woman, why? Because the ledge is there and I'm alive, Princess and Ace. The world is not a safe, why stand in place and prove it.

"That's exactly it-I am crazy and somewhere deep inside, all I want is to fly." ~ Jandy Nelson 1985-  The Sky Is Everywhere

I Will Not Go

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Hermit

I've had mother home with me for a month today.
Why had she lost so much weight so fast?
I'm convinced she was slowly starving to death.
She can no long reline her own dentures and no one noticed.
She no longer understands the concept of AM and PM.
This morning she got up and got dressed at 1 AM, ready for her day.
She no longer eats any 'dinner' meats, just soft luncheon type meats.
She is wild about fresh fruit, particularly bananas.
It is always news to her that we shave her chin whiskers,
that I am her daughter, that the picture window she gazes through is not a picture but real life.

I'm reminded by this card and how much I love my mom, that this is not the route I will be taking. I understand why others saddled with dementia have chosen an earlier way out, perhaps because I was in the grip of black depression for so long. I will not go to this place. The Hermit told me.

"Grow quiet and observe the details."~ Ruth A. Souther

Bald Statements

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Sun

Early cultures believed the sun died at night and was replaced in the morning, or circled under the land to rerise each dawn. As bald statements go it comes to the same thing...but not one bit the same if they worshiped the sun.

My personal bald statement in short speak, all religions are the same. Yet we could converse all the long days of life on the details and differences. We know today where the sun is when it isn't. Would that we knew the one truth of gods. No doubt we'd immediately begin adding nuances to individualize worship all over again. The sun and religion are at least both perpetuals, something we can count on to be there when we get up each day.

"We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice, or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique." ~John Dewey 1859-1952

The Best We Can Hope For

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ Adjustment

All hats are not created equal. Here Justice wears an ostrich feather crown that bears similarity to that of Ma'at, the ancient Egyptian weigher of souls. I once bought a tall showgirl hat for a party, I have no idea how they keep them on, mine kept listing to port.

I'm reminded by this card all justice is not equal, never was, never will be. You know it and I know it. We see it each day in the courts. Sad that. For everyday people the best we can hope for is acknowledgement. Cold comfort from this card of equilibrium.

"But sometimes pain has to be acknowledged and even touched so that one could move into it and through it and past it. Or else be destroyed by it." ~ Mary Balogh 1944-  Simply Love

Sundowning

Daily Draw: Thoth Tarot ~ 5 of Wands

Sundowning is fairly common in dementia, which is increased confusion and restlessness beginning in the afternoon. As strife, it would be easy to fall into the trap of "I just told you" rather than calmly repeating "the light is on mom, see?". AM and PM become a huge struggle; "I've slept in this chair all night?", "are you sure it is morning?", "One PM, then it is time to go to bed?".

I'm reminded by this card, if she isn't mad (anger can be instantaneous with no known trigger) my mom is an absolute kick in the mornings. She can crack clever jokes, recognize foods, and pat my hands. In the afternoon everything goes dim. I sat beside her for 45 minutes yesterday talking about her memories focusing on the 50's, and about every 10 minutes she would sigh, look out the window, and say "they all have jobs and are busy". I would say "I'm here mom" and she'd ask who I was.

"It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife." ~ Confucius 551-479 BC

Journey

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Clover + Ship + Stars











Just my luck, wanting a tall ship journey is akin to wishing on stars.
A sky journey is planned for 2015, may good luck ride with us.
It costs a fortune to travel, there are cruises today that would feed a star colony.

"All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by." ~ John Masefield 1878-1967  Sea Fever

Enough lenormand, back to tarot tomorrow

Life Lived

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Stork + Rider + Woman

Anticipation + Hurry Up + Wait. Isn't that just the story of life lived.

"...that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself."~ Jane Austen 1775-1817  Sense and Sensibility

Realistic Bounty

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Mice + Clover + Bouquet

The sunflowers found a mousehole in my mind, to let in the light.
Mice as pets come up roses, but the luck is in the eye of the beholder.
Got a wild hair about the lottery, bought my mom flowers instead.

"I would I could not think it
That thought is bounty's foe.
Being free itself, it thinks all others so." ~ William Shakespeare 1564-1616

529 Plan

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Lily + Stork + Tower

Back to the inserts, I'm not getting much from this deck
King of Swords + Queen of Cups + 6 of Swords

Insight combined with a big heart makes any place a home.
Forward thinking dad plus thoughtful mom equals $$ saved for baby's college education.

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley." ~ Robert Burns 1759-1796 The Works of Robert Burns

Jumper

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Girl + Rider + Key

Little girls of yore dreamed a knight on a horse was the key to their dreams.
Hooping and jumping are both opportunities for exercise.
Demonstrating his abilities to a young girl, any opportunity to show off is a good opportunity.

"The wildest colts make the best horses." ~ Plutarch 46-119

Miss No Crumbs

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Lenormand ~ Fox + Ship + Mice










Sailing vacations are tricky when you are poor as a churchmouse.
Navigating hard times requires missing no crumbs.
Clever thinking seldom outruns poverty of heart, mind, or spirit.

"We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without." ~ Immanuel Kant 1724-1804

Commanding Nature

Daily Draw: Alone's Vision Tarot ~ Bear + Cloud + Lily

Even the king of the forest knows he cannot command nature; there is virtue in ego control.

" I don't know about your true form, but the weight of your ego sure is pushing the crust of the earth toward the breaking point." ~ Jim Butcher 1971-  Grave Peril

My third and last week in Lenormand land. I got this one in trade for the Tailor's Tarot, it is called Alone's Vision Lenormand.

Careful What You Wish For

Daily Draw: Chronata's Lenormand ~ Stork + Ring + Whip

Big change to the ties that bind, new broom sweeps clean.
Variety may be the spice of life, but anger and conflict of duty often result in self-punishment.
Change in personal relationships can expose pain we didn't even know was there.

"The besom of reform hath swept him out of office, and a worthier successor wears his dignity and pockets his emoluments." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864  The Scarlet Letter

Bookish

Daily Draw: Chronata's Minute Lenormand ~ Book + Man + Sun

Drawing a blank here...
I learned early on my Rob is the best of the best.
I'm reading a book about Qwilleran to raise my spirits.
I just finished Dr. Sleep, in which little Danny Torrance grows up and uses his Shine to defeat the True Knot.

"I like best to have one book in my hand, and a stack of others on the floor beside me." ~ Dorothy Parker 1893-1967  The Collected Dorothy Parker

Eye Spy Scythe

Daily Draw: Chronata's Minute Lenormand ~ Crossroad + Sun + Scythe

Stay or go, daylights aburnin', cut losses and run.
Actions require a choice, it helps to think about it for a day, and inspect the ground those choices fall upon.
I once took the road to St. Ive's,
Where I came upon a sun with blue eyes.
Soldier sailor tinker spy
I was relieved when I saw a farmer with a scythe.

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." ~ Collette 18873-1954

Poor Man's Haiku

Daily Draw: Chronata's Minute Lenormand ~ Flower + Book + Snake

The mind blossoms when knowledge is gained, beware propaganda.
Creating floral borders required reading cultivar books; snakes are good for gardens.
On warm summer days put the books down, learn from nature.

I think if I used Lenormands long enough I could finally understand Haiku.

"Propaganda is a soft weapon; hold it in your hands too long and it move about like a snake, and strike the holder." ~ Jean Anouilh 1910-1987

Dreaded Ivory Tower Syndrome

Daily Draw: Chronata's Minute Lenormand ~ Tower + Cloud + Star

The birds eye view is even higher than the window.
If you get higher yet the clouds begin to obscure the view.
But up in the stars everything has equal value and truth triumphs.

Rx: Get out of the tower prison, lie back and count cloud animals until the stars come out.
Be renewed.

"In the tower you forget about the rest of the spectrum and start believing that this is the only frequency that counts or is real. While outside, all up and down the land, there are these wonderful colors and x-rays and ultraviolets going on." ~ Thomas Pynchon 1937- Slow Learner: Early Stories  

Results By Mail

Daily Draw: Chronata's Minute Lenormand ~ Key + Ship + Letter

Lockboxes washed into the ocean by the tsunami have occasionally been reunited with owners.
To find a piece of the cancer puzzle, I'm going on a trip today, results by mail rather than phone are a good thing.
One key to real life is to step back from constant communication.

"Everybody gets so much information all day long they lose their common sense." ~ Gertrude Stein 1874-1946

Night Owls

Daily Draw: Minute Lenormand ~ Sun + Bird + Woman

Daytime for insomniac women sometimes equals confusion.
When the sun is out night-owls fake being up and dressed.
This is the day when flights of fancy become reality for a tall pale woman.
(No card inserts for alternative ideas.)

"I'm an early bird and I'm a night owl, so I'm wise and have worms." Michael in Office Olympics

The Lenormand this week is from the mind and fingers of Robyn Tisch Hollister, artist, reader, dreamer. Her decks can also be found here.

The Longer View

Daily Draw: Cross Stitch Lenormand ~ Moon + Lady + Scythe

Unrealistic dreams by a lady will soon find the ground cut from under her.
Midnight promises to a lady will soon be exposed as fallow ground.

8 of cups + Ace of Swords + Knight of Coins.

Disillusion will find us all at some point, best put on a happy face and try a new scheme.
The rising moon looks much larger than it does at it's apogee, this lady needs to step back to see the longer view, or ask an unbiased opinion from an expert.

"One who understands much displays a greater simplicity of character than one who understands little." ~ Alexander Chase

Patookie Placement

Daily Draw: Cross Stitch Lenormand ~ Garden + Bird + Tree

A nature based reading..We had a yard like this, it is a TON of work to make it look like all those beautiful planting just sprang up on their own. The birds are enjoying the fall fruit of the garden labor and the Bonsai tree, while probably only eight inches tall, is in truth ancient and intimately sculpted...like the garden, bringing us back to enjoying the fruits of.

8 of swords, 7 of coins, 7 of cups
That gazebo could become a trap of procrastination, I'll do the gardening tomorrow, until it is far too late to do it without hiring a crew to help. Been there done that.
7 coins? There is still fruit to enjoy, but not in the proportions a well tended garden would supply.
And that 7 of cups? Resting on my laurels never resulted in forward movement. The garden is still waiting regardless of how beautiful it looked last year. In other words, all cards suggesting I get off my patookie and tend my own mother garden.

"Leisure is the time for doing something useful." ~ Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790