Mental Truant

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot - 8 of Coins

I'm at a loss with this card beyond apprentice and teacher. Is the instructor bored, is that why he has a thick book? What I do find interesting is the view through the dutch door. What is going on back there? Or it is out there? Is the foreground outside rather than inside a smithy? Is that the alleyway and then another room or is there someone riding a burro in the house? Is there a party going on? That looks like celebration streamers. Is that laundry hanging or shop goods?

I'm reminded by this card how I get by when taking instruction I do not find useful.

"The library, on the other hand, has no biases. The information is all there for you to interpret. You don’t have someone telling you what to think. You discover it for yourself." ~ Ray Bradbury 1920-2012

Swag

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights ~ 4 of Coins

Bowls, cups, trunks, ponds of treasure. The peacock and peahen are in full color, the fruit tree is loaded. These folks have 'got it all'. Or do they? The fellow with the sword is talking to the other person, who has his finger in his ear.

I'm reminded by this card of financial advice. Have you ever wondered how many stockbrokers, bankers, futures traders, financial planners are wise stewards of their own money?

"You let me throw the bricks through the front window. You go in at the back and take the swag." ~ Ezra Pound 1885-1972

Life's Groaning Boards

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot ~ Page of Coins

Our Page is standing before a fully laden table with an attitude of surprise, temptation, anticipation.  The problem with being in Page mode, our base knowledge keeps us walking upright, but the urge to gorge at experience has not been tempered by life.

I'm reminded by this card the annual Bonnie Hunter quilt mystery gift starts today. We look forward to it with great anticipation and for the first timers some apprehension. It is all in good fun, and some Pages have already printed out the first clue, announced it on-line, and have their pictures up on their blog. I understand their super competitive nature, but I love to have things to look forward to. It is all part of life's great feast.

All our thoughts, words, actions, are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind." ~ Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931

Lyngbakr

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot ~ 10 of Wands

As if these sailors didn't have enough to do, at sea in a tiny ship...

I'm reminded by this moving island with a mouth, for all my despair in mankind, I am occasionally amazed at what enormous tasks we are willing to take on. Pulling up stakes and moving to and settling a frontier for one. My hands and feet are cold and it is 70 degrees in my house, how did they survive winters? Building a rocket that will fly to the moon. What motivates people to trust a man made machine enough to get in and blast off? Digging a canal between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans? Building a pyramid by pure manpower? Amazing tasks.

"The human animal is characterized by two great fears that other animals are protected from; the fear of life and the fear of death." ~ Ernest Becker 1924-1974

Home

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot ~ 4 of Wands

Does this card look idyllic? I should say so. The few times I've toured grand homes I've been gobstopped by the style and beauty. And to think many of those people had second and third homes. The idea of just shopping for stuff to fill them makes me tired.


I'm reminded by this card home is in the mind and heart, and we each have a different vision and need. I love my funny old A-frame even if it doesn't have much storage space, it shouts home to me even snow and ice topped.


"I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here." ~ Lauren Myracle 1969-

The Rose The Tree

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot ~ Wheel

The wheel, the rose, the tree.

I'm reminded by this card what seems long lasting is more likely only momentary. If it's good savor it, if it's bad it too will pass.

"Carpe diem." ~ Horace 65 BC-8 BC

Shadow Life vs Lived Life

Daily Draw: Thousand and One Nights Tarot ~ Page of Cups

He is perusing a manuscript, there is a closed box with potential treasures, a book that is normally locked, and a vista leading to all the wonders of the world.

I'm reminded by this card, it isn't necessary to learn everything the hard way, a little preparation when possible can sweeten life's journey exponentially. The key is to avoid confusing living vicariously in our mind vs living by doing.

"Most of the images of reality on which we base our actions are really based on vicarious experience." ~ Albert Bandura 1925-

People Watching

Daily Draw: Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights ~ Page of Swords

He is watching two men eating and drinking, the elder man does not have a turban and seems to be doing the talking. The problem with the image is the talkers are behind closed doors and the watcher is sitting in a tree peering through a window.

I'm reminded by this card people-watching is one of the best free hobbies going; airports, Ikea, restaurants, anywhere people congregate. But hiding and listening? Crossed the line buddy, that is why you are a Knave rather than a Knight.

"Cheaters never prosper." Tim Conway 1933- as Ensign Parker

This visually stunning deck is from Lo Scarabeo 2005, art by Leon Carre (1888-1942). Based on the collection of Ancient Eastern Stories and Fables (also known as the Arabian Knights) the oldest Arabic manuscript dates from the fourteenth century, although scholarship generally dates the collection's genesis to somewhere between AD 800–900. There is no associated deck book.
The original art by Leon Carre was painted in miniature for an edition of Sir Richard Burton's late nineteenth century translation of these stories. It was published in twelve volumes in the1920s. Assouline Publishing has now printed an abridged version of this masterpiece.

Setting An Example

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Freya

Freya, Valkyrie goddess of war, wealth, sex, and fertility, lover of material things. Often paying with her body for things that couldn't be purchased for money. Is that lowering standards or thinking laterally?

I'm reminded by this card of shaped thinking. I've never been hungry, living on the streets. I've never been a prisoner of some old mens war. I've never been offered the option of either or. I've never had to pay Rob for something I needed or wanted. I'm a white woman with many skills in a free country. So why do I feel brainwashed someones sex life anywhere outside the marriage bed is a capital s Sin or any of my business at all? The older I get the more often I wish I'd been trained in simple ethics rather than the channeled ethics of religion. I know of no religious laws that haven't been broken by those who command them which in my mind negates anything they represent.

"I'm not young enough to know everything." ~ J.M. Barrie 1860-1937  The Admirable Crichton, Act I

Forward Is Good

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ First Quarter Waxing Moon

Stability. It can also mean stasis. At this point something needs to be encouraged or pushed and occasionally calls for ruthlessness.

I can jerk something by the roots right out of my life and never look back. If I do feel a backward pull, I redouble my progress. I'm reminded by this card not everyone can do that, it is no doubt a good thing. we would likely spend our time looking over our shoulder for the ax rather than forward.

"The concept of stasis allows time to stand still." ~  La  Monte Young 1935-

The High Life

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Hera

Hera, goddess of women, marriage, and maternity, married to Zeus, a god with zero intention and understanding of fidelity. He beat, bound, and hung her from the sky when she revolted. Her reaction to those females and offspring of his chronic philandering was to treat them to death.

Ah, the high life of the gods. Sounds like any soap opera or talk show guest doesn't it. It's always been there, it never changes, makes me wonder if it isn't hardwired into some people who manage to blunder in to each other and begin a fresh new cycle.

"The tombstone over the grave of the conscience always reads Human Nature" ~ Stefan Molyneux 1966-

Completion

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Full Moon in Air

Completion or outcome from current project, projection favorable.

We are having our bathroom shower refitted this week. As always when we have to hire something done, we wonder how anything gets competed at all...but this is a promising card, I'll restart my enthusiasm.

"Dimidium facti qui coepit habet" ~ Horace 65 BC- 8 BC

Impulse

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Crescent Waxing Fire Moon

The Moon is aligned in Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

Go for it, simple as that.

"Impulse without reason is not enough, and reason without impulse is a poor makeshift."  ~ William James 1842-1910

When I Was A Child

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Black Moon Earth

Slowed progress on all fronts, self discipline, frugality, use and finish what you already have.

Such good advice, and late coming. Too many flush years when new and shiny and consumerism was encouraged and instant gratification was key.  I'm reminded by this card of my glass jars of buttons. Not collectible fancies, but shirt and blouse buttons, gathered in  grandmother's button box when clothing was no longer reparable. Ask the next fifty people you meet if they save buttons. I'm reminded by this card a shirt or blouse will wear for many years. Today's consumers donate them early on and purchase new ones. A microcosm of our economy, not a clue about living in dark moon.

"Rags were precious, to be used, spread with mentholatum, to wrap sore throats; or to make rag rugs; better cloth was cut up and used for quilt squares. Printed chicken feed sacks became skirts, flour sacks became underwear. The phrase "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" was a household aphorism." ~ Judy Busk Legacy of the Great Depression

Opposing

Daily Draw: Moon Oracle ~ Mansion 6 Bridge

This card is a Gemini, ruled by Mercury and Venus. Opposing views, often between fast get it done and slow do it right think about it all day all week all Akkk. In days gone by this moon mansion was considered to be a good time to besiege a town.

Shades of yesterday. I'm reminded by this card I told Rob last night I was going to stop being bossy. He laughed until the tears squirted. But then we wouldn't be opposites attracting would we.

"You can't love me.'
'Don't be bossy. I can do what the hell I like."
Jo Beverley 1947-   My Lady Notorious

This week features the 1st edition Moon Oracle, published by Eddision-Sadd 2000 by Caroline Smith and John Astrop. 72 cards and 128 page book offer a practical introduction to lunar astrology including moon phases, elements, mansions, and goddesses, plus Moon Tables for pinpointing signs and phases.

Magpie Bait

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 55

Slogan 55, liberate yourself by examining and analyzing. Liberation from chronic habits we don't want allows us to experience a calm and relaxed state that is authentic rather than superficial. (pine tree cross section showing pith and rings)

I'm reminded by this card of 'removing the bookmark'. To keep myself within my two hour limit on computer time, ever so often I have to review my bookmarks. I got into the habit, which is a polite word for addiction, about ten years ago, of cruising Ebay for rhinestone brooches. It started out once a week-ish I'd look, and sometimes I'd find something and sometimes I wouldn't. When I finally removed the bookmark I was scanning new items two or three times a day. I never bid more than $10.50, but I had a lot of wins and a drawer full of pretties. Funny how removing the bookmark stopped me cold. Could it be I'm a lazy bum in addition to all my other faults? Probably...but I do love my pretties and wear them all. Not necessarily at the same time.

"Jack Beauregard: You shine like the door of a whorehouse. A blind man could spot you ten miles off.
Nobody: I like folks to see me.
Jack Beauregard: Maybe folks don't share your pleasure." ~ My Name Is Nobody 1973

Moi?

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 13

Slogan 13, Be grateful to everyone. Ever had one of those people who don't even have to open their mouth and all your buttons go off? The great teachers all seem to say when we meet and interact with those people we are seeing a fault in them we can't see in our self. ( lantana and dogwood berries around a redbud leaf)

I'm reminded by this card particularly of two women I often crossed swords with when I was red hatting. One in my own chapter and one in the on-line forum. I find it hard to believe I'm anything like them, but I'll think it over during the thumb twiddling breaks in jury duty today. Could it be bossiness?
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Mio? Bossy?

Ego Hump

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 59

Slogan 59, In service to the greater good, let go of expectations of reward and/or acknowledgement. (pyrite/fool's gold nuggets)

This is quite the ego hump to get past. Anything from day in day out daily slog to random acts of kindness, something in us wants that good boy, very well done notice. Being aware of the why we do something will bring the answer to 'is this ego or is this service?'.

Meaningful Commitment.

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 23

Slogan 23, abide by the three basic principles; commitment (do something meaningful with our lives), unpretentiousness (avoid spirituality fueled by ego), impartiality (patience and open heart for difficult people). Cherries, shelled pecans, woodpecker feather.

I'm happily reminded by this card of meaningful commitment. I definitely need to get back in the path here. I've spent the last ten years working with the elderly as a nurse, private ombudsman, personal assistant. I spent many years volunteering at libraries. I spent four years putting shelter cats on PetFinder. At least ten years working for the Red Cross blood drives. I'll bet something will turn up within a week, now that I'm thinking about it.

If you have any good ideas leave me a comment!

Nothing Good Comes Of Loving Hate

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 38

Slogan 38, taking perverse pleasure in the misfortunes of others, dismayed when good things happen to others. (crushed crape myrtle blossom)

I'm reminded by this card that with the exception of my mother in law, my love for my in-laws has come to the opposite pole. I'm sorry it has come to this but I'm no longer bothered by it. I'm long past the pain, long past the point of 'too bad so sad' attitude toward them. But Slogan 38 is harsh in it's honesty, nothing good comes of loving hate.

Miracle of Practical Practices

Daily Draw: Lojong for the Layperson ~ Slogan 26

Slogan 26, from the companion booklet. Focusing on the affairs of others can be an entertaining way to distract ourselves from our own shortcomings. When we are not afraid to uncover our own flaws we have no need for comparisons. (maple leaves with one sweetgum)

I'm reminded by this card of finances and a of a letter from a friend a few days ago. "I get really confused on the money front, I never know who to talk with about it. I enjoy reading the Financial Blogs and find that we are not doing too bad."

I've often wondered why Americans are so reticent to talk about their finances, but what an interesting game speculating about someone else's money is. And why are we so unwilling to ask for help. The friend above found the basis of their long term and well earned financial stability with Your Money Or Your Life by Dominguez and Tilford. Encouraged by their progress I read book after book, gleaning a bit from all, but founded our finances on Debt-Proof Living by Mary Hunt. Other than vehicles we never did have much consumer debt, but we didn't have any savings. What was that all about I always wondered. I wonder where it went I always wondered... Although I started shepherding our financials way late in life the difference it has made in our ability to retire and long term stability has been remarkable. Envy and wondering and waiting for a miracle were replaced with practical practices. That was the miracle. Truly. Once I had that in hand I went on to read and reread Faith Popcorn. And then there is 9/11 and the stock market. But that is a fairy story for another day...

Be The Leaf

Daily Draw: Lojong For The Layperson ~ Slogan 25

 Slogan 25, from the companion booklet: There is an injury behind every fault or shortcoming. Our focused attention on the faults of another person is not an effective tool of healing. Exposing their weakness only discloses our own deficiencies. (Redbud Leaf with circles cut by leafcutter bees.) Funny this card should come up to reaffirm what I'd already been reminded of.
This is the note I sent the Lojong For The Layperson deck creator two days ago.

I've been savoring the images and reading and rereading the slogans while I ate my lunch. Can you see the red circle on my forehead where the suction arrow hit it dead center?

I went to yoga today for the first time in three years. I AM getting better! Small group, I knew all the ladies from before, was wonderful to yoga-in so to speak. Except -----...She Never shut up once except for corpse pose. I was going to write my instructor and ask "when does ------ Not come?" as she has three practices a week.  But Slogan 25 steps in and I'm now working on being the leaf rather than the cutter.

The deck this week is Lojong for the Layperson. Self published 2014 by Beverly King. From the booklet "Lojong is a mind training practice in the Buddhist Tradition". The deck kit includes 59 large cards covering the seven points of training and well written 24 page booklet with a source list for further information.

Drop Of A Hat

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ 2 of Swords

Williams' take on the 2 of Swords is further afield than most; unstable situations, immanent peril. Far more interesting than the usual 2 choices, or the Thoth Peace.

I'm reminded by this card which came straight from the 1494 Das Narrenschiff and shows how little life has changed in 500 years, kids and siblings still fight at the drop of a hat and parents, worn to a nub, still let them work it out.

"The great risk of living is that we might not survive it." ~  J. Aleksandr Wootton  The Eighth Square

Nowt To Do With Me

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ Justice

Fair. Impartial. Even handed. Order with peace.

I'm reminded by this card of places in the world in the world where Justice isn't even on the horizon, where hope just to live through the day is the rule, or conversely, hope to be dead and out of the pain of a society without control. A world where two hundred school girls are still missing but there is an ebola vaccine within three months of the disease touching England and America. Funny old world, where is Justice? Saying it is nowt to do with me.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." ~ Frederick Douglas 1817-1895)

Charisma

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ Queen of Cups

Charismatic. We all know one when we meet one.

I'm reminded by this card, of my friend Theresa, and my school friend Shelia. Way too much fun to be legal.
Of those who draw people in to religion or hate. Or lead a doomed plane to 'lets roll'. It would be a responsibility, to pull people like that, I wonder if those who are, know?

"Charm is the ability to make someone think that both of you are quite wonderful." ~ Henri Frédéric Amiel 1821-1881

Yoked

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ Love/Lovers

Eros is blindfolded and Venus or Aphrodite has all the figures but a laughing death yoked.

I'm reminded by this card of yesterday's dementia support group. All of us yoked with love to someone who sounds right and looks right but who is essentially a stranger to us.

I wish all decks had the Six card as Love rather than the standard Lovers. It is practically two different subjects and Love covers so much more while Lovers is incredibly limiting.

"Man's characteristic privilege is that the bond he accepts is not physical but moral." ~  Emile Durkheim 1858-1917

Visit The Penguin

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ Ace of Wands

Hey gang, let's put on a show! Micky Rooney
We're putting the band back together! John Belushi

I'm reminded by this card of experimentation and energy when someone can inspire a group of people in a common cause.

"Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it." ~ Dan Aykroyd/John Belushi Blues Brothers 1980

Rigmarole Of Fashion

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ 4 of Wands

Here the fool is faced by the flying rigmarole of fashion. The dandy looks pretty darned dandy in fact.

I'm reminded by this card the Fool's eyes are actually mid-roll, bringing us into the joke. In the 1970's the fashion industry finally lost control of lock-step hemlines, I think due to the small company that put out the Gunne Sax line. From that point on women in the US anyway, have worn our skirt hems anywhere it pleases us. Fashion can be fun but why sell the farm to keep up? The closest I've ever come to fashion was naming my Sheltie Chanel.

"Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory."~ Coco Chanel 1883-1971

My little sister and I all doodied up in our thrift store Gunne Sax ($5.00 each), circa late 70's?

Eat And Be Eaten

Daily Draw: Ship of Fools Tarot ~ 5 of Cups

Often seen as too many choices, or someone else's choices seem more interesting, or overindulgence. Here the Fool comes upon a cup that runneth over implying plenty to dip his own cup into.

This card reminds me of Bob Combs hog farm, whose 2500 hogs are fed each day with the leftovers from twelve Las Vegas casino restaurants. The world of eat or be eaten is a circle.

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~ Calvin Trillin 1935-

The deck this week is The Ship of Fools by Brian Williams 1958-2002, book and deck published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2002, now out of print. The cards are based on the German book Narrenschiff or The Ship of Fools, published in 1494. Almost all the cards depicted are pulled directly from the book and required very little alteration to turn them in tarot.

Affect and Effect

Daily Draw: Songs For The Journey Home ~ Queen of Cups

I made the mistake of reading some of the headlines in a newspaper when I used it to start my morning fire. It took the edge off and darkened considerably what I fully expected to be a perfect day.

I'm reminded by this card, Wave Creating, that each day, no matter where I'm at or what is going on, I give my heart and mind a cosmic shower by spending a minimum of 15 minutes, and often hours now that I'm retired, with needle and thread. It doesn't change the world but it puts me in a better place of peace. I can do nothing about the outer world, I can affect and effect my own.

"The world is too much with us" ~ William Wordsworth 1770-1850