As we were pulling in to the driveway just a bit ago, coming home from the pool, we saw a Mr and Mrs Neighbor standing in the street just above our house. There was a good-sized snake in the road, and the Mr was concerned that it might get run over. Obviously this was my clue to run right up there (towel on my head, wearing a ratty old tank top and ridiculous work-out shorts) and investigate, all up-close and personal-like.
Such a beauty. But s/he stubbornly would NOT be corralled back into the tall grass or our-side-of-the-street yards. We escorted zir across instead. (We are hoping HARD that the asshat who lives over there doesn’t take it upon himself to commit reptile murder. Twatwaffle* that he is.)
*Thanks Fokker, this is one of Dan’s favorite words right now.
Not Dan’s foot.
While I was rushing up on to our deck to find something we could gently scoot this charmer* along with, the Mr held out his foot, sole of the shoe first. Nicely safe. We like this guy, and his wife, and their little dog too.
*You get this phone photo today instead of Max. Grand Dog is still adorable, but it was an overly busy afternoon and I never had a chance to grab a picture of him.
We have our moderately-controversial card trio tonight as the message. And, truthfully? I’ve not even glanced at it since I first flipped them over first thing in my day. This will be new to all of us.
“Courage (r) ~ VIII ~ Major Arcana
The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that it has the potentiality to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed. Thousand and one are the pitfalls – and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving.
Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very soft and dangers will be many.
There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the dangers. But the sprout starts toward the unknown, towards the sun, towards the sources of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the burden, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves.
The same path is the path of man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed.
This card shows a small wildflower that has met the challenge of the rocks and the stones in its path to emerge into the light of day. Surrounded by an aura of bright golden light, it exposes the majority of its tiny self. Unashamed, it is equal to the brightest sun.
When we are faced with a very difficult situation we have a choice: we can either be resentful, and try to find somebody or something to blame for the hardships, or we can face the challenge and grow. The flower shows us the way, as its passion for life leads it out of the darkness and into the light.
There is no point fighting against the challenges of life, or trying to avoid or deny them. They are there, and if the seed is to become the flower we must go through them. Be courageous enough to grow into the flower you are meant to be.
Totality ~ 5 ~ Fire: Action
Every moment there is a possibility to be total. Whatsoever you are doing, be absorbed in it so utterly that the mind thinks nothing, is just there, is just a presence. And more and more totality will be coming. And the taste of totality will make you more and more capable of being total.
These three women are high in the air, playful, and free, yet alert and interdependent. In a trapeze act, nobody can afford to be a little bit ‘absent’ even for a split second. And it is this quality of total attentiveness to the moment at hand that is represented here.
We may feel there are too many things to do at once, but get bogged down in trying to do a bit here, a bit there, instead of taking one task at a time and getting on with it. Or perhaps we think our task is ‘boring’ because we’ve forgotten that it is not what you do but how you do it that matters.
Developing the knack of being total in responding to whatever comes, as it comes, is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Taking one step through life at a time, giving each step your complete attention and energy, can bring a wondrous new vitality and creativity to all that you do.
Compromise (r) ~ 6 ~ Rainbows: The Physical
In the courts of ancient Japan, the male attendants were often selected from the ranks of petty criminal who were castrated. Because of their intimate familiarity with the activities at court, they were often at the center of the political and social intrigues and exercised a great deal of power behind the scenes.
The two figures on this card remind us of the sleazy and conspiratorial situations we can get into when we compromise our own truth. It is one thing to meet another halfway, to understand a point of view different from our own and work towards a harmony of the opposing forces. It is quite another to ‘cave in’ and betray our own truth.
If we look deeply into it, we usually find that we are trying to gain something – whether it is power or the approval of others. If you are tempted, beware: the rewards of this kind of compromise always leave a bitter taste in the mouth.”
This message is layered, but really very simple. Pay attention, be in the moment, and try. Just try. When we are honestly attempting to do the right thing, to live a genuine life, to stand up for those who need us to, we are courageous and aware. When we allow the bullshit of marketing and what others think sway us off into the land of the false, we are only cheating ourselves. And then, as we know, our lessons end up being painful, in the end, taking way too damn long to learn.
Today’s Deck:
Osho Zen Tarot
LateNight Plug:
thank you Betty Fokker, for this review of Hanny’s book. And for doing YOUR part to live a lovingly truthful life.
Thank you for the snake – so pretty!
)
And a great draw this morning – be brave, don’t back down from your principles and beliefs, don’t let anyone sway you from your path by false means however well-intentioned, embrace the moment and yourself within it, surrender to living abundantly and fully. Good energy in that draw!!
)
~
You nailed it.
J
9:29 p.m.
6-12-12
Wonder why the snake, which will usually take whatever path available to get away from humans, was refusing to go to the one side?
I read Fokker’s review of Hanna’s book. Nice. And she will not say things she doesn’t mean.
“Be courageous enough to grow into the flower you are meant to be.” I have made the difficult choice that I was waffling about and it changes my book some.
“Developing the knack of being total in responding to whatever comes, as it comes, is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.” Usually for me this means being open about things instead of having a specific outcome in mind. I readjusted my attitude of what needed to happen at the demolition derby and if I hadn’t I never would have gotten the insight into what my wip will become.
“…we are trying to gain something – whether it is power or the approval of others.” I’ve been tempted to cave several times due to the need for a high word count. Glad I didn’t.
I took something from all three cards – how do you like that?
~
How do I like that?
I fucking LOVE it!!!
J
9:33 p.m.
6-12-12
Hate snakes. I shut my eyes and scrolled down quickly. May have missed some important words. Not going back up there. Ha ha.
I’m loving the messages. a lot to think about today. Thanks.
~
I totally understand. I’m the same way with cats. No worries.
J
9:37 p.m.
6-12-12
Right before I read this I asked my brother to whisper something in my ear that would make me smile again. I think he answered.
“There is no point fighting against the challenges of life, or trying to avoid or deny them. They are there, and if the seed is to become the flower we must go through them. Be courageous enough to grow into the flower you are.” meant to be.
~
Exactly. Meant to be,
indeed.
J
9:39 p.m.
6-12-12
“There is no point fighting against the challenges of life, or trying to avoid or deny them. They are there.”
I think I spend a great deal of my energy trying to deny or avoid those challenges, even pretend they are not there. Crying over them because they are not fair or because I don’t think I can overcome them.
Last year it was Mom’s death. This year it’s employment during a time of low employment and changes in what technical writing is and means. I think I’m going to switch over to editing for awhile, at least until I learn the new skills for writing/managing/whatevering information. I feel as if I’m too old to make all these changes and, not being employed, am becoming more unemployable as the months pass. My confidence is at an all time low if I’m lacking confidence in my writing and editing skills!
I’ll keep reminding myself of the sprout and the the flower. Anything that will help. Just one more thing to add to the soup of my therapy!
~
This is key:
“. . . .
. . . .”
Once we narrow down what to focus on, the “soup” of our lessons don’t have to be so confusing. We are better able to heal when we have the background, reasons, and spot on that path to aim towards.
J
9:43 p.m.
6-12-12
Skye: You are NEVER to old to learn and change. NEVER! You can do this, one step at a time. {{{HUGS}}}
Love snakes. Unfortunately, my neighbor has become a crazy cat lady and the cats are killing the snakes in my yard. It is sooo sad.
“There is no point fighting against the challenges of life, or trying to avoid or deny them. They are there, and if the seed is to become the flower we must go through them. Be courageous enough to grow into the flower you are meant to be.” I actually like this.
~
Much like the misconceptions about bats, there are so damn many people who don’t understand how VERY valuable snakes are!!!
J
9:47 p.m.
6-12-12
Nice snake.
(Sorry, that’s about all I’ve got. I’m still reeling after yesterday’s never bathing again comment, because ohmyGod that’s my favorite thing in the world!)
~
That is a lovely example of our sort-of-native-to-this-area Pacific Gopher Snake. Dan did the googling for you, because we were pretty sure, but not certain. Also, he agrees with you, loves bathing. Of any sort. I stand by my claim, if I never had to do it again I’d be supremely happy. You two? Enjoy.
J
9:51 p.m.
6-12-12
What a lovely snake. I love snakes. I don’t want one as a pet, mind you, because I think that’s just mean, but I love to see them outdoors. I’ve only ever seen garter snakes in my yard, though.
I have to confess with this deck I just scroll down to your interpretation. Too many words. I do try to stay in the moment. I’m not too much of a worrier, and not overly concerned with the opinions of anyone other than my loved ones. The Captain does the worrying for us.
If we’re keeping score, we both love to bathe. Although many days I am too busy to accomplish that goal. Or lazy.
~
You just lapsed over into Dan-and-Emma category with that “too many words” comment. No wonder they love you!
J
10:19 p.m.
6-13-12
(When all the kids were home and young I was damned lucky to get the world’s fastest shower in once a week. Usually I ended up mostly soaked while helping with their baths, so I counted that as a partial cleaning.)