Encouragement Does More

 From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ten of Swords; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Cherry:

Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The psychologist Albert Ellis said that one of the habits of crooked thinking is "musturbation," when we are driven by irrational shoulds, oughts and demands. I know of three isolated, older women who are constantly compelled to correct people. This tendency doesn't have anything to do with remedying misunderstandings or misinformation, but the drive to bulldoze over any actions or conversations that don't align with their interests, assumptions and opinions. As "experts," they believe it is their duty to straighten people out - not through discussions but through demands or drama. Cherry symbolizes that which is sweet but transient. Why waste our lives blowing up relationships when we could be enjoying them? As Edward Weston wrote, "A lifetime can well be spent correcting and improving one's own faults without bothering about others."

Finishing the Job

From the Legacy of the Divine, the King of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Tree:

Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.

―Pelé 

The King of Wands is similar to his Knight - full of initiative and fervor. But unlike him, the King knows how to keep the fire of his energy and enthusiasm burning bright until a project is finished. His vision of what it will look like when completed drives him onward. The Tree represents health and a holistic view. Things left undone soon slide into decline and decay. A house left half-built, a painting unfinished, or a garden unmanaged never get the chance to reach their full potential. As Pearl S. Buck tells us, “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”

Only Opportunity

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Ace of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Tower:

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity. 

—Douglas MacArthur

Marchetti's Ace is full of symbols: acorns for something that can be planted and harvested; a hedgehog for resourcefulness and adaptability; ladybugs for luck and protection; and a bee for industry and allies. Opportunities may sound easy, but they can require the qualities of action, innovation and flexibility, defense of one's time and energy, hard work, and possibly partners. Does this already sound too complicated and overwhelming? Tower encourages us to look from a higher perspective so that we see the big picture instead of sinking in a million details. Once we see from this view, it will become clearer how to prioritize and what step to take first. 

That Which is Far

From the Legacy of the Divine, the Knight of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Horse:

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

―William Shakespeare

The Knight of Coins is normally thought of as a reliable, diligent fellow who does things with care. But with horses on both cards today, it seems that they should be the focus of the reading. Horse represents freedom of movement, but on the Knight card two unharnessed horses are locked in battle. It appears that any plans for action are stymied for the moment. With a Coins card, this could suggest physical health and the need for recovery. We may find ourselves in a caretaking role for someone who is injured or ill, or we might be the one who needs rest to recuperate. One of the Knight's helpful traits is patience; if we find ourselves in one of these situations, he might offer us a Swahili proverb: "“Patience attracts happiness; it brings near that which is far.”

I See You

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Ship:

The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that’s wrong with the world.

—Dr. Paul Farmer

No one gets through life without experiencing a feeling of desperation, even if it waits for us on our death beds. To allow people to be without shelter or clothing, without mental and physical health care, without daily nourishment, and without the comfort of others is inhumane. To create situations where they feel unsafe is cruel and unfeeling. Welcome to present-day America (well at least for those of us without power or wealth). The Ship suggests movement, and the water it floats upon the emotions that can easily overwhelm us when we feel such despair. Perhaps our biggest flotation device is compassion, as Allyson Pimentel explains: "when compassion takes the form of meaningful action, it can counter the feeling of being overwhelmed because it allows us to channel our feelings into a concrete way of expressing solidarity and support for those in need." It doesn't need to be big or expensive. We just offer what we can when we can with love.

Excellence is not Perfection

From the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Butterfly:

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.  –Paul J. Meyer

The Sagittarian archer readies to loose his arrow behind eight wands; all preparations have been made and obstacles overcome. Now it is full steam ahead, so as my father-in-law used to say, "Keep your head down and tail up." The Butterfly warns us not to get sidetracked by perfection, flitting from one thing to another, trying to ensure every detail is flawless. That ideal state will never be reached. As Angela Duckworth reminds us, "Time and energy are limited. Any successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do."

Be the Lion

This week I'll be using the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, created and self-published by Ciro Marchetti. I'll pair with it the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, created and self-published by Karin Dalton-Smith. Today's draws are the Five of Swords and Lion:

Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. 

―Robert Greene

Life coaches encourage us to be a winner, to overcome our opposition. Winning an argument can build our confidence and offer proof of our eloquence and intellect. Yet when victory is our only end goal, we often don't consider what we might inadvertently do to get there or what the ultimate cost might be. That mindset doesn't teach us to see with a wide perspective or to humbly consider that we might not have all the right information. Such an approach won't nurture any relationships either, except those who already agree with us. The Lion reminds us that it takes courage to walk away from such a situation rather than be saddled with a big load of rage and resentment. 

When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower [source of the thought - the mind]. One only throws a stick at a lion once.

―Milarepa