Saturday, August 8, 2015

Lammas Tarot Blog Hop: Rediscovering Our Joy


Welcome to the Lammas 2015 Blog Hop! Please use the links at the top or bottom of this post to navigate to the other wonderful blogs in this circle.

Our wrangler, Joanne Sprott, has asked us to discuss the influence of the Sun in the Tarot, and/or of Mercury from a favorite Tarot or Oracle deck. I've decided to focus on the Sun (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the sun called me to focus on it!).

One morning, recently, I was looking out my kitchen window in the early hours of the morning, enjoying the glint of the rising sun through the green landscape. I thought about how interesting it is that the angle of light can bring out so many lovely details in even the simplest of things. This spurred the thought:

How does the illumination of the sun invite us to see things in a new light?
New Orleans Voodoo Tarot/S. Glassman
On a mundane, earthly level, the sunlight filtering through green leaves, flowers, and grasses imbues nature with a golden glow that can be absolutely breathtaking. My favorite time of day to "take in" my back yard is in the early morning during the time of year between early June and late August. The rising sun lifts into the sky at a precise angle that lights up the tall bushes and shrubs along our fence line such that it looks as if a magical door has materialized. Golden beams glint off emerald hibiscus leaves just outside my window, and long shafts of brilliance stretch over the lawn, leaning into secret crevices in our maple tree. It's a beautiful sight to behold. And just as fast as it appears, the magic is gone, the sun rises high into the day-time sky and the back yard looks ordinary once again.
A golden arch opens as the sun rises
In the Tarot, the Sun can symbolize success, health, and happiness, even enlightenment - not the sudden revelation of the Tower, but a softer, joyful clarity. In the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot, Trump XIX Gros Bon Ange represents our immortal essence, the spark of divinity within us, and as such reflects our capacity to experience and express all-encompassing love and joy. There is deep power in that.

How does our ability to experience these two profound emotions influence the way in which we perceive our environments, our relationships, and our Selves? 
Stone Tarot/A. Stone
Many depictions of the Sun card show children because they are, generally speaking, great emissaries and teachers of both joy and love. But this symbol also represents the children that live inside of us, the aspect of our being that is purest, most innocent, and most joyful.

At times along our earthly paths we experience great difficulties that cast long shadows over our hearts and souls, and challenge or inhibit our ability to know love and joy. It is in these moments where rediscovering our connection to Sun energy is most crucial.

The Dalai Lama said: "Seeking joy and freedom from suffering is the birthright of all beings."

Interestingly, my cousin, Junior, posted a quote the other day that read: "Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional." I really appreciated the root of that message, and decided to investigate its origins online. This brought me to an article from Psychology Today, written by Dan Mager, M.S.W., wherein he discusses how mindfulness and positive thinking mark the difference between the healthy management of (and recovery from) physical and emotional pain, and the experience of suffering. In other words, it's about how we respond when "bad shit" happens.
Vision Quest Tarot/Tarot De St. Croix
At the start of the article the author quotes Dr. Viktor Frankl (Holocaust survivor, among other things):

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

I had just been thinking about this very idea several days prior after having heard an argument where one party reacted strongly, bitterly, and rapidly to a perceived affront. When asked, "Why do you act that way?" the person replied, "I can't help it, that's just how I am!" I thought, That way of thinking is how we choose not to do or be better. There is a moment immediately following the occurrence of a difficult situation, a brief, liminal space, where we decide how we will respond, and there is wisdom in slowing down just enough to allow that moment to touch us.

Becoming aware, or mindful, is important, but not necessarily easy (none of the things in life that are truly worth it are particularly "easy"). So how do we open our Selves to experiencing the love and joy that are our birthright? How do we increase our awareness of, our capacity to experience, Sun in our lives? To address this, I've created a spread:

Card 1: In what way do I feel limited in my ability to embrace joy?
Card 2: How can I help open myself to receive joy?


Card 3: In what way do I feel limited in my experience of love?
Card 4: How can I become more aware of the love in my life?


Card 5: What is my deepest longing?


"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." -Buddha

Happy Hopping!

22 comments:

  1. Olivia, I really liked your golden arch photo. It's such a good practice to learn about your own area that way. And great spread too. :D

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    1. Ha! Thanks, Arwen :) It is really interesting to see how the sun moves differently depending on our geography!

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  2. Thanks for this, Olivia. It's great to watch the movement of the Sun throughout the year, and to track its change in position, isn't it? And a great spread, too!

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    1. Thanks, Alison! Sun-watching (and moon-watching) are really great ways to practice mindfulness and to connect to our environment - I do love it! :)

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  3. Olivia, your photos are breathtaking, and your ideas even more so. The concept of the space between stimulus and response will make me think deeply all day..at least!

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    1. Thank you so much! Your words are very meaningful to me! :)

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  4. I Love this. I was just writing in my newsletter for this month about the space before gratification when we choose to delay and the benefits of waiting. Those spaces are the origin of conscious choice and therefore transformation. I totally identify with the sentiment of joy and choice both as life practices. Aaaaand I'm gonna use this spread. lol

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    1. Thank you! I love that we're traveling on a similar wave-length :) I hope that the spread works well for you!

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  5. My dearest friend how I needed to read this today I know I have a lot things to be grateful for but sometimes sadness and worries predominate my feelings and then the Sun is nowhere in sight. You've reminded me of how it is possible to accept the suffering and chose joy anyway I am going to do this spread tomorrow and I am positive it will give me some great advice
    Thanks you so much
    Hugs

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    1. <3 I am really touched by what you say, and I know that it can be hard sometimes find the light when things get painful. I hope that your reading gives you helpful insights!! Big hugs back to you, Ellen!

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  6. Great post Olivia! I totally agree with you that choosing not to be mindful of why we do what we do is choosing not to improve on ourselves. I am going to try this spread soon...

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    1. Thanks, Vickie! Good luck with the spread :) Many blessings your way!

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  7. The experience, and photograph, you share about watching the sun and it's magic in your own back yard reminds me of an experience I had not long ago while watching the sun as it set not long after a storm passed through. The light of the setting sun as it played on the window blinds was amazing and incredibly magical.

    There's much food for thought within your post here, especially taking some space to be mindful of how to respond after a difficult occurrence/situation. And thanks for sharing a new tarot spread to try. I'll be working with it.

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    1. Thanks for the lovely comments, Rose! It's amazing how breathtaking the sun and its light can be. I often feel in awe just looking at the depth of the sky (especially as you say after a storm has passed!). I hope the spread works nicely for you! :)

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  8. What a wonderful focus for a spread! And a great way to hop across blogs!

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  9. Brilliant, thoughtful and though-provoking post. I found it a very enjoyable read and I appreciate your garden photo with it's golden archway and I liked the sun cards you chose too especially the New Orleans tarot and the Tarot de St Croix. Thank you BB

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes, I love how in the Tarot de St. Croix she has painted the silhouette in the light of the sun. It's very rich! :)

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  10. I'm not a big fan of the Frankl quote for reasons I won't go in to... in short, I find it easier to forgive someone for being a victim of their own nature, than facing someone who deliberately decides and calculates actions that are less than honourable...
    On a brighter note... really love the New Orlean's Voodoo image :)

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    1. Thanks, Karen :) I love the New Orleans Voodoo deck! Thanks for sharing your point of view, as well.

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  11. Lovely, Olivia. Just the sort of writing to give the Sun it's due and reveal its depth and power as a symbol for us. Nice spread, too. I got an interesting combination of Ace of P, Lovers (!), 4 of S, 5 of w, and 2 of W. Looks like I need to make a commitment to initiating joy right where I am, and find love by getting off my ass and playIng the game of life, and being ready for adventure!

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    1. Ha! Those are some really interesting cards! Thanks for your kind words, Joanne, I really enjoyed the challenge of this topic. I ran through so many ideas (I wrote about the Magician for the last Hop, etc) and none of them really felt "right," until the sun poked me along. So thanks to you!

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