Our Creator's Image

A few nights ago I had a dream where I found a box in a very well-lit closet. I knew the box held something like a statue or figure that represented Olodumare (God, Goddess, Creator, however you like). I was curious as to how the representation might look, and when I turned the box around I saw different compartments that each held a perfectly detailed model of one of the human senses, made out of some sort of white material. For instance, one was the inside of a mouth, one was an ear.

At first I was confused.

And then I was moved.

The thought floating through my dreamscape was that Olodumare gave us our senses that we might perceive him/her. Simple as that.

And when I thought about it, it was perfect. Olodumare, God, the Creator.... takes no human form. It's not about physical appearances but how we experience the divine spirit that flows through all things.

Image Credit

Beholding a spectacular sunset that leaves you profoundly thankful....

Feeling a soft breeze on your skin, while simultaneously hearing it rush between tree leaves....

Seeing the sunlight filter through grass, delicately.

The sound of the ocean waves,
the chirp of young birds,
the laughter of children.

The way the river courses over stones, slate and tan,
paper-thin filaments of ice stretching across a window pane.

Gently curling wisps of incense smoke rising ever upward.

The bright reds, oranges, blues, and whites of fire dancing,
piercing the velvet blackness of a dark night.

The scent of rain falling on dusty earth,

and on and on and on.......

Even Queens Pass Gas

A good sense of humor is critical in life, and that includes when working with the cards. Two nights ago my older daughter came to me and casually asked if I'd pull a card for her. I agreed, as usual, and asked what she wanted to focus on. She said (with a very straight face):

"What would it be like if I ever accidentally farted in class? How would I deal with that??" 

I had to laugh. I asked her if this had ever happened to her before, and she quickly denied it, but it was very apparent that it was a real concern of hers, so I told her I'd pull a card about it, and we'd see what Tarot had to say. I laughed for a second time when I pulled:

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

Before saying anything, I showed the card to her, and she started to chuckle, too. I said, "Well, this Queen certainly seems to be having some indigestion - just look at the cloud she's sitting in! She definitely knows what it's like to fart in class. But look at her face! Do you think she cares? No way - she's all 'Yeah, I farted, so what? You guys are SO immature...'"

My daughter laughed and said, "Yeah, it's perfect! So now I know what to do. If it ever happens to me I'll just be cool and act like it really doesn't matter at all!"

I think that the Tarot has a sense of humor, too. 

Taroscopes: February 2015

I skipped January 2015; I was off in the northern lands of the United States, trekking across frozen fields and through icy forests. The internet still doesn't work too well in those parts of the world (fortunately, I think). Yesterday I asked my little daughter to go to my divination bookcase and pick something for me to use for this month's 'scopes. She walked off happily, enjoying this small-yet-important way she would be contributing to my work, and when she came back she handed me the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot. That's my girl.

Happy feast day of Oya, Happy Imbolc, Happy post-Superbowl, Happy February!

New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
S. Glassman, L. Martinié

Capricorn - Petro Hounsis: If things aren't blossoming the way you'd hoped with a special project or even a relationship, take a step back and consider what can be adjusted or improved upon. Reconnect to your sense of self, your spirit center, and consider how you can best express your unique purpose and intention in this world.

Aquarius - 9 Petro: The pressure is on and the kitchen is heating up, but you've got the reserves to see your tasks through to completion. You've already been here, in one way or another. Know that you can do it again.

Pisces - 7 Rada: You're getting a sense of sharp reality, and coming to terms with how to move forward with your life. The truth can hurt, but in this case difficult knowledge will help you create a better, healthier world for you to thrive in.

Aries - 7 Congo: This month pay attention to what attracts and entices you. What possibilities hold real value, and which are best left by the wayside? The first step to finding out is to tune into the source of your own desires and motivations.

Taurus - 3 Santería: February 2nd is Oya's feast day, and this card represents her energy - lucky you! You've got ample power to turn projects out this month, and in matters that bring you together with others, things are likely to go smoothly. If you confront any bumps in the road, reach out for help - you'll receive it.

Gemini - Possession: In a sense, this card is about self-possession, which will be the key energy for you this month. Tap into your abundant inner strength to power through all of the circumstances that come your way in February. Grace and confidence will be your best friends.

Cancer - Secret Societies: If the scales are feeling a bit off this month, consider how you can work to right them again. Sometimes it takes just a commitment to truth and a willingness to do things a little differently.

Leo - Ti Bon Ange: If you're feeling drained, take some time to reflect on how well you're balancing out the different areas of your life. Are you working so much that you don't have enough time for self care? Are you emotionally invested in something that isn't showing much return? Whatever it is, discover what is true for you, and consider ways to act positively on it.

Virgo - 10 Rada: This month the key term is "paradigm shift." One door closes, but trust that it's always so that another door can open. Take care of yourself, and make sure to get enough sleep!

Libra - Couché: You may feel the desire to step back from the world this month in order to spend some time exploring your rich inner landscape. Listen to and honor your need for introspection, and use the self-knowledge you gain to enrich your outer world - you may have valuable perspectives to share with others.

Scorpio - 7 Petro: Stand by your own point of view this month, and know that you have ideas worth being heard by others. The first step is to know what you want - the second step is going after it.

Sagittarius - Z'Etoile: You have a star shining over your head this month, raining hope and love down on your head. Open your arms and dance in the clarity and positivity that is manifest in your life, and look for ways that you can share your own light with the world.

Super Bowl XLIX Prediction

I'm not an American football-fan, nevertheless that did not prevent me from pulling some cards about the outcome of last year's game (which you can read about here!). So I thought I'd do the same this year, just to see how it all plays out (pun sort-of intended).

Last year the cards were in favor of the underdog, the Sea Hawks, and they did indeed succeed... in fact they destroyed the Broncos. They're back at the Bowl this year, and this year most people are rooting in their favor. So naturally, my cards have again come out in favor of the (sort of) underdog: the Patriots. Here are the cards:

Sea Hawks: 

10 of Swords rx - Page of Pentacles - Queen of Wands rx

Patriots:

9 of Pentacles - 2 of Cups - Knight of Swords

So how do I read these lines? I think that the Sea Hawks will make a great effort, but their energy will be erratic which will prevent them from ultimate success. Meanwhile the Patriots have solid form and aggressive tactics to boot, with that nice 2 of Cups in the middle uniting those two important energies. 

There's only one way to find out how it's going to go down.. gotta watch the game tomorrow!!!

Update: The Patriots won 28-24, and the Sea Hawks definitely put up a great fight. The 2 of Cups was the Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady, and his teammate Edelman - they were responsible for most of the scoring, and even hugged at one point after a sweet touchdown. The team itself as a single entity was the 9 of Pentacles: tight, together, and strong. Interestingly, there are 11 active players during a game, for each side, and 9+2 is 11. This seems to underscore the team togetherness. The Knight could have been a number of the players from the team - swift and smart. 

Strength of a Mambo: Courage to "Be"

One of the main focus cards I pulled for my year ahead (2015) was the Devil.

I like this card.

First of all, as a Capricorn this is the card that is astrologically associated with me. This means that 2015 will be a year of coming into myself more fully, of coming to terms with my fears and shadows.

I'm ready for it.

I've always been a person who loves and values peace, harmony, kindness, and understanding. I've never functioned well in heavy conflict, and I've always sought common ground with others; I figure that no matter how different we are, there must be somewhere that we connect.

Wildwood Tarot; Ryan/Matthews/Worthington

Part of my growth area this year is in the ability to be myself, have (and share) my own thoughts and feelings, express my perspectives and worldview, without being afraid of how others will perceive me, how others might react, without being afraid of being misunderstood, or disliked. I have to be me. I have to embrace and develop my personal power through having the strength to shine my light, to be where I'm at, without insisting on harmony all the time (which also means allowing others to be where they're at). Risky business!

I had a really difficult experience a couple of days ago in an online forum, where I was misunderstood, harshly judged, and then censored...in a group that prides itself on being a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental haven, no less. I only found out that my comment (about the importance of honoring the unique histories behind diasporic religions) caused ill feelings for others when I noticed that my comment had been deleted, quietly and without any notification. At first I was pretty surprised, and I reached out to the moderator to understand what had happened. It turned out that a couple of people had messaged her privately to let her know that they didn't like my point of view, and in an attempt to avoid any conflict, the decision had been made to simply get rid of the "offending" comment (without contacting me for clarification, mind you). I was totally taken aback, and to be honest, really hurt. I certainly wasn't offending any one, my comment had been (I thought) really affirming, and very heartfelt. I was hurt, confused, and I was pretty angry. They didn't like my point of view?! (Even if that were true, what happened to healthy, respectful discourse?)

My first feeling was almost a sense of illness at having been misunderstood, and then robbed of the ability to clarify my perspective or intentions. The second feeling I had was deep sorrow coupled with an admittedly-pathetic desire to remain mute the rest of my life so as to avoid any potential dilemmas in the future. But I knew there was a lesson buried somewhere in there. I decided to pull a card from my New Orleans Voodoo Tarot to help me better understand how to have the strength to speak my own truth in the face of this very apparent danger of being misunderstood and....not liked!

New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
S. Glassman

I drew the Rada Mambo (Queen of Swords). Ah hah. If there was ever a master of speaking truth, it is this strong woman. I sat with her image for a while. She looks fierce, totally unafraid of anyone or anything. She knows herself, and she is willing to say what needs to be said time and time again, no matter if others approve of her words or not. She has a head in one hand and a knife in the other: she doesn't abide false masks; she is ever in search of truth. And she doesn't hide herself from others, because knows that truth, and the search for it, is the only thing worth engaging in. The book Vodou Visions (2007), by Sallie Ann Glassman, states:

Look into the eyes of the Rada Manbo and see that her power, mastery, and place in the world give her pleasure and satisfaction. She is radiant with life. Her intelligence is based on what the primordial waters of the body know. The serpent is her ally. The deep waters of her psyche contain deep knowledge, which is uncontaminated by intellectual deceit. She cuts off the lie with her sword. (pg. 191)

I've often said that of all the Queens in the Tarot deck, the Queen of Swords is the one least like me. In my quest for fullness and balance, she has important gifts to teach me about being strong, clear, and true with my words and purpose. 

Then yesterday I came across an article by Lori Deschene (from tinybuddha.com), called "10 Reasons to Be Okay with Being Disliked." 

As my husband would say, me vino como anillo al dedo (the article was a perfect fit for the moment). Number 5 on the list read: 

You can freely express your thoughts: One of the kindest things you can do for someone else is listen without judging. You deserve that same kindness, but you won’t always get it. People will form opinions as you speak. Talk anyway. Let your words be kind but fearless.

Kind, but fearless. That sounds like my dear teacher, the Rada Mambo. She's got my back as I develop the courage to "be." 

Elegua and Emotional Mindfulness

Last night I wanted to do something slightly out of the ordinary for my typical practice: pull a focus card for the week ahead. I wasn't in the mood for Tarot or Lenormand; I realized that it was Oracle time! I grabbed my Halloween Oracle, which I haven't used since early November, and settled down on the couch to shuffle.

I pulled Vampire: Emotional Intelligence.

Halloween Oracle - S. DeMarco

After some thought I realized that it's quite apt given what I've already experienced regarding my previous week or two! Some questions I pose to myself:

How well am I regulating my emotions and emotional responses?
In what ways can I create boundaries so that other people and situations don't drain me?
How can I foster a balanced give-and-take in my interactions with other people?

I've noticed that I've been more easily affected by my environment over the last few days, with stronger emotional reactions than tend to be normal for me (mostly teary, but occasionally irritable). In large part that's due to being sleepier than usual due to a busy, active past few weeks. Sleepier-than-usual = nerves more easily frayed. In these instances it becomes particularly important to take a step back and allow for a moment of reflection in order to gain perspective. Sometimes the little things that set us off really aren't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, and certainly aren't worth expending our valuable energy on being upset about.

One place I am sure I'll need to be mindful about my emotional responses is during one of the classes I'm teaching this month; I have a difficult student who's been trying my patience. I'm pretty laid back and have a great sense of humor, so it takes almost a miracle for me to lose my cool. This month many miracles have come to pass, I'll just put it that way. This will be my last week with this particular crew of college kids, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible, so I will focus on the joy I can find in each moment, and keep my emotional well-being in focus.

Just as I sat down to write this post I took a moment to finish reading an article by Jia Tolentino of an interview conducted with a fellow Lukumí practitioner, Caridad, that was quite well done. And in a moment of pristinely perfect synchronicity (even beyond what is evident from this post) this is what I read:

I appreciate Lucumi for all it has taught me about honoring life for all its contradictions and multiplicities. The idea of “both/and” transcending “either/or” is really present. It’s been very helpful for me, in anything from problems at work to breakups. Also, the idea of some orishas teaching backwards—that some lessons come unexpectedly and from a context that feels really tough. I’m a teacher, and I used to get these kids that were just wilin’ out, just so very crazy—and I learned to identify it as, “That's Eleggua's trickster energy.”

And that would bring a change in me—I’d go from being reactionary to being able to genuinely say “Thank you for showing up” to both Eleggua and the young folks themselves. This is where growing up within Buddhism really shaped my practice of Lucumi. I think it’s helped me be present and accepting with life as it is, at the same time that I try to be transformative when I need change.

Elegua
Image by Andrea Corniel

A Novena Spread in Action

In early December I held a 9-hour novena vigil for St. Expedite (he's the saint of quickness, therefore it's not 9 days, like many other vigils tend to be!). I wrote a post about the spread that I derived from my experience (you can access it by clicking here) and in this post I want to share the actual reading that I did using the guiding questions that I developed based on each hour's set of prayers. Rather than cleaning up my notes, I am simply transcribing the precise thoughts that I jotted down when I was in the depths of the experience, unedited, and qualifier-free.

1) How can I experience faith more fully?

5 of Cups reversed. Strength through healing emotional sadness and disappointment. Consider the times I was sad and regretful, and how those situations turned out to be positive in ways I couldn't imagine at the time. Then you see how everything truly does happen for a reason - there is order.

8 of Disks, Thoth Tarot
Crowley/Harris

2) How can I work to manifest my hopes in the world?

8 of Pentacles. Everything takes time, don't forget. Dedicate yourself, learn, build your skills over time, know that little sacrifices will pay off in the long run. Build a foundation under the sun, and keep it fertilized. Be sensible, and be willing to put forth the effort. Cultivate your power.

3) How can I rise above the limitations or bonds of material reality in order to live my purest truth?

Universe reversed. Don't settle. You can reach material "comfort" and still not be fulfilled. Upright, this is a card of synthesis, everything coming together. Until you feel complete, until you are satisfied that you've embraced your true calling and are following your path, be open to change. Be clear minded and have the strength to see truth, and to cut away what isn't working.

4) What is my greatest source of strength?

The Sun. Joy, a light always lit. Happiness. My children.

Thoth Tarot; Crowley/Harris

5) How can I release attachments to expectations, outcomes, and desires?

Death reversed. Realizing that it all comes down to how we deal with and embrace change. When we have our sights set on something and it doesn't happen, we have to let go, and if we don't want to, or can't, we feel pain. We limit our ability to evolve, to be spiritually prosperous, when we resist differences and transitions. We have to change on the inside, alter our worldview, and give the ultimate release. Death is all about letting go.

6) How can I most effectively deal with negative emotions so that they don't hold me hostage?

King of Wands. Expression. Flow - this King isn't afraid to engage others. Being true to yourself, representing your truth, and being willing to take risks. Focused feeling - expressive but not out of control. Owning your experience. Being honest about your feelings, and willing to confront others when necessary. Comfortable in your own skin. Don't let negative feelings own you or dampen your fire to create, and to succeed.

Thoth Tarot; Crowley/Harris

7) How can I best seek guidance from my higher power?

Queen of Wands reversed. Inner confidence and humility. It's not so much about reaching out, but reaching in.

8) In what manner can I share my good intentions with the world?

6 of Swords. Helping others transition from difficulty to peace and well-being. Showing how to turn a negative into a positive. Objectivity. Seeing the good. Healing.

9: How can I be my best self, no matter the circumstances?

3 of Wands. Virtue. Realization of hope, creative fire, embracing my Will, self-possession, achievement. Energy working in alignment toward the same goal. Being true to myself. Understanding the responsibility of leadership.