Tarot Tuesday

Osho Zen Tarot- Going With The Flow

Going With the Flow is also called "The Ace of Water" ( the Ace of Cups in traditional tarot decks) and shows an indistinct figure that is floating in a large pool of water in which soft waves are rising and falling ... the water is blue and empty and the figure appears to be naked and shallowly submerged in the water itself.

The figure's posture is relaxed and reminds me of a loose version of the Hanged Man's posture ...one leg tucked lightly behind the other, the left hand tucked behind the head while the other floats outward comfortably from the body.

The companion book states, "When this card appears in a reading it is an indication that you are able to float now, trusting that life will support you in your relaxation and take you exactly where it wants you to go. Allow this feeling of trust and relaxation to grow more and more; everything is happening exactly as it should."

Sometimes, when our plans are thwarted or things do not go as we wish them to, it reminds us that we are not in control and sometimes it is easier to just let go of the imaginary reigns we hold on to so tightly and understand the universal mind has our best interests at heart and we can just sit back and let it happen.

Tale Of Two Chariots...

Yesterday, I touched upon the Strength card and the Chariot card as far as soft and hard control and thought it might be fun to compare the Chariot cards from two different decks and how the artists' depiction can subtly change basic meanings. On the left is the Chariot card from "The Baroque Bohemian Cat's Tarot" and on the right is the Chariot card from my "Tarot of the Magical Forest." The first thing I notice is how the BBC Chariot shows a rather dignified kitty, firmly holding the reigns and looking very much in control and in charge but when I look at the Chariot from the Magical Forest, I see a small wide eyed porcupine looking as if he hopes that he is in control but is just unsure enough to look a bit freaked out... to add to it, his oxen don't look any more confident than their driver. It's interesting how both cards have the meaning of control and composure but the differences of artists' interpretation can add a different perspective so that when these two cards come up in a reading, I might say that in the case of the Magical Forest, the individual is feeling somewhat out of control in a situation and might need to step back and reevaluate their position.... with the BBC tarot I would head in an opposite direction and say that there is the feeling that this person is hanging on to their control too tightly and could benefit from loosening their grip a little bit and some relaxation might be in order.