Awe and Fear

While standing on my front balcony, situated across from three city parks and two churches, a tap-tap scraping sound captures my attention. My eyes focus on the culprit. It's a fallen, bronze colored, magnolia leaf. An early morning breeze rolls the hardened frond along the road. Tap-tap, scrape. Tap-tap, scrape.

There's something about Nature. As with me, does she call to you to see her, walk with her, recognize your body is aligned with her, and your senses interact with her? Mother Nature cleanses my spirit from the angst of city life. At the same time her raw power makes me fearful. We witness tumultuous conditions from climate change even if not experiencing her wrath directly. News outfits stream videos of catastrophic events from around the globe. It is unsettling. Full of compassion my heart sinks laden with sadness for those in harms way. Today, I feel lucky. But what is luck and how long does it last?

Awe and fear also characterizes how we can experience the spiritual realm. Interestingly, life-affirming and destruction wrapped up in one female god manifests in a number of religions; the Hindu goddess Kali exemplifies the powers of creator and destroyer; in Kabbalah, the feminine Divine Presence dwelling amongst us is known as the Shekhinah who rewards us for good deeds or meters out punishment for bad ones; and Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest who causes plants to grow or not.

Many people prefer to seek the divine amongst the forests and lakes, rather than in a church, synagogue or temple of organized religion. Even on a secular level most of us are in awe of Mother Nature. She reflects more clearly the notion God's presence is everywhere. As a society we place great value in preserving her through State and national parks, and protective statutes. Unfortunately, a few people hold everyone and everything on the planet hostage while they peddle their anti-science propaganda in support of polluters. Certainly, biblical exegesis of Genesis 2:15 recognize Adam was put in the Garden of Eden "to work it and to guard it" and not to exploit it to serve his own ends. "As stewards of resources placed at our disposal by the Creator, we are duty-bound to expand our concern beyond instant gratification and economic benefits and assign much greater weight to our policies' effect upon posterity." - Rabbi Walter S. Wurzburger.

I am no expert in the field of ecology and climate change, but I do know this; the minor suits of a tarot deck numbers 56 cards, and correspond to the four basic elements. Here, the suit of Disks, or Pentacles is earth; water is Cups; air is Swords; and fire is Wands. The major suit of Trumps, composed of 22 cards, provides an archetypical, and phenomenological map to mirror ourselves and our experiences in the world. Studying and working with the cards is a personal, subjective, and intuitive way to understand we are a part of Nature, and not totally distinct from her. "The Tarot could be described as God's Picture Book, or it could be liked to a celestial games of chess, the Trumps being the piece to be moved according to the laws of their own order over a checkered board of the four elements." - Lady Frieda Harris, artist and collaborator of Alister Crowley's Thoth Tarot Deck.

The Tower, numbered XVI or 16 in the tarot deck's major suit of Trumps, is representative of unexpected change, danger or destruction and a subsequent liberation that transforms one’s life and rebirths a new point of view. In its foreground, the card is traditionally depicted as a tall tower struck by a lightning bolt. Dark smoke billows, while a raging fire threatens folks inside. Some of them jump from the tower's balustrades. Terror reigns. Contrarily, a sun shines in a distant sky as a peaceful dove flies across the expanse.

The symbolism of a shattered structure can refer to an actual tragedy, or a forced move from a home, store, or office building. There is a psychological aspects to the card where one suddenly must abandon entrenched paradigms and beliefs for something new. A calamity can set you free from a stale status quo or prison-like conditions, and usher in new physical formations and cognitive formulations if you are ready to move forward…into the sunlight.

The Tower expresses profound, cataclysmic change. The card indicates innocence lost, never to be regained. We all must grow up, face hardships and some not of our making. In particular, it is apparent man's negligence, and in some cases greed, has escalated us into a climate emergency. The reign of fossil fuels is over. Renewables and sustainability is the new way. It has to be. Issues about access to charging stations, especially for renters, and the many hours it takes to charge an electric battery must be addressed. However, the danger represented in the Tower card points to this exact moment when the world experiences the hottest days on record.

So how does one best adapt to profound change? By being bold, experimental, and open to newness. The Torah states when the Hebrews left Egypt they did so boldly, being given what ever they asked for from the Egyptians. Exodus 13:36. This attitude of confidence beckons our society to take up the challenges of climate change. Sure there will be setbacks, ie golden calf. Nevertheless, we must allow our awe of Nature to guide us. To do nothing is to choose fear and to live on an increasingly uninhabitable Earth.

Street Tarot

High Priestess

"The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett.

Most of us have the ability of internal communication. For many people their inner dialogue (ID) aids them in decision making. Whether to plan a vacation, how to fix a plugged sink, or hammer out an essay for school, one's ID is capable of rational thought and forming sentences. It is a valuable gift when used properly. If not, ID can be a constant flow of disparagement, and festering resentment which contributes to bitterness and low self-esteem. Obviously, how we speak to ourselves on a daily basis affects our wellbeing.

Our intuitive voice is another internal way of communicating. Generally speaking, it is an instantaneous knowing. It can be internally heard as a soft whisper, or with the inner bang of an "Ah ha!" moment. The intuitive usually speaks in a word or phrase, perhaps accompanied by an image. Voodoo possession, or a Catholic in the need of an Exorcist is something else entirely. However, intuitive knowledge might start as a feeling. Energetically felt through our body, it's often referred to as a "sixth sense", "gut feeling" or "hunch".

Street Tarot relies on being ruthlessly honest with yourself. A discerning mind recognizes what is helpful or hurtful, and right from wrong. Hopefully, we behave accordingly. Sometimes we go astray, even when we know better. I'm certainly guilty of that. It is imperative to be able to distinguish between the two ways we communicate to ourselves. With our intuitive voice the heart is somehow involved. As a moral compass it can lead us from disrepute towards honorability. Intuition connects us to an aspect of our Neshama, or soul. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto states that "habitual lying is a spiritual illness. Ultimately, contact with the soul is lost completely."

Rabbi's diagnosis applies to oneself and also to how we respond to others. Jewish ethics understands the dilemma of lying to protect someone from hurtful or harm words and conduct, but self-deception is not excused. Obvious examples of allowances made for lying; when a father lied to the Nazi officer about where he hid his children, or you pretend a prior engagement because a straightforward "no" is a harsh rejection. Certainly, the deeper point the rabbi makes explains Donald Trump's lying with impunity and the formerly grand GOP's soulless support of him. You cannot hide from the truth, or tell made-up stories to take advantage of people, nor steal elections.

The tarot card representative of our inner voice is the High Priestess. The jeweled treasure of mystics is to have a clear channel, a flow of wisdom as if we walk and talk directly with the Divine. The high priestess is in all of us. We just have to listen. Fittingly, the Shema, the foundational prayer of Jewish faith, begins with the word, "Hear". The High Priestess already knows the correct choice to make. Symbolically depicted as a woman who is seated between two distinct black and white pillars. In Kabbalistic terms she is the feminine, indwelling presence of God or Shekhinah, represented as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. She renders rewards and punishments. Her heightened wisdom draws from the capacity to keep these opposing forces separate, and able to see a middle way if need be.

Most of us live outside of Eden where we are constantly faced with moral and ethical dilemmas. Here, right and wrong is all mixed up. Almost moment to moment we must make course corrections on the road of life. Societal and religious ethics pulls us towards doing what is the good and right thing to do. Our actions and their consequences follow our decisions. Being ruthlessly honest with oneself is paramount to choosing wisely.

A relevant walking meditation is to watch the light. As you set out clear your mind of ID talk by repeating a phrase or a word such as "Shema". Continue doing the mantra and focus on the light as you go. Notice how it plays off the leaves of trees and plants, or against the shadows on the buildings, sidewalks and streets. The High Priestess is your guide to walk in the light of your authenticity, and in righteousness.

Street Tarot

The Art of Self-Deception

I’ve met guys with the attitude and swagger of Chuck Norris and General Choi Hong-hi tell me they’re martial artists. Then I find out they’ve only trained for a few months. You either have the skills or you don’t. People who practice the art of self-deception fool themselves and then try to fool you. Most deceivers are just insecure, some are wannabe flim-flam artists, and a few are hard-core criminals. So be aware. They'll devise a scheme to rip you off and take a piece of your soul too if you're not careful. Be even more careful to not become one of them. It is easy to do if you are incapable of self-reflection, too scared to face yourself in the mirror.

Masters of the art of self-deception are criminals. Mind you there are degrees of lawbreakers. Some people find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and resort to unlawful means to escape their predicament. These people believe there is no other way out and intend no real harm to anyone. Than there are the malicious, hard-core, gangster types. They often commit wrongdoing in numbers, and go down for armed robberies, corruption, or conspiracies, and murders. The leaders can be extremely charismatic and their followers blinded by greed and the promise of power.

A current master of this dark art is a lying, two-timing womanizer, fake charity and fake university scam artist, twice impeached, twice indicted, coup plotting, loser. This former so-called “President” is leading the pack to occupy the Oval Office in the formerly grand GOP primary. So how can this emperor who wears no clothes be the kingpin of a major political party? One can assume it's members are advanced practitioners of the art of self-deception. Many are either swindlers or weaklings who have a high tolerance for corruption. Even if in their hearts they know what is true and false or right from wrong, they willingly ride on the coattails of an amoral trickster while he takes America down a dim alley towards tyranny.

I get it if sometimes you can be a bit oblivious. One of my favorite things to do is walk along city streets; wearing the right shoes or boots, feeling good as I go, and grounded. Still, I’ve walked right past friends of mine, only to become aware of them when my name is called and I spin around to locate the source. Consumed with stuff in my head, I didn't see them. Perhaps, you’ve experienced the same thing. It mostly occurs when occupied with thoughts and worries about the future, or rehashing arguments and old hurts. Whatever. Meanwhile, you’ve missed almost everything going on around you.

In this vein of oblivion, if you can’t see Trump is a con man then you’re his mark. Watch out for those campaign emails which label you unpatriotic if you do not empty your pockets and donate money to his legal defense fund. He reminds me of the Devil card in the Tarot deck. Basically, it addresses seductive and captivating behavior that brings short term gains, or creativity which goes nowhere except eventually to pull people down or put them in bondage ie bankruptcy, prison, or unemployment. In most instances, this pleasure and power seeking is done "for thy self alone". In Kabbalah, the phrase implies a sense of selfishness and can be synonymous with the evil inclination or yetzer ha'ra.

A good remedy against this vile tendency is to admit you're wrong, which is something masters of this dark art cannot do. Develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at yourself when you've made mistakes. A friend told me it's healthy to make a fool out of yourself twice a year. You may be embarrassed but it keeps you humble and can open your heart. Whereas, the masters of the art of self-deception are arrogant, narcissistic, and shameless. Hatred and resentment fester inside when what they've attempted to build with shady tactics and shoddy materials starts to crumble. Inevitably they blame others, and cast them as demons who deserve violence and retribution, albeit on baseless accusations.

To study Kabbalah you have to be ruthlessly honest with yourself. I cannot stress this enough. The same goes for Street Tarot. To gain an understanding of the trajectory of your life and your propensities is not easy or straight forward, and you're bound to not always get it right when resolving issues. Facing your faults and learning from them is critical. You must get sensitive to your feelings and not delude yourself. This is having integrity. To maintain a sense of self respect there is no time for Big Lies. To travel the road of self-discovery is about process and ethics. The destination is your authentic lifestyle, coupled with an expanded awareness and a joyous, giving heart. Spiritual growth is not a Machiavellian endeavor where any means justify the ends. There are no cunning detours or short cuts here.

Street Tarot