Death
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.~Joseph Campbell
Hanging on to the past, holding a grudge, reliving injustices in your mind till you can’t function; these are all examples of a life where the energy of the Death card would be a welcome relief. But what about a life that is coasting along just fine?
Living in complacency can be a trap as much as dwelling in a negative head-space. Sometimes you think you have what you want, and it is only when something comes along and shakes up your world, that you realize that you have been allowing yourself to be held back from a richer, more fulfilling life.
It doesn’t have to be the earthshaking energy of the Tower card. Sometimes it’s far more subtle, and it sneaks up on you. Sometimes while you’re crying in the dark over some dear thing that you’ve lost, you began to feel a small bud fight to emerge from deep underground. Don’t let the pain you’re experiencing overwhelm it, let it grow.
This is the power of Death acting in your life.
A Cat’s Prayer
For Siofra. And for all kitties everywhere.
As I lay me down to sleep
I pray Bast my soul to keep,
I pray Bast my soul to take,
And transport it to the sandy lands
Where my forebears worshiped were,
Where my ancient kin were much revered
And where the cat first learned to purr.
As I pad on velvet feet
I pray Bast will give me mice to eat,
And as I use my litter tray
I ask that she will find me play,
In her bright heaven where all cats,
Are stroked by Bast’s most blessed hands,
And bask and gambol in her care,
Remembering Egypt’s ancient sands.
As I kneed upon your knees,
I hope that Bast is greatly pleased
To see her child at rest and play,
Fed and cared for every day,
And when I reach that glorious place
And gaze upon her feline face,
I’ll ask that Bast will grant you grace
To join me in eternal play.
Author Unknown
Harmony
This card’s primary meaning for me is harmony.
Cups deal with matters of the heart and emotions. This card quite often reflects a romantic relationship, although that is not the only meaning. As with all the other cards, context is important. It can also mean a harmonious partnership between friends or business associates. It can represent an arrangement between siblings or other family members in caring for parents, grandparents or children, who may not be cared for adequately by their own parents. I have found this to represent the bond between a human and a beloved pet on more than one occasion. The important thing to keep in mind is that it deals with emotional bonds and relationships. These can take many forms.
It can also represent a unity of opposites, as with the energies of Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy. In this case it may represent opposing forces within a single psyche, as when an individual must find peace within themselves over an issue, and is striving for inner harmony. Between two or more people, it may mean a striving for balance among opposing personality types. But it is a favorable sign that folks are willing to work together to achieve this harmony among themselves. The opposite might be found in the Five of Wands which usually represents competition among associates, sometimes a healthy competition and sometimes contentious. In the Two of Cups, this would indicate a non-competitive effort to resolve differences and find common ground.
In most cases it is a positive card, reflecting love, friendship and cooperation.
Downward Facing Dog
This is primarily a Tarot blog, but I do like to share other things from time to time, if I think they are interesting or may be beneficial to others. I’ve been practicing Yoga for a few years. I thought I’d share a pose that has really helped me when I get into my dark moods.
Like many people, I battle with depression most days. It’s something I’ve had to manage, in various stages of intensity, since childhood. I’ve tried the drugs, and talked to the shrinks, and changed my diet and all that. Some things help and some things don’t. But these days, when the depression demons come to visit me, I just sic my Dog on them.
Adho Mukha Svanasana, also known as Downward Facing Dog, is one of the poses in the traditional Yoga Sun Salutation sequence. But it is also practiced as an asana on it’s own. I think it may be my favorite pose right now. It certainly has helped alleviate my dark moods.
According to Yoga Journal magazine, Downward Facing Dog,
- Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
- Energizes the body
- Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
- Strengthens the arms and legs
- Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
- Helps prevent osteoporosis
- Improves digestion
- Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue
- Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis
Notice the very first thing they mention is calming the brain and helping to relieve stress and depression. It’s really uncanny. I don’t know how it works, but it does. Yoga for Women says,
With regular practice, Downward Facing Dog rejuvenates your whole body. An inverted pose, it allows for the reversed flow of gravity and increases the flow of blood to the head and heart.
Perhaps the increased flow of blood to the heart and head has something to do with it. However it works, it is certainly helping me. After coming out of this asana, I feel a tremendous sense of peace that stays with me for the rest of the day.
Child Pose is the recommended counter-pose for Downward Facing Dog. I actually use Child Pose a couple of times in my practice. It really stretches out my back, which is also a source of trouble for me. It’s the perfect compliment to the Dog. But the Dog still rules. It’s the highlight of my daily practice.
