Storyteller Spread Day 6: Sword

I'm on Day 6 of using Dianne Sylvan's Storyteller spread, today pulling the card for the sixth position, representing The Sword.

The Sword represents a skill, asset or strength that the hero discovers during her completion of the Task set forth by the elder (in Card 4). It signifies a potentially overlooked issue that will have an important impact on the outcome of the quest and the hero's ability to face the Dragon (in Card 7).

The primary card I drew for this position was Temperance (XIV), the first major arcana card in a primary position in the spread. This card represents balance and harmony between opposites - a dynamic relationship that creates tension and movement and ultimately an incorporation of the two into a healthy integrity. While either opposite can become destructive and overwhelming when isolated on its own, together they form a whole that is larger than either one alone, that "includes and transcends" without subsuming or quashing either.

Though the meaning of Temperance leapt out at me immediately, I'm not sure exactly how it fits into the larger journey - though it does seem like balancing opposites that are in tension with each other has been the theme for the past couple drawings. Card 4, the Page of Pentacles, had major arcana cards as its two supporting cards, each facing inward to support the primary card, and each representing one of the aspects of the Page of Pentacles in a refined and heightened form (the Fool, the energy and youth and eagerness of the Page, and the Hierophant, the earthiness and structure of the Pentacles, each expressed as spiritual urges). Card 5, the Nine of Pentacles, seemed to suggest a "middle way," marrying the spiritual and the material world, creating a dynamic communion between free-spirited creativity and serious self-discipline; its two supporting cards, the Four of Wands and the Knight of Swords, faced outward away from each other, suggesting distractions along the path pulling in opposite directions, towards frivolous freedom and fleeting energy on the one hand and an overemphasis on the intellect and "being right" on the other. So it seems that the Temperance card is illustrating how important it will be for me to find a healthy, dynamic balance between opposites that might otherwise threaten to pull me off track in various directions - and yet, it also seems to say that if I can discover that balance, I will also be able to create a spaciousness within which I can center and find respite and poise when I need it.

The two supporting cards I pulled seem to reinforce this lesson of balancing opposites: the Ace of Wands and the Nine of Wands. Both within the same suits, and once again both cards facing in towards each other and towards the central, primary card - the ace and the nine seem to illustrate opposing energies each being brought in to serve a single purpose. On the one hand, you have the gift of new initiatives, new energy and new activity as represented by the Ace; on the other hand, you have the Nine with its suggestion of completion and, in this case, an emphasis on vigilance and continued discipline in order to keep one's strength and purpose clear. This spread seems to suggest to me, over all, that a successful balance of energies means both being open to new possibilities and initiatives, while also being on guard and careful about how to move forward. Constantly taking on new projects can lead to burn out and frivolousness, but being too careful can lead to stagnation and boredom - so a balance between the two is necessary. Both openness, and vigilance. Sounds a great deal like the concept of attention and attending that I have meditated on before, the open attentiveness of attending to (and upon) the world around us - which itself stretches us and challenges us in new ways. The fact that these two cards are of the same suit and are facing towards one another and towards the central primary card of Temperance seems to me to say that these opposites are things that can be integrated and held in relationship with one another.

Since much of this meditative work has focused on the direction my career seems to be heading, I think this is once again emphasizing the importance of balance between discipline and creativity, organization and joyful enthusiasm, that I'll need to find to make this work enjoyable and successful. This is true both for the podcast and the volunteer naturalist work. It's a lesson that is so important for people who are self-employed or work from home, I think, because it's so easy to fall out of balance when you're not subject to anyone else's oversight - either driving yourself too hard, or cutting yourself too much slack. Today is a good example. I began the day feeling somewhat exhausted, but my energy seemed to gather towards the afternoon and I felt in a good mood - but for some reason, after dinner I began to feel increasingly dissatisfied and anxious, though for no clear or particular reason.... though I think largely it had to do with me slightly freaking out - again - over how much work two podcast shows a week might turn out to be, and worries over not being able to find a good rhythm and balance to the work. It seems like this card is counseling me to relax a bit and trust in my ability to find that balance, so long as I keep the importance of balance in mind - and perhaps make sure that I make time to ground, center and attend regularly. Obviously, balancing my physical needs with my spiritual and emotional needs is going to be an issue, too, and perhaps regular spiritual meditation in the mornings will play an important role in maintaining balance and keeping my energy and optimism up. After all, the major arcana card does suggest that this is something going on at a deeper level than mere "mundane" reality but also involve the realm of the soul/spirit. The image of the card pretty closely reflects the actual Three Realms meditation that I perform regularly, and I did notice when trying to enter a deeper meditative state to reflect on the card that it was difficult for me to hold my concentration. I got a brief glimpse of the swirling sphere of opposites, and a vague sense of the angel Temperance handing me an actual sword that had a double-edge that shone in two reflected colors and vibrated in a way that create a beautiful song (like a singing bowl, almost). The vibration seemed to come from holding the sword still and perfectly balanced before me, almost like a torch or sword of light.

So balancing the spiritual and the physical may just be the important but overlooked issue that will play the biggest part in how this whole journey plays out and how I eventually face the Dragon to come.

Storyteller Spread Day 5: Map

I'm on Day 5 of using Dianne Sylvan's Storyteller spread, today pulling the card for the fifth position, representing The Map.

This card represents the Map, one of two gifts or boons earned upon overcoming the challenge set forth in the previous card, the Task. The Map gives the hero a clearer vision of her journey to come, helping her to orient herself and see the big picture - it is similar to the Dream card drawn earlier in the spread, except that whereas the Dream gives her a vision of her own motivation and calling, the Map gives a broader perspective so that she understands the route her journey will take to get her to her final confrontation with the Dragon.

The card I drew for this position in the spread was the Nine of Pentacles, a very positive card in almost all respects. The card represents a balancing of spiritual and material fulfillment, and a joining of spiritual needs and expression with physical manifestation in the material world. This card depicts an artist at her piano, playing upon an instrument that is itself grown living among the trees of the forest. Her spiritual being is in communion with her material being, and through that communion she creates her beautiful music as the golden spirals of the nature that surround her express the spiritual essence and perfection that lies within all things. This card represents material well-being and refinement, yes, but it also indicates that such things are intricately connected to and expressions of the spiritual work of seeking balance and creating beauty. There is wholeness and fulfillment, as well as movement and growth in this card, and the balance of these is what brings the material and spiritual into communion with one another. Ultimately, this is a card of appreciation for the wealth (spiritual and material) that we already possess in abundance, and a discovery of the deep value and worth of one's own self and soul, one's own place and work.

To me, this card suggestions that the broader purpose or direction of my journey is to find a path towards meaningful, fulfilling work that will also provide stability in the material realm, so that I can more fully embrace the richness of life on all levels of being. I have struggled with finding spiritually fulfilling work that also could realistically provide for my physical needs - this suggests that my journey will take me in that direction, with very good results. The fact that this card depicts a figure playing a piano that is a living part of nature reminds me immediately of both my podcasting work (the auditory quality of the music and speaking) as well as my work as a volunteer naturalist engaging with people out in the natural world and showing them the beauty of the World Song.

I also drew two supporting cards, which were the Four of Wands and the Knight of Swords. These cards face outward from the center, in opposite directions, so that their energies seem to disperse the energy of the central card (whose main figure actually has her back to the viewer and, thus, to the two other cards). For me, this layout seems to suggest that these are potential pitfalls or distractions along the way - especially when thinking about the layout as a physical map with the "middle path" of balance between. The Four of Wands is full of energy and joy and fulfillment, but it is a happiness that is in some sense fleeting, a passing moment of celebration in the midst of a continuing process. The card suggests to me that there is a danger in trying to grasp too tightly to a constant state of joy and celebration while eschewing the necessary work - almost as though the Four of Wands indicates the pitfall of being too frivolous and easily led on a chase for the next exciting thing. The Knight of Swords, on the other hand, is a bit more intense and perhaps even severe - full of power and bluster, riding the whirlwind, he might be a bit too ruthless and rash, especially in his language and the use of his intellect. This suggests to me an alternate way in which I might stray from the middle path - becoming too bent upon being "right" or too competitive. It seems like this is the kind of card that might represent the way in which I strayed from the journey towards meaningful, fulfilling work before: getting too caught up in arguments and debates, especially wars-of-words online with trolls, to the point where I felt frustrated and sick to death of trying to say anything for fear that it would stir up controversy or pick a fight I didn't have the energy to engage.

On the other hand, both of these cards also have positive aspects that can be incorporated into the "middle way" of the primary card. The Four of Wands has an energy and enthusiasm and a definite sense of joy, all of which are reflected in a subtle and refined way in the Nine of Pentacles. The Nine of Pentacles also seems to incorporate the self-discipline and strength of the Knight of Swords, whose sword "shines like a beacon" and allows him to cut through a lot of red tape with passion and enthusiasm. So although these energies in their extremes might be distracting, together they offer some support - if the main goal or aim of the journey is kept in mind.

That's my interpretation, anyway. All in all, very positive and helpful. (I also notice that I've ceased to draw the Eight of Wands practically every time now that our first podcast episode is up and the website is officially launched. I guess those seeds have been scattered for the winds to carry!)