compromise Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Clouds 20 April 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Temperance

I opened Sacred Space this evening before making tonight’s selection on our behalf. As can be seen from the title to this post, I chose the Temperance card. The deck I was drawn to this evening is The Wild Unknown Tarot* by Kim Krans.

As usual, the intention I set was simply to receive a message or guidance for us to contemplate for the next few days, something for us to ponder and interpret for ourselves individually, as well as applied to ‘us’ in a much broader, inclusive sense. I asked that this message be a guiding factor for until I’m ‘told’ to check in again, for our next message, via another oracle.

I’m sure you’ll all be relieved to know that not only did I not imbibe this evening, I also happen to be fasting today. So, hey you guys – you’re getting a really clean pick!

Ha. I joke, but it’s true. There is a clarity that can be perceived on a bunch of levels when I refrain from eating for a day. The re-set of my system feels good. Hmm. I wonder if it’s sort of like rebooting my laptop. I never thought of it that way before, but the analogy doesn’t feel that far off.

The ‘Main’ Choice

The primary card I chose tonight, as mentioned above, was Temperance. It’s quite beautiful, as you can see. I encourage you to examine the card in detail and allow yourself to pay attention to what pops out to you. Allow your intuition to run ‘wild.’ Perhaps notice how the image makes you feel. Whatever ‘definition’ you personally bring to Temperance is important to note for yourself.

But in order to give you a framework for interpreting the card/message on your own, I like to provide you with the creator of the deck’s interpretation, which is as follows:

Temperance – The Wild Unknown Tarot

Temperance – XIV – Healing, Renewal

“The great blue heron remains calm and peaceful as she blends the opposing elements of fire and water. The temperance card asks you to be a moderator much like the heron. Focus on cooperation and compromise. If you’ve been excessive with one aspect of your life, practice self restraint and moderation now. You’ll find a new sense of healing and balance from bringing a little harmony back into your life.”

Personally, I was surprised by this card because Blue Heron has a starring role. The Medicine Card I chose for myself today was – you guessed it – Blue Heron (albeit reversed).

‘Underneath’ Card – 7 of Swords

I got the sense that I was supposed to employ what I call the “Weikel Way” to my card pick tonight – which simply means that I make the primary choice, and then look to see what card is on the bottom of the deck. I like to use the bottom card as a foundation or contextualizing card – perhaps giving a sense of ‘what else’ needs to be considered, what lies ‘beneath’ our experience of the main card.

Again, look at the artwork of this card and allow your intuition to help you pay attention to the details that may hold special meaning for you. Following is the author’s interpretation:

Seven of Swords – The Wild Unknown Tarot

Seven of Swords – Secrecy, Self Interest

“Six swords hang in plain view while the seventh is tucked under the sly fox’s tail. So goes the story of the seven of swords…a secret is being kept. Either you’re the keeper or the kept-from, and it’s time to identify which. Deceit and avoidance linger in the air. Face the cause of secrecy or risk ostracizing yourself.”

Lots to Contemplate

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this is quite a rich message. The application of both cards to both our own personal lives and what’s happening to us on a national and even global level definitely worthy of our attention (if we’re honest with ourselves and want to receive the message).

Of course, I’m hoping this will spur each of us to engage in some self-reflection and inner dialogue on how both of these cards might have some application to what we’re experiencing in our own lives at the moment.

They also may give us some insight into what’s unfolding on a macro level, too.

Seems to me we’re being asked to find a new balance. There’s probably a lot of deception that’s taking place right now – underneath everything – that may have caused what we’re experiencing on both a personal and a global level. It’s important, in striving to find a new balance, to see if we can honestly figure out how we may have been lying to ourselves about some things. And yeah – maybe we’ve been sold a bill of goods for quite a while now, too.

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(T-585)

Public Access to Nature – Update

As I lamented in my post Banging the Drum, the announced closure of the State Parks in Bucks and Montgomery Counties was both a shock and a deep disappointment. While I certainly understood, of course, the need to mitigate the danger of spreading the Coronavirus infection to park visitors and staff, closing these State Parks at this time, especially, felt ill-advised. After all, schools are being closed and people are being essentially counseled to ‘stay home’ and not go anywhere where there are crowds of people.

What better invitation (and need) to spend some quality time in nature than that?

Obviously, the best way to accomplish the goal of promoting the safety of park staff and visitors was believed to be by shutting down all buildings and facilities, including restrooms, and postponing or canceling all programs where staff and visitors would be meeting in groups. Given that it was a ‘complete’ shutdown, all parking lots were also closed.

I was even more distressed the next day, when I read about New York’s Governor Cuomo shutting down that state, yet recognizing the therapeutic value of being in nature decided at the same time to waive the state park fees – in order to promote New Yorkers’ connection to and enjoyment of the outdoors.

Change of Heart

But I’m excited to report that a little bird told me that a change of heart occurred! Apparently, when Governor Wolf decided to close down the entire state of Pennsylvania the day after the announcement of complete closure of the parks that I mentioned in my post, the powers-that-be realized the critical need of the citizenry to have somewhere in nature they can go to get away from the four walls of their homes, soak up some Vitamin D, feel the wind in their hair, sun on their faces, and just be in the company of trees and creeks and rivers and rocks.

Take Care of Business Beforehand

Take heed, though! The closure of all facilities and amenities at the parks remains in effect. That means, of course, that you need to relieve yourself of your morning or afternoon’s ingestion of beverages before arriving at the park.

And your added responsibilities don’t end there. The State Park system has been forced to send certain staff home for quarantine and because the buildings are all being closed. While Park Rangers will continue to be in the area, they may be spread a bit thinner.

So use your head. Don’t get cocky. Give yourself the gift of being in nature and enjoying it without drama.

Our lives are all entering uncharted territory at this point. We’ve made our preparations to ‘hunker down’ as best as we can, but we know, deep down, that this is not some blizzard that will only take a couple days to clear. We’re in a place of recalibration and re-centering. We have to adjust to a starkly new reality – for the long haul.

Gratitude for Public Access to Nature

I’m ever so thankful that Pennsylvania DCNR has discovered the middle way of protecting its park staff and citizens, while allowing them to enjoy and embrace the benefits of being nurtured by Mother Earth.