Withdraw, Stand, Master

As is not unusual, I had no idea what to write about for this week’s post, so I asked the Tarot, because why not?

Two of Swords, Seven of  Wands, Ruler (King) of Cups.* 

Interesting.

The Two of Swords is a card that typically advises the querent to withdraw, isolate, call a truce — but not to bury the hatchet. There is some uncertainty here, maybe some  denial, maybe a taste of unease and mistrust. Be nice and get through it. Walk across whatever eggshells you have to in order to get to the exit sign in one piece and don’t look back.

But the second card, the  Seven of Wands, is definitely not an eggshell walking kind of a card. You have won, but now you have to hold the ground you have gained against a wily adversary, and you may have to break a few eggs to make the omelet you are craving.

The third card, The Ruler of Cups, seemed almost out of place; someone who is a master of connected manifestation, inspiring people to make things happen through understanding their needs and embracing who they are instead of just telling them what to do. Empathize and inspire. Create change through love.

How the heck do these hang together? The first two contradict each other, and the third seems to nullify the first two completely. 

Or, it tells a story. Our protagonist moves from  an uneasy, eggshell-walking truce, to standing up for what they know is right, to engaging people through compassion, empathy and active love, in order to make significant change in the world. That would make a great story, maybe even a great screenplay, but maybe not such a great blog post.

So what are these cards trying to get me to see in this moment, regarding this question? Maybe it’s not so far off from the story we were just telling.

Right now, many of us are struggling to stop walking on eggshells and speak up for what we believe in.

I am terrified of conflict. I become dysfunctional and paralyzed, and certain biological processes best left unmentioned are accelerated with a special kind of drama. But . . . if we make a start, we can gradually overcome the fear. Start by just reporting the news. “This event happened: these people killed this person with no obvious justification, and it appears that it was racially motivated.” You don’t have to say, “These horrible people killed this innocent man and it’s a gross miscarriage of justice and they should all be put in the slammer for life.” You can just allow the story to speak for itself.

Then when that’s comfortable, you can take a stand. Educate yourself ferociously. Know the facts, know your shit, know what bullshit the other side is going to throw at you and how you’re going to shred it. That’s your armor. Then take a stand, and see how empowering it feels. Because for every troll, there are going to be 10 people applauding you. Especially if you are coming from a place of love and truth and justice. In a MasterClass segment, Neil de Grasse Tyson advises listeners to ask questions. Arm yourself  with information, but instead of telling your adversary, “You’re wrong,” which will immediately cause them to dig their heels in harder and believe whatever poppycock they are spouting even more, ask them questions. If they are disbelieving in climate change, ask them if they would buy a home in a region where the ocean is forecast to rise and submerge the whole area. If they are faux-life (sorry, anti-abortion is not pro-life in any way shape or form), ask them how many children they are prepared to adopt and raise as their own. Ask them whether, if all babies have the right to be born, they support sending our children back to school during the worst pandemic ever to hit this country with no mask mandates, no additional space for social distancing, and no plan for what happens when COVID breaks out like a wild fire in the school system. Ask them questions. They can’t argue with questions. And bonus, you don’t have to tell them they’re an idiot – they get to figure that out in front of you in real time.

And then, if you are cut out for it – whether you desire it or not – people may respond to your message and rally to your cause and ask how they can help make your stand bigger and more meaningful and maybe together, with some good  help from some passionately committed folks, you’ll change the world. Or maybe you will join someone else’s cause and  help them do just that, because not everybody has to lead a movement. Movements wouldn’t get very far if nobody was willing to follow.

If you are going to lead, be the kind of leader that can engage people through love, empathy and  compassion. Be willing to learn before you lead. Be willing to trust that the people who want to help you are competent and up to the task. Be the kind of leader who doesn’t tell people what to do, but asks them what they love to do most and how they’d like to bring that to the table. Remember that you used to be terrified to express your opinions, and offer patience and encouragement.

I write these words as much to encourage myself as to encourage you. I still struggle to express my opinions and stand up for myself and those around me. Conditioning is tough to beat, but I am working hard on it. Let’s be patient and encouraging with each other, and see what kind of necessary trouble we can get into.

*The deck I chose today was the Weaver Tarot, Journeyer Edition, from Threads of Fate.

I got yer patience and encouragement right here.