Page of Cups
Recently, I attended an event combining the artistic expression of dance and sculpture. I observed how movement, shadow, light, sound, and sculpture worked together, and after an intense week, my thoughts finally began to slow down. My body and mind felt calm and I could access my imagination. I let go of the function of thinking momentarily and noticed the sensations of my body. I felt the invitation to move into a state of being versus doing and sensing versus knowing.
The artists discussed their work after the performance and I listened carefully to how they each chose to uniquly engage with different objects or beings to create their own meaning out of the work. I thought about the luxury that accompanies this process of making meaning of an event over time. Then I thought about the parts of my work where making meaning of an event or an interaction is essential. The creative process often offers time and contemplation for one to develop an idea into a form of expression. As I listened, I felt a yearning for the luxury of time and contemplation to create and think because more often than not, my work often requires a quick moment to moment assessment of what is happening between me and another person. In my role, I often place an expectation of myself to define what is going on and to some extent, “know” based on my ability to define it.
What I love about this card is its invitation to the querent to flow rather than define and to be open rather than restrict. The fish swimming in the chalice symbolizes this figure’s imagination. There seems to be no outside demands disrupting the figure’s desire to gently contemplate the circumstances of life. Many things can disrupt one’s ability to imagine such as intense and overwhelming emotional states. But when imagination is disrupted, there is no hope or chance to envision a different outcome or future. To some degree, without imagination, the capacity to engage in mental flexibility is lost, and without mental flexibility, we become rigid and stuck. This week, I am called to find ways to engage in practices that bring me into a state of calm and ease so that my imagination and capacity for hope is not lost.
