Ronda Snow's Blog, page 28
November 26, 2013
Tao Tuesday – Chapter 26
Check this out! Tao Tuesday on an actual Tuesday! As you probably know by now, Tao Tuesday is a project by Amy Putkonen on Tao Te Ching Daily where she posts a chapter from her version of the Tao Te Ching every week and invites other bloggers to post their own commentary on the chapter in addition to her own. I highly recommend her blog, and her commentary. Her version of the Tao Te Ching is my favorite 
Heaviness is the root of lightness.
Tranquility is the master of impulsivity.
The sage travels all day
without leaving her bags unattended.
Stays calm and unattached,
though she experiences magnificent things.
How can a master of Ten Thousand Things
be frivilous with her own person?
With lightness, one loses her root.
With impulsiveness, one loses her mastery.
- See more at: http://taotechingdaily.com/tao-tuesdays-chapter-26/#sthash.Mc4DLzSW.dpuf
Probably the best place to start in this chapter is the phrase “Ten Thousand Things”. I believe it was Diane Morgan in “Magical Tarot, Mystical Tao” (my all time favorite Tarot reference book) who explained that ‘ten thousand’ was an impossibly big number in ancient China. To a largely illiterate, agrarian culture, ‘ten thousand’ might as well be like trillion or hoozillion or ba-zillion might be to us today…a number so large as to not be understandable. In that context, this phrase basically means ‘everything’ , the sum-total, gestalt, big-picture, all-that-is everything.
If someone is master of everything, then they probably aren’t going to indulge in blissed-out silliness. Until they do.
It is only natural to think of a sage, or master of living, to be serious, dour, un-fun. I don’t think that is what this chapter means. I think it is talking about pragmatism trumping enthusiasm. It isn’t about eschewing joy and beauty, it is about staying rooting and not taking the joy and happiness to an unhealthy, blissed-out extreme. By the same token, the master doesn’t stay home, not seeing the beautiful wonderous things in the world…it just says the real master of living can travel, and see beauty and still keep an eye on their suitcase while they are at it.
Sages are not emotionally stunted, neither are they giddy with it. Being a Taoist sage…a Taoist of any accomplishment…is about experiencing life, being engaged with the world…but not getting too carried away with any one extreme. In that extreme, the thing itself is lost. If we get lost in bliss, forgetting the trials of the past, the bliss looses all reference and all meaning. If we are lost in the light, without some shadow, we are as blinded as if we were in total darkness. Lynn Andrews writes a lovely example of just this idea in her book “Crystal Woman”, where the character Genivieve uses sight, light, and shadow as an example of the kind of balance we see here in Chapter 26. “Heaviness is the root of lightness”…knowing heavy is the root…the thing that allows us to grow to know lightness. That isn’t to say the lightness is to be avoided…
Taoist sages experience the full range of life and emotion. They know the extremes of joy and sorrow…they just remember to come back to the middle when they are done. And they don’t go to extremes in the first place unless it is warranted. Sages experience joy and sorrow…they just remember where they put the car keys while they are doing it.
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#PeaceTarot by blog author Ronda Snow is a how-to and daily Tarot meditation guide. At only $0.99, #PeaceTarot is like daily meditation practice itself: a little investment with big dividends. Or at least it is an easy way to add a moment of peacefulness to a busy day. Kindle edition is available on amazon.com now. Other formats coming soon.
November 25, 2013
Blog Cabin – 25 November 2013
Browncoat Whovian Epiphany: Three of Swords, Doctor Who style
The Vampire Diet: menu ideas, Who food
Baihu’s Haikus: “Park Bench” for WDBWP Monday Poetry Prompt
RondaSnow.com: Colds and Flu helpers, reprise
#PEACETAROT is a how-to and daily Tarot meditation guide. At only $0.99, #PeaceTarot is like daily Tarot meditation itself…a small investment that can lead to bigger things – like a moment of peace in a stressful day. Now available on amazon for Kindle, with other formats coming soon.
November 24, 2013
Few Quick Cold and Flu reminders
Some of the simplest things can make the biggest difference in keeping away the cold and flu bugs. I know you ‘ve heard it all before dozens of time from your Grandmother on down to the evening news, but good things are worth repeating.
Wash, wash, wash your hands! Before you eat – wash your hands. After the restroom – wash your hands. When you get home from a public place, driving, handling money or anything else that might remotely have a germ – wash your hands. Good old fashioned soap and water gets the germs off your hands and down the drain before you have a chance to accidentally get them in your eyes or mouth where they can make you sick. No sink? Use hand sanitizer. Did I mention wash your hands?
Get enough sleep – a rested immune system works better than one stressed by lack of sleep.
Eat well. Not only does Vitamin C and other nutrients help your immune system work at its best, but some foods are thought to be directly anti-germ, like garlic.
Water Gargles – the science on this is limited, but it stands to reason the same way as washing your hands…gargling can help literally move the germs out of your throat before they can cause problems. Doing that keeps the number of viruses down to a level that your immune system can handle. You are (or should be) brushing your teeth twice a day at least anyway…so why not finish each brushing not just with a rinse followed by a plain water gargle. It’s easy and basically free.
Diffusing real essential oils in holiday scents can actually help decrease germs: Many popular seasonal fragrances like lemon, orange, cinnamon, and clove are somewhat anti-microbial. Pine and eucalyptus can help strengthen the lungs and ease nasal congestion. That is, IF you use the genuine plant oils…synthetic fragrances do not have these properties.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/colds-flu-immune-system?page=3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242593
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/47/5/565.full
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/01/diy-thieves-oil-recipe.html
November 20, 2013
Teribeenie Tofu
Reblogged from The Vampire Diet:
My husband, the triathlete, has been wanting more recipes with more veggies and proteins. No secret that I could stand to ditch the carbs too...especially this time of year when the urge to bake is strong...
This dish was inspired by my new favorite dish from one of my long time favorite resteraunts, Mad Mex. Since being on coumadin, I can't have the big azz margaritas anymore (awesome though they be) I love, love, love their "Pennsyltucky Fried Rice".
November 17, 2013
Blog Cabin 17 November 2013
Here is what’s been happening on my other blogs
Modern Oracle Tarot: Daily Meditation readings, #PeaceTarot book release announcement and quote.
Browncoat Whovian Epiphany: “Throught The Eyes of Orion”
The Vampire Diet: Menu Ideas, “Flashlight” review of restaruant / recipe
Baihu’s Haikus: #PeaceTarot book announcement, haikus “King” And “Train”
RondaSnow.com: Tao Tuesday chapter 24
November 15, 2013
#PeaceTarot Quote
Reblogged from Modern Oracle Tarot:
From #PeaceTarot.
"Doing daily meditations with #PeaceTarot won't change your life, but it can help you cope when life includes violent world news. It won't stop upsetting events from happening, but it can help ease the upset emotions that those events can cause."
-Copyright Ronda Snow 2013
More from my other blog shamelessly plugging the new book....
November 14, 2013
Tarotbytes - Page of Coins
Reblogged from Modern Oracle Tarot:
Ted Andrews associates the Page of Pentacles with deer, especially the adult male, and "the lure of new projects".
That is particularly relevant to me right now. With uploading #PeaceTarot to amazon, updating websites to show it is available...on and on, yadda yadda business stuff...I understand the appeal. The new book is like a new toy, and I don't mind. The hard part is putting it down...but sometimes you have to stop playing with your new toy and go do your homework.
From my Tarot website at www.ModernOracleTarot.com
November 13, 2013
Tao Tuesdays – Chapter 24
On “Tao Te Ching Daily” every Tuesday Amy Putkonen posts a chapter from her version of the Tao Te Ching and invites other bloggers to add their commentary on the Chapter. If I haven’t said it before, let me say now how grateful I am to Amy for starting Tao Tuesdays. It has been a vehicle for me to re-discover and re-affirm the role Taoist philosophy has for me. Writing for Tao Tuesdays has been a joyful experience. My wish is for all of you to have moments of happiness like this too. Thank you Amy.
One cannot stand firm on tiptoes.
One cannot walk far with long strides.
One who flaunts herself
cannot be enlightened.
The self-righteous
cannot be distinguished.
The boaster gets no praise.
Self-praise cannot last long.
If one is with Tao, these actions are
excessive and burdensome.
All things detest them.
To have Tao, one does not dwell upon these things.
As I see it, this chapter speaks about the value of “humility”.
Humility is one of those words that has taken on some emotional baggage over the years. It is very easy to associate “humility” with “humiliated”. Even another associated word, “humble” has some negative vibe to it in the context of our striving, achievement-oriented modern era.
There are three qualities that Taoism hold in highest esteem. Sometimes called the “Three Jewels” or the “Three Treasures” (San Bao), these are the Te, ”virtues” of the “Way and it’s Virtue” as Tao Te Ching is sometimes translated. There are many versions of the Three Treasures. My favorite of the ways I’ve heard is “compassion, simplicity, humility” (www.americantaoist.com).
My personal interpretation is “compassion, simplicity and authenticity“. The point is to not strive, not put on airs, not posture and pose. Some people are genuinely hair-on-fire strive-ers and achievers. Good for them. They help pull us all forward. Other people are genuinely hesitant, even fearful. Good for them. They keep the rest of us from diving from the frying pan into the fire. The key is the genuine part. It is the toe-standing, righteousness flaunting, and striving-to-be-something-else where things go pear shaped in Chapter 24. To be in harmony, happy, at peace…”Be Yourself”. We hear that bit of common wisdom all the time. We tell it to our kids the first day of school. It isn’t some new bit of pop-psychology fluff. It is deep truth and ancient wisdom, courtesy of the Taoists.
This also speaks to the idea of simplicity. Disingenuous posturing gets complicated. As Mark Twain said “Tell the truth and you don’t have to remember anything”. Simple.
You can even pull compassion into it. Being inauthentic or disingenuous is, basically, a lie. Lying to others – or ourselves – is not compassionate toward anyone.
“Being one with the Tao” liberates us from the burdens we create for ourselves when we are inauthentically complicated. Compassion, simplicity, and humility (authenticity, having no need for striving) really are treasures to seek.
November 12, 2013
Big News – #PeaceTarot is now available!
HUGE NEWS!
My first Tarot book (second book overall) is now available on amazon.com for Kindle
Click HERE or click the image above to order
#PeaceTarot is both a how-to guide and a collection of Daily Tarot Meditations. Written by the author of “Modern Oracle Tarot” blog, this guided thought-for-the-day exercise brings Tarot out of the dark ages and applies the cards to modern times and current events. Violent news is around us almost every day. #PeaceTarot’s daily meditations can help us find a moment of calm in our day, and with practice, help us to find a more Peaceful frame of mine without ever drawing a card. Short, practical and written for everyone, this guide can be used by anyone – no experience or “psychic ability” required. #PeaceTarot shows you how to use modern playing cards, even ordinary pencil and paper to find your daily Tarot mediation, so you don’t even need a Tarot deck to get benefit from this handy, soothing and inspiring book.
