I’ve always loved Thanksgiving. I loved the food, the emphasis on gratitude and harvest, and the gathering with family and/or friends during a time of increasing cold and darkness. I never believed or highlighted the national myth around the holiday in these gatherings. But as the truth of the colonizing of this country becomes clearer to me, as I appreciate more deeply why Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning for many native groups, I have become conflicted.
(One reliable source, among others, for info on this from a Native perspective is here.)
In any case, I know most of the country will be gathering this weekend for a feast. So I decided to ask the cards the following question:
This holiday weekend, where should we put our energy for our highest good? Here are the cards I pulled and my interpretation:
Witch of Swords—Tarot of the Crone: Discernment is important: create a holiday gathering (or not) that is true to your values and vision and those of your family/friends, while also honoring the needs of your physical bodies (re food and energy output). You need not follow custom or the expectations of others.
King of Rainbows/Abundance—Osho Zen Tarot: Remember and honor with gratitude the physical abundance all around you—earth’s wonders, loved ones, shelter, food. And also the abundance and wholeness within you and others: enjoy the sensual pleasures in the food, for example, and also your spiritual/heart connection of love and gratitude for your loved ones. Let go of conventional ways of behaving when they—as is typical—reflect an oversimplified understanding of people.
I hope you have a lovely celebration, whatever you do! Thank you for your presence here, and for the warmth you radiate into the world.
Thank you Anne. Well delivered reflections. I may be wrong but I recently read something that stated Natives and the settlers had about 10 years of peace before the violence began. And, as we know it had to do with land and more and more people coming and pushing them out as they took over and marked territory. So, tomorrow is Native American Heritage Day. Although I follow these ways, I am a white woman with deep respect for all heart FULL ways of love. We are all connected and this is undeniably true. I love your reflections and appreciate you so much. Rumi had the clarity of vision as stated above. May we all be so fortunate! Happy Days of gathering today and everyday.
Thanks Gwen.