Eight of Coins - Strengthening my Attention span

Today’s card is the Eight of Coins from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot. We see a man studying the designs he has made for his coins. There is something not entirely right and he doesn’t seem to be able to pinpoint it as of yet.  He is however determined to create the perfect coins and he isn’t likely to give up.

I envy this craftsman’s perseverance, and ability to focus on a project for as long as he needs to bring it to perfection or at least to finish it. When I was younger my ability to concentrate was so much stronger. Nowadays my focus is much more fragmented. Reading for hours, studying a subject until I have discovered all the nitty-gritty details, seems to be qualities that I no longer possess.  And to be quite frank, I miss it. Oh, I do get things done and I am still able to learn new things but it feels different.  Somehow, I also believe this isn’t only caused by my aging but also by the diverting aspect of the internet. I mean the days when I went to the library to study are long gone. Reading a book from A to Z, because it was the only source of information you can find feels like ages ago.

Today this card encourages me to practice my ability to focus; to set small achievable goals as reading two chapters from my book instead of one and to diminish my screen time. Small steps….

Ace of Swords and Eight of Coins - Chop wood and carry water

My card for today is the Ace of Swords; a card of clarity and bright ideas and also in this version: reaching for the light within, which is in my opinion a way to enlightenment. Finding your most inner truth can feel like being reborn. Often it is a simple truth, one which you knew all along but never fully understood. Something like mindfulness or the power of breath or knowing we’re  always connected to everything.

This is the season I  always feel very drawn to go within and search for truth there but I also know Autumn, even though I adore it so much, is the season during which I am more susceptible to downhearted feelings and thoughts. So I asked my deck, how do I keep myself from over thinking and trying too hard to discover my truth, my spark, my guiding light and what will prevent me from feeling depressed when I don't find it (yet)

And I pulled: The Eight of Coins.

Seeing these two cards together, I was instantly reminded of the Zen proverb:

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

This card’s advice is to ground myself in my daily activities, cleaning my house, making dinner, watering my plants, knitting etc. All these activities occupy the mind just enough to keep it from wandering all over the place and they allow us to enter the present moment in a relaxed state of mind. It is doesn’t matter what you do but how you do it. Every activity can transcend from a boring and time consuming chore into an act of gratitude and grace. Not the activity itself has to change but the way we do things.

One more thing: often when I am busy with my daily “chores” I get the best idea’s. Something I think bright idea’s don’t want to be found because maybe they rather find us…