The Good Part of Distraction

 

“Time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible, then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres.”
― Franz Kafka

 

When it comes to creative endeavours, I work best when my conscious mind is distracted. As a young man, I would write my best poetry either in bars or around campfires with people playing music, talking and singing. Now I find I make my best art when I have a movie or television show playing in a corner of my computer screen. When I tell people this they tend to be somewhat incredulous.
“How do you do that? I would never be able to focus?” I have heard from a few people.
Yet when I focus completely on making art, I tend to overthink things and second-guess myself. My conscious mind interferes with the process. When I have something to keep my monkey mind occupied, the good stuff tends to flow easier from whatever creative well I draw from. Oh I make decisions as I go along but they tend to be on the aesthetics and I do relatively little judgement or guessing other than decide whether or not it feels right. I guess the monkey-mind just likes to be entertained.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Conversation in the Jewelled FountainConversation in the Jewelled Fountain by G A Rosenberg

 

Star CompassStar Compass by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Post – Eight of Swords

 

 

Eight of Swords (Interference)

 

Eight of SwordsEight of Swords (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Trapped by unknown fear
Freedom awaits opened eyes
Terror melts away

 

Tied at my own direction
Doing things for my own protection
not what I want
but I aim to please
they like me when I’m on my knees
or that’s what I feel
tho its not real.

 

If I live only
by another’s choice
If I refuse to use my voice
within my trap I start to smile
roped and chained I can revile
those to whom I give the key
hell its easier than being free

 

So the victim by distraction
of my chosen interaction
could free myself by sight or sword
but really where in that’s reward?
fulfilment I might have to claim
if all others lose the blame

— G A Rosenberg

 

The suit of Swords represents thought, ideas, plans and conflicts. Eights deal with recognition of boundaries and a focus of the energies to move on and continue. What happens when thoughts and conflicts get in the way of moving on? We finally have decided to leave our past behind and move on to something new. We gird ourselves to take the first steps. The phone rings. A friend of ours needs our help with a trivial matter. We talk them through it and get ready to get to work. The dogs start barking or the kids need to be picked up at school. We’ll take care of that and get right to what we need to get done. Hmmm, maybe just check our Facebook first. What? How could he say that? After a heated engagement, we once again return and it’s time to make supper. And so it goes. Wow the whole day has gone by and so little has gotten done? If only there weren’t all these distractions. If only our friends and family could look out for themselves then we could be done with this project already. That is the Eight of Swords energy. We can break our way out of these cycles anytime we want by claiming a space to do the things we need to do and yet we avoid taking the responsibility to do so. This energy also pertains to anytime we use others or our past as an excuse to avoid doing what needs to be done.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Jupiter in Gemini – Jupiter in Gemini energy wants to expand all at once in as many different directions as possible. It is highly energized and fantastic at communication and at starting things but quite often there will be a problem with either focus on one idea or follow through even if the focus can be found. Quite often it gives us a wide reach but not a far one. In this case as in many others, the inherent problems of the aspect also come with a gift. While focus may be a problem, the Jupiter in Gemini energy does show discernment into what is a minor issue and what is not, allowing us to perceive real issues as opposed to petty concerns.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 21) – Shi He – Biting Through (Eradicating)

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The trigram for Fire is over that of Thunder. Lightning when it follows Thunder removes what is in its path. Likewise when we feel obstacles in our way, we may just have to bite down resolutely and get through them. Most of the obstacles we find in our path are minor and easily pushed aside. This becomes more difficult when the obstacles are the every day kind that are presented by family and friends either wanting our time or attention. However in order to get something done, we have to bite down (bite the bullet) and be resolute. Sometimes with our loved ones this means being compassionate but firm. We don’t wish to dissolve the relationships just free up our time so that we can get the task done

 

The Eight of Swords in a reading often points out that we are letting ourselves get distracted from what we need to do by minutiae both internal and external. People quite often with the best of intentions might be getting in our way either with advice (either giving or receiving) or with favours that need doing. The distractions may be internal as well as external and this card can often be a call to focus on the important things, freeing ourselves from the things that seek to bind or distract us. When we do find other things or people pulling focus, it is often human nature to blame them rather than taking responsibility for our own choices. This card may also mean that we have doubts that we can get the job done even to the point of pretending we don’t care.

 

When the Eight of Swords turns up reversed in a reading, it may mean that we are too focused on the task at hand and need to take a break to return with fresh eyes. It can also mean an even stronger sense of avoiding responsibility and refusing to do what is expected of us even by ourselves. It may mean that we have stopped blaming others for our inability to get things done and have taken the bull by the horns.