in my defenselessness my safety lies

The Octopus and the Ace of Cups (from Wild Unknown’s Animal Oracle deck and Rider Waite).

So much water here! This makes me think of things subconscious, creative, intuitive, and feminine. Water is the sign of things below the surface, and the Octopus exemplifies that which is hidden and dark. The Ace of Cups seems to be bringing that which has been hidden up into the light. Bringing the realm of the subconscious into conscious awareness in a beautiful way that is abundantly overflowing with creativity and love.

So let’s enlighten ourselves, shall we?

The Octopus is a beautiful and crafty creature. She can change her shape and color at will to suit her purposes. She takes on the energy of that which is around her. She appears to have no boundaries at all. Once an Octopus reproduces - it dies. So you could say that is their life’s work. The ultimate act of creation and what appears to sacrifice. But is it truly sacrificial? Only if we look at death as being scary and bad. Only if we look at death as the end of life and not just part of the cycle. Only if we see ourselves as inherently separate entities. From an expanded perspective of life, that is simply not so. Death is nothing but a transition to another state, and return is possible. In fact, it happens all the time. An Abraham (via Esther Hicks) talk I listened to once made note of the fact that the beasts of our world enter and exit this realm with no attachment - they just come and go - they die and come back like it's no big deal. It is only humans who attach so much meaning and despair to the dying process. Again - we have much to learn from the animals here on this planet. 

Perhaps this is why Buddhism places such emphasis on releasing attachment. Perhaps this is why Yoda says, "Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose." Perhaps we are too attached to who we think we are.

The Octopus card can be a reminder for us to set boundaries, and I have found that to be happy in this world that is truly necessary. It makes me think specifically about setting boundaries in regards to parenthood - and there is a lot being written on that topic these days. But many things here on earth are paradoxical, and it is within this paradox that true understanding lies. An old nursing professor of mine used to say "the truth's a moving target," and in the watery world of the Octopus and the Ace of Cups that is even more true. While setting boundaries is a powerful practice, we must do that within the space of vulnerability. Lesson 153 in A Course in Miracles states "In my defenselessness my safety lies." It also says "The world gives rise but to defensiveness. For threat brings anger, anger makes attack seem reasonable, honestly provoked, and righteous in the name of self-defense. Yet is defensiveness a double threat. For it attests to weakness, and sets up a system of defense that cannot work." To truly understand these words and the paradox of boundaries within vulnerability we must first realize that this world is an illusion, and - when looked at deeply and honestly - makes no sense. 

As humans in this culture, we are programmed to fear death because we are attached to this life - thinking it's all we have. That creates fear in just about anything we do. How could we be vulnerable to the point that the mother octopus is when it means death? How can we be like Jesus who - even when he was being crucified - said "forgive them for they know not what they do."

These are questions that we all must answer at some point. 

To end - I feel we are being encouraged by the energy of the Ace of Cups to demystify the mystical. To bring these - what we perceive to be deep, dark, and watery - issues to the light and let them flow freely through our conscious awareness in whatever way feels right for us. This is how we begin to dispel the fear surrounding them.

I hope you enjoyed this. Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading!

xoxo,

erin