Definition: Guna appears in many ancient and medieval era Indian texts. In Samkyha philosophy it means quality, peculiarity, tendency, attribute, property, species Card Symbology: The black triangle is filled with tar, representing the denseness and inertia of tamas, as well as the stickiness in which things become trapped. The blue triangle represents sattva, symbolizing space, […]
Gunas – Modes of Nature Read More »
Definition: Avidyā is a compound of ‘a’ and ‘vidya’. The word vidya is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Vid’, which means “to know, to perceive, to see, to understand”. Therefore, avidya means to “not know, not perceive, not understand”. Card Symbology:Ignorance is like looking at the world through shaded lenses – it colours everything we
Avidya – Ignorance Read More »
Definition: The word ‘samskara’ comes from the Sanskrit ‘sam’ meaning joined together and ‘kara’ meaning action or cause. Beyond generalized patterns, ‘samskaras’ are individual impressions, ideas, actions or formations; taken together, our ‘samskaras’ make up our conditioning. Card Symbology:Impressions are like seeds that grow in the soil of our body, speech, and mind. Hands cultivate
Samskaras – Impressions Read More »
Definition: The Sanskrit noun ‘yoga’ is derived from the root ‘yuj’; to attach, join, harness, yoke. Card Symbology: Yoga can be translated as union of the individual with the Cosmic. The seed of oneness is in our hearts, yoga helps it grow and connect with the Source. The waves represent the fluctuations of the mind-field,
Definition: Based on the Sanskrit root word ‘tap’ meaning to heat, to give out warmth, to shine, to burn. Card Symbology: Fire removes impurities and makes even the hardest substances moldable. The moon phases represent the changing nature of life and of spiritual practice; we have to both be aware of our situation and practice accordingly, as
Tapasya – Discipline Read More »
Definition: Derived from the word ‘virāga’. Joining ‘vi’, meaning without and ‘rāga’ meaning passion, feeling, emotion, colour, interest. Card Symbology:Floating is about effortless effort, a kind of active surrender. The more non-attached we become, the more easily we can float through life and be supported by existence. “Marvelous, marvelous! All sentient beings have the Buddha’s
Vairagya – Non-attachment Read More »
Definition: From Sanskrit ‘kóśa’, meaning sheath, vessel, container, layer. Card Symbology: Each triangle represents a different sheath, with the colours moving along the spectrum from longest to the shortest wave-length. The model (Joe Liz) is a living example of how a comfortable relationship with our physical body can also heal us on the emotional level.
Definition: Composed of the prefix ‘abhi’, which means toward, or into, and the verb root ‘aas’, which means to sit. Therefore, the linguistic and etymological understanding of the Sanskrit word ‘abhyasa’ is sitting facing the goal. Card Symbology: Rock climbing is a challenge we face against ourselves. To complete a long climb we have to
Definition: From ‘sama’ meaning together, and + ‘ā’ which is a prefix, and ‘dhā’ which means to place. ‘Samadhi’ connotes joining, or placing ourselves in Oneness. Card Symbology:The japanese Enso represents the mind of enlightenment – open like the sky, natural and uncontrived. The circle is performed in a single stroke, expressing a state of
Definition: Composed of two Sanskrit words, ‘prati’ and ‘ahara’. ‘Ahara’ means food, or anything we take into ourselves from the outside, and ‘prati’ is a preposition meaning against or away. ‘Pratyahara’ means literally control of ‘ahara’, or gaining mastery over external influences. Card Symbology: The five horses symbolize the five senses – touch, taste, sight,
Pratyahara – Sense Withdrawal Read More »
