The
Dormouse sleeps through most of the mania of the Mad Hatter’s tea party. And though he is spared the confusion
and frustrations that Alice faces during the musical chairs and non-stop
nonsense, he is also being subjected to the whims and fancy of those who are
actively participating in the mad Hatter’s party, and he is missing out on the
magic and the wisdom that can be gained in such a chaotic convention. His responses to the activities around
him are not particularly appropriate, and are more like knee-jerk reactions to
external stimuli. Sleeping through
one’s life does soften the hard spots, but then so much else is lost in the
unconscious and passive passing through life, it is hardly worth it in the end.
Sometimes,
especially for the small Dormouse, it is easy to get lost in the comfortable
restful state we take after a trying time. It can feel so good to get away from it all, it is hard or
even frightening to step back into the madness of the every day.
Take
a moment to discover in what ways and areas you might need a nudge or a wake-up
call to get going again. Maybe
this card represents someone in your life who is asking for that gentle shaking
back into this reality. From very
subtle to very deep, there is a call to retrieve a part of ourselves or our
community.
It
may be that you have already received your wake-up call in the form of some
eruption, such as relationship strife, an unexpected wrench in the works, an
accident, or magical faerie intervention (they like to set up intricate
chain-of-events madness to spin us out of our unconsciousness). Don’t be so quick to judge these things
as difficulties or punishments of any kind. They could easily be the hot tea on the nose of the
Dormouse; to wake up and catalyze into action that which has checked out into
the unconscious world.
Meditation #1: Sit comfortably in a
place and time you feel free to explore, without distractions. Closing your eyes is fine, but as a
wakefulness practice, you can also choose to keep a soft gaze on something
inspirational: sacred art, metaphorical imagery, surreal or dream images, an
altar, or anything else you feel would be appropriate. Start breathing gently into your belly,
deeper and deeper with each inhale.
Imagine the breath starting at your center and moving to the very edges
of your skin. When this feels
comfortable, do a slow scan from your feet to the top of your head. Notice if there is any place that is
feeling asleep, numb, or not really integrated into your body. Send your breath to this part of your
body and imagine the breath going into this part and expanding, as if you were
blowing up a balloon with your inhale, from the inside of this stuck place. Keep breathing into this place, and
allow yourself to ask what may be needed to help this part of you feel safe
enough to wake up and start moving again.
It may be a color, a sound, or simply placing a loving hand on this area
and focusing the breath as a vehicle for love until the stuck point slowly
dissolves. If it feels easier to
imagine a situation where you feel you are unconscious, visualize it as best
you can. Imagine that the breath
is the energy you need to be completely energized and present within the
circumstances. Allow the breath to
move you through what needs to be done, allowing the breath to guide you until
you feel satisfied. Take a moment
to commit to yourself to check in, simply by closing the eyes and connecting
with the breath, once a day until you have brought your full self into the
situation. 5 minutes is all you
need, but more time is also fine.
With each breath, imagine giving yourself the energy and motivation you
need to be fully mindful and present with your circumstances. Journaling about your ideas,
dreams, and changes in energy
levels might be helpful during this time.
Tea Recipe:
¼
cup yerba mate
1
tsp. mint leaves
stevia
to taste
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