Oracle Of Ybor: I need to convince my aging mother that it's OK to be on Medicaid

Dear Oracle,

My mother is reaching what should be “retirement age,” but due to financial straits, she cannot afford to retire. She had planned to keep working, but a series of health setbacks have really taken a toll on her, and she’s not physically able to do her old job. I believe she would qualify for disability and Medicaid/Medicare, but she’s hesitant to apply because she doesn’t want to be “a freeloader.” How can I convince my mom that accepting help is OK when she needs it?—Worried Son

Cards: The Fool, Strength (reversed), Knight of Wands, The World (reversed)

Dear Son,

I’m so sorry your mother is at the stage of her life where she should be able to take things easy and focus on her health but instead is worried about money. That’s a terrible position to be in.

I wish we had a robust system of social safety nets for your mother to never have to worry about how she can pay bills when she’s ill. But, I’m also aware that even if that was easily and readily available, there is a psychological and moral block for some.

Growing up in the American South and coming from some strong Slavic immigrant stock, I know that there are cultures that equate a strong work ethic with morality. To work hard, be productive, provide, and give to others is honorable. To be on the receiving end of that gift? Pitiful. With the Strength reversed, I’d guess your mother feels like accepting help is admitting she’s “weak.” But it does take an incredible amount of strength to ask for help, something you should constantly remind your mother of.

You’ll have to be a fierce advocate on your mother’s behalf. As the Knight of Wands, you will have to go in, torches a-blazin’, to help her get what she needs. (On the practical side, seek out a lawyer/ legal aid to learn about the application process for disability.) There’s a good chance she may feel like she’s a burden, so it would help to remind her that she isn’t. This is what she paid taxes for!

It is worth noting that the spread starts with The Fool, the first card of the Major Arcana, and ends with The World, the last card. Whatever happens with your mother, she is going to embark on a very new chapter of her life. After working for 50-plus years, life will look drastically different if she just stops. She will have to figure out a new way to live and start this journey with a fool’s optimism. With the all-is-oneness of The World, I do wonder if she would enjoy some sort of volunteer work as a way to keep “working” and feeling like she’s making a contribution. Places like the library, community centers, or other organizations might have opportunities for jobs that aren’t physically demanding.

I hope your mother is able to get the help she needs and that she finds a fulfilling life on this new path.

Dear Oracle,

After 10-plus years, I’m finally getting back into making art. It’s a lot harder to find time with two small children, a full-time job, and a wife I really like hanging out with. What advice do the cards have for making time to make art?—Artsy Fartsy

Cards: Seven of Swords, Seven of Pentacles (reversed), King of Cups, The Moon

Dear Fartsy,

Congratulations on getting back into the art game! I know it’s difficult balancing art with life and work, but I believe that creating is always the best answer. Because (to paraphrase George Saunders here) if you give up on your art, do you know who you will blame?

Your wife and your kids.

So, let’s get you creating!

Like art itself, the cards are divided into two camps: the practical and the spiritual.

For the practical we have the need for strategy and caution of self-indulgence with the Seven of Swords. You need to make sure that you are using your time wisely. Every art has some tangential task that one can waste hours on and still feel like it’s “work.” For writers, it’s research. (Why spend that hard-earned hour constructing sentences when a Wikipedia K-hole is calling?) Whatever it is for your art, make sure you keep that indulgence to a minimum as you figure out the best schedule for your productivity.

The Seven of Pentacles is a turning point in our work. It’s reflecting on what came before and what we want to see ahead. How do you feel about your old work? Do you want to continue some of those themes/ideas? Do you want to explore something completely different? Don’t feel like your old style is the only thing you can do—and if you’re a little rusty, also don’t feel like you’ll never be that good again.

The last two cards, The King of Cups and The Moon are much more about the artist's psyche. As you explore your art, it’s time to get dreamy. The King of Cups is both a lover and mystic who can explore relationships and the unconscious. Similarly, The Moon card, with its primordial pool and howling wolf, is all about exploring the unknown, the wild, and the dreams of the mind.

I would suggest that, as you’re starting up again, you get really weird with your art. Keep a visual dream journal, do dada exercises, mess around with symbols—anything that jumpstarts the creative juices and inspires ideas. If you have an hour to work, maybe use the first 10 minutes to do some funky shit and then dive in. Start generating things that you enjoy making.

It might not be good, but that’s not the point. You’re reminding yourself why you loved creating in the first place. The King of Cups and Moon reminds us that art feeds the soul, and it’s time to get back in touch with your unconscious.

Best of luck in the creation, my dear.

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