I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Whose Truth?

This week I'll be using the Touchstone Tarot, created and self-published by Kat Black. Along with it I'll be using the John Waterhouse Oracle, created and self-published by Elaine Wilkinson (aka Seven Stars). Today's draws are the Ace of Swords and Hylas and the Nymphs:
          The angel in Black's Ace of Swords suggests this card is more about truth and justice than inspirational ideas. The tiger the angel keeps as bay reminds me of Anne Lamott's words: "You don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too." When I catch someone in a falsehood, I want to chop. I want to use the facts to shove them to their knees until they plead for mercy. Can you tell I despise dishonesty? But treating another person like that might not uncover the whole truth, like why they felt the need to lie (or simply omit the facts) in the first place. Consider Hylas, a beautiful youth who was taken in by Heracles after his father was killed in battle. Heracles loved Hylas like a son, and made him one of the Argonauts. Yet along the way, Hylas was kidnapped by nymphs of a spring who had fallen in love with him. Heracles searched for Hylas in vain for an extended period of time. It was said that Hylas had fallen in love too, and didn't want to be found. The adventures of Heracles were not his own; Hylas had his own path to follow.

6 comments:

  1. It is insulting to be lied to. It is like the other person has no respect and must consider us 'stupid' or something to tell us untruths. Those times I do want to hack away at them with the sword of truth. Better go earthing and get myself grounded.

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    1. Yes, it can be infuriating. I am trying to be curious about the 'why' when I discover it, and dig beneath the action. What motivates people to lie can often be more complicated than simple selfishness.

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  2. Oh gosh, sometimes your thinking is so close to mine...Deviousness and dishonesty the two human qualities that I loathe above all. In my case I wonder if it actually self-loathing at being too trusting...

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    1. Now that is a good point! It does make me feel embarrassed to be taken in by someone else, which amps up my self-righteous reaction.

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  3. what is the symbology of the crown on the sword tip? My practical mind is sidetracked by trivia, yet I thought the tiger was just late pregnancy in the woman...

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    1. Don't know anything about pregnant angels, but the crown (besides being the symbol of a ruler) in Christianity represents a reward. I'm assuming it is an encouragement to tell the truth. :)

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