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

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Hand on the Plow (and the Reins)

From the Artist's Inner Vision Tarot, the Nine of Coins; from the Art of Collage Cards, a work by Eugenia Loli:
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
~ Mahalia Jackson
          There is a verse in Luke where Jesus exhorts his followers not to look back once their hand is on the plow. I think the woman in the Nine of Coins card would agree; it is discipline and dedication that has gotten her to a place of independence and self-sufficiency, not second guessing and wishy-washy thinking. Those kind of thoughts can distract us, suck the energy right out of our efforts and waste our time. 'Stinkin' Thinking' is the title I've given Eugenia Loli's collage. In 12 Step groups, this describes people who have reverted back to destructive thinking patterns ("I could just take a few pills to help me relax, then I'll flush the rest.") Action follows thought; if we dwell on an idea long enough, we will likely act on it. But detrimental thoughts can be replaced with healthier ones if we are aware of them. The mind can't be flipped on and off like a light switch, but we can pick up the reins and guide it in a new direction.

8 comments:

  1. think it then do it. Would that it were that eaxy

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    1. Usually only easy when it is something we shouldn't do rather than should do. :)

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  2. The switch is sometimes hard to locate in the dark.

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  3. Now if I could just convince myself the next cigarette smells like a rotten fish....

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  4. "Action follows thought"
    it is hard to think positive when you're dead tired. Maybe tomorrow after a good night sleep :D

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    1. I think in the 'action follows thought,' it's more about us not being mindful of where our thoughts are leading us; we find ourselves doing what we will regret later.

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