Cruelty and Magical Thinking

From the Thoth Tarot, the Nine of Swords:

“There are always two people involved in cruelty, aren't there? One to be vicious and someone to suffer! And what's the use of getting rid of - of wickedness, say - in the outside world if you let it creep back into things from inside you?”  ~ Margaret Mahy

Poison rains down on nine swords that drip with blood; behind the scene, broken shards of glass are scattered.  The poison words of another may hurt, but the resentment and thoughts of revenge I have in return can cause much more damage.  It is like having an evil monster within that slowly devours all that is good and beautiful inside me.  Even with countries, this reaction has become an almost expected, accepted reflex - an eye for an eye (or worse).  Unfortunately, these fairy tales never have a happy ending...

From the Vertical Oracle comes "Magic:"

When imagination informs intellect

Imagination can be a wonderful tool for solving problems or expressing oneself creatively.  Unfortunately my thoughts can also be shaped by fear that causes me to make assumptions or connections that aren't real.  And while most superstitions are harmless, they can be used to manipulate others (for instance the palm reader who sells someone a $100 candle to remove a curse).  It's a thin line between magical thinking and meaningful coincidences.  I prefer to think of the latter as something that will help rather than scare or hurt me.