Fancy Lures

From the Victorian Romantic, the Seven of Cups:

Can you see the people swimming underwater in this image? They're looking for lasting happiness, and this fairy of fate is using all kinds of lures to reel them in. We humans are good at inventing lines like "money can't buy happiness," yet we still run after it like it can. Or we tell ourselves when we meet our soul mate, find a creative outlet, make a name for ourselves, or _____ (fill in the blank), we'll feel complete and content. The cosmic joke is that the fulfillment we search for is inside ourselves, not outside us. If I knew exactly where inside to find it, I'd write a book about it and make a million dollars [grin]. I've seen fleeting glimpses though, so I'm committed to continuing the effort.

From the Flowers' Messages comes the card "Chrysanthemum:"

What a man can be, he must be. ~ Abraham Maslow

The creators of this deck assign "self-actualization" to this flower. According to Maslow, self-actualized people share several characteristics:

~ They have realistic perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them.

~ They are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves, including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world. These people are often motivated by a sense of personal responsibility and ethics.

~They are spontaneous in their thoughts and behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional.

~ They are resourceful, independent and enjoy periods of solitude.

~ They tend to view the world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe.

~ They often have peak experiences, or moments of intense joy, awe and ecstasy. After these experiences, they feel inspired, strengthened, renewed or transformed.

I have a feeling that many of these characteristics develop when people tap into their Higher Self instead of being lured by their egos. I need to learn how to recognize those hooks before I chase the bait.