Ego on a Platter

From the Prairie Tarot, the Hanged Man:

In the heat of summer, a young man participates in a Sundance Ceremony. After the preparation of fasting for several days, men have their chests pierced with leather thongs attached to a tall pole. They dance around the pole until the skin breaks open and releases them. Years ago I spoke to a man who had done a piercing, and I expressed my awe at his mental and physical toughness to endure such and ordeal. He replied that it had nothing to do with machismo, and everything to do with sacrifice. The men do it as an offering for the benefit of family and community. It is ego served on a platter as a gift for the greater good.

From the Medicine Cards this morning comes "Mountain Lion:"

Here in the South we have Florida panthers, and I remember seeing two up close years ago. Their massive size and power made me speechless in wonder. It's easy to see why the authors associate this animal with leadership. I have been a leader before (jury foreman, restaurant manager, etc.), and I don't really care for the position. See, it sounds all grand and wonderful, but the reality pretty much sucks. Sams and Carson also agree it is difficult because "it places you in a position to be a target for the problem of others," and "you become the perfect justification of the insecurities of others." At some point I will be called to step into such a position, but as the Hanged Man stresses, it's not about me but those around me.