Hard and Soft Elements

From the Prisma Visons Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Secret Language of Color Cards, "Bronze:"

          The Nine of Pentacles suggests the two "Ds" have paid off handsomely - dedication and discipline. A red-tailed hawk keeps this successful woman company out in her garden. The booklet suggests the raptor symbolizes intelligence and fierceness of spirit; I would also include the ability to stay focused on an objective. This independent woman always reminds me of the Arthurian tale in which Arthur is asked a riddle: What do women desire above all else? The answer: "to have sovereignty, to rule our lives as we see fit, to not be beholden to another." 
          Independence involves more than being true to my vision and principles. As the Bronze card implies, it also means taking care of the vehicle of my body. The pat answer for strengthening the body is generally to eat healthy and get enough exercise. But as I age, I find I also need to get enough sleep, to be aware of my posture whether sitting or moving, and to allow my body time to heal if it is injured or sick. Bronze is an alloy, made of copper and another metal to give it strength. But like this alloy, I need to employ both hard (discipline) and soft (kind attention) elements to keep it strong.