Monday, June 22, 2015
A Bowl of Cherries (and Pits)
From the Touchstone Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, "The Unwelcome Guest:"
The bowl of cherries next to this richly dressed man implies his nine cups are full at the moment. What he has wished for has been found, and he's content. This Nine as well as the Nine of Coins make me think of personal goals reached, because the subject is alone. Whatever is bringing him satisfaction is the result of individual progress made rather than the result of a relationship. But who's knocking at the door? Waterhouse's "unwelcome guest" waits right outside, threatening to disrupt his serenity. Perhaps she is the neighborhood cynic and sourpuss, who's come to rain on his sunny day. Or maybe she's the "one-upper" - the person who always has a story to top his own (squishing his joy like grapes under her feet). Regardless, it would be smart to refuse to answer her knock. Even though he can't bind the joy he feels, he can savor the sweet juiciness of those cherries while they last.
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Immediately Rumi's poem, The Guesthouse, comes to mind here...
ReplyDeleteThis being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ * ~
Of course it's one thing to read such a poem and another thing entirely to live it and my relationship with this poem over the years has been an ambivalent one. Its beauty is sometimes overshadowed by its teaching depending on which 'guest' is knocking at the door of my heart and wanting a place to rest.
Rose, thank you for posting this poem. Though I've read it before, had you been at my home yesterday evening, you would understand just how perfectly it fits my situation. It is hard to make space for all those guests, especially those that make me feel like I have a knot in my chest and stomach. But I'm beginning to (slowly) understand that it is my thoughts about those guests rather than the guests themselves that cause the most problems and pain.
DeleteThe poem is beautiful but sometimes I want, need my door shut tight. I need my breathing space between visitors otherwise I would feel overwhelmed too. Why don't they call before they arrive so I can put the kettle on...:D
ReplyDeleteI think the poem refers mainly to our emotions - how the changes of life can bring them to our door. But I agree with you about visitors and space between them!
DeleteSorry for not being clear but that is what I meant too. :) The kettle was metaphorically speaking
DeleteIt's probably me - I should've had that second cup of coffee this morning!
DeleteCome on everybody sing: "Life is just a bowl of cherries..." Lalala
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc6RS9e3Dhw
"Scrambling and rushing about....why are we here, where are we going"...lalalala
It's the berries Bev. Live and laugh at it all. (Easy for me to say, I didn't even get dressed until 2 p.m.)
Not sure I'm up for laughing today, but that did make me smile. :) Thank you my friend.
Delete