Many Beads, One Thread

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Lovers; from the Rune Cards, "Tir/Tiwaz:"

          Rather than simply an urge for union, Vey seems to imply a sort of cosmic connection with her Lovers card. Though appearing to be opposites (like the sun and moon), there is a spiritual link that runs through everything, like a silk strand that holds together a string of various shaped and colored beads. What I think of as an individual "self" is actually just an idea with a bunch of labels attached. As Thich Nhat Hanh explains, "There’s no separation between self and other, and everything is interconnected. [This understanding] brings you insight. You know that your happiness and suffering depend on the happiness and suffering of others."
          The verse for Tir/Tiwaz in the Anglo-Saxon rune poem reads:

Tiw is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes;

it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails.

Tiw (or Tyr) is the one-handed Norse god of courage, sacrifice and regulation. The rune of Tir/Tiwaz therefore represents law and order. But rather than a type of justice doled out differently (depending on who you are), it is applied fairly to all. The moral guidance provided has an even, ethical foundation; it doesn't benefit one group but all. Both these cards together encourage me to remember my interconnection with others. Instead of judging them by what I see and hear on the outside, I should attempt to focus on the inner thread that unites us.