From the
Ferret Tarot, the Devil; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, "Scarab Beetle:"
The Devil shows a duel between this ferret's inner demon and angel sides. Moertl's phrase for this card is "Damned if you do, but figure out why." The last part of that message seems to be repeated in the beetle's card - there's a reason behind my actions, for what I create in my life. Often though, I'm not aware of it. I've been reading about the "Eight Worldly Concerns" that dominate a person's life: pleasure/pain, praise/blame-criticism, acclaim/disgrace and gain/loss. While it is quite human to want to experience only the good stuff, it's not very realistic. For me, I've found I take on one of three personas when I'm faced with dealing with these concerns. Sometimes I'm the street-fighter, ready to physically defend what's mine or aggressively go after what I think should be mine. I may become the chess player, mentally coming up with strategies for getting what I want and avoiding what I don't want. Or, I can become the drunkard, emotionally numbing myself to whatever is happening (feeling I have no control over anything). Here's the question I need to ask myself: "Is this dung ball I'm working so hard on going to make an actual difference, or is this just a reaction based on fear?"
When we figure out that the eight worldly concerns are terrorists posing as sweethearts, we will let go of many misconceptions and won’t have to battle with attachment so much, because there will be wisdom that says, "This is nice and I enjoy it, but I don’t need it." When we have that attitude there’s so much space in the mind because then whatever we have, whoever we’re with, we are satisfied. ~ Thubten Chodron
The dung beetle also reminds me of Sisyphus in mythology. Rolling the rock (or dung) as an analogy to rolling the same old heavy thoughts up and then letting them roll down, and rolling them up again etc.
ReplyDeleteThat Devil likes to keep us busy on senseless loops of Worldly Concerns.
That is a great analogy - is all my effort just a waste or purposeful?
Delete"Senseless loop of Worldly Concerns" - now that's a mouthful of truth. :)
I've quite smoking two and a half year ago and this afternoon I almost asked a cigarette from a complete stranger. The craving is so strong lately. I am wondering what it is this demon really needs :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have a way of asking it, yes? ;
Delete(And by the way, those demons are notorious for telling us whatever we want to hear, true or not.)
I quit in the late 90's and mostly gag when I smell the stench but once in awhile...I almost turn and follow a stranger down the street, wishing I could have a puff please. Cigarette manufactures still have much to answer for.
DeleteI completely understand. Sometimes I think there's still one addictive smoker brain cell hiding that comes out pokes me every now and then.
DeleteOr are we thinking "it is mine, all mine, no one is having this dung but me" That was basically my attitude until (she says it once again) until Flylady. Now I have difficulty laying claim to anything. This is far from the middle ground but it works for me. Would probably be different if I had kids to leave stuff to. Most kids today (30-50 year olds) don't want or need their parents carpola anyway...
ReplyDeleteThat's funny you bring this up. I was talking to some folks in the 70 and over crowd, and they were saying how hard they originally tried to save things to pass on. Now they realized the kids could care less about their stuff and would spend any money straight away. We can make our stuff so important. :D
DeleteThis combo makes me think of the line, 'The Devil is in the details' alternately phrased as 'God is in the details'...take your pick ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I said this morning (dealing with both Blue Cross and the ACA folks), "I can't deal with all these details!" :D
DeleteI'm not a ferret of bug fan. But well there are positive and negative about them both. The Dung Beetle is quite a strangely fascinating creature I must say, and there are a few things to learn from it. Not all the same shit on different days. Like some folks the more shit they have the happier they seem to be. Glad I'm not a Dung Beetle, but some days it can feel like, I am if I let myself.
ReplyDeletehttps://eudemoniablog.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/im-done-with-dung/
In the beetle's defense, he needs it for food, and the ball is for the female to lay her eggs in so the larvae will have something to eat when they hatch. :) But when it comes to people, I have to agree with Lincoln: People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
DeleteI know, they are very industrious and provide for the wife too! Men could learn a lot from the Dung Beetle!
DeleteWouldn't it be nice not to have to go grocery shopping again!
Heehee, you are too funny woman! :)
DeleteYa bring on the shit sandwiches!
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