Thankful in all Situations

From the Deirdre of Sorrows Tarot, the Tower; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, "Cactus:"

Often we think of egolessness as a great loss, but actually it's a gain. The acknowledgment of egolessness, our natural state, is like regaining eyesight after having been blind or regaining hearing after having been deaf... Egolessness is a state of mind that has complete confidence in the sacredness of the world. It is unconditional well-being, unconditional joy that includes all the different qualities of our experience. ~ Pema Chodron

          This card - showing a before and after of the Twin Towers - is not what I'd prefer to draw on a national holiday, especially in light of all the recent worldwide events. I was curious as to what O'Donoghue would say about it: "You have been building your security on shifting sands and now, out of the clear blue sky, a thunderbolt has exposed your vulnerability." She concludes by saying the sun casts a new light on the situation, implying a deeper understanding. Yet look at the way that saucy Cactus stares at the eagle. Her keywords, "prickly situation," suggest a difficult diplomacy that is going to require mindfulness and tact. Suddenly these cards narrow their beam from a national level to a personal one. I will be traveling today to visit with relatives, none of whom share my opinions or ideas about many touchy topics. There is no need to cower during the discussions over Thanksgiving dinner, but neither is there a need for me to build a tower of arrogance and narrow-mindedness around my beliefs. If I can remain open, I might just learn something useful. I can choose to focus on the positive - that I will share a meal with people who love me, regardless of my convictions.  

Thank you to all my friends - old and new - who've read or posted on my blog this year. I am grateful to have you in my life, even if it is only through the internet. Happy Thanksgiving!