I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Monday, December 7, 2015

Light as a Feather?

From the Dark Goddess Tarot, Justice; from the Tattwa Cards, "Fire: Seed of Air:"
          Maat appears holding the scales of justice, weighing a heart against a feather. What would make my heart tip her scales? I thought of ahimsa (nonviolence), one of the yamas (ethical observances) in the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It is often literally thought of as the avoidance of physical harm toward another. Yet it actually refers to all types of aggression -  unkind behavior, harmful thought and hurtful speech. I can harm someone by purposefully ignoring them just as easily as if I slapped them. But ahimsa works both ways; my focus on compassion and kindness must be turned inward as well.
          Air of Fire shows up from the Tattwa Cards with the keyword "perseverance." Anyone who's tried to light a candle in an enclosed container knows it will go out without enough air to fuel it. The tattwa symbol itself reflects the pose of Maat as a fulcrum. It pivots between compassion and kindness on one side and self-centeredness and intolerance on the other. I must be tenacious in leaning toward the heart-centered side. But some people are just plain hard to like, much less love. In these cases, I bow to the wisdom of the Dalai Lama: "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

5 comments:

  1. "my focus on compassion and kindness must be turned inward as well." That is often the hardest part
    Disliking someone also says more about myself than about the other :D

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    1. I personally think it is impossible to truly be kind and compassionate toward others if I'm not that way toward myself. Being "nice" will have an underlying motive, such as wanting to be liked and accepted.

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  2. Ha, I've been struggling with this "dislikeable other" this week. My therapist said it's a wonderful opportunity to explore what pushes my buttons, and what that says about me ;)

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    1. Those types can be great mirrors to see our own reflection in. Reminds me of a lojong slogan - Be grateful to everyone. :D

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