From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Button Oracle, "Pine Tree:"
The red swords, thundercloud, broken heart and barbed wire all illustrate the pain felt when an unwanted situation happens. Just look at those stick arms on the left reaching out and the legs running away on the right. That's exactly how I feel in those unwelcome situations - either grasping at what has been lost or trying to run from what has appeared. And my thoughts tell me it isn't fair, no one else has to deal with so much; I start singing along with Sam Cooke, "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows my sorrow." Even worse is when I mistakenly assume my spiritual practices were supposed to protect me from such pain. However those mountains in the background are a reminder that my training only prepares me to be a more capable climber; it doesn't eliminate the mountains themselves.
The spiral growth of the pine tree's needles and cone scales are arranged in
Fibonacci number ratios, which leads to the keywords for this button: structure, order, and logic. When the unexpected and unwanted happens, I want to shut down and isolate to escape that feeling of being overwhelmed with fear or heartache. But this button suggests breaking things down into easy steps, making the daily tasks of life simpler and easier to manage. I can concentrate on what's first on that list, giving my mind something to do other than wander off into the future. One task, one minute at a time is all I need to focus on. Getting through the pain instead of attempting to escape it is my solution. Things might never be the same, but it doesn't mean the sun won't ever shine again.
my song is everyone hates me no one loves me, think I'll go eat worms. It always makes me laugh at my frowny face.
ReplyDeleteThat last line always makes me laugh... :D
DeleteI will never eat worms!
Delete"my spiritual practices were supposed to protect me from such pain" That was one of my pitfalls too. I also assumed if I kept practicing I would become better at meditating and letting go etc. Yet even Pema Chodron stated that after 30 year she still struggled with her practice. Every moment is a new opportunity to practice :) Sitting with every itch as it was the first one and remember the sun is always shining but sometimes the weather is cloudy :)
ReplyDeleteMy spiritual practices have helped me to become more patient, more willing to let go, etc., but they definitely have not made all my problems disappear! As you said, it takes effort.
DeleteYes on the spiritual practices comment. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHey Bev, this Button Oracle of yours is wonderful. I had a little bag of charms and doodads I was using as an oracle but I threw it out in preparation for the move. I love self-created oracles, whether cards or doodads. These buttons are fantastic!
DeleteThank you! My grandmother had a button box when I was a child that I loved to sort through and play with - that was my inspiration. Sharyn (Quirkeries) sent me a bunch to add to the ones I had, which was lovely.
Rami Shapiro wrote, "Religion is all about escape, but what you really want to escape from is inescapable."
"a reminder that my training only prepares me to be a more capable climber; it doesn't eliminate the mountains themselves." Love that.
ReplyDeleteBeing content where ever you find yourself, that's the challenge for me. Gratitude is what helps mostly and knowing that this too shall pass. My wise mother always used to say to me, "You can only go down so far and you have to start to come back up." True wise words for me.
Part of my contentment comes when I can remember life doesn't pick on me - everyone has there mountains to climb. Your mom sounds like a wise woman. :)
DeleteYep if I also thought life was pickin' on me, we'd both be out in the garden eatin' worms! Ha!
DeleteI also love that "reminder that my training only prepares me to be a more capable climber; it doesn't eliminate the mountains themselves." We still have our Tower moments, that's for sure, but hopefully we can weather them with greater equanimity :)
ReplyDeleteYes, meeting those moments with equanimity is often a greater challenge than the challenge itself!
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