From the
Urban Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Principles to Live By, "Compassion:"
Scott writes that this card stretches that moment of happiness in the Nine of Cups forward into the future with the dream of a home and family. The couple in this card are two friends of Scott who were finally able to become legally wedded with the Supreme Court's decision in 2015. I'm sure the dream of happiness others pursue and find is different from what I have at home with my husband. Different doesn't imply something misguided or immoral. I've got friends who are happy being single with a circle of friends as companions, and others who are content with pets instead of spouses. Does it matter how we love as long as everyone is happy and healthy? I don't think so.
The disc of two hearts represents Compassion; to be compassionate means to turn toward a person who is suffering with a desire to relieve their pain. This is not an intellectual understanding of someone's suffering, but a moment when I remove the armor around my heart and feel the pain with them. Joanna Macy wrote, "Compassion literally means to feel with, to suffer with. Everyone is capable of compassion, and yet everyone tends to avoid it because it's uncomfortable." Yet this willingness to connect my heart to another is what reminds me of what we have in common. It gives me the chance to realize I'm not the only one who feels incredible pain or joy. No matter how different we may look on the outside, we share quite a lot on the inside.
Compassion... it should come natural but too often it doesn't. Your post reminds me to open myself to others and try to really see the other person. And maybe in the process I might learn a bit more about myself too.
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me of a "Just Like Me" Meditation. :) This particular one comes from Chade-Meng Tan:
DeleteBecome aware that there is a person in front of me. A fellow human being, just like me.
Let us now consider a few things:
This person has a body and a mind, just like me.
This person has feelings, emotions and thoughts, just like me.
This person has at some point been sad, disappointed, angry, hurt or confused, just like me.
This person has in his or her life, experienced physical and emotional pain and suffering, just like me.
This person wishes to be free from pain and suffering, just like me.
This person wishes to be safe, healthy and loved, just like me.
This person wishes to be happy, just like me.
Now, let's allow some wishes to arise:
I wish for this person to have the strength, resources, and social support to navigate the difficulties in life.
I wish for this person to be free from pain and suffering
I wish for this person to be happy.
Because this person is a fellow human being, just like me.
Thank you!
DeleteLove how you've included two hearts to indicate compassion. This post is wonderful, love that 10 of Cups!
ReplyDeleteThe two connected hearts was my effort to show how compassion is being willing to sit with another's suffering rather than toss out some quick advice (or money) and run in the other direction. :) The other heart I used has a spiraled arrow inside (for kindness to show it as benevolent action).
Delete