Fiery Influence

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Tortoise:

          With the tiger amid the flames of this Queen's lotus scepter, there's no doubt she holds both passion and power. She is known as the encourager, one who helps feed the fires of other people so that their interests can blossom too. Yet the gorilla-like masks beside her throne are a concern. Is she helping others so they will be indebted to her? Or perhaps she is trying to create miniature copies of herself. She can wield her influence in such a heavy-handed way, she may extinguish their spark of enthusiasm altogether. The booklet cautions against aiding others for self-serving purposes. As the Dalai Lama teaches, "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."
          The Tortoise usually implies a slow and steady pace, yet it is also associated with longevity. Long life is often considered to be a byproduct of those who are wise and experienced. The Tortoise attempts to warn the Queen to look at the long-term consequences of what she is doing. The downside to training people while hiding a selfish motive is that they may learn more than what was intended. Full to overflowing with self-concern, they can turn on the person who taught them. Keeping the harness loose might be a better way to allow authentic creativity to flourish.