The Root of the Problem

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Devil; from Transforming Dragons, Duveros:

 I am the Fear that binds you

the Hate that eats you

the Pain that never lets go

          Some people feel as if they walk around with no skin on in a realm of broken glass and razor blades. They often discover certain behaviors or substances can briefly alter their mood and give them a temporary respite. Such reactive behavior easily becomes a compulsive habit; the antidote quickly becomes the poison.  A social drinker imbibes to feel good; the alcoholic drinks not to feel at all. Originally there is the delusion that one is somehow getting rid of those "bad" parts of oneself, just as the monster eats her own arms in the illustration. But what isn't noticed often until too late is that there is a wider set of teeth; she is about to be fully consumed.  

          The booklet says Duveros is a dragon who "pays attention only to himself no matter what the circumstance or situation." He's the type of guy who, when he learns his friend's father died, can only think about is how this will interfere with their upcoming golf game. Interestingly, here's a line from AA's text: "Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles." I would go a step further and say it is also the root of most problems of humanity. Driven by fear, hate and pain, we tend to look out for number one. But stepping out of a self-absorbed orbit and looking at the big picture can quickly show us how destructive this approach can be. We invariably find that we ourselves are the ones who have set fire to the house we're standing in.