You almost don't notice it at first - that seventh sword tucked beneath the fox's tail. He might pretend to be asleep, but he's keeping a watchful eye out. Is he playing a defensive or offensive game? He obviously has information or an idea that could be used in either way. Yet he's content to rest instead of attacking, which makes me think he's keeping a secret tucked away for a purpose that involves self-protection. The Crescent and V-rod symbol appear approximately 32 times on Class I stones that have been inscribed by the Picts. Though many have guessed its meaning to range from death to weather magic, J.N. Bellchamber makes a good argument for it representing a seasonal sundial - a sort of farmer's almanac. Added to the Seven of Swords card above, the tile seems to encourage a calmness that would lend itself to right timing. Information used as gossip or character assassination is its impulsive form; used with mindfulness and compassion, it may be helpful rather than harmful.
Yogic tradition has it that speech must pass before three barriers prior to being uttered aloud. These barriers come in the form of three questions: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
― Prem Prakash
kind, true, helpful. Would that we all thought first. The world would no doubt go silent as a tomb.
ReplyDeleteHeehee, that reminds me of the next lojong slogan I'm working on: All dharma agrees at one point (that point being practice should make us less self-absorbed rather than more).
DeleteLess is often more: also in case of talking it is good to keep some of our thoughts for ourselves :)
ReplyDeleteI would hate for anyone to see or hear all the thoughts that swirl through my head! :D
DeleteI like that Seven of Swords. That fox definitely knows something and is pretty protective of it. I had to go Google Class 1 stones.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the stones and their inscriptions were a really interesting study for me. :)
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