I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Friday, May 20, 2016

The Great Shaper

From the Margarete Petersen, the Nine of Cups; from the Elemental Dice, Light + Water (Rainbow):
          An irritant (probably a parasite rather than a grain of sand) embedded itself into an oyster and caused inflammation to the soft flesh inside. As a defense, the oyster used a fluid (nacre) to coat the irritant with many layers. After about 3 years, the tormentor became a soft, rounded pearl. Petersen writes, "If you really accept your pain, it will change you and bring you knowledge, wisdom and happiness." What is it that shapes our hearts more - our trials and tribulations or our goals and ambitions? The Nine of Cups seems to point that the pain rather than the pleasure might be the greatest shaper. It is human nature to want to battle or avoid pain rather than keeping the heart open and walking through it. The process is scary and excruciating, but as the pearl implies, there's usually a benefit discovered at the end. Grant me the serenity, courage and acceptance to hang in there until I find that Rainbow.

In times of difficulty it is this repeated setting of our heart’s compass that determines the result. 
~ Jack Kornfield

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6 comments:

  1. Carolyn TindorMay 20, 2016 at 8:11 AM

    Sometimes those little irritants make us just a bit uncomfortable and we have to change. When things get challenging I always try to remember an old diddie, "everything always works out for the best." May the sand pebble become your pearl of wisdom. Hope things are better today for you and your family.

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    1. thesycamoretreeMay 20, 2016 at 12:10 PM

      Thank you Carolyn. :) I think the wisdom is in making room for all of it.

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  2. Sharyn Mallow WoerzMay 20, 2016 at 10:21 AM

    makes me wonder what the life span of a oyster might be, left to it's own devices. Perhaps as long as a turtle??

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    1. thesycamoretreeMay 20, 2016 at 12:09 PM

      According to a government website, they've lived up to 20 years in captivity, but less in the wild.

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  3. EllenMay 20, 2016 at 11:01 AM

    "If you really accept your pain, it will change you and bring you knowledge, wisdom and happiness."" I've been thinking about this today too :)
    Keep your compass on the true north of you heart my dear Bev!

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    1. thesycamoretreeMay 20, 2016 at 12:12 PM

      My heart's compass keeps looking for the direction of "run and hide," but fortunately it looks like true north is the only option available. :)

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