Intoxication and Detox

From the Nature Spirit Tarot, the Six of Pentacles; from the Australian Wildflower Reading Cards, Sturt's Desert Pea:

          The Pentacles suit is primarily represented by daffodils in this deck, also known as Narcissus. The genus name comes from the Greek language and means 'intoxicated.' I can't think of a better description for the physical world, especially in finding balance between what we need and what we simply desire. The giant silk moth (a cousin to the silkworm) are sometimes cultivated for the coarse silk from their cocoons. Likewise, with hard work, we can take our resources and generate even more. But what do we do with that extra when we have all we need and then some? The bamboo in the card suggests flexibility, the ability to not hold so tightly to any excess but to give to those in need. The unusual Sturt's Desert Pea is in the legume family, which means that although it takes nutrients and water from the soil, it also adds nitrogen back. The booklet suggests that in order to overcome, we must be willing to let go. It is interesting that of all the Buddhist paramitas ('far-reaching attitudes'), generosity is number one on the list. It involves compassionately giving in three ways: material things, protection or understanding. Generosity is the detox practice for grasping and clinging.

Greed is the salty water consumed by those who thirst for self-centered gratification. This kind of thirst can never be quenched and becomes the source of increasing torment. 

—Matthieu Ricard