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

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Show-Off

This week I'll be using the Morgan Greer Tarot, created by Bill Greer and Lloyd Morgan and published by U.S. Games. I'll also be using an oracle made of a combination of two decks - the Gods and Titans along with the Goddesses and Sirens. Both of these were created by Stacey Demarco and Jimmy Manton and published by Blue Angel. Today's card draws are the Nine of Pentacles and Mithras:
           A beautiful lady adorns the Nine of Pentacles card; she looks cultured and as composed as her hooded falcon. Her hard work and discipline have produced a life of contentment and comfort. Yet Mithras with the keyword 'sacrifice' follows her. Yes, she has sacrificed to get where she is, but will she also work to help others find their way too? The buildings dedicated to Mithraism all have reliefs and other designs of Mithras killing the sacred bull. In my book, that would make the god the killer and the bull the one that made the sacrifice. It is easy to think we are making a grand offering, to fool ourselves and others about what we have done. Such is the CEO who makes a large donation (purely for attention) whose profits are earned from the diligent efforts of his employees. If it is all for show, does it really count as a sacrifice?

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6 comments:

  1. Sharyn Mallow WoerzFebruary 12, 2017 at 9:50 AM

    I asked that same question of a cousin-in-law with a good analytical brain. He said "what is the base intent?"

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 12, 2017 at 11:00 AM

      I like your cousin's brain. :) Even if it helps someone, it doesn't necessarily qualify as a sacrifice.

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    2. TriviumFebruary 12, 2017 at 3:29 PM

      My thesis all about this - who labours to enable leadership/philanthropy to be displayed. Great post...

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    3. thesycamoretreeFebruary 12, 2017 at 4:36 PM

      I'd be curious about your take on it. On one hand, you need public relations to get the word out (that's how we got the Civil Air Patrol out at my friend's house to help clean up all the giant downed trees). But some people seem incapable of getting their hands dirty when it comes to actually pitching in and helping.

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  2. Inner WhispersFebruary 13, 2017 at 1:04 AM

    This reminds me of arguments I've heard about whether anything can ever be truly altruistic. Don't we always get something from good acts and sacrifices? It might simply be feeling good, or being acknowledged by friends and peers as a good person. It might even be a reduction in guilt over something else, when something is done anonymously... Some would argue that there must always be an energetic balance, that it is good and right that nothing is purely altruistic. Just my little ramble on the subject :D

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    1. thesycamoretreeFebruary 13, 2017 at 5:19 AM

      I don't think anyone would practice altruism if there weren't some sort of "feel good" pay off. For me, that is the plus side of doing good. But to wear the mask of altruism while hiding all sorts of self-promotion and sinister, selfish motives is another thing entirely. :)

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