Soaking Up the Sun

From the Stone Tarot, the Six of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 1:5-6 :

          A group of wands point toward the light, as if they were solar batteries recharging in the sun. The Six of Wands suggests a victory after a challenge has been met. A verse from Stone's poem reads, "a steady striving through the water, suddenly spacious and yielding as sky." We are considered lucky if we have friends who are our comrades in such struggles; luckier still if we have a spiritual resource (religious or otherwise) from which to draw our strength. With the sun so prominently displayed on the tarot card, it is interesting that the oracle card has the Gayatri Mantra written on the front. The chant was originally addressed to the Sun, "giver of light and life," asking that the devotee be inspired in the right thoughts and deeds. The Dhammapada verses read:

Hatred never ends through hatred. By non-hate alone does it end. This is an ancient truth. 

Many do not realize that we here must die. For those who realize this, quarrels end.  

For those not familiar with Buddhist teachings, Buddha's words may be interpreted as a call to wear flowers in one's hair and avoid conflict and confrontation at all cost. But he is trying to convince us that anger is the real enemy, not something or someone external to us. Hatred affects our minds like having the flu affects our bodies; it complicates and exacerbates any problem rather than solves it. A centered, calm mind will be more beneficial in finding a peaceful place to stand in the sun.