Uncovering the Hidden

From the Artist's Inner Vision Tarot, the Hermit; from the Art of Collage Cards, a work by Catrin Arno:

          The Hermit uses solitude to troll deep waters. The companion book states, "Under the environment of self-exploration and contemplation, answers rise to the surface of consciousness, and our knowledge of them makes it easier for us to change negative patterns and live our lives in a life-affirming manner." I recently challenged the ladies I sponsor to take an inventory of what's in their spiritual toolbox.* In mine, there were several discarded or dusty practices; most of what I do consistently are those that bring me pleasure. But a complete toolbox includes practices that challenge me and help me to grow. Its purpose is not to keep me in a state of bliss, but to aid me in becoming more compassionate and less self-centered. Arno's work is one I call "What is hidden." The woman's modest but opulent gown seems to cover up a lot of her, until you peek at what is underneath. There is a world of passion and creativity behind all those layers! I am reminded that doing the hard work of spiritual training doesn't just result in sweat and tears, but a flowering of something beautiful too.
*Our challenge for the month includes dusting off a practice we haven't used in a while (or learned about and never used) and begin working with it. Also, we are to investigate new practices and choose one to test drive for a month. For anyone interested, some suggestions can be found here.