From the Anna K. Tarot, the Five of Pentacles; from the
Meditation Cards, Heart Centered:
What struck me about this Five of Pentacles card is the tenderness of the two older people under the makeshift shelter. I'm sure they are cold, tired and hungry, but they are not making their difficulties more difficult by taking them out on each other. Why don't they ask the church for help? Perhaps they are of a different faith and did not want to trade it for a hot meal. The Heart Centered card is paired with a quote by Jack Kornfield:
We must look at ourselves over and over again in order to learn to love, to discover
what has kept our hearts closed, and what it means to allow our hearts to open.
Put people in dire circumstances and they will either act from a 'survival of the fittest' viewpoint or from compassion and kindness. It is an incredibly demanding choice to be selfless instead of selfish during such periods. But these are just times for which our heart was made, and when it can shine the brightest.
The attention given to facial/emotional expressions does set the Anna K apart.
ReplyDeleteI agree; body language and facial expressions are used well in this deck!
Deletewe see more and more people parked on the outer edge of big parking lots, obviously living out of their car. Just breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteThe local Coca-cola office/plant moved to another town over a year ago and gave the building it had been using to a huge Baptist church here to use for a homeless shelter. It has been used for everything but that; makes me grind my teeth.
DeleteI realise my first comment may have seemed cold. The truth is I cannot begin to describe the how my heart aches and my sheer fury at the extent of the housing crisis in my country. I have wanted to blog about it every day but was worried about making it 'all about me' hugs all.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to speak out or write about it, then do it; it is not selfish at all but an expression of concern for others. Here in America, I think it is only at the grassroots level that any change will happen, as our politicians are in la la land.
DeleteIf you want to change the world, change yourself. I have been familiar with this notion for a long time now but only as of late it has begun to realy speak to me on a deeper level. When we are all connected personal change really does matter. Even if it is only a gentle pull at a string of the Great Cosmic Web it does matter.
DeleteOf course this doesn't mean we dont have to stánd up for those who are less fortunate than we are...
Being in difficult situations can be a reminder later when I'm on the other side of it how it feels when I see someone else struggling (There but for the grace of Good Orderly Direction go I). When I remember, it can spark that outreach of compassion.
DeleteThose living through hardships and hard time are there to help us all learn the lesson of heart centered compassion. Something as simple as a prayer can always help.
ReplyDeleteIt is what we all have in common at one time or another.
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