Ecosystems

From the Tarot of the Absurd, the Devil; from the Post-psychedelic Cyberpunk, the Forest:

          I might think this Devil was trying out a yoga pose if it weren't for the chains he wears. What ties me up in a pretzel knot? Fear, anger, and grief mostly. But truly any extreme circumstance can turn my compassionate, rational side into a person who thinks only of herself and her situation. That self-absorption can then transform into a search for something to numb the intensity of it all, and I wind up on the doorstep of the Devil (my selfish side who always has plenty of suggestions). The Forest card reminded me of a book I read about a biologist who studied a small section of an old-growth forest for a year. He describes all the activity there, from tiny organisms to the trees, and talks about the web of interconnection that makes up the ecosystem. I am reminded that ringing the Devil's doorbell (not simply for a party but for oblivion) generally happens not because of one triggering event but a multitude. I've previously made unwise choices and allowed unquestioned thoughts to fill my head. The mind and body are ecosystems in their own right; without attention and care, even small disturbances can cause great impacts.

Self-harm - the world will come at you with knives anyway. You do not need to beat them to it.

― Caitlin Moran