There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.
― John Holmes
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Exercise for the Heart
From the Golden Tarot, the King of Coins; from the Yantra Deck, 'Patience;'
This King is not content to sit on a throne behind castle walls and let someone else keep tabs on the kingdom. He prefers to crunch numbers out in the field with the sows, keeping his eyes open for any changes. But this hardworking, successful man is said to be generous as well. I've been reading a book by David Nichtern about the Buddhist Wheel of Life that includes the Six Realms, or mind states when it comes to how we deal with pleasure and suffering. The God Realm represents a moment or period when life feels easy, secure and enjoyable for us. One of the characteristics of being in this mindset is that we don't like to hear about someone else's problems, because we don't want to lose our bliss. We mistakenly believe we can hang on to this moment forever (which we'll eventually discover otherwise in the natural course of things). We may try to ignore or offer a quick fix to the person in order not to have to come down from our pink cloud. Yet the one trait that will help us develop compassion and not lose our connection to others is generosity (whether in the form of money, energy or time). Patience suggests being able to endure without complaint, releasing the need to control or manipulate our experience. It definitely implies being generous with our time.
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That is a unusual portrayal of the King of Pentacles, seems to have strong religious overtones to the card. Still he sets a good example, you really cannot rule from inside the castle.
ReplyDeleteBetter to have the eyes open than hide away. :) This deck is a collage of medieval and Renaissance artwork, so it does have religious undertones.
DeleteI can think of one or two super privileged individuals who seem to be spending their whole lives in the God realm...
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten how much I like this deck it brings out the history sleuth in me...
They will eventually find it doesn't last, even if it is on their sick/death beds. Money and power mean nothing then, and if someone has been a 'god' their whole life, they will likely have no one to sit with them who really cares.
DeleteI have to be find a healthy balance between being in that God realm and giving compassionate attention to others.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good reminder that when I have it good, I should share some of that with others. :)
Deletewonder if he borrowed the idea of carry along tools from the magician. Makes me think of kids with school books open, and a comic book in it.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter did that in elementary school (out of boredom), but with novels rather than comic books. :D
DeleteFrom Lion's Roar magazine:
ReplyDeleteHigher Realms
GOD REALM:
A blissful, ethereal state in which one is supremely contented but oblivious to the suffering of others.
JEALOUS GOD REALM:
Fueled by ego and aggression, jealous or warring gods (asuras) are always striving to rise in power and position.
HUMAN REALM:
Passionate and perceptive, human beings experience many states of mind and have the most opportunity to free themselves from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara).
Lower Realms
ANIMAL REALM:
A life of ignorant complacency and dullness, in which one doesn’t look beyond avoiding pain and seeking comfort.
HUNGRY GHOST REALM:
Incalculably frustrated by desires they cannot fulfill, hungry ghosts (pretas) are depicted with big bellies and tiny mouths.
HELL REALM:
A claustrophobic place of extreme hot or cold in which you can’t escape the torment of your own intense anger and hate.