Rest the Mind to Open It

From the Rosetta Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Ascension to Paradise deck, the 'African Fish Eagle:'

          The exposed nerve endings on this Four of Swords suggest feeling as if one is walking around without skin - unprotected and overly sensitive to all the slings and arrows of day to day living. Thus this card emphasizes a need for a temporary respite from the chaotic mind. It isn't permanent, but a few moments strung together when all we do is concentrate on the breath (or some other focus that keeps us in the here and now). It opens us to spaciousness rather than staying in that familiar feeling of constriction. The African fish eagle swoops down to the water to catch its prey with sharp talons. If the fish is too heavy to lift back up into the air, it simply drags it across the water. When the weight is too great to get any lift for flight, the fish eagle will drop into the water and paddle to shore with its wings. This bird is a reminder not to get boxed in by a rigid way of doing things. Both cards suggest letting go of the 'right' way and allowing the mind to open to other possibilities. It may not look pretty or graceful, but if it gets the job done, it should still be worthy of consideration.