From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Seven of Rivers (Cups); from the Animal Tiles, the 'Owl:'
We all have fantasies about what would make our lives easier: a new job or relationship, paying off a large debt, having our kids become responsible adults or getting relief from a health issue. But the stones on the right bank of this seven lane river caution that wishing won't change reality. There is a necessary effort behind each change we seek. Yet what we often forget is that everyone, no matter how charmed their life looks on the outside, has challenges. True fulfillment comes when we are able to find joy even when swimming upstream. The Owl's night vision suggests that there may be a delusion or two that is hiding. Is there self-pity or a sense of entitlement scurrying around in the corners of the mind? Best to confront it rather than let it continue to grow, or joy won't have a snowball's chance in hell.
From an experiential point of view, what is ego covering up? It's covering up our experience of just being here, just fully being where we are, so that we can relate with the immediacy of our experience. Egolessness is a state of mind that has complete confidence in the sacredness of the world. It is unconditional well being, unconditional joy that includes all the different qualities of our experience. ~Pema Chodron
One of my biggest life lessons was recognizing joy lives within, happiness comes and goes with the wind
ReplyDeleteJoy is definitely fleeting when we attach it to something external to ourselves.
DeleteThat river reminds me of the river in the game 'Frogger' where a good part of time you went splat.
ReplyDeleteI'd guess 'splat' would be a likely possibility if a choice was made impulsively!
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