Turn, Turn, Turn

From the Legacy of the Divine, the Wheel; from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, the Snail:

          Sudden change can make us feel like we've been tossed into a tumultuous sea; underwater and confused, we have a hard time telling which way is up. Other times the change we seek is achingly slow, either as we anticipate the end of pain or worry about what we see coming on the horizon. How are we to maintain sanity and serenity through the turns of life? The Snail implies that we stay grounded and move at the pace of guidance. Being grounded suggests staying in the moment as much as possible. Guidance through spiritual intentions can provide a compass when things get topsy-turvy. For me, that is the Five Precepts I recite every day (the word 'vow' simply means what I aspire to and does not imply a commandment):

• I vow not to harm but to nurture all of life.
• I vow not to take what is not given but to practice generosity.
• I vow not to misuse my relationships but to treat every person with respect.
• I vow not to engage in false speech but to listen an speak from the heart.
• I vow not to intoxicate body or mind but to cultivate a mind that sees clearly.