I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Metacognition

From the Tarot of Pagan Cats, the King of Swords; from Brownie Wisdom, 'Time:'
          In this wintry landscape, I can imagine the King of Swords saying, "Just the facts, ma'am." Does this mean he cares more about justice and less about kindness? I don't think so. I'm currently taking a class taught by Joan Halifax called 'Compassion at the Edge.' She speaks often about metacognition - the awareness and ability to understand one's mental processes. Instead of riding the roller coaster of the mind, we step off and watch its twists and turns, high points and low points. We come to recognize our particular preferences and prejudices as well as how emotions and memories can bias us. From this vantage point, we can make rational choices rather than reactive ones. However, the Brownie Wisdom card reminds us that time won't stand still, so we can't sit and watch our mental gymnastics forever. We have to use the information we have to make the wisest decision we can at the moment.
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4 comments:

  1. Carolyn TindorJuly 17, 2018 at 8:52 AM

    Oh if only. Rational choices - best, emotional ones, often.

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    Replies
    1. thesycamoretreeJuly 17, 2018 at 9:38 AM

      We're rarely given the tools we need to learn how to make the rational ones.

      Delete
  2. Sharyn Mallow WoerzJuly 17, 2018 at 9:16 AM

    let me know how that goes, standing outside looking in our our self.
    I'm not sure I'd survive it.

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    Replies
    1. thesycamoretreeJuly 17, 2018 at 9:40 AM

      Training in mindfulness and meditation can help. It's not nearly as scary as one imagines, and the results are always interesting. :D

      Delete

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