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

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Two Extremes

From the Tarot of the Masters, Demons (The Devil); from the Key to the Kingdom, the 'King of Spades:'
           The Demon in this card has a face on its stomach, suggesting the many ways we try to fill the emptiness inside us in an attempt to feel whole. The Buddha taught that we create unnecessary suffering for ourselves through craving. His understanding of craving included three types: craving for what feels good, craving for a pleasurable experience never to end, and craving to avoid or stop anything that is unpleasant. On the other end of the spectrum is the King of Spades, paired with the verse about Ol' King Cole who was a merry soul. Buddhist philosophy suggests four causes of happiness:
1) loving-kindness - expanding our concern beyond ourselves to include the happiness of all beings
2) compassion - relieving the suffering of others through intention and activity
3) sympathetic joy - rejoicing in the happiness and good fortune of others
4) equanimity - achieving balance by not holding on to things too tightly
It seems the hole in the soul stays open through selfishness and self-centeredness and closes when we sincerely embrace others in our wish for well-being.


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4 comments:

  1. Sharyn Mallow WoerzOctober 3, 2018 at 11:50 AM

    equanimity
    I like that word

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 3, 2018 at 12:45 PM

      I wish I could order a lifetime supply from Amazon, but there I go craving again... :D

      Delete
  2. Carolyn TindorOctober 3, 2018 at 11:51 AM

    I don't want to work at being happy, I just want to be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thesycamoretreeOctober 3, 2018 at 12:44 PM

      It all starts with training the mind (which I suppose does involve some work :D).

      Delete

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