Staying Awake

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Nine of Wands; from the Shaman's Oracle, the 'Spirit of Nurture:'

          It's hard to be watchful and alert, especially if we've been at it for a while. Boredom creeps in, and we begin to fantasize about doing something more enjoyable. Or it can become something else; in the words of Paul Tillich, "Boredom is rage spread thin." The effects of rage can equally distract us with detailed thoughts of revenge. Yet the Spirit of Nurture offers us a way to be present and awake without slipping into paranoia, boredom or rage. Matthews describes this Spirit as one that will fortify and offer us sustenance. It gives us support and access to energy. If we are paying attention, we might meet a new person or find out about a book that will offer us information we seek. We could hear words that give us a much wider perspective than the narrow view we've been tightly holding onto. What is coming over that hill might be an ally rather than an enemy.