Wisdom in Unusual Places

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Goddesses and Sirens Oracle, 'The Muses:'

         Two things I notice about this particular Hanged Man - it's cloudy and there is no glowing nimbus around his head. These things imply that he isn't seeing clearly and hasn't conceded his struggle against reality; he's still trying to rewind the tape and change what is. He would be better off following the wisdom of Reginald Ray: "We are called to see each arising of our day not as a threat, but as an opportunity—a chance to open our arms, lay down our weapons, and surrender to this exact moment of our life." There is no battle as wasted and useless as that against reality. Personifications of poetry, story, and song, the Muses are considered an inspiration for the arts. Yet because they originated during a time when oral history was prevalent, they are also a source of knowledge. Have you ever heard a verse from a song or poem that seemed to switch the light on in your head? As the poet David Whyte wrote, "Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity."