Leveling Factor

From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Three of Swords; from the Soul Cards, 'Enlightenment:'

          This young lass seems surprised that she has been stabbed in the back. That emotion will likely give way to a mix of grief and anger. Feeling betrayed comes in a range of flavors, from someone taking advantage of us to the suicide of a person we loved. Yet the Swords suit is not about emotions but about our thoughts and how we express them. In this case, we first replay and analyze our memories of the past; we look for what we missed and could have done differently. When anger and grief come, we think of what has been wrested away from us - the trust and the hopes we held dear. Enlightenment, in Buddhism, means to wake up from the delusions caused by our misperceptions. As Charlotte Joko Beck explained, "Enlightenment is not something you achieve. It is the absence of something." Reality looks very different when we take away our preferences and prejudices. It places our feet firmly on the ground so that we can do what needs to be done. It reminds us that we are one of many who've had this same kind of experience. No one gets to bypass the sorrows of the world in favor of the joys. It is one of life's leveling factors.