Paradox of Time

From the Granny Jones Tarot, the Knight of Buttons (Pentacles); from the Button Oracle, Oasis:

          This young Knight looks pretty happy with his wagon load of produce. But his bounty didn't appear overnight. Like the snail who moves along slowly and the spider who constructs a delicate web, he doesn't rush and pays attention to details. He might not get his wagon to the market before other growers, but the quality of what he cultivates will likely outshine his harried competitors. The Knight of Pentacles lives the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." An oasis is a water source in the desert with green vegetation all around it. It is a sanctuary for those traveling for miles through dry, hot sandy regions. But if we are in such a rush to get one task done only to start a new one, we might not realize that our body and spirit needs rest and relief. We keep trudging along until we crash, physically or emotionally.

It may sound paradoxical, but however tight our schedule, however many things clamor to be done, we don't need to hurry. If we can keep our mind calm and go about our business with undivided attention, we will not only accomplish more but we'll do a better job - and find ourselves more patient, more at peace. ~Eknath Easwaran