Yin and Yang of Support

From the Golden Tarot, the Five of Cups; from the Yantra Deck, Support:

          He may have a big castle with lots of servants, but money hasn't brought this king happiness. Perhaps his children got caught up in the opioid crisis or his wife ran off with his best friend. Platitudes offered, like "This too shall pass," might be true, but they rarely offer any comfort. Kristin Neff speaks of the yin and yang of self-compassion. The yin side includes self-care, recognition that suffering is a shared human condition, and a mindfulness of one's own suffering that doesn't wallow but does validate and accept. The yang side involves protecting ourselves, recognizing that we are not alone, and refusing to be silent and shamed. We soothe ourselves and respond appropriately. The Support card parallels Neff's ideas, suggesting both giving and receiving. While it is important to find healthy support systems and companions who encourage us, we can also use our own pain to help others be free from their own.