The Shape of Motivation

This week I'll be using the Mary-El Tarot, created by Marie White and published by Schiffer. I'll be pairing it with the OH Cards, created by Ely Raman and Joe Schlichter and published by Eos Enterprises. The OH draw is actually two cards - one a picture and the other a word. Today's draws are the Five of Wands and Middle/Hope:

          At what age does our will develop, when we transform from a submissive lamb to a lion willing to stand up for what we believe? Likely, it's how the phrase 'terrible twos' came into being. In the Thoth world, the number five stands for motion and change that shake up the previous structure and stability. Applied to the Wands suit, we find assertiveness and courage to speak up and defend our views regardless of the blowback. Yet the Middle/Hope combination suggests we don't burn any bridges just yet. If we're looking for group support, taking an extreme perspective will not be where we find it. Extremists don't care what anyone else thinks or feels - they only cherish their personal beliefs. Khentrul Rinpoche said, "Behind every idea is a motivation that is shaped by hopes and fears." Rather than simply driving a stake in our own viewpoint, can we listen and look for what has shaped the viewpoints of others? Can we attempt to see from another's personal landscape? Perhaps there is a middle path we can all travel on, even if some of us hug the edges.