Overwhelmed

From the Tarocchi Celtici, the Ten of Fire (Wands); from the Art of Asia Oracle, "Maple Tree and Small Birds" by Ito Jakuchu:

The overwhelmed mind underestimates the scale of a human life and therefore over-calculates the ultimate importance of any particular problem. Don’t be fooled.

— David Cain

          These salamander elves look burned out, a sure sign the Ten of Wands is being carried on their backs. The mirror, a spiritual symbol of awareness and truth, lies face down on the ground under the feet of one elf. Another holds a neck torc, a symbol of power, but she does not wear it. When our energy is constantly channeled in many directions, whether by choice or obligation, the feeling of overwhelmed exhaustion is not far behind. After a while, it's easy to believe we are powerless over our lives and that we couldn't find our way out of a paper bag. The quote assigned to Jakuchu's painting was written by John Burroughs: "How beautifully the leaves grow old! They are giving back the light they have been absorbing from the sun all summer." Perhaps these elves could pause for a few minutes a look for what is beautiful around them and see how it is the nature of things to change. But until change comes, maybe they will realize that self-care is as important as any other priority.