When the Brain is Offline

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Goddesses and Sirens, Kuan Yin:

Conflict wreaks havoc on our brains. ~Diane Musho Hamilton

          It doesn't matter the source of the conflict (inner or outer) or whether it is fueled by anger or fear, our brain is geared by evolution to react. Stress hormones flood the body, preparing it to fight or flee while also shutting down the neural pathway to our prefrontal cortex. Without the prefrontal cortex to rely on, complex decision making disappears as well as our ability to access multiple perspectives. No wonder we need a time-out from making any major life choices. Kuan Yin (who in this weird illustration seems to be suffering from 'resting bitch face') is the bodhisattva of compassion. She reminds us that in this period of mental conflict, we would do our mind and body a favor by taking care of them rather than stressing them out further. Eventually our nervous system will calm and our brain will come back online; then we'll be able to discern the better choice.