Choosing Freedom

This week I'll be using the Scrying Poetry Tarot, created and self-published by Julianne Victoria. Major arcana cards are haiku, court cards are limericks, and minor arcana are free verse. The other deck I'll be drawing from is the Tapestry Oracle, created and self-published by Kendall Eifler. Today's draws are the Wheel of Fortune and Energy:

One of the finest results of meditation is the increased gap between stimulus and response. That gap before I react gives me time to notice my habitual patterns and sometimes even decide whether to stay a slave to them or break loose. —Brent R. Oliver

          The Wheel's haiku alludes to karma, a concept the West has twisted into something that resembles a system of rewards and punishments. Yet it actually refers to habitual patterns that are created by the intentional choices we make. Once we take an action, we can reflexively repeat it over and over again if we do not bring awareness to the motives driving us. Who hasn't heard someone complain, "Why do I always get involved with the same kind of person?" or "I always end up with difficult co-workers." While there may be outer causes and conditions that are in play, the real key is our own intentional actions (thoughts, words and behavior). The card Energy relates to this as well. Some people seem to seek out emotional chaos while others engage in risky behaviors. Although these patterns might supply us with an adrenaline rush, they soon leave us feeling worse than we did before. So what do we do? We step back into our rut and repeat the same behavior. Yet there is a chance we'll get tired of the merry-go-round we're on and become willing to remain in our discomfort rather than reflexively react as usual. That's the first step to freedom.