Edgy Energy

From the Middle Way Arcana, Strength; from the Vertical Oracle, Mercy:

Developing patience and fearlessness means learning to sit still with the edginess of the energy.

~Pema Chodron

The purpose of Buddha's teachings was not just to show us how to get to know and change the way we think, but also to choose wisely the way we respond. The pair of dog lions - one male and one female - show the balance needed in Strength. If we are a blazing bonfire and try to speak our truth, no one will be able to hear what we say because they'll only be focused on our shrieking. On the other hand, if we are a tiny ember, our words won't be noticed at all. The balance between the masculine and the feminine suggests an appropriate response, much like a cozy campfire that people can warm themselves around. Mercy shows a woman wrapped in soft flower petals; it encourages us to keep our heart open and tender rather than hardened. But when there has been harm done, this can be a tough task (and might add fuel to our fire). But without mercy, we bring hatred and fear to the campfire, and we will receive the same response in return. Things change when we attempt to listen to and understand the conditions that have shaped the other's viewpoint (we might be surprised to find we don't know the full story).