From the Anima Mundi Tarot, the Knight of Cups; from the Nature's Pharmacy deck, Comfrey:
Love isn't something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn't a feeling, it is a practice. ~Eric Fromm
I like the use of the dolphin for the Knight of Cups; it suggests something deeper than being "in love with love" (an idealistic fantasy). Dolphins are known for their many instances of altruistic behavior: surrounding humans to protect them from shark attacks, helping other dolphins who are injured to reach the surface to breathe, and guiding a whale and her calf back out to sea when stranded between a beach and a sandbar. Altruism is defined by researchers as an act in which an animal sacrifices its own safety and well-being for another’s benefit - something humans could use some work on. Comfrey has been used for hundreds of years to treat sprains, bruises, burns and joint inflammation. This herb contains allantoin, which boosts the growth of new cells, and rosmarinic acid, that can help relieve pain and inflammation. These cards ask me to be mindful of whether my words and actions are helping and healing, and consider whether I've gotten comfortable resting on some conceptual fallacy.
I too like the dolphin as a Knight of Cups. An emissary of compassion and empathy.
ReplyDeleteMuch better than a guy with his head in the clouds!
DeleteI've learned in my goddess workshop this month, which is about Kuan Yin, that she is often portrayed as riding a dolphin.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely. The bodhisattva is associated with compassion, so she is often seen with water dragons and turtles as well. :)
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