No Influence

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Borage:

The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. 

—Epictetus

Naked, mouth stuffed with leaves, and hands bound, this hanging man illustrates those situations in which we are powerless. His legs form an upside-down four, the number of stability, suggesting there is nothing to be done to secure and steady the present circumstances. Why drive ourselves crazy trying to wage a battle that we won't ever win? Borage (aka Starflower) is an herb that has been used for centuries to 'comfort the heart' (depression). Thus this plant is associated with courage, not the kind used in wars, but the type that helps us deal with the vicissitudes of daily life. This type of fortitude reminds us that things will eventually change and permits us to engage in self-compassion.