A Needed Anchor

From the Tarrochi Celtici, Arduinna (Justice); from the Art of Asia Oracle, "Old Buddhist Monk" by Kim Hong-do:

Justice is depicted as Arduinna, a Gallo-Roman goddess of the Ardennes Forest and region. Depicted as a huntress riding a boar, she protected the forests and mountains much like the Roman goddess Diana. Justice's primary purpose is to protect the rights of beings and promote fairness and equality; punishment is only a secondary function. It seems that lately the latter has overrun the former in our country. I've been reading a book called High Conflict by Amanda Ripley (currently free if you have a Kindle app). High conflict is all-consuming and addictive, having an us-versus-them mentality that never leads to progress or understanding. It thrives on heated (and reheated) emotions. Hong-do's painting is paired with a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh:

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor. 

While justice needs compassion, it is crippled by unchecked emotion. For fairness and equality to be present, it needs objectivity and clarity.