Vapor Trails

This week I'll be using the Touchstone Tarot, created and self-published by Kat Black. Along with it I'll be using the John Waterhouse Oracle, created and self-published by Elaine Wilkinson. Today's draws are the Queen of Cups and Mariamne Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod:

Emotions are really good at raising questions and really bad at answering them.

—Zach Teutsch

The Queen of Cups is the personification of compassion. She informs us that neither detached pity nor drowning in despair will help someone in pain. To be beneficial, compassion must be balanced with the wisdom of clarity, of being able to see a wider, realistic perspective. She tells us (in the words of Katy Butler), that emotions are "the vapor trails of unmet needs." Yet she cautions us not to think the trail is the answer - it is the finger pointing to the moon, not the moon itself. The painting of Mariamne illustrates the story of King Herod sentencing his favorite wife to death after she was accused of being unfaithful. In reality, Mariamne's sister Salome got the king worked up and convinced him of the truth of her lie. As Teutsch's quote emphasizes, emotions aren't very good at answering questions or solving problems. But if we follow their trail backwards, we might find the root of insecurity.