Opening Doors

From the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, the Papess; from the Pages of Shustah, Little Foxes:

I’ve always thought that a good book should be either the entry point inward, to learn about yourself, or a door outward, to open you up to new worlds.

― Taylor Jenkins Reid

The High Priestess/Popess indicates hidden knowledge within us that we receive through insights. This woman is completely engaged in reading, so much so that she is sinking down into a place beyond ego's reach. Have you ever read something that jolted you in a deep way, that brought new realizations and understanding? The writings of Pema Chodron, the "You Are Accepted" sermon by Paul Tillich, and numerous poems have had that effect on me. These opened doors in my mind that I was unaware of until that moment. Little Foxes suggest a need to stay in reality rather than fanciful illusions. How do we know if something is insight or simply an emotional reaction? While insight might cause one's heart to feel touched, it doesn't include strong emotions like anger, fear, craving or sadness. And unlike an emotional reaction, it can be life changing.