Self Examination

From the Tarot by Caro, the Eight of Cups; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 44:

When meeting contention in another it would be wise to examine oneself.

―Confucius

The cups in this card seem to provide steps as this man leaves under the cover of darkness. Those 'steps' are his reasons for leaving a situation or relationship that is unfulfilling or unhealthy. Yet the shadow that follows him is disconcerting, and reminds me of something a psychiatrist said in a recent online conference: when we search from our wounds we generally find a slightly upgraded model of ourselves. Before he seeks comfort elsewhere, he would do well to take some time for honest self-reflection. Hexagram 44 is often called Temptation and suggests we are about to make a choice that could have volatile consequences. Instead of judging a situation subjectively, we need to look at it objectively. Antifreeze may taste sweet, but it's still a poison. Self-examination, especially a look at our motives and intentions, is the antidote.