Touchstone of Progress

From the Brady Tarot, the Nine of Arrows (Swords); from the Citadel, the Queen:

Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. ―Bill Wilson

Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, exposed the insecticide DDT's dangers to the environment. One of the many harmful effects of this chemical was that it made the eggshells of eagles so thin, they broke when the birds sat on them. The Nine of Arrows/Swords is about mental pain and anxiety. Most humans attempt to deal with it by denial and distraction, anger and blame, or self-pity. The Queen arrives to tell us not to shy away from what we can do or how we might influence the situation. It takes determination and courage to move toward the source of our suffering. Yet when we dig deep to the root of the problem, however painful, we may find solutions. Such explanations can't change the past, but they can make the future better.