As the Mind Allows

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Gemstone Oracle, Yellow Jasper:

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. 

―Japanese proverb

Burrowing as fast as he can, this badger is doing his version of getting in bed and pulling the cover over his eyes. Fear and anxiety often make us react in unhelpful ways like attempting to run, hide or deny. While all of us will have some serious concerns to deal with at some point, it's all the extras we pile on top that make us suffer worse. We make assumptions, imagine the least favorable outcome, and think we have no way to influence anything. We would do well to heed the wise words of Marcus Aurelius: "If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgement now." Yellow Jasper represents sacred space or a comfortable refuge. When we decide to face our fear, who and what we surround ourselves with can make a difference in whether we add to or lower our anxiety.