Hardening vs. Softening

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Princess of Cups; from the Druid Plant Oracle, Meadowsweet:

We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice. ―Pema Chodron

The Princess of Cups is tender and loving, with a warmth that draws those to her. With an intensely sensitive radar, she seems to always know how others are feeling. Seeing youngsters with this kind of vulnerable sweetness brings a smile to my face, but I worry about how they will react when they meet with cruelty and maliciousness in the world. Meadowsweet is a lover of damp soils with an almond-like sweet scent. It has been used in teas and tinctures for its natural salicin content, which can relieve pain and inflammation. Meadowsweet reminds us to take time to heal our pain as well as the suffering of others. We can protect ourselves - not by hardening our heart, but by having strong boundaries - while also remembering that there is usually an injury behind every fault. As Roy Bennett said, "The hard lessons of life are meant to make you better, not bitter."