A Tool for Different Tasks

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, Strength; from the Ostinato Oracle, Trill:

Righteous anger is a tool of justice, a scythe of compassion, more than a reactive emotion.

―Archbishop Desmond Tutu

This woman looks sad and apologetic for closing her beast's mouth. You can almost hear her say, "Yes, tearing the head off that bastard does seem like a righteous act, but it wouldn't solve anything; it would only land us in deep trouble." Strength can sometimes mean the courage to act, but it can just as often refer to the courage to avoid reacting. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate." Trill is a musical notation that means a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes. While there are times to speak out and march against injustice, there are other times when we need to focus on caring for and helping those who have been hurt. Our righteous indignation must be transformed into compassionate action.