This week I'll be using Tarot of the Secret Forest, created by Lucia Mattioli and published by Lo Scarabeo. I'll also be drawing from the Faeries' Oracle created by Brian Froud with text by Jessica Macbeth; it was published by Simon & Schuster. Today's cards are the Ten of Swords and Gloominous Loom:
Ants are easily agitated when animals tromp all over their mound, a structure necessary for temperature control, ventilation and defense. When a spider decides to pick off a few ants for a meal, the alarm is sounded and the spider is swarmed. Being aggrieved - resentful because we think a situation is wrong and unfair - is a tricky beam to balance on. It's easy to get stuck in that state, focusing on the problem instead of looking for a solution. Gloominous Loom invites us to explore our anger and self-pity properly, seeing and questioning the thoughts connected to them. Grievances can grow out of control if we don't take responsibility for where our thoughts wander. As Byron Katie reminds us, "Every complaint is a little story the mind makes up that you completely believe in."
There is one person who frequently irritates and angers me, and I'm challenged by these reactions, and working hard at not invalidating my feelings but also at being fair while not allowing condescension to continue without comment. I would like not to be bothered by bullshit, but since I am, at least I'm sometimes able to let things go after I've said my piece. One step at a time!
ReplyDeleteI think our initial anger or irritation is a normal reaction - it wouldn't be healthy to try to squash something that is just trying to get our attention. As Jack Kornfield explained, "It’s the capacity to be present with your whole being and not add fuel to the fire." If I can do that, I might figure out a strategy for dealing with the situation appropriately rather than simply react. Easier said than done, though!
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