Holy Encounters

From the Touchstone Tarot, the High Priestess; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, Then Missal:

When the eyes and ears are open, even the leaves on the trees teach like pages from the Scriptures.

—Kabir

The High Priestess coyly asks why we want to learn to meditate and uncover hidden knowledge. Most of us would answer that we want to master relaxation and discover how to transcend all the daily worries and challenges we encounter. She would reply, "But I only offer a way to Truth, not a way to bypass the hard parts of life. However, the insights you glean can allow you to engage life wholly, wisely and compassionately." The Missal depicts a young woman reading from a daily prayer book. The open window suggests that spirituality's purpose in not just to make us comfortable; it is meant to be carried with us so that it positively affects all that we encounter in the world.