From the Sasuraibito Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Soul Cards, Where Does It Hurt:
When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the suffering one, but on the contrary, come closer, as close as you can to her who suffers, and try to help her. —Leo Tolstoy
Friendship is about more than good times and laughter; it asks us to bear witness to each other's pain too. We make sure basic needs are met, nurture with gentleness (rather than aggressive advice), and extend hope through a lens that offers a different perspective. It takes courage, because our first inclination is to attempt to sweep away their pain because it also causes us to hurt. The Soul Card, Where Does It Hurt, reminds me so much of Warsan Shire's poem:
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.
What do we do when the whole world seems to be on fire? We start with those around us, whether it's a stray animal, a neighbor or a stranger, and offer them a little compassion and kindness without ducking.
Wow, I did not know who Warsan Shire was, so I looked her up and read the full poem. Poetry can say things that you just can’t put into regular speech. The pain people carry, it’s a wonder that we all don’t go mad. (J)
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