Quick Fixes

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Oracle of Alice's Leaves, 'Cajeput:'

          The Queen of Cups is known for her empathy, so its no wonder that she has a protective circle around her head and heart. She must be careful that her visceral experience of another's feelings is transformed into compassionate action rather than allowing it to emotionally overwhelm and wear her out. Like the flower she holds, she needs the sun too - not just constant rain. Cajeput, or Melaleuca quinquenervia, is a prime example of why non-native plants should not be randomly sown in the wild. In the 1940s, the seeds of this Australian tree were sown from the air in hopes of turning the 'useless' wetlands of the Florida Everglades into timberland. Now the destructive results on the native vegetation and wildlife are apparent. The Queen should take a lesson from the Everglades experiment; what might look like an easy fix should be looked at from a longterm and wide view. Easy usually never means benign and beneficial.