What You Stand For

From the Stone Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 14th chapter of the Dhammapada:

You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.

― Laurie Halse

The Nine of Wands is a sacrificial investment of energy, one that we hope will pay off. While it may feel like the finish line gets further away, that sunrise in this card suggests the outcome won't be too much longer. Georgia is in the middle of several hotly contested elections (several involve women of color vs. the 'good ole boys' club). Early voting is breaking records; my family and I plan on casting our votes tomorrow. The lines and wait will be long, but we hope to help dig out some entrenched minds and sow new seeds. The verse from the Dhammapada suggests that getting what pleases us may temporarily bring some pleasure, but there will be more challenges later. Prudent use of energy is needed now - it is time to focus on what's important rather than fulfilling the desires of the senses.

Not even with a shower of gold coins would we find satisfaction in sensual craving. 

Slow and Grateful

From the Stone Tarot, the Amazon (Knight) of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 25th chapter of the Dhammapada:

This Knight is solidly dependable, and though steady and tenacious, moves at a slower pace than some would like. But weaving through a dense rainforest on a horse necessitates care and caution. There's a difference between missing a pretty flower and failing to notice a jaguar waiting to spring. Society's constant urge to do more quickly is a habit we'd do well to break. However, moving at a patient, methodical pace might leave us feeling like the rest of life is whizzing past us. As the FOMO acronym symbolizes, we fear we're missing out on all the fun and excitement. But what we're  comparing ourselves to is what we see on the outside (being unable to see the stress and exhaustion on the inside). As the Dhammapada verse implies, gratitude rather than envy would be a better choice.

One shouldn’t scorn what one has received, nor envy others. 

Illuminated Choice

From the Stone Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 26th chapter of the Dhammapada:

Stone's painting shows that whenever we must make a choice between two opposing ideas or two different options, our clarity is always tinged by our passionate reaction to each one. It can feel like a no-win situation, caught between a rock and a hard place. Yet the verse from the Dhammapada gives some direction:

Whenever one turns away from the intent to harm, suffering is allayed. 

Before making a decision, we can check our intentions, and secondly (and most important), we can ask if this choice will cause undeserved harm to anyone (including ourselves). In the words of Mary Jane Dodd, may we "shine to lessen the darkness of another being's suffering."

Energy Use

This week I'll be using the Stone Tarot, a self-published deck by Alison Stone. I may also dip into her book of tarot poems (Ordinary Magic), although it wasn't written as a companion book. The oracle I'll be using is the Buddhist Quote Cards, painted and published by Diana Altenburg. I have paired each card with a verse from the Dhammapada (a Buddhist text). Today's draws are Justice and a verse from chapter 32:

That stunning bright red in this Justice card surely speaks to how injustice and inequality creates a passionate reaction in people. When things are greatly imbalanced (and the voices of the affected go unheard), neighborhoods are burned, people are attacked, and chaos ensues. Yet Vanessa Zuisei Goddard offers another perspective: "Remind yourself that anger is just another form of energy; that you can use it to sustain the hard work of caring for whom or what you love." Such energy can be channeled into productive and creative purposes rather than just used destructively. The verse from the Dhammapada is a reminder that it takes honest self-reflection and open-mindedness to achieve Justice's objectivity; recognizing our own ignorance and prejudice is required:

As a smith does with silver, the wise person gradually, bit by bit, moment by moment, removes impurities from herself.