Don't Forget the Sunscreen

From the Stone Tarot, the Page of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 13:176:

How long can you wait here,

August sun branding your neck?

~Alison Stone

          Full of energy and excitement, this Page has rushed out to see, do and explore without thinking about protecting herself from the hot summer sun. Most folks who've ever been eager to get somewhere can relate to forgetting a few essential things. The head-to-toe sunburn she's likely to have later might be a good reminder to plan a little better the next time she sets off on an adventure. Yet the Dhammapada adds another warning about being impulsive when it comes to trusting others: "For people who speak falsely, who transgress in this one way, and who reject the world beyond, there is no evil they won't do." When people say what we want to hear and claim to be able to give us what we desire, it can be easy to forget to investigate before we jump in. If we do, we're likely to get just as burned as this Page.

Planting Manual

From the Stone Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 13:176 :

 Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. — Nido Qubein

This particular Ace resembles the seed head of a dandelion, full of possibilities. Those seeds are ready to be planted and grow if we'll give them a chance. Yet like the lowly dandelion, opportunities are often disguised as the ordinary. When we use the resources available (rather than waiting on something that looks more exceptional or extraordinary), we take advantage of the moment and the probability that some of the seeds we plant will sprout. The Dhammapada selection reads:

For people who speak falsely,

who transgress in this one way,

and who reject the world beyond,

there is no evil they won't do.

People who lie often want everything they touch to turn to gold. And with such ambitions, little untruths can lead to greater transgressions. Just a few drops of dishonesty can poison the water that is supposed to nourish the seeds. Better to grow seeds of humility than lose our integrity and the respect of others.

The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means. 

— Georges Bernanos