Short-Circuit

From the Stone Tarot, Temperance; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 17th chapter of the Dhammapada:

The Online Etymology Dictionary had some interesting notes for the verb form of this card (temper): "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits, mix in due proportion." In the last few hundred years, Temperance has come to be associated with inebriation, but I have to admit my emotions have intoxicated me in far greater measure than any drug or drink. When that jolt of anger goes through me, it can be hard to remember this is just energy; I don't need to feed it a story line, I just need to let it dissipate without acting on it. The Dhammapada's verse seems to underscore the need to train the mind - not so I won't feel, but so I will realize my brain has been temporarily short-circuited:

The one who keeps anger in check as it arises, as one would a careening chariot, I call a charioteer. Others are merely rein-holders.

 

SOS

From the Stone Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 17:222:

Cracks showed through the new paint.

~Alison Stone

          To be a responsible adult involves taking on commitments, whether the duties are related to family ties, work obligations or volunteer services. Usually we can juggle these tasks, but sometimes the perfect storm arrives and we find ourselves floundering in a tsunami-sized sea of debris. To stay afloat, we may need to let go of some duties that aren't critical and ask for help in shouldering some of the load that we carry. There may even be a few things we've taken on that aren't really our responsibility. But above all, we need to find a few minutes of solitude to breathe. The Dhammapada quote speaks about an emotion that often accompanies such a tsunami: "The one who keeps anger in check as it arises, as one would a careening chariot, I call a charioteer. Others are merely rein-holders." If we want to find a way back to sanity and calm, lashing out in blame and anger won't be of help. Self-restraint will enable us to communicate an SOS without the drama attached, and perhaps get the support we need.