Wonder and Warmth

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Lovers; from the Vertical Oracle, Divine Intervention:

Love is generated from twin impulses. Buddhism calls them emptiness and compassion; we could also call them wonder and warmth. ~Norman Fischer

Close your eyes for just a minute and think of a time when you felt completely accepted by someone, were celebrated for accomplishing a goal, felt someone was concerned for your well-being, or were surprised by an unexpected kindness. Bring that memory into sharp focus and hold it for several minutes. Does it open your heart? Love comes in  a multitude of forms and can show up in unusual places, but it always makes us feel like we matter, that our life has some worth. The 'emptiness' Fischer talks about in his quote above means that we drop all our assumptions, labels, preferences and prejudices, letting our heart and mind open wide. The card Divine intervention does not refer to a deity, but as the creators put it, a 'benevolent interruption.' It is a reminder that we all have opportunities to be a benefactor, to make someone feel loved. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful then a thousand heads bowing in prayer." 

Cup of Calmness

From the Thoth Tarot, the Knight (King) of Cups; from the Vertical Oracle, "Divine Intervention:"

          I love the way Harris painted this Knight; his wings make him appear to be a part of the crest of a wave. He holds the cup (Holy Grail) in front of him, allowing it to be his navigational device. This man represents a tricky balance between fire and water. The peacock in the bottom right corner looks as if it is beginning to fade away. It suggests the fiery will of the Knight is being directed away from power and libido to use for watery acts of compassion and kindness. (However I do notice his stallion gives it a longing glance, as they soar over it.) Yet unlike his Queen, he will retain enough fire to prevent any waves of emotion from overtaking him.
          I groaned when I drew the "Divine Intervention" card; I don't believe in any Santa Claus-like deity who makes changes in the real world because of prayers. But fear not, Alli describes this as a "benevolent interruption" caused by a "formless nameless wisdom." This I can work with. It reminds me of the Buddhist meditative technique called shamatha, or calm abiding, that allows the mind and body to relax and settle by focusing on the breath. Once settled, our boat sails above the ego (our peacock) to an open spaciousness that is pervaded by joy and clarity. I think it is this cup of calmness from which the Knight sips. 

Just Sit Without Speaking

From the Thoth Tarot, the Prince of Swords:

This fellow has an intellect as sharp as his sword, but unfortunately he doesn't have the wisdom of experience behind him.  He knows something about everything it seems, though he has neither tact nor emotional maturity to deliver the knowledge.  In one hand is his sword, and in the other is a sickle, indicating those "pat" answers he loves to offer but not much else.  He reminds me of some religious folks who love to say things like, "It was God's will" or "You just need to pray harder and have faith."  Sometimes it is not words people need, but someone to sit beside them as they work through their pain and problems.

From the Vertical Oracle comes "Divine Intervention:"

No, this is not some angel that comes floating down on a sunbeam, but a "benevolent interruption" as Alli describes it.  It refers to those moments when my racing thoughts or my swirling emotions pause, such as when I catch sight of a heron flying overhead or seeing the individual rays of sunlight come through a cloud.  Those brief moments of beauty and wonder are what can help slow me down long enough to see I'm on a dead-end road, so I can turn around and head in a new direction.