Active Wisdom

From the Gaian Tarot, the Priestess; from the Goddess Oracle, Durga:

          The receptive stillness of the High Priestess is balanced by the energetic action of Durga. In my personal practice, there are three stages of meditation: calming the mind, training the mind and receiving the wisdom that comes from the open, spacious mind. But once I accept the wisdom found there, the ego can slip back in and try to keep me going in circles by continuing to analyze it over and over. To prevent such an intellectual response, Durga shows up riding on her tiger with weapons in all eight hands. In Hindu mythology, Durga was created by the gods because they couldn't defeat a demon (demons represent traits that prevent spiritual progress). Her name means "invincible," and she was victorious in her battle. As these two cards illustrate, I must first recognize and acknowledge the power that habitual ways of thinking and acting have over my life. As Eknath Easwaran stated, " For the most part, our thoughts think us, our feelings feel us; we do not have much say in the matter." To be content with knowledge only would mean to continue to let these powers guide everything I do. Yet instead I can begin to transform them and actively make different choices.