Defensive Posture

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the A'HA Oracle, Eye of the Cosmos:

All this hurrying from place to place won't bring you any relief, for you're travelling in the company of your own emotions, followed by your troubles all the way. ―Seneca

Exhaustion is the fitting subtitle Padma gives to this card. I have a friend who lives life in a defensive posture, having been shaped from an early age by years of cruelty, desperation and fear. Having a conversation with her is a winding road that first must detour many roadblocks put up in a neurotic attempt to protect herself. Yet she'll often relax her guard on my back porch, as we sit and watch the birds and the leaves fluttering in breeze - it is a place she feels safe and loved. The eye of a hurricane, typically 20 to 40 miles across, is characterized by light breezes and sunny skies. This place of calm in the middle of the storm is what The Eye of the Cosmos entreats us to find, whether internal or external. We all need a place of refuge to remind us that there's more to this world than simply defending ourselves.

Drawn Toward, Radiating Outward

From the Osho Zen Tarot, the Page of Rainbows (Pentacles); from the A'HA Oracle, the Eye of the Cosmos:

          Padma describes the attraction of adventurous learning as being drawn by a sense of wonder. Those who have accompanied me on my walks outdoors know I am prone to stop suddenly or veer off the path to go examine something more closely. I've been known to walk into sign posts while following a hawk or step into potholes trying to find a bird whose song I hear. My curiosity makes me pause to enjoy a mushroom peeking out from leaf litter or be amazed by the softness of a bald cypress's needles. I heartily agree with Albert Einstein who said, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead —his eyes are closed."

          The concentric circles on this oracle card remind me of a pebble dropped in water and the waves that radiate out from its impact. It is like the third of the Buddhist Four Reflections: things aren't random; they have causes and effects. As  Vishvapani explains, "What I am today is the product of many influences: my family, culture, education and relationships. It’s also the product of choices I’ve made, of how I’ve acted, of my mental states and habits." We have a tendency to think only of bad decisions and consequences, yet there are also many good effects from the choices we've made. For instance, choosing to develop a friendship or partnership with someone or getting interested in a craft or art that later became a passionate hobby. Those pebbles we drop can radiate out in wonderful ways too.