Personal Responsibility

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Six of Disks; from the OH Cards, Spilled Milk/Guilt:

It is when we begin to witness interdependence that we see the true importance of personal responsibility.

—Ethan Nichtern

What would it be like if humans expected responsibilities just as they demand their rights? We much prefer dividing lines of 'mine' and 'yours' rather than 'ours.' Yet this angel in this Six of Disks shows a blending together of what we try to separate; in reality there is no separate other, as we're all a part of the same huge earth-bound organism. Yes, we are diverse, but we're still connected. If the left hand is hurt, the right hand will automatically come to its aid. The Spilled Milk/Guilt combo suggests that the shame of seeing our accountability might make us act with kindness and benevolence, but guilt is not a viable motivation. Perhaps the joy and satisfaction of doing good can encourage us to continue our altruistic actions until we can grasp and understand our interdependence.

Downside of Deep Commitment

From the Norse Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Discs; from the Wolf Pack, Guilt:

This Prince knows that to really see the land and know the soil, you have to have your feet on it and hands in it. Constantly moving over it on a horse is not going to cut it. To know something is to appreciate it, and appreciating something leads to taking care of it. His patience and pragmatism has been learned from spending so much time in nature, and these traits serve him well in his endeavors. Guilt suggests a normal reaction to something we did or failed to do. It generally leads to remorse and restitution or amends and passes relatively quickly. Neurotic guilt, however, is guilt that has stopped serving as a useful moral compass and has started to become aggression turned against oneself. Rather than a guide for good, it becomes a cross to bear with no way to atone. To be deeply committed like this Prince is a wonderful thing, but it must be balanced with the understanding of how little control we have over situations external to us. We can only do what is feasible and make peace with the rest.

The Wild Horse

From the Mary-El Tarot, the King of Swords; from the OH Cards, Whip/Guilt:

          A keen observer who is intelligent and analytical, this King's name is Reason. Speaking with him can be as intimidating as staring into the face of an actual dragon. He cuts through emotional drama and our cozy cocoon, showing us clarity whether comfortable or not. The King's purpose is not to punish but to help us see reality without blinders. I think he would heartily agree with Sakyong Mipham's description of what our untrained minds are like:

The bewildered mind is like a wild horse. It runs away when we try to find it, shies when we try to approach it. If we find a way to ride it, it takes off with the bit in its teeth and finally throws us right into the mud. We think that the only way to steady it is to give it what it wants. We spend so much of our energy trying to satisfy and entertain this wild horse of a mind.

The quote comes from Mipham's book titled Turning the Mind Into an Ally. That title implies the mind can be other than our friend, which the OH Cards combination of Whip/Guilt also suggests.  While appropriate guilt can encourage us to make amends and restitution, neurotic guilt simply makes us miserable. The King would likely tell me not to believe my thoughts unless I can back them up with hard evidence. Otherwise I'll be riding that wild horse with no saddle or bridle.