Clear-Eyed

From the Spacious Tarot, the Ace of Swords; from the Phenomena Oracle, Haboob:

A man with clarity reaches his goal sooner than the man with confidence.

―Amit Kalantri

The white lines around this sword seem to be as precise as the technical drawings of a draftsman. Rather than a jumble of ideas and thoughts, this card represents very clear, logical ones. It symbolizes lucidity -the state of being free from confusion or ambiguity. The companion book also encourages us to "Seek what is true, even when the truth is sharp."  Haboob is an intense dust storm; it fills eyes, ears, noses and mouths of all left unprotected. The grit of daily life, with its dramas and unexpected challenges, can easily obscure our ability to think logically and clearly. Pema Chodron says the key is within us: "We need discernment about ourselves. What triggers or hooks us? How do we reach the point where our discomfort spills out into actions we regret? What calms our agitated mind, instead of pouring kerosene on the fire?"

Sandblasted

From the Spacious Tarot, the Five of Pentacles; from the Phenomena Oracle, Haboob:

A wounded wolf limps uphill, hoping to find a safe place to rest and heal. We all take a turn pushing Sisyphus' boulder; everyone at some point will deal with financial or health challenges. The hardest part of these difficulties is acknowledging them while not letting them become the sum total of our world. The Haboob - an advancing wall of dust and debris caused by thunderstorm outflow winds - suggests that this can be a tough sell. Sandblasting everything in its path, this phenomena lodges silt in the eyes, nose and ears, effectively cutting off all one's senses. Like the Five of Pentacles, it can create a feeling of being off-balance and vulnerable. Yet if we can be tender with ourselves, doing the best we can with the resources at hand, we can focus on helping ourselves while not adding to our suffering. Storms may change us and our circumstances, but they don't have to change our love for life.