It's Not a Competition

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Five of Swords; from the Organic Oracle, Harmonious Variety:

          With spikes like a hedgehog, and a nose like and anteater, this egg-laying mammal wouldn't win any beauty contests. But the echidna probably wouldn't win for most unusual animal either (just Google that and you'll see what I mean). Most of us wouldn't consider ourselves the prettiest, smartest, or most creative of all, but what happens when someone is chosen over us (a spouse who swaps for a younger version, a boss who ignores hard work and promotes the employee with swagger or an artist given a showing because of family connections)? Do we stomp off with our resentment in hand, cursing and vowing revenge? Do we go home, pull the cover over our heads and wallow in self-pity? Echidna asks, "What do you do when things don't go as planned?" The Harmonious Variety card was created with three colors of paint: cobalt blue, red and silver. Look closely and you'll see hints of each, but overall it appears as a swirl of purplish indigo. Competition is not the goal, but rather learning to work and live together with compassion. We all have our own niche that is necessary to create this harmony. Trying to be 'better than' is an impossible task; even those who are the most beautiful, skillful and talented will eventually be replaced.