The Shine of True Colors

From the Osho Zen Tarot, Silence (the Star); from the A'HA Oracle, Integrity:

 

The thing about chameleoning your way through life is that it gets to where nothing is real.

― John Green

It's a humbling experience to have a strategy and big goals, to think we have expertise that will see us through, and then suddenly our plans crash. We realize how very little we actually knew and understood. The Star/Silence suggests a time of healing that will require stillness and receptivity. Instead of talking, we listen; rather than fantasizing, we contemplate what went wrong. Otherwise, we'll be stuck on a rinse and repeat cycle. Integrity means our words and actions are shaped by ethical principles in all circumstances. Like the cracked egg in this illustration, it doesn't imply we are perfect but that we are genuine and sincere. Rather than hide our mistakes and flaws, we learn from and try to transform them. Peace of mind always outweighs appearances.

No Place Here

From the Everyday Enchantment Tarot, the Six of Blades; from the MentorSpirit Cards, 'Integrity:'

          Rather than a ferryman taking a family across the water to another land, Palin's card shows a family skating away from the dangers of broken ice (even leaving behind some of their belongings). We often work hard to find solutions to problems or see a situation with clarity, but when we finally do, it can sometimes be hard to leave what is familiar for the unknown. Yet Integrity appears and adds another layer to honesty, asking us to back up what we say we believe and know with action. Pleasing or impressing others has no place here, nor is procrastination useful.

Day by day, your choices, your thoughts, your actions fashion the person you become. Your integrity determines your destiny. ― Heraclitus

Avoid Shortcuts

From the Spiral Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Sacred Journey Cards, Integrity:

          The mighty wind is a blowin' and the staves are rising in the air. They seem to be following the flow of the river. There is a rush to do something that appears to be moving at top speed. However, their course implies going with the current rather than against it could make the ride less bumpy. It can be easy to lose one's inner compass when life gets rushed and things feel chaotic. The SJ card reminds me to hang on to my integrity, to act in a way that is honest and true to my values.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~ Beverly Sills

What is Right vs. What is Easy

From the Bonefire Tarot, the Seven of Swords:

At first glance, this pale, weak-looking fellow doesn't look like he could hurt a fly. But the wolfish beast appearing on his shoulder tells another story. His nature is to be hungry for what is not his, but he's cunning and has learned to hide his true identity. It's easy to judge someone based on their outer appearance, good or bad. I remember once crossing paths with a fellow in a crafts store when I was looking for beads to make a book thong. Built like a Mack truck with a long beard, shaved head, tattoos and leather vest, he resembled a Hell's Angel biker. But when we got into a discussion about a certain type of charm he was trying to find, I realized how wrong my perceptions had been. The eyes on this card warn me to be discerning today, judging people not by how they look or what they say, but by what they do.

From the MentorSpirit deck comes "Integrity:"

Integrity to me means something more than just being honest. It is speaking and acting authentically, from your own foundation of morals and ethics. It can be tempting to follow another's lead, however. Recently we had a scandal here with school teachers who changed answers on standardized tests to make their kids look more knowledgeable than they actually were. The state had put them in a bind - raise the scores or your job may be in jeopardy. But you can't get parents involved that don't want to be, and you can't make kids learn who have no desire to do so. They made a decision to cheat, but eventually got caught. Choosing what is right instead of what is easy can be tough for anyone if they're put in the right circumstances.

Testing "Truth"

From the Spiral Tarot, the Page of Pentacles:

In this lovely card, a young girl surrounded by flowers stares intently at a pentacle she holds.  This Page is often associated with study - a pursuit that has the same effect on me as Brer Rabbit being told he's being thrown into the briar patch.  But this girl is primarily interested in examining things that have practical uses.  She might learn how to meditate, but she will immediately test it out to see if it has any benefits in her day-to-day life.  She doesn't just learn, she will do an investigation as well.  On her blog 78 Notes to Self, Ginny associates this court card with a quote from Will Rogers that sums the Page of Pentacles up nicely:
There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by readin'. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

     From the Sacred Journey Cards comes "Integrity:"

Integrity often gets lumped in with honesty, and though they are cousins, they are not the same thing.  Honesty deals more with people and situations outside of myself.  For instance, if my doctor asks me if I've been eating healthy, my answer may be honest or dishonest.  But if a friend comes to me and asks me if I would mind helping her with a garage sale (and I am obligated to be somewhere else that day), yet I tell her "no problem," that deals with integrity.  It deals with inner honesty, and has to do with being authentic to myself and my principles.  People-pleasing is its biggest enemy, convincing me to shelve my truth for another person's opinion or idea.