The Power in Intention

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Ten of Swords; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Oracle, Intentions:

Nothing defines humans better than their willingness to do irrational things in the pursuit of phenomenally unlikely payoffs. ~ Scott Adams

We all have acquaintances who (even in the face of mountains of evidence) will believe their ideas are the right ones. Some can be like a preacher on a soapbox, shouting their dire predictions and conspiracy theories or hawking the latest get-rich-quick scheme or cure-all. They don't want discussion, they want conversion. These folks will eventually recognize their mental errors when life delivers a stinging backhand. When they reach out for help, do we give them a hand or tell them, "You've made your bed, now lie in it"? The Intentions card seems to point out two sides of the coin - the sincerity of the sufferer and the compassion of the helper. Dawa Tarchin Phillips offers this perspective: "there is great power in intention and how it can shape the present moment and even the future—because if you approach this present moment with wisdom, kindness, and a sense of responsibility, you won’t have to worry about the future. It will take care of itself."

Empowered with Intention

From the Tarot of the Abyss, the Eight of Cups; from the Nature Mandala Meditation Cards, Intentions:

Boss up and change your life.

~Lizzo

Is this not an empowering image? This lady is leaving what she's known behind without a backward glance. She's determined and invested in finding a life that liberates her and allows her to create the joy she's been lacking. She's not worried that it will be a hard road; even the unknown is better than the hell she's been living. The Intentions mandala looks like a compass of the four directions. It implies that we need more than goals (which come and go) - we need guide posts to keep us headed the right way even when our objectives change. Intentions can be based on core values, personal ethics or a chosen spiritual framework. As Joanna Macy explained, "Uncertainty, when accepted, sheds a bright light on the power of intention. That is what you can count on: not the outcome, but the motivation you bring, the vision you hold, the compass setting you choose to follow."