Short But Complete Sentences

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Ten of Wands:

As this woman struggles up the hill with her load, I can almost hear her thoughts: "Why do I always get stuck with this job? I feel like I'm carrying the loads of everyone else." I imagine she has such a load because she agrees to it to keep everyone happy or she thinks no one can do the job right but her. Yesterday as I sat down to meditate, I began with my breathing exercises (the "three part breath"). I noticed immediately how hard it was for me - I was so tense I couldn't fully extend my belly/diaphragm. It's funny that even if my mind can overlook my stress, my body refuses to do so. This time of year is full of extra activities, and some are quite fun. But if I overload myself, I have only one person to blame. I need to take author Anne Lamott's advice: "Learn to use 'No' as a complete sentence."

From the Rune Cards comes "Ice / Is:"

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;

it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;

it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

~ Anglo-Saxon poem

The part of the rune poem about Is describes it as "fair" but also "slippery." In other words, it warns me that what looks and sounds great might not turn out to be. Instead of being impulsive, I need to look at the big picture and see from a long-range point of view when I decide whether or not to add to my holiday schedule. I may miss out on a few get-togethers or events, but at least my health and sanity will remain in tact.

A Path of Compassion

From the Sacred Sites Tarot, the Hierophant:

This image depicts the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Until 1959, it was the residence of the Dalai Lama. On the Dalai Lama's official website, he lists three commitments that his life is guided by: promoting basic ethical values, fostering inter-religious harmony and the preservation of the peaceful Tibetan Buddhist culture. There's nothing about converting the world and saving souls from eternal damnation. His teachings are offered with an open palm rather than a closed fist. The present Dalai Lama teaches, "If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it. We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection." He and this Hierophant remind me that kindness can be my religion; it needs no other label.

From the Haindl Rune Oracle comes "Is:"

This rune is likened to ice, and in the Anglo-Saxon poem it describes it as "very cold and immeasurably slippery." Is/Ice is an obstacle over which I have no personal control; I must take great care that I don't harm myself or others reacting to it. This card and the one above indicates I should handle my obstacles with compassion instead of allowing anger or pride to trip me up. Tibet was invaded and taken over by China in 1951, and the Dalai Lama fled to India to escape becoming a political prisoner. Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, has spoken out against China and continues to be an advocate for the Tibetan people. Yet he chooses the path of nonviolence to deal with this obstacle, a path that has probably kept many of the Tibetan people safe while they are subjected to the occupation of the Chinese.