Shifting the Focus

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the Island of Trees:

At its core spirituality helps to give your life context. It's not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Instead, it arises from your connection with yourself and with others, the development of your personal value system, and your search for meaning in life.

—Mayo Clinic

Rather than focus on loss and illness, the Morgan Greer suggests that our spiritual practice can be a great comfort in our distress. It can keep us tethered to what connects us and sustains us, offering us strength and a hope for change instead of obsessing about how bad things are. Passing by the Island of Trees, one of the seafarers broke off a branch that began to grow apples after three days, feeding them all for over a month. It suggests that we look for the simple things we can appreciate, even when we are going through hard times.  And as Ralph Blum stated, it can be transformative: "There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy."

Without Demands

From the Morgan Greer Tarot, the Four of Wands; from the Celtic Book of the Dead, the Island of Trees:

The Four of Wands shows a celebration in the making, likely for the castle nearly completed in the background. It makes sense not to try to plow through to the finish line when it takes great effort to finish a project. Rest and a bit of fun can be the break we need to restore our enthusiasm and energy as well as prevent mistakes caused by exhaustion. The Island of the Trees card shows Maelduin with a branch plucked from a tree as they passed by. The branch would produce apples for forty days, aiding in the health of the voyagers. The meaning of this card is gratitude, but it is the type of thankfulness that doesn't demand more than what was given. At some point, we must continue with our task, grateful for what we've been given but with a commitment to finish what we started.