Balance of Darkness and Light

From the Tarot of the Masters, the Three of Cups; from the Key to the Kingdom, the Jack of Spades:

          Everyone has a personal way of meeting life's ups and downs: some depend on a spiritual foundation, some develop a keen sense of humor and gratitude, a few may depend on the arts or nature, and others find purpose in community-based altruistic activities. But one thing's for certain - not many people find emotional stability without a few supportive friends by their side. The Jack of Spades is illustrated with a depiction of Jack Frost, a personification of wintry weather. He is said to make the leaves change colors and leave frosty fern-like patterns on windows. Yet he also brings the bitter nip of icy cold to faces, fingers, and toes. He is a good representation of life's mountains and valleys, both the wonders and hardships we experience. Thank goodness for friends who can help us balance the darkness with light.

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. – Bernard Meltzer

Leash Training

From the Fey Tarot, Strength:

The first thing I notice about this card is how young and small the Fey is compared to the multiple-headed dragon. Her youth represents innocence - her intentions are pure with no hidden agendas. She's not out to win accolades or prove anything. The second observation is that there are no bloody, dripping dragon heads impaled on a spear. Though she has a huge sword at her side, she has chosen to tie down and subdue the beast instead of kill it. She reminds me that my inner "dragons" (emotions and other instincts that make me want to react impulsively) can be useful if used with forethought and moderation. My job is to keep them trained on a leash, not running loose.

From the I Misteri della Sibilla comes the card "Enemy:"

If you're in a store and someone walks into it with a mask on, you have a pretty good idea that trouble is afoot. But in life, most people are a little less obvious and a little more cunning when they're doing something. Have you ever had a funny feeling about someone, as if they were pretending to play a role? My intuitive antenna has been picking up signals about someone lately, but I have no firm evidence that he is doing anything wrong. The Strength card above would caution me not to be overly paranoid or reactive, yet still trust my gut and not let my guard down. I have a feeling his true colors will show through soon enough.