Eagle Eye

From the Sacred India Tarot, the King of Arrows (Swords); from the American Pen Oracle, Terry McMillan:

          Arya has chosen Garuda to represent the King of Swords, the cosmic eagle and mount of Vishnu ("The Preserver and Protector"). Garuda was known for his speed, martial prowess, and great strength. Massive enough to block out the sun, he was an enemy of the serpent deities and fed exclusively on snakes. That last bit of information made me think of the phrase "snakes in the head," a phrase describing persistent, crazy-making thoughts. Such speculation makes a person so afraid he can't look at his beliefs long enough to separate what's valid and what isn't. What could be better in such a situation than to have an eagle or sword to separate those dire emotional feelings from the truth? McMillan offers her wisdom along the same lines: If you jump to conclusions, you make terrible landings. She makes a good point; if I am reacting (or hiding) based on a reality seen through an emotional lens, I'm going to end up in a deeper pile of poo than if I'd just dealt with the facts from the beginning.