Seeds of a Solution

From the Norse Tarot, the Prince (Knight) of Disks; from the Wolf Pack, Obstacle:

          This Prince/Knight has his feet on the ground rather than in stirrups. He likes to pay attention to details, not give things a cursory glance. He takes pride in a job done well, even though it might take him a bit longer than others. But more often than not, his results are impressive. Fortunately, his patience and dependability carry over even when obstacles are encountered. Rather than focus only on the goal and attempt to bulldoze over what stands in the way, he looks closely at the problem itself. What gave rise to this? What might be exacerbating it? Would it be better to start anew or seek a solution? His studious childhood has led to a scientific eye. It might upend the original timetable, but he won't rest until he finds some answers.

Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.

~Norman Vincent Peale

Soft Spots

This week I'll be using the Norse Tarot deck and book set, created by Clive Barrett and published by Aquarian Press. I'll also be using the Wolf Pack, created and self-published by Robert Petro. Today's draws are the Queen of Cups and Obstacle:

          I could learn a lot from the Queen of Cups, a bodhisattva in training. When those I mentor come to me with their problems, I often just give them a reality check instead of sympathy. This particular Queen isn't one to hang out in anyone's pity party either (notice that rock she's standing on). But she's still willing to empathize with the person she's listening to, putting herself in their shoes. It takes a special person to be willing to remove the armor from her heart and experience the pain of another person. Yet it makes me feel vulnerable and afraid to expose my soft spot. However, the kicker is that such protection doesn't really protect; it just keeps makes me in a constant state of fear. Here is my Obstacle, shown by the wolf behind the fence. To become a compassionate warrior (in a spiritual sense), I must train so that I stand firm rather than run. Practices such as tonglen and loving-kindness meditation can help. But sometimes I need to remember why that soft spot is so special, and why I need to leave it open. For that, I use a 'Benefactor Moment' meditation (click 'Read More' for the meditation).