Look in the Heart

From the Fairytale Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from the Tree Affirmation Cards, the Olive:

          The Seven of Cups illustrates a tale called the "Silver Plate and the Bi-colored Apple." These two items were magical; when the apple spun on the plate, it showed the activities going on in the world. I imagine different people would want these things for various reasons, such as a government leader to spy on his enemies or a love-smitten young man to keep an eye on the girl who holds his heart. What would you choose to do with such an item? I think I would use it to try to stop bad things from happening - like the TV show Early Edition (a guy got the newspaper a day in advance before it was actually published). The only problem is that there would be no way to prevent all of the multitude of accidents and horrors - which one would I choose? The Olive Tree suggests my choice for today be what brings peace, within myself and in the outer world.

It's easy to be cynical. Especially today, when it looks like all our heroes are crooks, our role models frauds. Every now and again, however, when you least expect it, the real thing comes along: someone who can find the heart inside the cynic and give those who hold nothing sacred something to believe in. It's not always easy telling the good from the bad, even if you do get tomorrow's paper today. Why, is why. Sometimes, to find the answers, you have to look in your heart.

~ Early Edition

It's a Good Start

From the Fairytale Tarot, the Four of Wands; from the Tree Affirmation Cards, "Olive:"

          The "Musicians of Bremen" is a tale of a donkey, rooster, dog and cat who are considered worthless because they are elderly. Instead of waiting for a dire fate, they decide to band together and seek a better place to live. Along the way they find a cottage that has become the hideout for a gang of robbers. Together they frighten the robbers into running away (making them think the place was haunted), and the animals move into their new home. As this story suggests, progress can be made when folks work together, even if they are a diverse group. Age can have its advantages.
          But what happens after a good start has been made? The Olive card suggests a time for peace. Lewis writes that we need to make space for the present moment, to sit and watch the breeze in the leaves and listen to the birds singing. While in the middle of a project, I find this incredibly hard to do. It is in my nature to go full speed ahead, finishing what I've started and then jumping right in to something else. There is a part of me that feels lazy if I am not doing anything useful. Yet taking a breather and paying attention can help me make better choices in the long run. It does have a purpose other than relaxation:

If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. ~ Ravi Ravindr