Justice and Joy

From the Shadowlands Tarot, Justice; from the Brownie Wisdom deck, "Pleasure Bright:"

It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. ―James Baldwin

Justice relies on the triad of equity (freedom from bias or favoritism), equality (having the same rights and opportunities), and ethics (moral principles of conduct governing an individual or a group). If one of those legs is missing, it tips over. How did this happen? We can look to the past to see why we are where we are in the present (bird in the nest). If we want to know what's going to hatch in the future - if nothing changes - we look to the present. The Brownie's "Pleasure bright" card isn't a call for toxic positivity, but a call to check the condition of our hearts. Neither entitlement nor revenge will bring justice or joy. 

 

Unrecognizable

From the Tarot of Pagan Cats, the Devil; from the Brownie Wisdom deck, Pleasure Bright:

We all have ways of handling stress and fear, and sometimes the behaviors that get triggered are more harmful than helpful. Using drugs and alcohol to excess is the most obvious, but we can also become intoxicated by cynicism or rage just as easily. To make matters worse, such reactions tend to get repeated over and over. We discover the thing we thought that we were using is in fact using and controlling us. It doesn't take long for us to turn into someone that our friends and family no longer recognize. The Brownie hints at one of the ways we can keep from getting triggered - a gratitude practice. Not the 'make a list' kind, but mindfully setting aside time to see what is in our lives that is good, beautiful and touches our heart. When the heart is right, the mind isn't as easily tugged in the wrong directions.

Less is More

From the Tarot of Pagan Cats, Temperance; from the Brownies Oracle, 'Pleasure Bright:'

          Fish are often seen as a symbol of abundance (and in a cat's case, food), so it is interesting to see this feline release a goldfish instead of eating it. Yet as Robert Browning wrote and Temperance suggests, "less is more." Moderation in everything helps keep us balanced. Even the breath, which is necessary for life, can result in hyperventilation if we overdo it. The Brownie, holding a crescent moon, agrees with this philosophy. Focusing on what we have than what we lack (a full moon) can create a sense of contentment rather than frustration or envy.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

—Epictetus