Avoiding Quakes

From the Fey Tarot, the Seven of Swords; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Servant (Jack of Clubs):

Most RWS style decks show the Seven of Swords as someone carrying off things that belong to others. This Fey, however, has only one large sword and seems to be blending into the masonry. Together with the Sibilla's Servant card (and the fact that the holidays are upon us), my thoughts go in a different direction than usual. This combination might suggest I could be of better service by keeping some of my opinions to myself, especially when airing them only serve my ego. If someone comments about a great book they finished and it's one I've also read, I don't have to rain on their joy by telling them I would have preferred more character development and less flowery descriptions. As Voltaire wrote: "Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes."

Weighing Feathers

From the Fey Tarot, Justice; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, "Servant:"

          Justice may be blind, but she's still got a method for weighing that feather to determine guilt or innocence. Instead of scales, she taps into her intuition. Her sword of truth isn't based only on cold, hard facts, because she's willing  to consider all extenuating circumstances before making a decision. I can easily forget that justice is about setting things right, not merely doling out consequences. Fear or anger can make me more concerned with punishment than restoring balance. However the Servant suggests something entirely different. Rather than demanding a pound of flesh, I could make an offering. Oh, I can just feel my ego bowing up with that idea. Yet when ego is out of the equation, things have a chance to change for the better. Fred Rogers (formerly of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) one related: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping'." Sounds like that kind of role would be a great way to be a part of a solution instead of part of the problem.