Insight from Inquiry

From the Songs for the Journey Home, the Hermit; from the Magic Neko Deck, the Seven of Clubs:

The student is inside you. The teacher is also inside you.

—Sayadaw U Tejaniya

In an effort to understand who he is beyond what he sees in the mirror, the Hermit finds a place of solitude and peace. Rather than being driven by unconscious beliefs, the Hermit seeks self-awareness - knowledge of his character, feelings, motives and desires. He understands that insight comes with inquiry, questions that allow him to see the truth of what lies behind what his thoughts, words and actions. The Seven of Clubs represents training. It's not easy to see our self with clarity and honesty, but we get better at it if we practice diligently. Then we can act mindfully, without some hidden impulse pulling our strings.

The Mind's Deception

From the Fey Tarot, the Seer (High Priestess); from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Great Consolation (Seven of Clubs):

Where there is perception, there is deception.

―Thich Nhat Hanh

It would be interesting to step outside the mind and see its commentary on all that we learn. As humans, we naturally filter information, choosing some as important, ignoring other parts, and labeling what we don't agree with as erroneous. The mind wants to function efficiently, so it will generalize, delete and distort to keep things running smoothly. But the Seer suggests we let the mind become quiet and calm so that we can peek behind the door of the ego. What the ego decides to keep and use may not actually be useful in the long run. The Great Consolation Sibilla card shows a man counting his blessings. It's possible he listened to his luminous mind rather than his ego. He would realize that he doesn't have to pretend to be someone else to find a mate; he doesn't have to cheat to be honored; and he doesn't have to lie on his tax returns to be prosperous. In fact, that's probably why he's able to take a moment to relax and enjoy his life.

Maturation

From the Fey Tarot, the Eight of Pentacles; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, the Seven of Clubs:

We can't see what this fey is diligently working on, but judging by the paint supplies and spatters, she's quite focused. She knows what every artist knows - you have to keep adding to your knowledge and skill set to be successful. Today is my daughter's birthday, and I see myself in this fey as I continue to learn how to be a good mother. No longer do I parent a toddler or a teen, but a grown young woman. I too am diligently learning - how to offer advice only when it is asked for and how to let her fight her own battles. It seems a listening ear and emotional support are my roles now. The Seven of Clubs is translated as 'great consolation' and implies security after a time of instability. I would definitely say that describes our relationship; we've become close friends as we've both matured in our roles.