Seven Supports

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Mahjongg Oracle, the Seven Stars:

We learn that our insistence that life, other people, and ourselves be other than they are has the immediate effect of intensifying the tangle. ~Christina Feldman

It can be bewildering when our philosophy of life makes us feel like we're on the opposite side of the fence from those we considered friends and comrades. What do we do? The keyword given for this card is equanimity. Equanimity is a relational way of being with life that takes an objective interest in whatever is occurring, allowing us to embrace extremes without getting thrown off balance. Gil Fronsdal offers seven supports to develop it: integrity (of words and actions), faith based in wisdom (a clear view of reality), stability of mind (mindfulness and concentration), self-care, insight into how conditions shape people (not taking things personally), remembering the nature of impermanence, and freedom from our reactive tendencies. The Seven Stars symbolize imagination, something humans do well, but mostly in a negative sense. Equanimity would ask us to consider that there might just be some good outcomes too.

Seeing the Whole

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, the Ten of Cups; from the Mah Jongg Oracle, Seven Stars:

The creators of this tarot suggest that finding emotional fulfillment has nothing to do with the external - finding the perfect mate, friend or community group. Instead they suggest that it comes from a virtuous mind, one that does not covet, entertain thoughts of malice, or hold distorted views. Those that do these things never can seem to find any contentment because their focus is always on what isn't right in the world. The Seven Stars (part of the Ursa Major) was considered the seat of the gods by the ancient Chinese; it symbolizes creative imagination. Our imagination often creates our reality, seeing it either in a good or bad light. But reality is full of joy and sorrow, birth and death, hatred and kindness. Better to see the whole (and undistorted view) rather than just a part. 

If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine.

~Morris West