Flickering Candle

 From the Daniloff Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Kuan Yin Poems, Verse 37:

There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.  —Henry Van Dyke

Asking for help puts people in a place of vulnerability; it requires trust, humility and acceptance of what is offered. Pema Chodron said that compassion was a relationship between equals and was only real when we recognized our shared humanity. In other words, we realize that if our life had taken some unexpected turns, we could be in a similar boat. The Kuan Yin verse reads:

A lighted candle flickers precariously in the wind.

Do not expose yourself to danger.

Our ethics and morals tell us to let our light shine by lifting others up. Yet some of us get overwhelmed with all the suffering in the world as we attempt to help. If we are to stay sane and healthy (and continue to be of service), we must grasp this truth: We can't do something about everything. 

Found Out

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Waterhouse Oracle, Psyche Entering Cupid's Garden:

Your behavior reflects your actual purposes.

― Ronald Heifetz

The Six of Coins is about sharing our resources, whether that involves our money, time, energy or skills. Yet our idea of "doing good" may glide over the commitment it requires. For instance, if we adopt a dog from the local shelter, it will need more than food and water to thrive. Giving, in all its guises, should be tied to the heart rather than a way to look good or feel good about ourselves. The story of Psyche and Eros is a tale of great love and a vow not kept. Psyche found out just how hard it is to win back the trust of those to whom promises were made and broken. Commitment is a value, and as Carly Fiorina said, "values are what guide your behavior when no one is looking and you don’t think anyone will ever find out."

Motive and Outcome

From the Hadar Marseille Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Greek Alphabet Runes, Mu:

          Coins are about obtaining wants and needs in the physical realm, from good health and relaxation time to a home and financial security. The Sixes emphasize the need to keep things going - in the Coins suit, pass along part of what we have to keep everyone in balance. It could be as simple as turning off the TV to talk with and calm an anxious friend or leaving some groceries on the porch of someone in need. Besides being a Greek letter, Mu is also a term used in the Zen Buddhist tradition that indicates the absence or lack of something. Generosity can be rooted in compassion or obligation. If it grows from a tender heart, we get to share in the joy of the receiver. But if it springs from the pressure of 'shoulds,' we are left with a feeling of resentment or a burdensome strain.

A man's motive in the small actions of daily life, like resting a moment on his pitchfork in the sun and listening intently, may be the most important thing about that man. ~Haniel Long