Meleen's ram-headed wand contains a Buddhist varjra ("strong like a diamond") that symbolizes a thunderbolt. The position of Mars in the sign of Aries suggests listening to instincts and coming to quick decision. Strong will and aggressive assertion are what these two wands imply. The power and dominion I have are a result of my personal freedom of choice; I get to decide how my life will unfold. This doesn't mean there wont' be obstacles and challenges, but it does mean my state of mind will largely be determined by how I relate to circumstances rather than the circumstances themselves. And speaking of challenges... the Storm Petral card suggests turbulence and stormy waters ahead. How can I use my freedom of choice in such situations? I stay awake to what is both pleasant and unpleasant without running away or closing down. It means I open my heart and mind wide, allowing me to take a wide angle shot of what is going on.
Until we can see for ourselves that our own actions of body, speech, and mind are creating the pain, we think that someone or something outside ourselves (over which we have no control) has to change in order to put an end to the pain. When we notice that it is our own thoughts that make us want the world to change, so as to accommodate our own desires or aversions, we then have choice. ~ Zenkei Blanche Hartman

