Holy Encounters

From the Touchstone Tarot, the High Priestess; from the John Waterhouse Oracle, Then Missal:

When the eyes and ears are open, even the leaves on the trees teach like pages from the Scriptures.

—Kabir

The High Priestess coyly asks why we want to learn to meditate and uncover hidden knowledge. Most of us would answer that we want to master relaxation and discover how to transcend all the daily worries and challenges we encounter. She would reply, "But I only offer a way to Truth, not a way to bypass the hard parts of life. However, the insights you glean can allow you to engage life wholly, wisely and compassionately." The Missal depicts a young woman reading from a daily prayer book. The open window suggests that spirituality's purpose in not just to make us comfortable; it is meant to be carried with us so that it positively affects all that we encounter in the world. 

Words on Deaf Ears

From the Touchstone Tarot, the Hanged Man; from the Waterhouse Oracle, The Missal:

You have to quit confusing a madness with a mission.

― Flannery O'Connor

The Hanged Man shows Saint Sebastian, who had joined the Roman army in order to support and convert others to Christianity. When word got to his superiors about his missionary efforts, he was tied to a tree and shot full of arrows. Miraculously, he was found and healed by Irene of Rome. However, once he regained his strength, he went to the Roman emperor to warn him of his sins and was subsequently clubbed to death. This card encourages us to accept what we are powerless to change. Zealots have no peace, and often create division and anger in their attempts to convert others. At the other extreme, The Missal shows a young woman practicing her own religious service alone. Her inner peace and kindness are more likely to influence others than any scripture she might spout.