Benefit for Both

From the Fairytale Tarot, the Queen of Wands; from the Tree Affirmation Cards, Whispering Ash:

          In the tale of "Kip the Magic Cat," the queen's cat gives birth to a kitten as the queen gives birth to a princess. The kitten eventually saves the princess, and in so doing, saves herself. A spell Kip and her mother had been under was broken, and both turned back into humans. I found a Rumi quote in my email this morning that seems appropriate for this story: "Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal." It is hard for humans not to look at everything through self-centered glasses. How do we even begin to practice selflessness when the world seems overwhelmed with pain and hatred right now? The Whispering Ash is a tree that is stirred by even the slightest breeze; its message is to be just as sensitive to any intuitive thought that redirects us from our repetitive self-interest. The ladders or lamps we extend to another may be as simple as the offer of a cup of coffee and a willingness to listen. We give the gift of kindness and get a break from our self-absorption - both sides benefit.