Who Planted the Seed?

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Two of Coins; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, "Wild Rose:"

The thorns which I have reaped are of the tree I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed. I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed. ~ Lord Byron

          Unlike most of the RWS versions of this card, the fellow here looks sullen and angry. Dressed in the clothes of the jester, he must feel like the butt of life's joke. His yoke holds one coin with books and another coin with a house; I would guess he's feeling squeezed by trying to pay for both an education and living expenses. Or, he might be overwhelmed by not having enough time and energy for either one. The Wild Rose has been assigned the phrase "a thorny question," and asks this young man to look beneath the cause of his resentment. Was he honest with himself and others when he made the choice to take on so many commitments? Is he being truthful with himself about being able to handle these things without help? He might be angry at what he perceives as the unfairness of life, but he should take a closer look at who actually sowed those seeds. However, there's no need for self-flagellation; see the lesson for what it is and then do something differently.

Thorny People and Problems

From the Deirdre of Sorrows Tarot, Strength:

I firmly believe all people are capable of anything (acts of violence) if put in the right situation and given the right circumstances.  But some folks choose courage, compassion and patience time and time again.  They draw from a well of inner strength that goes much deeper than demands of the ego.  When I feel like I'm tired of doing the "right thing," I look at all the examples in my life who drink from this well daily.  There's the woman who looks after her elderly mother's needs while putting up with her biting remarks and grumpy disposition.  There's the friend who overcame her fear to leave an abusive relationship and is still in court a year later dealing with the wrath of the one she left.  Every where I look, there seems to be someone who though pushed to their brink, stands firm, refusing to give in to fear, pain or anger.  Today I'll do my best to stand with them.

From the Victorian Flower Oracle comes "Wild Rose:"

When I visited my mom yesterday, we walked out to her backyard to look at all the trees and plants.  Along her back fence is a Cherokee rose whose blooms are beautiful in the the spring.  But the thorns on that vine look like they could carve a Thanksgiving turkey!  The companion book offers the descriptive phrase "a thorny question" for this card.  Like the Cherokee rose that offers both beauty and pain, sometimes making a decision or finding a solution isn't easy.  Often what is the easiest way is not always the way of compassion or courage.  That's when I need to rely on that inner well above...