Sinkholes and Island Sanctuaries

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Eight of Cups; from the Transforming Dragons deck, Yemotav:

The figure in this Eight of Cups stands in what is known as the goddess pose, a stance of strength and grounding in yoga. Lorenzi-Prince suggests this card is not about leaving, but about commitment, especially where our spiritual path is concerned. Often due to societal influences, we may choose a path because it looks fun; we expect it to bring us peace, happiness, and all kinds of material pleasures. But this is just a form of self-absorption. Spirituality involves connecting to something bigger than the ego, something that gives our life meaning, and requires change on our part. Unfortunately, if we maintain our self-orbiting pattern, it's easy for our thoughts to drift to our unworthiness or how awful and hollow life is. Yemotov is the dragon of self-destruction, and he feeds on these types of thoughts. If we can find no clarity, we begin to believe them. This is why I personally believe we all need a commitment to some form of spiritual framework, one that offers us sanctuary even in the midst of turmoil. In the words of Ruth King:

Reminding myself that life is not personal, permanent, or perfect has kept me from falling into sinkholes of despair and destroying rooms with rage. It invites me to pause and turn inward. —Ruth King

It's Not All About Me

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Emperor:

What matters is the Great Plan.

What matters is how you may serve. 

I had quite a negative reaction when I saw this illustration and read the verses that accompany it.  I don't want to bow down and serve anyone or any institution.  But Lorenzi-Prince states this is about taking a higher view rather than a self-centered one; it is about support, not worship.  Here is a choice of putting aside my individual wishes and doing what is most beneficial for the whole, whether it is a family or a community.  My ego wants to stomp its feet and yell, "But what about ME?  What about what I want?"  The hard part of service is that it is usually required when it is inconvenient and can at times be unpleasant.  But the bottom line is, do I care about this family or this group of people at least as much as I care about myself?  If so, I need to add my support by doing what is needed.

 From the Transforming Dragons deck comes the dragon "Yemotov:"

Trap: Feeling life is a worthless

Treasure: Seeing life as sacred

When I first saw this dragon's name, I thought of a Molotov cocktail, and indeed he is destructive, but the damage he does is to himself.  I had one friend who attempted to burn herself alive before Thanksgiving and another who killed herself a few days after Christmas.  Depression is a dark, lonely place, and though society has more pharmaceuticals for it than ever, it's still little understood.  I keep asking myself if there was something else I could have done or said to prevent either woman from going to such an extreme...  Yet on some level I know that while I can reach out my hand to another person, I can't force them to grasp it.