Friday, July 8, 2016

Strength - My lion is running wild!

Original Rider Waite Tarot StrengthToday’s card is Strength from the Original Rider Waite Tarot. This is a card of compassion and surrender, of emotional control and patience: of all kinds of Strength. As with many cards in the deck this is a card of seeking balance. Here it is about balance between the maiden and the lion. With a gentle touch the maiden subdues the strong instinctual urges of the lion. Most of the time this is perfectly doable for me but when I am really tired and overwhelmed my inner lion starts running around aimlessly, trying to find anything which could ease his mind. Radical solutions are tempting. He is highly impressionable for how others find their way out of the forest.  Also he susceptible for enabling on social media.
When my lion  is behaving like that my first instinct is to catch and lock him up in a dark corner of my mind. My inner Queen of Swords wants to pull the strings at all time.
But since this card is about patience and compassion, it is more wise to listen to my Lion’s needs and find a way which suits us both. Most likely this will be the Middle Way. It won’t be the easiest road to travel but for now it will be the kindest and most loving one to follow.

13 comments:

  1. I can only see my strength in retrospect. Odd that, because it doesn't make me feel stronger at all. What I recognize in others I don't see at all.

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    1. Yes that is well noticed. In the midst of the turmoil nothing is clear. Maybe that is why I like to journal so I can discover what is was all about
      Luckily we see so much strength in you my friend
      Hugs

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  2. We all have inner cores of Strength. Sometimes though we just want to give in and whine and cry and that's okay too. That's what chocolate is for.

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  3. Your post made me think of a Chodron quote:

    Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape - all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.”
    ― Pema Chödrön

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  4. This words how I feel so perfectly! Thank you so much for this quote Bev!!

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  5. I find comfort in knowing now that I am older and wiser my weaknesses eventually become my strengths. I've learned to hop on the back of the lion and hang on!

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    1. Your comment reminds me of the goddess Durga who rides a lion or a tiger. I especially like this rendition of her.
      http://www.heartgallery.dk/images/paintings/billede%20Kali%20Durga%20stor.jpg

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  6. I really like: "Also he susceptible for enabling on social media." That's exactly what happens when I read something I strongly disagree with on Facebook -- my inner lion jumps to its feet, roaring, prepared to tear everything to pieces. What a great analogy for our modern times.

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    1. Thanks Zanna. If only we could learn to direct that fiery out of control energy to more constructive way of doing things :D

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  7. I'm reading a book at the moment, and she talks about courage (which I closely relate to Strength). She says that courage is being willing to tell your story, speak your heart, even/especially when you are feeling vulnerable. Reaching out to others in that moment is an act of courage, of bravery. I see that courage in you often, dear friend! :)

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    1. Thanks you Chloe, Sometimes I fear I am over sharing but I als feel that in writing about my personal challenges others might recognize something and therefore feel less alone if that makes sense ???

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    2. I definitely think we recognise something and feel touched and connected :)

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