Friday, September 9, 2016

Temperance – The gentle approach

Today’s Card is Temperance from the Original Rider Waite Tarot and with this card we continue to explore how to find balance between opposites. In the background we see a road leading into the mountains. Because of this I like to assign this card also to Middle Way as it was taught by Buddha. He said that The Middle Way was a manner of living life in a balance, and avoiding extremes  and knowing our boundaries and limitations.
It is funny because while I drew this card I was wondering how I could better manage my online and other distractive screen activities. I was expecting something like the strict King of Swords or maybe even The Devil or The Tower but no, an angel came to me to encourage me to find inner peace and harmony so that I wouldn’t crave this digital refuge so much. Because that is what it is for me: escaping from the here and now, so I won’t have to deal with the scary stuff like writing, drawing, knitting, meditating, etc. When I spend my time behind a digital screen I can tell myself I don’t have time for anything else. The advice of Temperance so the opposite of how I would try to cut down my screen time myself. So no strict schedules or alarm bells are required. because by finding harmony I won’t crave it anymore but I can enjoy it and so I will find a natural balance in my activities. 

10 comments:

  1. I like Temperance's advice to you. To be gentle and kind with yourself. When we hear "no, no, no" in our heads it reminds us when our parents always told us NO! So of course we are going to do it in rebellion to our parents.

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    1. Yes I was quite the rebel once so No, No, No, fromm my inner parent only will rusult in passive-aggressive behavior :)

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  2. I love this! I always think I have to schedule and structure my time so that I can do constructive activities but also connect with the community online but.....you're so right, finding harmony is a great way to balance it all!

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    1. Hi Alaina, Yes your way was my first reaction too! But I do hope the Temperance way will have better results on the longterm!
      Thank you for visiting my blog!

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  3. I like the Buddhist emphasis on gentleness and compassion instead of harsh rebuke. I'm much more likely to move back towards the middle if I'm encouraged to do it rather than reprimanded. :)

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    1. Yes so do I! I have been knitting and I did some painting in my Art Journal this afternoon but I did check my IG too and I indulged myself with a little game time. Yes that sounds balanced to me :)

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  4. Wonderful view point of an increasingly common problem. if we "think" we are too immersed or distant, we probably are, the seed of Temperance.

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    1. Thank you, I know you are very conscious about you time online too :)

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  5. I love it when the cards give us a surprisingly gentle answer to a question that is fraught with self-judgement.

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    1. Sometimes they give it to you straight and without reservation but tarot can also be like this and that why I love it :)

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