Stalemate - Two of Swords

The song 'Stuck In The Middle With You ', and the saying, 'Stuck between a rock and a hard place', is what comes to mind when I look at the Two of Swords. Orestes despairs at being  in the middle of the quarrel between his mother and father. There is a stalemate and seems to be no resolution in sight.

We all find ourselves sometime, in a position where we are stuck in one way or another, and can't see the forest for the trees, which can cause great tension and anxiety.  We find ourselves neither happy nor unhappy. But if I can somehow detach with love, find objectivity, with discernment, clarity will come into view.

I really dislike being on the fence, though it does happen. I know that not everything is clear cut, not always black and white. There is always a lot of gray area, but for me it is important for me to take a stand. I cannot stick my head in the sand, in denial, always walking on eggshells to avoid conflict and maintaining the status quo.


Feeling as if you are damned if you do and damned if you don't, is an uncomfortable spot to be in. Finding myself in this place I can do one of two things, accept the situation or not. Then I have to decide if there is anything I can possibly do about it.

 I understand I cannot change or control anyone's behaviour, but I can choose to 'vote with my feet', walk away and control my own responses. If I can't figure out what to do and feel paralyzed emotionally, well then, I have to turn it over to the God of my understanding, ask for help, trusting that my request will be answered. This always works for me, not so much for my cats.

Five of Cups - When Bad Things Happen

Here in the Five of Cups we see Psyche in full pursuit of Eros. Her joy has turned sour, she is feeling great loss, and even resentment over unfulfilled dreams and her severed relationship with Eros. This Minor Arcana card that I drew today, is about when bad things happen to good people and how we deal with these events. We can choose to withdraw when circumstances beyond our control manifest in negative, or even destructive ways. When we see the glass half empty, or isolate in fear with cynical contempt toward others or toward life in general, in order to protect ourselves from getting hurt, it is not realistic, how to live a happy fulfilled life.

Things can happen directly to us or to others, and can have a profound affect on our lives. I am no different and have had many difficulties and heartaches that have changed me, and my life.

 I once asked an elder wise woman who had several hardships, why bad things happen, and why it seems some folks have more of their share of hardship, heartache and loss.

She shared with me, that when these events happen to us we become different people. We have the opportunity to be more compassionate toward others, and we can help them to overcome the burdens they suffer. We can become stronger individuals from the struggles we endure. Those who have not had this experience can often lack understanding and compassion, or often do not have the same depth of character. When my friend shared her thoughts, it made a lot of sense to me, and my experience had found this to be true. I saw things differently from this point on.

What happens to us in life of course, and how we respond, I must say, depends on our own attitude, our philosophy, and how we actualize this in our daily life. Remorse over unfulfilled dreams or regret, is simply living in the past. Acceptance of our circumstances and appreciation of life, and all that it has to offer makes the difference.

 If of course we have overwhelming feelings and thoughts, that are affecting our mental health, beyond our control, we have to find and seek help, and those around us hopefully, will help us, to help ourselves. We can not say to people, I know things are difficult, but just  be positive and things will improve, like Pollyanna. It is just not that simple for so many of us.

I cannot help but think of the association Glenn Close helped to initiate called, BringChange2mind or Robin Williams and how he suffered silently with a smile on his face, making others laugh like none other on earth.

 I can't say that we can  prevent another from depression, addiction and any other circumstance or malady. However we cannot stick our heads in the sand, in denial, pretending that is does not exist, or that someone does not need our support, help, acceptance and most of all our love.

Bad things do happen to us, but so do good things, and they are worth fighting for in life.