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15 Soul Curry ART OF WISE LIVING Swami Sukhabodhananda of Prasanna Trust illuminated canvas Difficulties are like divine surgery E agles lay eggs on a cliff or at the edge of a high peak by making a nest of grass entwined with thorns. When the eggs hatch, the weight of the eaglets makes it uncomfortable as the thorns start pricking. Then the female pushes the eaglets out of the nest. As the eaglets are about to fall, the male picks them and brings them back to the nest. Meanwhile, the female removes the upper layer of grass, so that the eaglets rest directly on the thorns that prick them. The eaglets are yet to test their wings to fly. Now the male pushes the eaglets out of the nest. This process continues till such time that the eaglets are able to foresee the danger in falling and start using theirs wings. Slowly they realise their ability to use their wings and start flying. Difficulties are like divine surgery. Do not resist difficulties. Nature expects us to use our heart and head to discover new and wiser skills to fly in life. Observe the commitment of an eagle in bringing out excellence while choosing a partner first and parenting later. Bring similar commitment to all walks of life; be it at family, at work, in society or in your spiritual life. Excellence happens when there is love to grow and contribute. Heart is like a musical instrument. Use it wisely. Creativity occurs primarily through the power of intention. Intention is like sowing a seed in existence. Allow it to germinate. Allow the forces of nature to nurture life. Commitment also involves dropping illusions. We do not see the world as it is. We see the world projected through our verbose minds. Minds are filled with thoughts, which are nothing but mere words. Words represent experiences. Words are also influenced by memory. Memory is of the past. From the past, we see the present. Hence we create illusions created by words, but we must filter them wisely. The mind creates dreams. The self - awareness in you sees reality. Awareness without the arrogant ‘I’ is the ‘higher self.’ The mind with its illusions is the ‘lower self.’ Have the commitment to operate from the ‘higher self.’ Through commitment, balance all walks of your life... family, work, social and spiritual. Creativity is to balance all walks of life. Creativity is just not creating something new always. Creativity brings excellence in one’s life. It is a state of well-being. Well-being creates completion. When one is complete, one is alive and vibrant in all walks of life. A teacher advised, ‘Let this not happen to you all.’ First, I was dying to finish high school with an ‘A’ grade. Then, I was dying to enter the best college. Then, I was dying to finish college. Then, I was dying to get a good job. Then, I was dying to get married. Then, I was dying to have children. Then, I was dying to see my children study well. Then, I was dying to retire. Then, all of a sudden I got this insight that I have forgotten to live. Managing Life Creatively - a two-day session by Swami Sukhabodhananda, will be held at Bangalore on 22nd & 23rd Aug. Contact: 9901777006. For details visit: www.prasannatrust.org Blending along with nature is the key to survival. — Sam Candler amara bavani dev, 080-22868891 Tarot cards and Kabbalah: the Meaning of the Major Arcana You will be surprised to know that there is a strong correlation between the Major Arcana set of the Tarot Cards and the Kabbalah. The implications are so profound that it is amazing. Let us take a look at the Tree of Life of Kabbalah. The Tree of life constitutes of 10 Spheres or Levels of Influence, called Sephirot (plural) and 22 Paths connecting these Sephirot. The 10 Sephirot are: 1. Keter – Binah: The Magician 0. Keter – Chokhmah : The Fool 3. Binah – Chokhmah: The Empress 7. Binah – Gevurah: The Chariot 5. Chokhmah – Chesed : The Hierophant 4. Chokhmah – Tiferet: The Emperor 6. Binah – Tiferet: The Lovers 8. Gevurah – Chesed : Strength 2. Keter – Tiferet : The High Priestess 11. Gevurah – Tiferet : Justice 9. Chesed – Tiferet : The Hermit 12. Gevurah – Hod: The Hanged Man 10. Chesed – Netzach: Wheel of Fortune 14. Tiferet – Yesod: Tem- perance 16. Hod – Netzach: The Tower 15. Tiferet – Hod: The Devil 13. Tiferet – Netzach: Death 19. Hod – Yesod: The Sun 17. Netzach – Yesod: The Star 20. Hod – Malkuth: Judgment 21. Yesod – Malkuth: The World 18. Netzach – Malkuth: The Moon It is wonde əհ