The Shaman of Foresight is kind of scout bringing back reports of what lies ahead. For our ancestors I can see the value of knowing what disaster to prepare for - war, fire, famine or a plague of frogs. According to the book foresight means being prepared for every eventuality. Really is that possible?
My dad tried to be. For any given action he would anticipate the worst possible outcome and so did nothing and was quite good at encouraging others to do the same.
Being cautious by nurture my reaction to the card is recalcitrant. I do think through the implications of my actions but have worked hard to unlearn an over morose outlook. Worrying never prevented any of the downs in life it just intrudes into the present and erodes the future.
In some ways the worst has already happened, illness in the family, death, the usual.
If more is coming fine I can't stop it but for today I am not going to worry about it. Pah to the plague of frogs...
Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
Corrie Ten Boom, 1901-1983
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ReplyDelete(Trying this post again with a cup of coffee :D)I believe suffering is a natural part of living; it is impossible to avoid pain with a physical body in a natural world. If I focus so hard on anticipating and diverting the bad, I'm sure to miss much joy (and suffer anyway). I'm with you - Pah to the plague of frogs! :D
ReplyDeleteI can't write a thing without my morning coffee :D
DeleteI do think it's possible worry things into being...and if what is feared doesn't transpire as you say we miss the joy.
"For any given action he would anticipate the worst possible outcome and so did nothing and was quite good at encouraging others to do the same." I was raised the same way and I still struggle with it. As long as I am mindful of these mind games I am okay but when I am not feeling well they do get harder to tackle
ReplyDeleteIt is a struggle because fearful parenting what you have been led to believe is normal. It came as a big surprise when I went to university and discovered other people's parents thought differently.
DeleteNo one at their best when unwell. Forcing ourselves never works :)
All that worrying. Makes me think of Y2K. Everyone was so sure of catastrophe with the forthcoming new century. Then it took them months or long to use up the stockpiles of hoarded goods. And yes I think we can worry ourselves right into the malfeasance.
ReplyDeleteI remember that too. Hundreds of staff in the Bank of England primed for a mass computer meltdown and financial disaster tick tock tick tock and then....nothing...a bit deflating really :D
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