The Tower

It was a sunny day, and we were surrounded by families, laughter and learning. We were at The Tower of London. Now, if you have never been there you may not know that it is actually a series of fortifications which started as a King's castle but became most famous as a prison and place of horrors. And as I was sitting there, resting for a bit, soaking up a few late-summer rays while my companions visited the military museum, I realised:  it was 11th September. Hum.  Here we were, in a historical location of pain, on a day made famous by pain (and its bellicose consequences) - yet the fact that the place held no more pain but life, that the day was a sunny Saturday of cheer and well being, was more powerful.

I reJoiced!! It filled me up with hope and gratitude for the gift: it is not the pain, not the death and the horror; it is the cheer, the life and the curiosity. Not only were we in the Tower on such a date, but it was also the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain - many documentaries, news, and people remember the Blitz, the war, the terror, the rage. And I could not feel it, even as I tried. What a blessing! Life will triumph over all!

Why, then, are there wars and do we feel so much fear of our neighbours? Why do we succumb to the "threat" and forget and go to battle? Why do we call it "glorious" and the poor people involved, "heroes" after they (mostly) die? And why, for goodness' sake, do we insist on relieving the situations, stirring up the fears and perpetuating the hurt?

The Tower, in Tarot, represents a fake situation of safety which is, in fact a prison. To escape it, an extreme situation must take place. We, as a "developed" species, have fell into our own trap - creating walls and arming ourselves into killing offensives while open arms and shared learning would give us greater life.

I call for a cancellation of mementos of pain. Let us all reJoice in what the people did in life, how much they created, how many people they loved and helped, and how many people loved and helped them. And ignore the others, they just want attention and mayhem. They are unworthy of our attention. We have already learned.

I love, therefore I live.