From the series of the Concubines of Emperor Yong-cheng-2
Unknown – Scanned by Szilas from the book Kínai költészet (Chinese poetry, ISBN 963 9283 06 1) Before 1732 {{PD}}
If we try to go at things head-on, nothing goes right; if we take a round-about way, we are likely to get what we aim for, or at the very least, not muck it up as we will if we are too direct, too assertive, too Willful. Trying to exercise our options, we come up against ‘the Facts’–it’s how we respond to these that will determine the outcomes today.
The group may oppose our efforts, and relationships may generate frustration, as they seem based more on fantasy than reality, but it’s in a willingness to make the healthy response, the one that does no harm, that aligns behavior in interaction with ideals, and that looks for the actual opportunities available (as opposed to the ones we insist should be ours), that we find a remarkable and resilient peace, and an uncanny sense of completeness that removes the anxiety born of an ambitious insistence on getting it done.
(Jupiter opp Juno, Venus sesq Neptune, Sun sesq Hygeia)
By H. Zell – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21884347
Today’s word image is a puzzle completed but for one small missing piece. What little detail in your life is holding you up? Have you considered the picture may never be complete, that what there is now is all there will ever be? The compulsive need for a sense of completion can deplete us and make us spend inordinate amounts of time trying to make something happen that just won’t. Learn to live with the missing piece; rather than seeing its lack as a failing, try to see it as representing the unseen, in a matter that is otherwise so totally spelled out.
Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 
Haha! What an excellent post!
I just replied to a comment on my blog where I was talking about jigsaw puzzles because the person mentioned just finishing one. I love jigsaw puzzles, especially the several thousand pieces ones of intricate paintings. Many years ago I did one of Mucha’s four seasons which was very beautiful and had something like 25000 pieces.
I’m a bit of a military strategist when I do jigsaws. I always start with the edge (that’s a round-about way of sorts). Then I divide the other pieces by colour, design, and later on by shape. I start with the easier parts to put together, place them in the general area they’re supposed to be (this is if I’m using the completed image on the box cover as a guide – sometimes I implement a no checking the box cover rule, and then break it if it was a bad idea to do that), then join those up gradually. In the past it was better if no one else joined in because I was possessive and bossy (willful) about how it had to be done – don’t mess with my system, my system is perfect (assertive).
You can learn a lot about yourself (and your way of relating, being in relationships) through observing yourself do a jigsaw.
Nowadays, I still use my system but if others join in they can mess with it and I’m fine with that, it’s more fun this way.
In a small frame on the knick-knack shelf above my desk is a puzzle piece from a jigsaw I finished about 2 years ago – this piece was left over, it was an extra piece but it didn’t belong to that jigsaw, the design was completely different. Often at the end of a putting together a puzzle there’s a piece missing (which may or may not be found later on). This time… I’m learning to live with having an extra piece of the puzzle which doesn’t belong anywhere but here with me 😉
Thank you, upturned!
I love the idea that the way we approach things (like puzzle solving) is indicative of the larger workings of our brains–seems obvious, and yet we don’t always take that kind of ‘reveal’ seriously–and we really should. It’s especially appealing to me as I’ve always seen the natal chart as that kind of blueprint, outlining the spectrum over which behavior can range–as Maya Angelou said, ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them.’ It’s almost like we are too prone not to have confidence in our own perceptions, gleaned by watching others’ behvior–now where could that lack of confidence have come from??
Ah, an extra piece! That reminds me of what an old friend said when I found a hair in my salad: “Don’t tell everybody, they’ll all want one!” The idea of the extra puzzle piece finding its perfect home with you–made for you, even–is wonderful–a sad puzzle-less bit finds its place in the world! You appreciated that piece–but too often I see people amass life-pieces and not appreciated them–instead of putting the puzzle together they end up with just a pile! Food for thought, I guess 🙂
Thanks for your always thoughtful and engaging comments, upturned–
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Precious advice… thank you very much, dear friend!
Thank you, Katia! Have a lovely weekend!
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