“It was a delight to hear the voice speaking, all that it said seemed wise and reasonable, and desire woke in them by swift agreement to seem wise themselves … for those whom it conquered the spell endured while they were far away and ever they heard that soft voice whispering and urging them.” –of Saruman, The Two Towers Book III, Tolkien
This particular Hierophant suggests caution to me: be wary of whose words you take to heart; be discriminating in what teachings you follow. Reminiscent of Yoda’s warnings on the lure of the Dark Side in Star Wars, Saruman succumbed to an impatient lust for power in the Lord of the Rings universe.
He may have started with intention to do good (even if by force), but eventually those intentions gave way to the drive for power in and of itself. There is power to be had in heavy-handedness and manipulation, but such power always comes at a cost.
More than a self-declaration is needed for righteousness. So many times, people seek “the answer” to be delivered in a tidy, well-indexed book instead of looking within to decide truth and right. Ultimately, it’s up to each of us to determine which examples inspire us, and which do not. Always couple learning with discerning. It’s your soul. Don’t sell it short!
Have your run across questionable teachers?
Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck & Card Game
Schedule a session with Dixie.