Ten of Swords -- Spiritual Message of the Day

Sometimes it seems that there is so much inhumanity in the world—so many angry words, so many cruel actions—and there is so little that we, as individuals, can do. It can be easy for us to feel defeated by that, but there is a way to consider this issue that lends some consolation and hope, like the faint glow of dawn on the horizon.

The Ten of Swords suggests the expression “death by a thousand cuts.” This term comes from an ancient Chinese form of execution called Ling chi in which the victim is killed by a multitude of non-fatal cuts. Each cut is relatively small, but the cumulative effect is deadly. This term sounds rather dreadful, and in the context of the phrase’s origin it is, but in general it says that a large number of small actions can have a great effect. Something big can be whittled away slowly, a bit at a time.

We can use this concept to see how we can slowly “kill” the inhumanity that infects the world through repeated simple acts of kindness. Every day we can cut the beast of inhumanity in little ways. Each cut may seem minor, but the cumulative effect is large. So be kind, be loving, be compassionate, and be generous. You may do this in little ways, but if you do it often and consistently, the world around you will change.
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