The Hit List - It's not fair, Ben.

If you’ve been following my Ben Franklin side project, you know that I’ve been practicing one of Ben’s “Thirteen Virtues” every month for the last few months. Not keeping track of this? Here’s the first post in the series – that should get you clued in on what I’m up to.

I just finished Month Eight: Justice.

Here’s what happened:

Ben says this about Justice: “Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”

Doing my duties? No problem-o. Wronging none. Easy. I don’t dig cruelty in any form. Following the law? Yup. No crimes committed here except a possible crime against fashion (yes, I use a scrunchie – sue me).

This one was too easy, right?

Wrong.

Maybe it’s my Libra rising but any sort of perceived injustice makes me nuts. Always has. When I was a kid, there was no justice in our home – my brothers could destroy my toys and steal my candy but nothing was done. My calls for justice went unheard. Boys would be boys. The message I got: the world is unfair, kid – toughen up and suck it up.

When you come to think of it, that’s a mighty crappy message to give a child.

But the world is complicated like that and so are people. Sometimes you can’t right a wrong, even if it’s been done to you. All you can do is watch your own behavior and try to be better than that.

But I digress! So last month, as I said above, most things were going along pretty well. Taxes got paid, work was great, family life good, I attended another stellar tarot conference – and even lead a class on law (intellectual property rights for tarot readers to be exact). I assumed that would be that. Nothing much to write on justice.

Until someone that I trusted did something hurtful as the month was winding down to a sweet finish. I won’t go into the details but it felt like an absolute betrayal. A total stab in the back with little regard for how it might make me feel. I had to sit with those shit feelings, stewing in my juices, hurt and disappointed down to the core. While the Moon in Scorpio part of me wanted to swiftly cut off the head of the hydra (whenever my trust is violated, I amputate the relationship immediately), instead I just sat, kinda like I did back in the day when I found my favorite Barbie doll completely violated.

Yes, I felt let down. But on deeper inspection, I realized that the action taken was not due out of maliciousness towards me. The person was doing something that they felt they needed to do. And even though I did not agree with the actions, I had to be fair, objective, and just let it go. I had to be a pro.

Not an easy lesson. In fact, I am still working through this one.

What I learned:

Justice is rarely easy or clean. But my conscience? THAT is. And that’s justice enough for me.

How I intend to carry this virtue forward into the rest of my life:

By minding my own karma. I cannot control the unjust actions of others but I can control mine – and my reaction.

Justice & Tarot – your affirmation for the month:

I am fair and objective in all matters.

How about you?

How might you be just and fair? What might that look like? What steps will you take to maintain that balance?

If you’d like to tag along as I continue my journey through the Thirteen Virtues, please do! This month (May) I am working with Moderation, which is NOT my strong suit. You’ll probably want to set that bar low, peeps.

So that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed the latest backstage peek in my B-Franklin side project. Here’s a nice little quote from him on justice:

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”

Damn….dude did not mess around, right? One can only wonder what Ben would have to say about the current political climate. Or about my Barbie doll.

So long, sucker.

Other stuff:

Women had to deal with trolls back in the day too.

Starbucks is getting sued for using too much ice in their iced drinks.

Thanks Bey: lemonade sales are up.

Alexandra Franzen teamed up with Magnet House Jewelry for these sweet necklaces (I have a Magnet House necklace and I LOVE it).

Interesting story of the amateur cloud society that kinda rattled the science world.

The NYT asks: should prostitution be a crime?

Janet Jackson is pregnant at 50. Yes, it can be done – for a steep price.

Nylon’s The Cool Girl’s Guide to Being a Witch – featuring my homegirl, Courtney Weber!

A must read: The Wendy O. Williams we didn’t know. She was a true original and one of my sheroes. RIP, Wendy.

Gwyneth Paltrow might teach us how to do it properly.

Can You Not Pac – a PAC created to “dis/empower and dis/incline the powerful and privileged (“specifically straight white men”) to lose their outsized ego and swollen sense of entitlement — and not run for office.” Ha!

Interested in Lenormand? Get Ryan Edward’s fabulous new Maybe Lenormand. It’s awesome!

My friend George gifted me the Thelema Tarot and it’s lovely.

Only a few months until my Tarot Coloring Book drops. You can pre-order it now!

More tarot goodness: Andrew McGregor just launched A Tarot of You: Finding Your Self in the Cards.

What I’m Grateful For:

True friends

30,000 steps in one day

Perfect florentine cookies

Cold medicine

Coming home

Loyalty

Soundtrack for 5/7/16: What difference does it make? by The Smiths