Not alone

For this I must explain…

Green Tara is known as the Buddha of enlightened activity, representing compassion in action.  She is the goddess of liberation.  Buddhist illustrations of Tara show her sitting in meditation on her lotus throne, with one leg out at the ready…to jump to the aid of someone in need.

Any time a human helps another to relieve pain and suffering, enlightened activity occurs.  Warmth is generated through the positive energy of another.   This is not unique to Buddhism.  It is the way of compassion.  It is the way of the beautiful human.

The cherry blossom represents the fragility and beauty of life.  Delicate pink flowers bloom very briefly in the spring before they lay rest to the sidewalks below.

The cherry blossom and seed symbol of the Green Tara are two images that accurately illustrate what oncology nursing is all about: Relief of pain and suffering. The fragility of life.  Beauty and enlightened activity. Warmth.  Growth.  Death.  Life. Strength. Weakness. Love.

While these are just words in this world, they still remind us to be present in the moment…

for this is all we have.

One thing caregivers often forget is to care for themselves.  They, too, need Tara’s assistance and guidance.  This tattoo was placed on my forearm to remind me that life is fragile and beautiful…and that I am not alone.