Position

Here's the thing about position. We're all standing somewhere, looking at life from our particular corner of existence. And honestly? Most of us think our corner is the only one that matters. But here's what's wild... every single position you take, every perspective you hold, is just one slice of an infinite pie.

I've been doing this work for three decades, and you know what I've learned? The moment someone says "This is how it is," they've just revealed exactly where they're standing. Nothing more, nothing less. Think about that. Your strongest opinions, your deepest convictions, your unshakeable beliefs... they're all just positions. Views from a particular spot on the mountain.

The ancient Advaita masters knew this. They'd point out that the wave thinks it's separate from the ocean until it realizes it IS the ocean. The wave's position changes everything about how it sees itself. Same water, completely different experience. Are you with me?

Taoism takes it even further. The Tao that can be named isn't the real Tao. Why? Because the moment you take a position on what the Tao is, you've missed it. It's like trying to catch your own shadow. The harder you chase it from one position, the more it eludes you.

But here's what's beautiful about this. When you really get that your position is just one of infinite possible positions, something magical happens. Compassion blooms. How can you hate someone when you understand they're just seeing from their particular spot? How can you judge when you realize that if you were standing exactly where they are, with their history, their wounds, their conditioning... you'd probably see exactly what they see.

I remember working with this couple once. They were at each other's throats over money. He saw her spending as irresponsible. She saw his saving as controlling. Both were right from their positions. But when they started exploring where those positions came from... man, everything shifted. His father had lost everything in the Depression. Her family had lived in scarcity, believing there was never enough. Same situation, completely different positions based on completely different histories.

Truth is, most of our suffering comes from being stuck in one position and thinking it's THE position. We defend our viewpoint like our life depends on it. But what if... what if your willingness to shift position was actually the key to freedom? What if the most powerful thing you could do was admit you might be seeing from just one angle?

Non-duality points to something even more radical. There's no separate "you" taking a position in the first place. There's just experiencing happening, and the mind creates this story about a "someone" who has opinions about it. Wild, right? But even that understanding is just another position until it becomes living reality.

Look, I'm not saying all positions are equal. Some perspectives definitely cause more suffering than others. But I am saying that your attachment to being right, to having the correct position, might be the very thing keeping you from seeing what's actually true.

Empathy is position-shifting in action. It's your willingness to step out of your familiar viewpoint and genuinely try on someone else's reality. Not to agree with it necessarily, but to understand how the world looks from there. This isn't weakness... it's the most courageous thing you can do.

The mystics throughout history have pointed to the same thing: ultimate reality transcends all positions. It includes them all and is limited by none. Your job isn't to find the perfect position. Your job is to hold all positions lightly, knowing that truth is bigger than any single perspective could ever contain.

Start small with this one. Next time someone says something that triggers you, pause. Take a breath. Then ask yourself: "What would I have to believe about life to see it that way?" Don't judge their position, just genuinely try to understand how someone might arrive there.

Here's a practice I love: Choose one belief you hold strongly. Spend ten minutes arguing for the opposite position. Seriously. Find the most compelling case you can make against your own viewpoint. Notice what happens in your body. Notice the resistance. That resistance is showing you where you're attached to being right rather than seeing clearly.

Try this with your family. Instead of defending your position during disagreements, ask questions. "Help me understand how you see this." "What am I missing from where you're standing?" "What would need to be true for your perspective to make complete sense?" Watch how the energy shifts when you stop fighting to be right and start genuinely exploring different viewpoints.

Physical practice helps too. Literally change your physical position when you're stuck on something. If you're sitting, stand. If you're inside, go outside. If you're looking east, turn west. Sometimes the body needs to move for the mind to shift. Are you with me?

Most more to the point, practice holding your own positions lightly. Notice when you say "I believe..." and add silently "...from where I'm standing right now." This isn't about becoming wishy-washy or losing your convictions. It's about staying curious instead of getting rigid.

When Position appears, you're being invited to examine where you're standing. Some viewpoint you've been holding as absolute truth? It might be time to question that. This card often shows up when you're stuck in conflict, whether with others or within yourself, because you're defending a position that's too narrow.

Look at what you're absolutely certain about right now. Position is asking: "What if you're only seeing part of the picture?" This isn't about being wrong... it's about being willing to see more. Maybe that person you're in conflict with isn't the villain you've made them out to be. Maybe they're just standing somewhere completely different than you.

Position can also indicate it's time for a major perspective shift in your life. Something you've always seen one way is ready to be viewed from a completely different angle. Trust the process. Truth isn't threatened by examination. Only our attachments to partial truths need defending.

Sometimes this card appears when you're being called to develop more empathy. Step into someone else's shoes, especially someone who sees things differently than you do. The bridge you build with understanding might just change everything.

If you've been feeling stuck or righteous lately, Position is your invitation to move. Shift your vantage point. Question your assumptions. The truth you're seeking might be visible from where you're standing... you just need to look in a different direction.