Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hello, everyone. The Osho Zen Tarot is among the decks of cards that I’ve had for the most years. (Only two or three came before it, and all were during a time when “luxury items” were very few. That means they were important to me.) Today I have a one-card reading meant for all of us, followed by some impromptu flash fiction inspired by whatever card I’m about to draw.
READING
Compromise
This deck names its cards and suits differently, but they equate to standard tarot cards. Compromise is the Six of Rainbows (otherwise known as the suit of Pentacles). The teachings of Master Osho suggest “Don’t be clever, otherwise you will remain the same, you will not change.”
Is that as clear as mud? Everyone is familiar with “compromise,” but have we really thought it through? We are taught that compromise is good, and that is mostly true, especially when we are either negotiating or trying to coexist.
The Osho Zen asks us to look at what we’ve always been told about compromise and see it from a different perspective. The teaching here is that sometimes compromise is disingenuous, because we never express our true self. That leads to confusion. Also, though it prevents us losing ground, we never move forward either. It can result in procrastination.
This card also reminds us that bad feelings can fester, if one makes a compromise without acknowledging the true feelings involved.
Sometimes we feel backed into a corner (whether in dealing with a person, or with a circumstance)… and compromise seems to be the best way to go. If you are in such a situation, then perhaps you need to step outside yourself. Ask yourself whether or not a compromise will benefit the situation — will it buy time to bring needed elements into play? Will it allow you to regroup, let you have time to see things clearly? Then a compromise is likely in order. Or, are you putting off something that actually should be addressed in a direct manner, and now rather than later?
Flash Fiction
Hot & Cold
“My own personal summer…” Mara grumbled under her breath as she looked at the thermostat, which was actually set at a suitable temperature.
She always “ran hot” even when she was twenty. Like her father, at night her skin was hot to the touch. Looking at the wintry sky she sighed loudly enough that Toby noticed. His eyebrows went up in a silent question. Mara explained her thermal trepidations in a frustrated tone.
“Mara, I love snuggling up with you on a winter night. You’re so warm and cozy,” Toby said with a grin encircling her with his arms.
“I love that too, Toby, but the fact is that before the night is over, you’re burrowing under two blankets and a quilt, and still shivering, while I’m roasting and trying to untangle myself from the covers.”
“We’ve compromised by setting the thermostat at a temperature that isn’t comfortable for either of us at night. I put ‘sheet garters’ on the blankets to help keep them on your side of the bed. Neither of those things has helped.”
They kissed and cuddled for a few minutes before going to work. Each trying to make sure the other didn’t feel blamed.
Toby was late getting home. Mara got a text from him saying that he was on his way, but he had stopped to pick up something.
“Oh no,” Mara groaned. “I was afraid his feelings were hurt, but he must think he needs to apologize. He’s probably buying flowers… Where did I put the vase?” she wondered as she banged cabinet doors, annoyed at herself because she was about to swallow her physical discomfort and still feel like the bad guy.
Half an hour later, Toby let himself in with a cheery “I’m home!” He carried a large shopping bag from Bedrooms & Beyond. Toby motioned excitedly for her to open the bag. Inside was a cuddly-soft blanket. Mara shook her head, mildly exasperated. Toby tilted his head and twisted his mouth in the way that meant she was missing something. Then she felt something hard amid the soft blanket.
“It’s a dual temperature control electric blanket,” he explained. “Now is that a great compromise or what?”
“Actually no,” Mara replied and Toby looked crestfallen. “It’s not a compromise at all. It’s a solution!” she added with a grin and kissed his cheek.
The end.
♦ ♣ ♠ ♥
I mentioned that I have been working on a fiction novelette. It will be released during the first week of October. Consider this obligatory shameless self-promotion a hint. 😀
Friendly comments are welcome. Hugs!
A Peril in Ectoplasm
Universal Purchase Links
Kindle: relinks.me/B0BJ9N1GBX
Paperback: relinks.me/B0BJBXGJ7L
♦ ♣ ♠ ♥
This blog is entirely human-written. Furthermore, the author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication for purposes of training AI technologies to generate text. This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2026 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.
Hi Teagan, this is a great post that certainly gives cause for pause and reflection. We are taught to compromise like we are taught to share. I agree that compromise can make us feel resentful especially if we are the ones always doing the compromising and giving. I tried to compromise in my last job and it was a fail from that jobs perspective. It did have the positive effect of getting me off my backside to do something about resolving the issue and exiting that toxic environment was the best thing I could have done. It took a lot of effort but no effort, no improvement.
LikeLike