Different Sources of Gratitude

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Ten of Pentacles:

On a mountaintop, a woman opens her arms expansively, welcoming the new morning.  There is no castle with servants, only a hut made of hides, her family, and her dog.  Yet the smiles are indicative of a sense of gratefulness for their simple life.  They have all they need - shelter, warm clothes, a fire, and each other.  And what a view they have each day!  I am reminded that beauty, fulfilled basic needs, and people who love me are what make me a wealthy woman, regardless of all the other "stuff" I own.

     From the Rune Cards comes "Yew/Eihwaz:"

The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,
a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.
~ Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

Yews have been thought to be a gateway to the Underworld, and as such often represent initiation and transformation.  The booklet lists the following as meanings of this rune: "a reassessment of values and the way you wish to live your life, a change of direction."  There's nothing like living in hell for a period of time, then discovering you've been granted a reprieve, even if temporary.  Whether the pain is physical or emotional, it does have the power to change me, and make me grateful with a new outlook.