Metaphors

Metaphors for the Month: July 2010

By Suzanne Wagner

Arthurian Tarot: Wheel of Fortune, Galahad
Mayan Oracle: Adventures Quest, Universal Movement
Aleister Crowley: The Hanged Man, The Hermit, Gain
Medicine Cards: Antelope, Mouse, Armadillo
Osho Zen Tarot: Receptivity, Past Lives, Conditioning
Healing Earth Tarot: Three of Rainbows, Eight of Pipes, Ten of Rainbows
Ancient Egyptian Tarot: Queen of Disks, Three of Disks, Five of Disks
Words of Truth: Letting Go, Words of Truth, Dullness, Purity

T he motto for July should be: “I choose what to be responsible for.” This month there will be so much going on that finding a way to keep your center during such transformation will be at best challenging and at worse demoralizing. So take a close look at what is really your responsibility. You can only do what is really yours to do. You won’t be able to save the world, but you can protect and support yourself and your loved ones.

Yet in the middle of such enormous change, those who see themselves as willing and deserving of such advancement can always find opportunities. When you notice that it’s time to let go of an old pattern, magic returns. I am always amazed at how fast the universe responds when one releases the ego’s need to control and be validated. When nothing seems to be working, and you finally admit that this game you have been playing is not fulfilling your spirit, is when the divine will intervene on your behalf.

So any tempting proposals need to be seriously considered. But don’t be foolish and jump out of a burning house into molten lava. Look before you leap. Do the footwork necessary to build a strong foundation, and allow for honesty and integrity in all transactions. Don’t allow the desperation of global malaise to infect your rational side.

If done right, you can find active and enthusiastic people who will introduce new concepts and options to you, but you will need to challenge yourself. If you are willing to do new things, you will receive an unexpected gift that will open you into a new and exciting world.

But when you change, know that you will also be upsetting the applecart that has been keeping your life stable. Others will not appreciate it, and you may feel that you are becoming the target of malicious gossip. So beware of trickery and don’t fall prey to another’s wiles. Sometimes moments of huge growth require you to let go of your old self and begin exploring your authentic self instead. You will need to see the window of opportunity when it presents itself. Remember: all windows open and close. They do not stay open. You have to be willing to leap into the unknown and trust that your soul is strong enough to handle whatever happens in the future. If you miss the window, you may feel as if the bad turn of events requires you to find a way to ride out the storm. When you allow your insecurity to drive your reality, you are letting strong attachments in your past limit your options for the future. This will only make the changes more painful.

Often a stubborn need to be right prohibits us from seeing the childishness of our choices. That defensive posture may prevent us from experiencing growth and change. You cannot always be right. You cannot always have what you want. What ultimately creates success and fulfillment is taking what you have, being grateful for those things and then finding new and interesting ways to do something with them.

This month, look at where you are hiding yourself. Where are you not letting yourself take action? Where are you overly protecting yourself? Where are you justifying inaction because of your beliefs? Where are you letting your old conditioning limit your options? There are a million ways to get to an outcome; you only need to be willing to try something different to feel a shift and find movement. Let your life become a grand adventure. Let the hero of your story be you. You can only be a hero if you are willing to step out of the norm and take risks. This is the month. Seize the day. Become your authentic self. ◆

Suzanne Wagner is the author of numerous
books and CDs on the tarot. She lives in
Salt Lake City. SUZWAGNER.COM

This article was originally published on June 30, 2010.