Arthurian Tarot: Corbenic
Mayan Oracle: Muluc, Imix, Cauac
Aleister Crowley: Death, Prudence, The Hanged Man
Medicine Cards: Squirrel, Mountain Lion, Turkey
Osho Zen Tarot: Existence, Stress, Playfulness
Healing Earth Tarot: Nine of Feathers, Wise Old Woman, The Hanged One
Ancient Egyptian Tarot: Five of Swords, Six of Cups, Princess of Disks
Words of Truth: Money, Authenticity, New Possibilities, Self Love
When times are stressful, it’s wise to look at what’s going on as a spiritual journey. The pattern we’re emerging from is offering us the opportunity to see what we’ve created in our lives and to dis-create it. It’s been a difficult road, but the changing configuration of the planet has released old illusions into the truth of the present moment. So, take a moment to recognize that you are not your DNA, you are not your emotions, you are not this body, and you are not what we think. You are bigger and vaster than mortal existence. With that thought firmly in place you will be better able to see beyond what you are presently experiencing and step into a place of understanding, acceptance and self love.
Yes, there is a feeling that right now there is no clear pathway in front of you. You may feel as if the old you is dying. But perhaps that old, stressed out part of you really does need to be let go. Perhaps there could be something better if you just gave change a chance. Stop the habit of seeking so that you can see the pattern.
If you want to keep suffering and struggling, the universe will let you. But don’t you feel tired now? Don’t you want to do it differently? Aren’t you fed up with the inner voices that are criticizing your daily existence? There are other ways. And you get to choose the configuration, challenges and successes of that personal journey. That is what makes you unique. When I am afraid and I don’t know which way to go, I find that three simple things help me focus and navigate the chaos of change: exercise, discipline and the expression of love. This month, try something new for your body. Allow that newness to bring you into the present moment. Your body is an incredible gift in this life and not something to be taken for granted. It holds everything your mind wants to deny. It holds the emotional traumas from this lifetime and other lives. But it needs your attention and support. It is amazing how fast the body will attempt to heal itself if you give it what it needs to find balance.
Next, I find that I need to learn tools and techniques that allow for mental, emotional and spiritual discipline. This is because my emotional body has a tendency to take over when I am scared and run like a terrified rabbit on fire through my mind. Its freak-out pattern is overwhelming and enormously distracting from being in the now. So I use tools such as mantras, mental exercises or yogic postures that force me to strain my body in such a way that I cannot run my old emotional head trip while I am attempting to hold certain postures or do particular breathing techniques. In this way I learn to use my mind to discipline my emotions and not allow them to overrun the system and make me miserable. My motto is that if my emotions are pulling me down or telling me that I am bad and doing something wrong, then that is the moment I sit myself down and break myself of that belief. I do that by remembering that I am not this limited existence.
We are all the same at our core. Yet each of us has layers of wounds, fears, beliefs and personal physical challenges that we are here to learn from and overcome. We can make the mistake that we are our wounding. But we are not. It takes mental discipline to reject patterns that do not serve the emergence of your authentic self. No one can do that for you. Others can give you a glimpse into who you truly are, but you must be willing to let yourself out of the trap this existence has created for you to overcome.
And finally there is the need for me to express love to others in ways that are congruent with my core gifts, as well as learn to receive the love that is being offered to me in any moment. Everyone is worthy of love. Everyone needs to feel loved and appreciated for who they really are. Everyone wants at least one person to see beyond the illusions of their pain and suffering into the core of their heart and being.
So take a moment to look in the direction of those to whom in the past you might have tried to ignore. Look directly at them and open yourself to the level that is appropriate and see them not only as love but let yourself also be seen as love. Let that beautiful exchange of love happen that is so uniquely human. Be willing to really see someone. Not their behavior, not their genetics, not their race, not their damage, but see their core light that like you is attempting to uncover the truth of who they are in this moment right now.
Suzanne Wagner is the author of numerous books and CDs on the tarot. She lives in Salt Lake City. SUZWAGNER.COM