Today is ‘be nice to your loved one’ day – parent, child, friend, partner, spouse or pet, doesn’t matter what the relationship is as long as it is a relationship of love. Today see with the eyes of love. See your parent with the adoring eyes of your childhood, see your spouse as they were when you first fell in love, see your child as you saw them the first time you held them in your arms. Remember the then love and the now love, and remember that the divine resides in love.
Do something nice or say something nice, from the heart and allow yourself to be filled with love today ❤
It starts at an early age when someone tells us “if you love me, you will do this for me” and we oblige because we do love them. We do learn to be somewhat more discerning as we grow older but not that much more. Sometimes there is an explicit demand and sometimes it is implicit, and sometimes it is only in our minds and not an expectation at all. It is also an effective means of control and we, ourselves are not above using it.
This week though, there will be that demand from you, explicit or implicit. Often we give in to that demand because the we don’t want to upset the apple cart or it is too much effort. Sometimes we are not even aware that this is a demand and that we have an obligation to ourselves to say ‘no’ to it. The first step always is awareness, to recognise that there is an expectation and then to be aware that to fulfil that expectation takes something away from you. That something is your power. For, every single time we cave and say yes when we want to say no, every time we keep quiet instead of speaking up, every time we show proof of our love by doing something we don’t want to do, we give away a little bit of our power and a little bit of ourselves.
Remind yourself that you cannot prove your love for someone for the first proof will be followed by the second and the third. There is no proof to give because asking for proof is the denial of love. It is difficult when it comes to people we love because we want to and choose to do a lot for them. This week, if this comes up for you, the message from the universe is pretty clear – the ask is not out of love, it is from control. You get to choose how you respond.
What goes for the other also goes for us so also be aware if you are doing the same. A little space in any relationship is very very healthy!
It seems incredible that 15 days into the new year so much seems to have changed. Things do seem to be looking up this year and to catch the energy and momentum of this new year, I’m delighted to announce the ‘Movement Forward’ workshop in sunny Goa.
The idea behind this workshop is to make small but powerful movements in the direction of our dreams and desires. To look and see what barriers are within that are preventing us from living the life we want and to make those energy shifts to open up possibilities for us.
We all have patterns in our lives that we keep repeating, be it relationships with people or our relationship with money or success. We long for connections with people but struggle with our connection to ourselves. We are taught to give but seldom know how to receive. Constellation work offers a way to free ourselves from limiting behaviours and patterns, to learn how to receive with abundance, to retain our own individuality yet be connected and take the necessary steps towards our dreams and desires.
The workshop will have group work as well as individual constellation sessions. You can read up on Constellation work here.
It is a two-day residential workshop at the tranquil Island House in Divar Island. The plan is to get there on the 31st evening and depart on the 2nd evening.
The total cost of the workshop will be 15k, for a two-night stay with meals and with a room all to yourself. If you reside in Goa and/or only want a one night stay, it will be 11k. We start early on the 1st, around 9 am.
Do let me know if you would like to be part of this workshop. I’m reachable at 8459303602 or at darpankaur@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you. I would be grateful if you could also please forward this to anyone who may be interested.
The message today is to be aware of the ebb and flow of partnerships. This could mean a romantic relationship or a business partner or a relationship with a friend. If you have noticed a newness or change in one of them, perhaps pay more attention to it.
Where there is flow there will be ebb at some point or another. To expect that everything will always be rosy and happy is an unrealistic expectation. Oftentimes, at the first hint of trouble, we set about trying to fix things and make them right without really giving ourselves to really feel what we are experiencing. This card is a reminder that both, the ebb and the flow, are natural and that they both are essential for any movement forward. It can be that the flow is too much when you near a curve and without the ebb, you may be flung away from your course. It could also be a change in direction that is required and here too the ebb is essential.
The message today is to observe, to witness the ebb and flow of relationships without reacting to it. And to understand that this is a natural process and can only help you grow. If you find that a relationship itself is fading then don’t try to hold on to it, let it flow out if it must because if it flows back it will be stronger and if it flows away, then something else is waiting to flow in. Alternately, if your existing relationship is going through an ebb and you are wondering if you should leave or how to fix it, just wait and witness the flow and see which direction it is leading you. Many a time we just need to hear that what we are going through is natural and normal. All relationships go through disharmony, it cannot all be sunshine and roses because even roses need the rain to grow and they come along with thorns.
Manage your expectations today. Take a step back in case of disharmony and observe the flow of partnership.
This is one of my favourite cards in the Rumi deck. I have loved the art and imagery of Rassouli for a while now but this one just takes my breath away. He apparently paints with rags and his hands!
Rumi says ‘Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.’
Love is all around us all the time but often we cannot see and perceive it. Sometimes we are looking elsewhere, sometimes we mistake it for something else, sometimes we find it difficult to receive it, sometimes we feel unworthy of it so we let it go. Sometimes we mistake romance and chivalry for love because we have an image of what love must look like. We have all been hurt by love in the past and we are afraid of that hurt so we build walls around ourselves. What are your hurts? What don’t you trust? Where and when do the walls come up? These are questions only you can answer and only you can lower those barriers.
All lovers have a dance that is unique only to them. What is your dance with your beloved? Not the romance or sex but those synchronised movements that are so natural and complementary to each other. Not the expectations and demands but the things that flow naturally, so naturally that they may be under the radar and you don’t perceive them. The card wants you to see this dance that you do for yourself. When you see this dance your heart will be so filled with joy that there will be no need for hearts and flowers and the recognition of love will flow through you.
If there is no “beloved” then love itself is the beloved and you can observe the dance in that way. When do you move forward and when do you step back? What makes you miss a step?
At the heels of a particularly difficult Mercury retrograde, August comes to us with a promise of completion and of renewal after a completion. There may be a situation or even a relationship which has been dragging on for far too long, maybe it’s an on-again-off-again project which seems to be heading nowhere, maybe it’s something you have been working on for a while now but you really can’t see how it will ever get sorted. August will bring things to a conclusion one way or another. There are some doors which will be permanently closed for us. But you know the best thing about closed doors right? Some new ones start opening!
Endings are not easy, even when we want them, even when they are good for us, so go easy on yourself and allow events to unfold as they may. You may be tempted to intervene but that will only cause you more distress. It may help you to remember that your soul decided this course of action, at this point in time, for you to learn and grow and evolve. If you’re letting go of somebody or something, know that it is the right thing to do, as hard as it might be. A practice of forgiveness may help you during this time – Ho’oponopono can be a wonderful practice to follow. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you absolve the person of all wrongdoing, it just releases you so that you can move on. True forgiveness is only with our own selves. We often can’t forgive the other because we are unable to forgive ourselves for being in that situation. The essence of forgiveness is to forgive the self so that we can move on.
The Balsamic Moon is a time for healing and to try to move on without healing having taken place is to hobble forward. This is not the time to just put a band-aid on the wound but to maybe take it to an expert. Whatever it is that comes up for you with the end of the last cycle needs more than a slap-dash, so don’t ignore it. Time is the biggest healer provided you acknowledge that something needs to be seen, needs to be healed. Give yourself the time and space and put your energy into you and the moving forward will be easy.
If the ending was a relationship – need not be a romantic one, could even be a colleague or boss – then know that your time with each other is at an end. There is nothing more to be learned, there is no more growth to be had. Think of yourself as a vessel that has been filled to the brim. There have been many wonderful experiences but now there are not-so-great experiences which have taken over. It is time to let go before the vessel becomes more negative than positive.
This experience has helped you grow and become and the direction of your life is going to go through subtle realignments. You may want to make certain adjustments to suit the new you. These may be lifestyle changes or changes in food or exercise patterns. Evaluate what is working for you and what is not and make modifications where required. You may want to detox spiritually or physically and you may experience some body aches or tiredness as you align to this new energy. Don’t struggle through it, just rest it out. You may also find that you are attracting different kind of people into your sphere. As your energy changes, there is more light inside you and this attracts others to your light. These are good changes but it is always advisable to keep your boundaries in place so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
You may be tempted to go off on your own to do some soul searching or may just want to cocoon yourself at this time. There is a time and place for both, however, at this time the cards offer the guidance to not choose the hermit’s path but to allow the company of others. Group energy is really powerful and can be a powerful source of upliftment and expansion. Try a workshop or even a healing circle. Balance the me-time with group time if you can.
The first week of August is the first few days after the retrograde and you will feel the shift in energy right away. The days will feel lighter and brighter and you will feel more energetic than before. The sun represents the solar plexus chakra which is the seat of our power. The sun reminds us that we are more powerful than we think and urges us to claim our personal power. It is a reminder that will serve you at work and at personal relationships as well. You can physically tighten your core when you feel that you need it and feel that burst of power within. There is potential for receiving some recognition, maybe even with a financial component.
Along with personal power is need to keep yourself grounded. The cards urge you to remain compassionate even while you stand your ground. If you receive some awards or accolades, remain down-to-earth and resist the temptation to gloat. Just remain kind to others around you even while you celebrate your success.
In the second week, a new idea or opportunity will find its way to you. Open yourself to all possibilities especially if it is a creative project or has something to do with developing your intuition. This may be a time for you to explore your creative-intuitive side as well, maybe you would like to attend a creative workshop and see where that takes you. This week pay attention to your feelings and see what you feel like doing versus what you think you should do. Keep your eye out for signs and synchronicities from the universe this week and pay attention to the messages you receive. Repeated numbers, birds and animals, feathers and shells are all messages to heed from the universe.
The third week has the potential for a communication mishap. You may find yourself jumping into conflict impulsively, only to realise later that it wasn’t even your fight. We all do this out of loyalty to a friend or a loved one. We take offence on their behalf and jump in to defend them. This is a watch out from the cards, neither party will thank you for your interference in this matter so look before you leap into the fray. If you feel the urge and are aware of it, you may want to introspect upon it.
In the last week of August, you may face a challenging decision and you will find yourself at a loss about which way to go. Both possibilities may seem equally good or equally bad and you may feel blindsided by them. The advice from the cards is to get more information on either option and to not rush into making an immediate decision. Also, remember that things are not always what they appear to be and sometimes a little distance can give us the perspective we need. Take your time and gather the facts before you decide.
In summary, there will be an ending or completion of sorts in August. This completion has been a long time coming and it is for the greater good of all concerned. Take time to grieve for what is lost, and acknowledge its contribution to your life but also be aware of the possibilities that have opened up for you now. With this end, there will be some realignment and restructuring of your life and also within. Be kind to yourself as you go through this process of change and growth.
It’s quite the scariest thing, to come to the edge but also the most exhilarating. There are times when we need to conquer our fears and step into the unknown, to take that leap of faith trusting our wings will sprout on the way, and that we will soar higher than ever.
A big part of allowing yourself to soar is to come into your authentic self. To let go of the burdens of expectations, to discard the heaviness which comes from the fear of failure, to be true to who you are and what you want. Take that step today, make that call, announce that venture, take that risk because regret is much much worse than failure. Go in with the knowledge that the universe will make magic happen for you, all you need to do is persevere.
In relationship terms as well, know that’s it’s okay to show your true self to the other, to allow the other to have a peek into your vulnerability. It is scary but the rewards of being seen so close completely are totally worth it. All the protected parts of you, let them out. Ask for what you want, don’t couch it, don’t just go along with others. It will be all right.
Come to the edge this week. One step at a time. You can do it.
A bouquet represents a careful selection of flowers, put together as an expression of love, gratitude or support and solidarity in a difficult time. A bouquet is a symbol for relationships and brings a bright and happy message about the relationships in your life. It signals harmony, grace and beauty.
For some this may be new beginnings in new relationships or a rekindling of an old relationship too. It is important to state here that this doesn’t necessarily only mean a romantic relationship. Friendships or relationships with close family members count too.
If you have been feeling drawn to connect with someone, but are holding yourself back, this card confirms that you are in fact ready. The outcome of reaching out to make that connection will bring you contentment.
So, who will you extend this beautiful bouquet to, today 💐💚
I should have guessed that this card would appear today, following yesterday’s card. The Queen of cups is the mom card for me. She is compassionate, caring and nurturing. The Queen of cups has complete mastery over her emotions, which is to say that she is capable of feeling the depth and width of her emotions yet leaving room for the other for theirs.
Our relationship with our partner / spouse is a reflection of our relationship with our mothers. While it is true that women marry men who have shades of their fathers and men marry women with shades of their mothers, the relationship itself follows the pattern of our relationship with mom.
One of the things that has been showing up for me is fairy tales. Think about what your favourite fairy tale was while growing up. if not favourite then the one you remember the most or were affected by, the most. These are the subtle subconscious cues that can tell us how we really feel deep down. The ugly duckling (my favourite fairy tale as a child) is the story of not belonging and then finally finding your place. The sleeping beauty is the story of waiting, beauty is lying in stasis for charming to come to her. I had put a link in yesterday’s post about the interrupted reaching out movement and that is the story of waiting. Another story is beauty and beast which is about seeing on one aspect of another person (of mom). It can be that you think or catch yourself saying “my mother is strong woman” and yes, she is, but she is also vulnerable at times, she is also prone to stress and anguish and fear like the rest of us. She is multifaceted and multidimensional and sometimes we forget that. She can be emotional but she can also be strong. We often try to protect her from stuff that’s going on in our lives but we don’t need to. This act of protecting her is a barrier that cause and reinforces separatedness.
The same goes for our partners. Which fairy tale are you re-living here? Do you feel like you don’t belong there (and it could well be that you don’t want to belong there), is it that you are waiting for something? or do you just see a single facet of the other. This message is for you to look at something that needs to be seen. It isn’t to judge or criticize, just to be seen, with compassion and kindness.
July promises to be a month of introspection, of going within and finding the answers you seek or have sought for a while. It is a month of looking at things with a new perspective and a childlike wonder of having not seen them before like this. It is a month which will make us want to take stock of our lives and questions like, ‘Is this where I want to go? Is this who I want to be? What direction should I be headed in?’ will be at the forefront. The answer may very well be a Yes but it needs to come from a conscious place, a place where it feels right rather than something that is expected from you. You may be surprised at conversations about life that will crop up unexpectedly this month. Participate in them fully and it may broaden your perspective.
We are told that we come to this world alone and will depart from here alone. In-between these two alone moments is life where we connect and belong, to so many different people, groups, cities, countries. There are times on this journey where we travel alone but more often than not we have fellow travellers. A friend, a sister, a co-worker will often walk with you part of the way. Not all will stay because their way and yours only intersected for a short while. Some will, one way or another, find their way back to you again and again and some will be with you most of the way. All these fellow wayfarers are important and they come when the time is right and they leave when their purpose is served. You may question this but remember that not all questions have answers. Some questions can be answered when you go within. When you find the pattern of people entering into your world and leaving – you will realise that they entered when you needed them – no other reason – and that is the way of the divine. Their leaving may hurt and again you may have the why in your mind and again there is no answer but that their time was done and there is something else that is awaiting you around the corner. Whether it was a good companion or not, when you go within you will discover the many gifts the person brought with them. The cards invite you to look at relationships this month – both past and current. To look at them with fresh eyes, with the eyes of innocence and keep aside your thoughts and keep with you, your feelings and see what comes up for you. While doing this it may be a good idea to thank all those who have journeyed with you so far.
The first week of July will keep your attention on the home front. You may receive a visit from your mom or a friend/person who tends to mother you. You may receive the gift of abundance from the universe, not just in material terms but with a lovely flow of people or some good news. It is a good time energetically, so the seeds that you plant now have a high probability of sprouting. If there is a home project that you’ve been thinking about, early July is a good time to kick it off. At work, if you have an idea then this is the right time to pitch it to your boss. When the Queen of Pentacles appears, she tends to make the path easier for you. She clears obstacles from your way and makes sure you are nurtured and healthy. It’s best to relax and go with the flow rather than try to assert your independence as that will only stop the flow of the good stuff.
The second week of July may find you listless and suffering from the I don’t feel like it syndrome. It is okay to feel like that at times and it’s okay to withdraw into yourself. It may be a good time to do the introspection the cards want you to do this month. You may want to engage in deeper conversations with people around you. If there are opportunities that come your way and you feel that you may not have the bandwidth to see them through or they simply don’t excite you enough, then do say no to them. A little bit of downtime will help you find the energy and zest to be back in business soon.
In the third week of July, if you are annoyed with a friend or co-worker and there is potential for harsh words, just keep in mind that some battles you lose, even when you win. You may be right but is it really worth losing a friendship? Dig deeper into the situation before any flare up happens. Decide if you want to be right and feel justified in your actions or to let go the ego and be part of your tribe. You may win this round but end up isolating yourself in the future. This isn’t about who is right or wrong – just that kindness and soft words will serve you better here.
By the end of the month, you will notice that certain changes have occurred within you. You are now looking at situations and people in a totally different way. Life will feel brighter and lighter as you step into the sun. You will be rewarded for all the self-work you have done this month. The self-work will happen with or without your active participation, so you may as well aid yourself. This week will be quietly joyous and deeply enriching for you.
There may be some juggling required in love and relationships. It could be a balance between work and love or it could be a push and pull with different loved ones. We are often torn between two things like family or spouse, work or family because there are hidden loyalties at play here. If you find yourself unable to juggle between the demand of two different sets of people, then the only thing to do is to be loyal to what you want. It is not possible to please all people at all times so just go with what your heart wants.
All may not be great at the work front and you may experience some sort of ending or betrayal at work or related to money. As the energy of the month is about introspection maybe you could reflect upon what happened and why, and what you can learn from the experience and as always look for the hidden gifts this experience gave you.
Health-wise, this month will be a breeze so, keep the health-related worries away and if you do get the sniffles, just rest it out and it will turn out alright.
In summary, July is a month for introspection and changing perspectives. There is magic in the universe which can be seen through the eyes of the child and the universe wants to share with us that magic – we just need to adjust our eyes to see it.
June looks like it will be an interesting month. There seems to be a duality riding through the month. There may be friction and alongside it seems to be compassion and mercy. There may be separateness but with it is a deep sense of connection. There may be a feeling of guilt but along with it, there will be an awareness of the shining light within. This is the energy of the month. In all of this, there is no sense of any of it being bad or negative. The sense is of this being how life is and what is the gift that emerges from tough situations.
Friction or conflict may not necessarily mean a bad thing. The friction of two stones rubbing together makes fire. A difference of opinion can mean both parties thinking outside the box. When we struggle we find new solutions, new ways of doing things or doing completely new things. It is the same with people – sometimes we need a parting so we can come back together in a new and more connected way. The message here is to not be afraid of conflict and to not avoid it because something good can emerge from it.
We all wish for peace and often we bury the conflict for the sake of peace. But peace doesn’t mean avoiding conflict or pretending that the struggle does not exist. Peace happens when we can step back from a situation and agree to disagree without any angst. Peace happens when we can be separate yet connected, which is being clear about your place and position and of the other’s so there is no disillusion or pretence, and yet there is respect for the other person and their position as well as your own. It is always better to bring up the friction areas when they are small and manageable rather than suppressing them to the point where they cannot be contained.
It may be that you are away from home or your loved one is. Or you may decide to take a sabbatical from work. This can really work for both parties and some time apart gives you (and the other), space to grow and change. A little privacy when we are changing is always a good thing.
Friction is usually accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt and there have been many posts in the past about these two. When you find yourself going down the spiral of guilt and shame, place your hand on your heart and start saying words of affirmation to yourself. Words like “I love you (your name), I will always love you, I forgive you, I am proud of you” and so on. Before you start though – be very clear with yourself that Guilt and Shame serve no purpose and they don’t need to be a part of your life. They are at best indicators for you to see what needs to be seen and loved by you, that is all.
Sometimes we mistake feeling guilt and shame as a sign of spiritual conscience, it is however, a societal conscience not a spiritual one. Spirituality is about consciousness, of awareness and mindfulness, of listening to your heart not about what is considered to be right or wrong. Rumi says “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” That is where Spirit resides. Spirit doesn’t recognise right and wrong the way we do and we do a grave injustice to ourselves when we judge ourselves and shame ourselves for a perceived wrong.
Mercy begins with ourselves. If we can be kind to ourselves it makes us capable of being kind to others. If we are unable to forgive ourselves we cannot hope to forgive others. No one can be as critical and as unkind to us as we can to ourselves. It starts at home and ask yourself what is the kind of home you want to live in and then set about creating that inner home for yourself.
We start the first week of June with the Death card. It is one of the scary cards in the tarot deck and the most misinterpreted because of is imagery. I can’t say that a skeleton riding a horse is a pleasant image but the card heralds great change and change is the death of something and the birth of something new. Death is just a herald that one major part of your life is coming to an end and a new one will start soon. There is a door that needs to close so that a new one can open for you. It can be the death of a destructive habit, the end of bad times or struggles, or even a relationship that has run its course. It could be that an old version of you is giving way to a new version of you. We do tend to resist change even when we know that it is good for us so be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to feel sad for what is lost. But also know that with great endings start new beginnings.
The death card by itself usually does not predict loss unless accompanied by a card signifying loss but if loss comes to you this week then my prayers are with you.
The second week of Juneis a week of action, of pursuing your goals and desires and succeeding at them. The King of Wands invites you to take the leadership stance in pursuit of your dreams. You can leave the execution to others but be part of the strategizing. There is a possibility of a new opportunity or new project that you will be involved in. It has great possibility of success if you choose to lead it and put your passion and energy behind it. You are the deciding factor in this project so enter only if you feel passionate and committed to it.
The third week of Juneis a week of enjoyment and celebration. It could be some good news at work which will give you a reason to celebrate. It could mean a reunion of friends or family which is a good reason to rejoice. It could be a birthday or a wedding or some such festivities. Be at the heart of this enjoyment, let your hair down and party away – you deserve it.
In the last week of June expect some significant news which will put the past to rest for you. Whatever doubts or worries you may have had about your decisions and actions will be cleared at this time. The consequences of your actions will be plain for you to see and you will finally be able to move forward with a clear and decisive mind. The ending that started at the beginning of the month will finally be done in the best way possible.
In Love & Relationships this month, listen to your intuition. If something feels off it probably is. This is not so much about suspicions but more about caring. If you feel that your partner is not all good, probe to see what the problem is and what you can do to help. If you get a sense that you should call home, then do so. It may be a little thing but listening to your intuition will ease up situations. In relationships, step back to look at the full picture. Things are not always black or white. Try to look at the full picture without taking sides and of course, trust your gut.
At Work, speak up and be bold while discussing your ideas and concepts. Keep fear and discouragement aside and really put your energy behind your ideas. The time is right to stand up and shine and to put your belief in yourself.
Health-wise things may not be that good. It may come to your attention that you have been living with being slightly unwell for some time now. It may have been so slow and gradual that you don’t even know when it crept up on you. If there is something slightly off, eg a tummy upset for some time or a backache, or even insomnia, then it’s time to go to the doctor or healer to figure out what’s up. This is not for you to get stressed but to just get some healing done because you have not been paying attention to your body.
At home, take a balanced and diplomatic approach to situations and people. You may find yourself reacting to incidents instead of responding to them. Deep breaths will come handy when dealing with the home front.
In summary, there is potential for friction and conflict this month but don’t shy away from it. Just approach it with kindness and you will find yourself in a better place than before. Whatever changes the friction brings, it will be better for all parties concerned. Be gentle with yourself as you go through this transition.
The Queen of Wands is here to remind you to be optimistic and outgoing, to be social and make new friends that share your vision of life, to speak up and hold your ground to work out a bit and breathe in fresh air, to come into your full potency and to do all of that – connect with your shadow self.
There are things you have relegated to the shadows that need to be seen and now is the time to do it. See what comes up for you this week – what you want to ignore but can’t, something that makes you feel not-so-good about yourself. Maybe someone will comment about your mean sense of humour or some secrets will be revealed, maybe there is a secret project you are working on or maybe there is an aspect of yourself that you are not comfortable revealing. Whatever it is, let it out, let it reveal (and fully embrace your mean side.)
By keeping a part of us in the shadows we do a grave injustice to ourselves. Imagine a little girl who is constantly told that she doesn’t belong with the rest of the family? Our shadow self is those little girls who we don’t allow to come out and play. Life changes when we accept all parts of ourselves. It need not be (it cannot be) all at the same time but every now and then a new shadow part shows up, wanting to be seen, wanting to belong. The thing is that it also shows up when it knows that we are ready to embrace it or when we need that part in our lives.
The shadow self always reminds me of this little poem – “She had blue skin, And so did he. He kept it hid And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right by- And never knew.” ~ Shel Silverstein, Every Thing on It
It scares me a little wondering if my masks have prevented me from meeting people who are my soul group or having experiences which I chose this life for. These masks I believe, are all to hide our shadow self and as each mask comes off, I feel lighter and free-er. More able to connect with myself and form deeper connections with others. Just remember that we are not getting rid of anything or even changing anything except our perception towards our shadow self. All we need to do is accept ourselves fully. I do know how not-easy that is and I am still working on it after 10 years but I can tell you that it is totally worth it. To come to a place where you don’t want to change or fix anything. To go through a process of discovery of the self or even re-discovery because you are looking at you with different eyes.
If you are interested in reading about the shadow self you can google shadow self – Carl Jung or Jungian psychology. Here’s a test I found on the net (I haven’t tried it yet so enter at your own risk :))
The first thing I want to say about May is that there is no Hanged Man in this reading and boy, am I glad. There is definitely a shift in tide in May – an easing up, an opening, a flow, some movement, both internal and external. There was a sense of this energy shifting the last couple of days and I’m glad to welcome May in this way.
In May, you are invited to enter the garden of delights. It’s a new place, somewhere you haven’t been before and it does promise bloom and flourish. You may wonder then, why would I hesitate if it’s so great in this garden? But we do hesitate, because it is our natural inclination to remain with the familiar. Sometimes we want to linger with the past, with the old, with death, because of how we felt and even though life is calling, we want to stay on, for a while longer with the old, familiar love. Don’t be impatient with yourself for not immediately jumping in to embrace the new. For now, it is okay to just to angle your body towards and maybe take one tiny step in the direction of the garden.
We sometimes hesitate to receive as well. Sometimes we doubt our own worthiness to step into this garden. We see it from the outside and think it is not for us. We pull back from asking to enter because we are afraid that we may not be for us. The oracle wants you to know that you are worthy of all of the universe’s delights. The universe considers you worthy. You can fearlessly ask the universe to lend you a hand if needed. You already have the keys to the garden and you can walk in anytime because it belongs to you. If there is something in particular that you are struggling with then do ask the divine for help. Big or small, deserved or undeserved, no matter what your struggle, just ask for help.
With this new wave of energy and expansion that is coming your way, there may be moments where you feel overwhelmed. This is natural because change brings chaos with it and with expansion the skin needs to stretch and grow. Also, if there are more sunrises then there must be more sunsets too. There will be a requirement to maintain some sort of balance as you transition into this new inner and outer world. In the past, certain aspects and personality traits would have served you well but will no longer serve you now. This month the world will be a softer, gentler place and there will be less need for fighting and aggression. This doesn’t mean that you don’t stand your ground or stand up for yourself but that you don’t need to be super aggressive about it.
Emerging from you may be aspects of the self which have been submerged over time. There is no blame here – other aspects may have served you better earlier but now is the time for re-emergence of others. Allow this process of rediscovery, maybe some new talents awaken for you or a new personality emerges. You may have believed yourself to be a certain way but that is just a view – a partial view at best. There is room for more – for a more whole and balanced you. This new balance means that it’s not one versus the other but a happy mix of both. This message of duality (which is a happy co-existence rather than duality) has come before as well. You are not discarding any of the old but just allowing the new to enter or the different to re-enter. You are at a place where you can see that they are not opposing forces and can live in harmony within you.
One of the biggest challenges this month will be to un-learn, to release yourself from the habit of being you. You’ve spent many years being the person you are today and you have this view of ‘who you are’ and now the cards are saying be someone else – the someone else inside who wants to come forward now. So a lot of this journey will be about unravelling you and seeing and agreeing with what emerges.
The cards suggest a regular clearing of air and energy in and around you this month. Practice smudging and have salt baths, go for a massage and most importantly listen to your bod. Your body follows the drumbeat of the universe and it knows far more than the mind possibly could so listen and listen well. If you feel a resistance in your body then change the direction in which you are headed.
In relationships, be gentle with yourself and with others. The chaotic energy of change can rub people the wrong way – our energy to them and theirs to us – but it is a temporary situation. Just be compassionate all around during this period.
At work, there may be a sense of nostalgia about the way things used to be but change is inevitable and if hadn’t been this, it would have been that and it still wouldn’t have been the same. It’s the nature of things to change and one way to ease the process is to count the things you have to be grateful for. Maybe keep a gratitude journal only for work? It will help with the transition.
You may have cash flow issues this month and there may be some juggling with priorities. Don’t be in a rush to make to purchases, stop and think and prioritise before taking action.
In summary, May will bring shifts in energy within and without. There will be an expansion or an opening up in the outer world in the form of opportunities and growth. There will be an expansion of the self as well, of more inclusion of divergent parts of the self, of new realisations and new ways of being. Help yourself make the process smoother by being gentle with yourself and others and avoid harsh enviournments.
Vulnerability has been on my mind for the past few days, ever since I saw the Brené Brown special on Netflix (Thank you R!) and when the nine of wands appeared today, I really felt that this is what the card wanted to say. It takes great courage to be vulnerable, to admit our vulnerability, to others and even to ourselves. We hide behind the I don’t care and I’m alright because the alternate, of showing how much we care and how we hurt, is far too scary. Because if we open up and admit to hurting, it will give ammunition to the other to hurt us even more deeply. And it is a valid fear because we all have done it as well. We’ve all said things designed to hurt when we are hurting. Wouldn’t it be nice though to have around us people that we trust? People who won’t use it against us. Wouldn’t it be liberating, wouldn’t our shoulders just ease up if we weren’t in a defensive position all the time?
In the card, the man is looking battered and bruised but there is still some fight left in him. The staves around him can be interpreted as more fights to be had or can be seen as his boundaries, the fence that is keeping him safe. The same is true about vulnerability, the boundaries make all the difference. Who we choose to be with when we feel vulnerable, who is ready to see this aspect of us, who can support us and uplift us in spite of our vulnerability.
Today’s message is that it’s okay to be vulnerable. It is not a weakness, it takes great courage to show this side of ours to people that we care about. But this test of courage must be taken by us because this is the next step in the evolution of our relationships. You don’t need to show your vulnerable aspect to everyone, in fact, be choosy with whom you want to show your soft underbelly. This is your test of courage with a promise of deeper, richer relationships.
The ring signifies a commitment, a contract, a promise and today may be the day for you to honour a commitment you have made or maybe a day where you enter into a new commitment. It could be a relationship commitment or a work contract or could even be a signing a home agreement. This is an important one for you and the cards ask that you not renegade on it.
Having said that, if there is a reason that made you renegade on it, don’t chastise yourself for it because the most important commitment you make is to yourself.
If this message brings up all the promises you made to yourself then dwell upon those for a moment and see where you are at with them. Some may have lost the fervour from when you made them and some may still be relevant today. Remember them and rekindle those promises to yourself.
