What is available to you?

I have a hobby of reading tarot cards. It started about 5 or 6 years ago, and has picked up steam over the years. I read my own cards once or twice a week, always on Fridays, and usually another day as well.

I read them in the mornings and it has become a ritual of sorts. I do readings for my friends and family, if they want them, and I gain a real sense of satisfaction and pleasure from doing them. I guess the question is, and what people so often ask me, is do I believe in them? Do I believe that Tarot predicts the future? My answer is complicated.

I do not necessarily believe that humans can predict the future, but I certainly believe in a power that is larger than us.

I believe that the Tarot, if we are listening, allows us to view things from a different perspective. Most importantly, it gives us access to the idea that things are simply not always what they seem. Our defenses are incredibly strong. Our ability to not see what is in front of us because it may threaten our survival is actually a sign of strength.

BUT, when we are not looking closely enough we may miss things.

Pieces of our life that we are neglecting, or not examining from all sides. If I think everything in life is swishing along and I am full of happiness, I may pull cards that are darker than my mood. Forcing me to take a pause and examine if I am missing something.

On the flip side, when things are a struggle, I will often pull a card that is helping me understand what I am learning from this struggle. Where I will land as a result of this emotional effort. How I will have gained ground in my work towards knowing who we are, and achieving emotional stability.

I often use the expression when I am doing a reading, “this is available to you”.  It is an expression I used as a yoga teacher and one of my favorites.

What it ultimately means is two things:

1) if you can do it without too much strain or struggle go for it, challenge yourself in a way that feels healthy and strengthening.

2) There are gifts you have that are available to you that you are under-using. A sense or an ability that you have that you are not relying on enough so you are not fully assuming your power. 

I am not crazy about New Years’ resolutions, as I think anything that we decide to do at the drop of a hat, or expect to change over-night, we really struggle to achieve.

Change takes time, and practice and resolve and doing something different over and over until we form a new pattern.

I am suggesting for this year to frame “resolutions” or goals in the following way.

This year, begin to think about what is available to you that you are simply not using?

Is it your physical self? Your relationships? Your belief in nature and the world around you? Your work-life balance? Your understanding of your own goodness? Your belief in how important it is to make mistakes and also believing it does not diminish your power or worth?

What is already available to you that you have not tapped into? If you do not know the answer- ask someone.

What qualities about me are the most meaningful to you- as my friend my sibling or my partner? Explore that piece of you. Have that be the frame in which we proceed and grow. 

Namaste. Pure Vida . ☺️ Here is to 2023. ❤️