In perplexing times, watch your attitude. Your perspective colors your sense of the good and the bad in life. Are you enjoying your swim in the ever-changing currents in the river of life, or are you fearful of unexpected waves? Making the most of your situation, whatever it may be, can be part of a strategy for your success, even if at times you don’t know how to navigate the uncharted forces surging in the ocean of your emotions.
Card 19, Gayatri Ma, who symbolizes the feminine power of strength, compassion, and healing, looks in three directions watching over her children. In these trying times, she’s an auspicious image to behold. Her mantra, Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yonaḥ, is a universal prayer for connecting with her all-seeing wisdom and protection. Knowing our truth and taking “right action” can also be key to staying connected with the positive energy that radiates from our Solar Plexus center for the 3rd chakra.
Meditation teaches you how to manage stress
Saints and sages from ancient times have said that as long as we seek happiness in the external world, we’re bound to experience extremes waves of high and low energies that can toss us about as if we we’re clinging to a raft on rough seas. Almost everyone in any kind of crisis goes into a state of stress and worry. When tension becomes part of a crisis, everything becomes worse. Even if our personal world contains many blessings, challenges such as our present pandemic can deplete our peace of mind, and like a thief in the night, steal our enjoyment of life. The highest path we can take to overcome life’s miseries, the ancients claimed, is to journey within. Meditation is the vehicle to take us there.
Through meditation we can gain greater mental balance and put our inward focus on seeing how we can best experience inner harmony. Importantly, it can help us calm our mind when it is in an anxious state, and help us develop our resources for coping with crises. With calmness we can see how to take better take care of our self and loved ones. The following is a trustworthy mental practice to develop greater self-awareness and overcome the physical and emotional hazards of stress:
When you realize that you’re freaking out emotionally, wanting to scream because of an anxiety producing situation, or going into any other response that makes you unable to hold yourself together, do this: Close your eyes (If possible, or leave them open, if it isn’t possible.) Then begin to watch, deepen, and consciously calm your breathing. Slowly scan your body starting with your toes and going toward the top of your head, and notice any physical tension that you feel anywhere in your body. Then as you exhale, let go of your tension as completely as you can. With your next inhalation, again notice whatever tension you still might be feeling, and release it with your next exhalation. Each time you exhale focus on letting go of more of your tension, or the tension in a different part of your body than that you released with your first breath. Continue in this same way until you free your body of tension as much as possible.
At the point when your feel most relaxed, you can give yourself permission to verbally chant a healing affirmation, such as, “I’m accepting my situation, and feel myself becoming more centered and calm.” Or, “I’m feeling safe, secure and blessed to be me.”
This is also a good time to do a guided visualization or contemplative meditation. In Victor and my book, Matrix Meditations, we offer many practices to benefit inner harmony, inward balance, emotional and physical well-being, conflict resolution, and stress reduction. Decreasing your stress and living with less tension can most often help you cope better with the uncertainties of life.
Some Keywords for the major arcana card The: Chariot, Forward motion, transportation, being in a travel mode, and visible strides of progress.
Food For Thought: In uncertain times, while many of us are taking steps forward, we simultaneously question our forward momentum. What choices can we make to ease our worldly journey? Can we even be sure of our destination? How do we make confident decisions when the sphinx (Intense energies) pulling our chariot forward want to go in opposite directions?
If we selected this card to answer our personal life questions, viewing it can be a reminder of the turning wheel of challenges set into motion by current events. Even in our warring times, worrying about outcomes will not stop the wheel of life from turning. It’s best to be aware of each singular step we each take and open our hearts to appreciation for our precious life. Do I need to wake up and view the negative broadcasts on tv and go into depression? Or, should I sit in meditation and hope to transcend the violent views of bombings on the screen?
Being alert to the “Now” in my personal world allows me to be patient and make choices as to which way I turn the wheel of my personal chariot. Instead of worrying about my destiny, I can reign in my focus to illuminate present positive possibilities. Since the charioteer can never be sure of what’s coming around the corner, putting attention on what’s immediately in front of you can not only be the best pathway to making important choices, but it maybe even save your life..or make life more meaningful.
May blessings of light illuminate your path,
Kooch
Readings by appointment.
Just came back from presenting a Tarot workshop in La Paz, Baja Mexico. I was blown away as I made it to our workshop environment. Victor and I were presenting at a conference center that was way too beautiful to imagine. OK…I can do this…No problem for a seasoned Tarot workshop presenter to go to work at a 5 stars grand hotel. After all, I’m looking out at the Sea of Cortez and watching whales jumping in the waves. My optimism surfaced as the sun warmed my winter ready bones.
Oh…what ???? Did I forget to look at the calendar to note that I was arriving dark of the Moon, Mercury Retrograde? Clinging to my trust in the goodness of my intentions to offer a candle flame of light, I forged ahead. Of course, my muses winked their knowing glance before they fled from view.
My class went well in rhythm with the ocean swells. Everyone was sooooo happy….but for one dear heart. She and I were like two ships going in opposite directions calling out to spirits from watery realms of shadows and insecurities.
How could I be so insensitive? I didn’t read her pain when I spoke of her earnest comment as an example of how to create problems when giving a reading. Her bold spirit let me know that I was inept at understanding her or speaking her language. She wanted me to know that I was failing at relating to her culture, that I sucked at understanding the issues of her lesbian identity. (But in my self defense…I’m open to gay lifestyles. Living in San Francisco bay area, one out of two readings I give are for people who are gay.). However…. Nothing I said was OK in her book of knowledge.
Such a plight that I’m sharing with you, my invisible audience. How do I know if I’m being judged as being right or wrong? You weren’t there to witness the tension in the air, or the problem of addressing potential problems that jump innocently into interactive dialogue.
I guess…I’m letting you hear a story of how shadows can dance on our soul in ways that we can’t predict. We can only give our best, be who we are, and strive for a successful outcome. Learning comes in many shades of black and white.
Wish me luck….I’m on my way to give another Tarot workshop.
