Four of Swords

Taking a Breather is Okay

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and forty eight seconds long, and focused on how it is human nature to cast judgement, but that when we do so, it is important to look at how we came up with our assumptions and consider if those assumptions aren’t based off of something within ourselves rather than from whatever first impressions we are getting from others.

It was a good topic, although it neglected the aspect of instinct and intuition, which made it a bit incomplete as a discussion on the subject.   That said, if those aspects has been included, the meditation would have been quite a bit longer, and I know that for these daily guided meditations, they usually try to stick to a ten to fifteen minute window.

Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is a representation of rest, stability, restoration, contemplation, and recovery in the areas of the mind, thoughts, logic, communication, and instincts.

For a few weeks in July, I had been skipping my naps during the day, and I felt that by doing so I was getting a lot more done and being more productive.   But, over the past week or so, I’ve found that I’m really starting to drag in the late afternoons.

This card is a reminder that it’s okay to rest when I need to so that I can better bounce back and handle my responsibilities and interests with more energy and creativity.  Instead of lying down for a few minutes and using my phone, I need to start laying down for a few minutes and actually sleep.   For, as much as I want to be filled with boundless and infinite amounts of energy, the truth is that rest is an important part of progress.

Deck Used: Student Tarot v5

 

Refilling the Cup

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty seconds, and focused on finding happiness. 

That is to say, in realizing that happiness is in the now.  Not the past and not the future.  The past is the past.  The future hasn’t happened yet, and whatever “dream” of it you may conjure up may never happen.  But NOW in the present?   There and only there can you look for and discover real, enjoyable happiness.

Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is a representation on the theme of rest, respite, stability, shelter, and ease in the areas of the mind and thought, reason and logic, communication, and action.

The Four of Swords is a card of restoration and recuperation, indicating it is time to rest and restore your inner reserves for the challenges ahead.

This is an excellent message for me today, as today is my Self Care Saturday.  I’ve been trying to instill one of these Self Care days into each week, as they saying that you “can’t pour from an empty cup” has really resonated with me.

Self_Care_750x750-220x220You cannot offer what you don’t have.   If your cup is empty, how can you offer it to another to drink?   If my inner stores are empty,  then I have less to offer to not just others, but my own goals and endeavors.

I’m sure that during my holiday season when things are out of control, this will not be something I’m able to keep up on.   But until then, and after that marathon of six weeks is over, I think having a self care day is a good idea, if only to remind me that my needs outside of my goals are important too.

 

Letting Go

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was fifteen minutes and seven seconds, and focused on allowing thoughts to rise without judgement during one’s meditation practice, before then setting them aside and returning focus upon the breath.

This practice provides acknowledgment of the thoughts without allowing you to get lost in them. It felt a bit like floating in the ocean, the water lifting and lowering me with its movements, but on a mental plane instead of a physical one.

This activity was actually quite useful to me today. After last night’s discussion with you I’ve been feeling a bit stressed and worried. By allowing these thoughts to surface instead of just pushing them aside or suppressing them, it felt like I was dealing with them rather than trying to ignore them.

Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is a representation of rest, respite, and recovery (especially after chaos) in the areas pertaining to thought, logic, and communication.

The Four of Cups I drew yesterday was pushing me to deal with an issue that I really didn’t want to deal with. Today’s Four of Swords is saying that now that I’ve dealt with the issue I was stressing over through our discussion last night, it’s time to take a deep breath and ease my thoughts and worries.

After I shared with you last night I didn’t really feel relief, although I did feel that a weight was lifted. I’m not really sure how to explain that except that my worry continued on.

Both last night and this morning I’ve wavered over whether telling you was the right move, even though I should KNOW it is. And honestly, the milk is spilt now, so I don’t even know why I keep going over it in my mind.

The Four of Swords is telling me that I need to let go of these worries. I need to take a deep breath and just let what happens happen now that the bomb has dropped and chaos it entailed has come to an end.