Time and time again, one Tarot card keeps showing up in different spreads in one reading. Sometimes it jumps out repeatedly, while I shuffle the cards and sometimes it appears in my dream. That’s the card I know I cannot ignore. Its presence demands my attention clearly across all the other cards and reminds me to pay attention to a critical message that may be coming my way, which I’m consciously blocking or trying to avoid. Or if for a client, a message that needs to be conveyed to them, sometimes proving to be the key to their spiritual journey at that point in time or a lesson they may need to learn.
One recent example is the 4 of Swords--the card of rest and recuperation; of getting in touch with your inner self and remembering the vital importance of healing oneself. And the card appeared one morning in a dream in the midst of a hectic week filled with a workshop, a lecture and a few Tarot readings. I woke up, thinking to myself “how silly, I have no time for rest right now.”
Sure enough, a few days after that card appeared, I slipped and fell while trying to cross a busy road, injured a ligament on my ankle and was advised bed rest for 2 weeks . Out went all the appointments and apologetic phone calls were made to clients. And soon the resentment and frustration began to build up. The simple act of walking across the room to answer the telephone became an excruciating chore. Getting up from bed meant putting my weight on my foot, which sent stabs of pain up my leg. Even my beloved dog became the family pest when he accidentally stepped on my swollen foot. And I found myself alone, while hubby and dog stayed away from my mood that was steadily worsening with every ice pack I applied.
During the first few days of agony, I’d forgotten about the 4 of Swords. And one bored morning, I brought out my deck and began to pull out cards randomly. First card to fall out was the 4 of Swords. Shuffle shuffle. And the card fell out again, “its stalking me” I thought. And along fell another card that reminded me that we may not get what we think we want, but we always get what we need. Slowly it dawned on me that perhaps I’d been working myself too hard, running from pillar to post, keeping my days full with appointments as a form of escape from my own self. Thinking about everyone else but me,. All that was needed was a subtle shift in perspective. And an understanding, that I needed to pay attention to my inner needs. An injured ligament could have been much worse or it could have been avoided altogether if I had only paid attention earlier.
As my foot began to heal, so did the rest of me. Old books were pulled out and devoured again. Meditation sessions were longer and more fulfilling. My wardrobe was decluttered substantially. More attention was paid to the meals that were being cooked at home. Even the cook seemed happier as recipe books emerged and ingredients discussed. Phone calls were made to old friends and family members and long sessions of sharing took place after many months. This was healing that was just what I needed.
The 4 of Swords helped me learn the importance of rest and healing, not just in my life but for all of us who get so caught up in the daily humdrum of life, we forget to pause and take a look within. Caught up in deadlines we go spinning so fast we ignore the symptoms and signals that our body sends us, by way of feelings, messages from well meaning friends, dreams or even Tarot cards. So word of advice from someone who learnt the painful way, the next time you’re between two appointments, press the button pause and do something for yourself. You deserve it. And trust me, it will save you the agony of a torn ligament.
