I wanted to begin my post with a quick personal update: I am home, safe and sound. What a whirlwind these past few days have been, eh!? As some of you may know, the production I was working on shut down due to the Corona Pandemic and is currently on an indefinite hiatus (as are most of us with our jobs). Being the extrovert that I am (I didn’t brand myself as “Mindy on the Move” for nothing :-P), this time will by trialing to say the least. I’m keeping myself positive the best I can with making lists of things to keep me busy. One of these things being: Tarot readings and learning more about this hobby of mine. Another: writing (of course!). Reading. Researching, Learning. Spending time with my hubs and my cat. Meditating. Reaching out to friends and family via social media and texts, plus more.
With all this being said, I keep putting my situation into perspective: Even though I hate being cooped up indoors, I know damn well that I am more fortunate than most during such an uncertain time. My best wishes and prayers go out to all of you who are struggling – we are in this together! Lastly, before I begin this post, I want you all to know that I am here for you (in some way or another). Don’t be afraid or hesitant to reach out! Much love and happy healing days. <3
The Tower
As I’ve expressed, Tarot is a hobby of mine and I typically only do personal readings for myself (occasionally for close friends). Personally, I use it as a supplemental guide / meditation tool to reflect inward.
A few weeks ago (March 6th, 2020 to be exact), I did a 3-card “past, present, future” reading and, to my surprise, pulled the Tower card in the future position. At that time, it didn’t make any sense to me: this card symbolizes massive change, upheaval, chaos, destruction and warns the reader to “expect the unexpected”. It didn’t seem to apply to anything going on in my life and it didn’t appear to mesh with my other two cards whatsover (Past: 2 of Pentacles, Present: King of Pentacles). Therefore, I chalked it up to a mistake or an unfocused reading (my mind wasn’t clear at the moment).
A few days later, I decided to do another card pull – this time a single card – as an overall guidance for the present and near future (upcoming days/weeks). To my dismay, after a good shuffling of the deck and all, I pulled the Tower card once more.
“Hogwash“, I thought to myself as I packed away my cards for a bit. “Maybe I’m not in the proper head space to do a clear reading.” After all, I had been feeling out of sorts for a bit. Not good, not bad. Almost as if I was just coasting (which I despised).
In retrospect: This card was absolutely telling me something! It had been in the back of my mind, whispering for me to take a second look, the entire time leading up to this past weekend.
Obviously, I had no way of knowing exactly what it was guiding me to. However, I could’ve pondered it more and not have been so quick to sweep it under the rug.
I’m honestly in disbelief that the universe was giving me this sign in the first place. Pretty crazy. There was not much I could do with this forewarning at first. However, when I began learning of the pandemic, more and more each passing day, I was quick to know what to do: Go home. Stay inside. Listen to what is happening. Take it seriously. Take precaution.
My gut knew that this wasn’t an over-reaction or a mere scare. This pandemic was of the likes that we’ve never before seen or experienced.
The card did warn me: Expect the Unexpected.
Perhaps, this was why I had been feeling so “off”? Deep down, I was just waiting for the unexpected to happen.
The Tower shows a tall tower perched on the top of a rocky mountain. Lightning strikes set the building alight, and two people leap from the windows, head first and arms outstretched. It is a scene of chaos and destruction.
The Tower itself is a solid structure, but because it has been built on shaky foundations, it only takes one bolt of lightning to bring it down.
When the Tower card appears in a Tarot reading, expect the unexpected – massive change, upheaval, destruction and chaos. It may be financial failure, health problems, natural disaster, job loss or any event that shakes you to your core, affecting you spiritually, mentally and physically. There’s no escaping it. Change is here to tear things up, create chaos and destroy everything in its path (but trust me, it’s for your Highest Good).
(reference site: Biddy Tarot)
My take:
There’s NO escaping this crisis. It’s obviously shaking all of us to our core and affecting the world as a whole. Many of us are temporarily losing jobs, fearing financial loss, worrying about our health and health system and reevaluating life as we knew it.
It is a scary time, there’s no denying it. But, it can be used for a greater good/higher purpose.
I challenge us all to shift our perspective to this (above). Resist your negative thoughts and worries. Please refrain from panic. The WORLD is in this together! Let’s all be still for some time: breathe, relax, be with loved ones, take notice of the simplicity and beauty of the little things in life. Take comfort in knowing that Mother Earth gets some healing time, too. Worrying won’t change a thing. And panicking will only worsen it all! Slow down. We’re okay. And if you’re not, panicking is definitely not the answer. Stay positive, all.
Personally, I see this as a bonding experience without borders: people all around the world coming together with the goal to heal. People all around the world coming together during this pandemic and sharing stories. People helping others. People singing out their windows. Which brings me to my next point: strive to be like the towns in Italy and Spain who are singing in solidarity vs. freaking out. We’re better than panic and hysteria, we’ve GOT to be.
Rise above.
The universe knows better than we and it’s evident that the universe is trying to teach us all something significant. It’s up to us to listen.
For one, nature is healing during this social distancing / quarantine period. That’s a HUGE positive in my books. Example → Pollution is Dipping
Have you seen the current clarity of the Venice canals? Venice was one of the top cities hurting the most from over-tourism – she desperately needed this break from massive crowding.
On another note, people are always SO BUSY. Perhaps, we all needed a wake up call: slow down, take a look around, really grasp the urgency of the Earth’s needs. Breathe and get back to the essentials: quality family time, reading and learning, reflecting and meditating, keeping healthy, sleeping more (etc). Or, a wake up call to our government: grasp the urgency and profundity of our societal needs and changes that MUST be made.
Make us all more appreciative? I certainly hope so. I know that I, for one, can get a bit needy and “wanting more”. However, once this is all said and done, I will be SO appreciative for a mere hike in the parks with my friends and family. A carefree jaunt to the local coffeeshop. Even a simple hug will be so divine.
Collectively, we should ALL appreciate each and every role a person plays in society and truly be grateful for each and every job: grocery store employees, cashiers, wait staff – EVERYONE.
See more clearly the every day heroes who live among us.
There are so many lessons to be learned right now and it’s our duty and RESPONSIBILITY to grow from it.
If we do grow from it, this could all be for our “Highest Good” as the Tower predicts. Don’t we all want that?
Today’s Reading, 3.19.20
I needed to check back in and calmly reflect on life’s current situation. So, I unpacked my deck and did a reading first thing this morning (after waking up in a good place). For the first time in my tarot history, my reading focused on the world as a whole vs. my personal life.
My reading set-up included:
→ Burning sage incense (cleanses; reduces negativity and anxiety)
→ Lighting my purple candle (evokes spirituality, intuition and psychic ability)
→ Quietly listening to the soothing sounds of “Patience” by Rhye.
→ Putting on Netflix’s “crackling fireplace” for background ambience (because campfires make me happiest).
Past: 5 of Pentacles
At first look, it’s obvious that this card depicts hard times. Two individuals (one who is severely crippled and the other walking through snow barefoot) walk beside one another in a cold and daunting setting. The positive? They’re together and not alone. The pentacles are embedded into a stained glass window which could easily symbolize a church and the importance of turning to one’s hope + faith to get through these trying times.
In the past position, I believe this signals getting through the initial scare with your closest allies (perhaps who we’re quarantined with?) and being hopeful that there is good in the end: seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We pushed through this thus far and now is not the time to give up faith.
Present: Heirophant
Honestly, this pull is NO shock to me. When I saw that this card landed in the present position, I immediately said to myself “makes complete sense“. The Hierophant signifies a need to follow rules and conform. As much as I personally scoff at this card (I hate conforming), there’s nothing more important right now than to FOLLOW the rules of “social distancing” and “self-quarantining”. As a collective, we must ALL follow these rules at this particular time in all our lives for the betterment of humanity and the world. It’s the right thing to do (to the best of our ability). In essence, this card is calling us to adhere to a set ‘belief system’. In regards to the pandemic, it’s believed that if we all cooperate according to the set of rules and guidelines administered, we shall be rewarded and conquer.
Given that this card is a major arcana (the only major pulled in this spread), this means that the PRESENT is of utmost importance. The present has the deepest impact: what we do NOW will effect the days/weeks/months ahead.
Future: Queen of Cups
The queen sits on her soft and angelic throne, longingly studying her closed cup at the edge of the flowing river. This card symbolizes introspection and the thoughts and feelings that flow from deep within our souls (hence her longing expression, closed cup and flowing river).
We, too, are called to reflect and flow in the future with these ever-changing and evolving times. Above all, to connect inward with our truest selves and hidden emotions (sounds like some deep future meditation is in order?). Slow down and connect with the heart of all that truly matters.
With this card in our future position, we can take comfort in knowing that we are being directed to a future of contentment. Despite what may be going on in the present, the outcome is foreshadowed to be brilliantly positive. Keep on shining, beautiful souls!
Author’s note:
I am in no way, shape or form an expert at Tarot Reading. Again, this is a mere hobby that I enjoy as a way to fine tune my own feelings, thoughts and emotions. I don’t believe that these readings PREDICT the future. But I do believe that they can be a good tool in aiding + delivering guidance. Self-reflection is something of utmost importance to me and this is one way (of many) that I find helps.
As always, thank you for reading and I truly hope you all the best!
Much love and happy ‘social distancing’,
Mindy
