Today’s card is the Nine of Swords from the Llewellyn Tarot. It is the card of worries and depression, of anxiety and insecurity.
Each of us has issues and situations in their life to worry about and to keep us up at night. But we are also aware that often life is never as scary as we imagine it to be. At night, when we lay down our heads on our pillow and in the morning just after we have woken up, our thoughts seem to have a life of their own and are likely to spiral down if you have an anxious mind. I can assure you I have been presented with the most horrible outcomes of various situations during these hours. So what to do about it and I pulled The Star, a card of Trust and Hope, which is the exact opposite of fear and worrying. This card represents the story of Branwen, a British princess who was married to an Irish King. The little Starling in the picture was her only friend in an abusive marriage to this king. Here you see how it flies with a message for help over the border to her brother Bran.
For me this card tells us is to never lose hope and to trust all shall be well in the end. Another thing which these two cards convey today is to get out of bed and to go outside. Or at the least get your body moving and try to do something to distract your mind from worrying. (Like writing a blog post J)
Yes, I have been worrying too much over minor issues lately. So I wasn’t surprised at all when these two cards came up. I have been reducing my anxiety/sleeping meds for almost a month now and so far so good but I feel I have to take it very slowly in order for it to succeed.
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. (Leo Buscaglia)
I've always liked the image of the Nine of Swords. It's not unusual for me to pull it in a spread. Worry in the waking hour, Lord if only! My mind goes crazy throughout the day. But, that's probably because I'm alone delivering mail. Meditation practice has been helping. It's easier now to reign in my thoughts, most of the time.
ReplyDeleteMy mind usually keeps quiet when I keep busy during the day but the chatter often immeditately begins again when i sit down and drink my coffee, so I always read I a book or something like that when I take a break
DeleteThanks for the reminder to meditate. It felt so good!
I write so many stories in my head and believe every one of them, even though they haven't actually happened. It takes effort to pause and consider that all my projections about the future will likely never happen, or at least not in the way I've laid out. And 'saps' its a good way to phrase what this kind of worry does!
ReplyDeleteDoes meditating help you with this? I ask because you are such an experienced practioner
DeleteI think journaling in a contemplative way helps me more, because I can see the craziness for what it is. :D
DeleteYes that is one of my go-to places to come to my senses too 💕
DeleteI'm amazed that all the things we worry and obsess over in the night, are for the most part puffs of air in the light of day.
ReplyDeleteHere is to peaceful sleep..
Thank you Sharyn. Yes the Sun is great at dispelling our fears
DeleteSleep well tonight
Anxiety has left it carvings on my face, and added strands of gray to my hair; most of those late night terrors never came to pass.
ReplyDeleteWe could fill a liberary with all our night terrors. Perhaps they could make a horror movie with it
DeleteI notice the fact that in this story, the princess sends out a message. Your blog post is like that, a sharing :)
ReplyDeleteTalking with someone can also be really helpful, I find. I had so much going on in my head this morning that I had to go through four different meditative practices before I managed to sleep again, despite three bad nights in a row. I have now also talked to someone about it, and trust that will help calm those night demons...
I hope you will get a good night's sleep soon my dear friend
DeleteHugs