Q: Hi Sage. It’s been a while since we’ve talked, but I still read your blog. The post about rest and the four of swords has been on my mind. I feel like I should do something to take care of myself this week, but I don’t know what to do. What do the cards say?
A: Hey you! So good to hear from you!
I hear you. This week does have that vibe. Given all of the external chaos we all could do with a little inward-directed gentleness.
The intuition here is very counterintuitive, and I don’t think pulling a card or reaching for any kind of oracle is the thing to DO. Follow this train of though for a moment if you will…
The thing to do is nothing. Exactly, precisely nothing.
No card. No special action. No goal. No self-initiated change. Existing is a verb.
Sometimes existence is action enough.
Here is the stream of intuition that came when I read your question:
I am reminded of several people describing meditation as DOing nothing. No special action. No special technique. No need for a special place, incense, music or time….like someone on social medial recently said “you just sit your ass down and breathe.”
The same is true of taking care of yourself. It isn’t necessarily a matter of DOing anything in particular.
I’m reminded of that scene from the movie Pulp Fiction where Jules wants to go “just walk the Earth, like Kwai Chang Caine.”
Maybe that feeling a need for gentleness toward yourself isn’t something to do, but instead is something to stop. Just do what you always do – just walk the Earth as you always do – but do it without pushing, striving, judging, criticizing.
Which spins right into another movie, and the “Dudeism” inspired by the movie The Big Lebowski. Abide. Take it easy. Let everything be what it is for a minute. Or a few days. Or for the rest of your natural life.
I forget which deck it is in. I think it is one of Seven Dane Asmund’s decks, but it is something like ‘the void’ or ‘new moon’ or ‘black sun”. In my mind’s eye, I remember it as a circle, maybe with some rays behind it like a full solar eclipse. A quick search of my decks didn’t find it, but you probably get the idea. It is a reminder of natural cycles of effort and rest, action and inaction, push and pull, doing something and doing nothing.
Or, as Devon Linder observed, “meditation won’t fix your problems, but it might keep you from making them worse.”
I’m not saying you should go meditate. I would never tell anyone to NOT meditate. I don’t think the meditation is the point. I think the point is passive presence with yourself. Just quietly BE there with yourself and your life as it is. That is meditation enough, self-help enough, no Tarot card required.
Thanks for letting me share your question. Talk to you soon.
Sage Sips / TaoCraft Tarot 