“It’s very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh, global spiritual leader, Zen master and peace activist
25. Feminine Law of Attraction – I love the creative adventure that is my life. I celebrate myself as a female creator.
As we are moving into the new lunar year of the Ox, it’s perfect timing to take this opportunity to reflect on what we would like to connect to, and what we would like to disconnect from.
In order to reflect properly, we need to create space to contemplate in our busy lives. As we take a rest from our daily routine, that’s when we can listen to the whispers from our Soul.
The woman in the card is concentrating on her energy and her light. Around her the sky is dark, yet she is not distracted. She stays true to tuning into her essence. Her eyes are closed and her face is calm. She is not seeing but she is feeling her presence.
Recently I’ve been attending Sandra Ingerman’s online course on Shamanic Journeys into Nature, and she mentioned that we as human beings are so used to taking in information through our visual senses that sometimes we forget to feel. And also how we forget that we are nature beings instead of technological beings.
As we create space for ourselves to rest better, we are being asked to close our eyes and perhaps to give our visual sense a rest, and instead to delve within ourselves just to feel and connect with our inner light.
The ball of light that the woman is holding feels nourishing. And she is the co-creator of this light.
What adventures can you create in your life that can nourish you on all levels? The word adventure and rest may seem to be complete opposites. But in the fast-paced world that we live in, constantly being bombarded with information through social media and the internet, we do need to actively create and schedule resting time for ourselves.
Just like how babies need a bedtime ritual to coax them to sleep, adults also need something similar in order to rest better. In my own personal experience, I find that it is super helpful to have a wind-down ritual before bedtime to switch off my mind. What kind of bedtime ritual can you create for yourself?
Give yourself the permission to switch off and listen deeply. Listen deeply to your body, emotions, the elements in Nature, the Universe, and your inner teacher.
REFLECTION TIME
How can you create better rest in your life? Do you have a wind down ritual before bedtime? What restorative practices help you switch off your mind while nourish you at the same time? What do you need to disconnect from temporarily to help you rest better in this cycle?
Take 10 minutes today to write down your reflections in your journal without judgment or editing. Then take one small step today to help you rest better.
Think about the seasons in Nature. Winter is the time for the land to rest after the harvesting season in Autumn. In fact that’s the time when the land nurtures and nourishes new seeds as the old ones die. So when it’s Spring time, we can see new life sprouting out everywhere.
As I picked the card for this question, three cards fell out of the deck. At first I thought I just needed to pick one from these three, but my intuition was nudging me that these 3 cards were all part of the answer.
I then realized it was a 3-card spread, representing the mind, body and Soul. The bottom left represents the mind, the bottom right the body, and the top card as the Soul (or Higher Self, inner teacher, inner voice).
Mind Card (bottom left): 42. Dream Seeds – I nurture my dream seeds with love and appreciation and allow them to unfold in their own time.
It’s difficult for our minds to rest with so much stimulation around us. Particularly when we engage in social media, we may compare ourselves to others and feel that we must be doing something awesome constantly in our lives.
Well, the answer here is clear. As we allow our mind to rest, that’s how we can nurture our dream seeds. Notice the woman in this card and how her eyes are closed. Forget what other people are doing and focus on following your own natural pace.
What were the new visions, ideas, projects that came to you in the past lunar cycle? Instead of forcing yourself to act on all of them right away, how can you trust the timing of the Universe more and surrender and listen deeper?
There may be more insights and clarity coming through when we allow our mind to rest. Insights may come through in our dreams or when we least expect it.
Positive outcome from letting your mind rest: More clarity and insights; new dreams, ideas, and solutions may unfold.
Body Card (bottom right): 40. The Power of Support – I am grateful for all the love and support I receive. It is the most precious of life’s gifts.
How can you be more open to receive help from others to give your body a break? If you are a parent or a solopreneur or just someone who’s constantly running around, trying to do everything by yourself, this is the time to delegate. Trust and rely on the support network you have. If you don’t have one, perhaps this is the time to create one.
Another way to take care of your body is to listen to your body’s needs. How can you support your body better?
A lot of times, our bodies show us symptoms, illnesses and pain to tell us something is off balance in our lives. Our mind is very powerful and sometimes it can override what the body is trying to tell us.
Perhaps you feel bloated after you eat, and that is your body telling you that something you ate did not digest well for you. Perhaps you are experiencing a headache, or some kind of pain and discomfort, and it is your body’s way to tell you to stop what you are doing and to take a pause. There’s something deeper that needs to be healed.
Positive outcome from letting your body rest: A healthy glow, more energy and vitality, deepened mind-body-heart-soul connection
Soul Card (Top card): 38. Listening to my body – My health is my life, the temple of my experience and the great of my blessings.
Interestingly, for the Soul card, its message is actually related to listening to our body. When we are more in tune with our body’s way of speaking to us, it actually deepens our relationship and connection with our Soul.
You may notice that I didn’t pick a card for emotions separately. It’s because this Soul card contains the emotional aspect of our lives already.
When we allow our mind to rest, and start to tune into the messages from our body, we can tap into the wisdom of our emotions that are like the ocean waves ebbing and flowing in the background.
When we are constantly busy doing something because we are worried about the future or are hung up on a past experience (you see the mind-body-soul connection here), we subconsciously avoid to get in touch with our emotions.
The owl in the card, to me, represents wisdom. And since the sky is dark in the card, the woman in the card looks like she is holding up a blue moon or a magical light.
There is so much wisdom into connecting with the depths of our soul through acknowledging, honoring and embracing our emotions.
Whether the emotion seems to be positive or negative, it is important to listen. Emotions are interlinked with our mind and body. Famous self-help teacher and spiritual author Louise Hay, wrote in her book “You Can Heal Your Life” that there would always be an emotional cause to a physical health problem.
Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms or health issues (which is great by the way), you can still deepen the connection with your soul and your body’s intelligence.
Positive outcome from connecting to your Soul through rest: Spiritual presence grounded in our body; a renewed sense of love and appreciation to our body as a sacred temple for our Soul and Spirit
I recognize that my interpretation of the cards is largely based on reflections of my personal life experience and you may or may not resonate with what I share. I find that sometimes by sharing what’s going on in my life, others may find that they are going through something similar in their lives. It’s important to know that you are not going through this journey of life alone.
I highly encourage you to look at the cards as well and feel into the messages and energies of the cards yourself.
Read the messages and notice what sensations come up. Do you feel light or tense? Look at the images of the cards, and notice what draws your gaze. What thoughts and feelings arise? Do you like or dislike the card, or certain elements in the image of the card? Why is that and what does it remind you of?
Your intuition is your inner compass. My intuitive soul card reading only serves as a reference point, an invitation for you to reflect and ponder and to work your magic. I don’t claim to predict the future, nor can I do that. Take what you resonate and leave what you don’t.
Card reading is a great intuitive tool for us to find some clarity and guidance in our own life, but remember ultimately you are the one who get to decide and live the life you want.
Enjoy reading and feel free to let me know your thoughts, questions and sharing by email.
