I enjoy reading Tarot cards. It’s something I started doing about 4 years ago and it has helped me along my spiritual journey. I most often read for myself but this past week, a couple of people reached out to me about helping them with some difficult decisions in their own lives. The feedback from both of them was that my reading confirmed that which they already knew. That came of no surprise to me because each of us has everything we need within us already. Each of us has an internal guidance system that we can access whenever we want. It feels confusing at times because we also have a brain that blocks that message with limiting beliefs and fears. What I have found for myself is that when I remove my desire for self preservation and tap into a faith that something out there is working in my favor, I am able to more clearly hear the message of that voice.
Whether you call this voice God, Universe, Source Energy, etc, there is something greater than ourselves guiding us through the difficulties of living in this earthly place. Though it’s nice to have help from those around us, the best place that we can go for what we personally need is within ourselves. The challenge is that we don’t trust ourselves. We are held back by our fears and our feelings of unworthiness. In the age of information, the mantra seems to be “you’re doing it wrong, let me show you how to do it better”. The problem with that messaging is that we are teaching people that they can’t trust themselves. In addition to that, we are often misguiding others because there is no one size fits all solution. Each person comes from their own perspective and their own life experiences and what he/she needs is going to be different than others.
I get so annoyed by “spiritual teachers” and self help gurus who act as though their program is the one we all need to make our lives better. The truth is, we have absolutely no idea what is going to work for someone and so, in my opinion, it’s best to teach from a me perspective, sharing what has worked for me in the hopes that it might work for someone else. I am always leery of those who feel confident that their way is the only way.
How does one learn to listen to their high self?
This is going to be specific to each individual, so I don’t have a specific answer but I can share what has worked for me. One way is that I journal. Journaling is completely different than thinking. My thoughts are layered and tend to come from a place of worry and fear. When I begin to write everything out on a piece of paper, it’s almost like I am hearing from a different piece of myself. This is the #1 way that I am able to get clarity on anything that is bothering me. I used to only come to my journal when I was really struggling, desperate to find some solution to make me feel better. Now I journal daily. Sometimes, I simply say, I’m doing okay today and I don’t need to write more than that. Other times, I will write about a situation until I reach a resolution. I have learned to keep questioning myself, even when I begin to feel uncomfortable because the resolution usually comes much later than I expect.
Tarot has been another way for me to tap into a voice beyond myself. It generally affirms that which I am already feeling but seeing it in a more concrete way helps me surrender and trust that what I was feeling is okay.
Lastly, I will go to a very select group of friends who I know are supportive. These friends do NOT give me advice, but rather, ask me questions that allow me to verbal process and come to an answer myself. They know that I have the answer within me and it’s best for me to find that so they act as a sounding board. I think it takes a very humble, self aware person to do this, so choose wisely!
If none of those things resonate with you, explore some things that do. What are the ways you feel most close to God, Source, however you call him/her/it? What practices do you have each day, each week that bring you closer to something outside of yourself?
We had a priest in our church who was very charismatic. Every time I went to confession with him, I cried. He exuded a Holy presence and I always felt safe with him. I think people like that can sometimes become egotistical but he always had a way of reflecting any praise he received onto that of Jesus. He never took credit for anything himself and was extremely humble. This felt important to me because he understood that the message we need for love and healing comes from some place other than a person here on earth. Even when those around us are lifting us up through their words, I often imagine them as a channel, a messenger to deliver the message I need just when I need it.
The source of all that we need is not in some far way place that we can’t access, it’s not outside of us at all. It lives within us and guides us all the time. We don’t have to earn the guidance, it’s simply there. This guidance doesn’t care if we clean our house, if we won an award at work, if we make $300k a year. It loves us and wants us to thrive, simply because. Simply because we are a part of it.
You are trustworthy, you are perfect and holy, right now, as is. You don’t have to earn anything and you don’t have to change anything. All you have to do is quiet your mind and allow yourself to receive the Grace that is already yours.
