Hi, Subscribers. How was it last week? As your guide, I'm here to remind you that incorporating play into your daily routine can do wonders for your creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being. It's not just about personal and professional growth but also about finding joy in the journey. Let’s set ourselves up for success and inspiration and remember to find joy in every step of our development.
It’s time for an accountability check-in. Despite my Manic Monday post being about rest, which was sorely lacking this week. I blame the K-Dramas. I also have not started my next painting project. I have consistently drawn for Inktober and woke up at the same time each day. I came back from vacation to an outrageous amount of work due to a technical issue but maintained my boundaries. I think my one thing for today is to go to bed when I am tired. I’ll report back next week.
This week we are using cards from the Pokémon Tarot deck created by BlueberryBlanket. What is happening? We begin with The Fool Reversed. An Eevee holding a stick in its mouth that has a handkerchief holding its possessions tied to the end. An Eevee looks like a cross between a fox and bunny rabbit and is surrounded by circles of various energy. Eevee’s have the potential to evolve in eight different ways. Just as it was hard to begin last week, deciding where to begin can be overwhelming. Great, now The Cult’s Edie is stuck in my head. I’m running with it. “Don’t you know paradise takes time?” It was inspired by the live of Edie Sedgewick, a promising young woman who died from an overdose at age twenty-eight. Just because we have potential does not mean we will evolve to live up to it. I ran away from home once. I was back before sunrise.
What is the challenge? The Chariot Reversed shows Gardevoir holding the reins of Zebstrika and Rapidash. Gardevoir is a humanoid psychic/fairy type Pokémon with a green head, chest and arms. The rest of its body seems like a long, white flowing gown. Zebstrika looks like a zebra with a black coat and white lightning stripes. Its body seems to crackle with electricity. Rapidash is a cream-colored horse with a single horn like a unicorn and a fiery mane. I think of the phrase “catching lightning in a bottle” and how easy it is to be shocked by that elemental energy. Gardevoir has the mental strength and healing fairy energy to keep control over these powerful horses. The deceased Edie, seemed to have struggled with her feelings just as we often struggle with overwhelm and making decisions. Are you letting them run wild?
What can help us with the onslaught of feelings? Tentacruel appears to be based on a jellyfish. It has a blue head with two large, red orbs on either side at the top of its head and a red jewel between the eyes. A blue beak-like appendage is at the center and surrounded by numerous grey tentacles. Tentacruel is a formidable King of Pentacles because it must be able to manage all those tentacles. What can we learn from it to take actions on managing our feelings? Feelings are not facts. Like Gardevoir, we must take hold of the reins and guide them to serve our purpose. Like the Aeon from last week, we need to look in the mirror and see our reality. I rewatched The Joy Luck Club and it reminds me of the scene where June is playing piano at a talent show and finally realizes what she really sounds like. Are you fooling yourself? Tentacruel does not look like it suffers fools lightly. If we wait until we feel like doing something, we may end up stuck with many regrets. Own up to your actions and decide.
What is a way forward? The final card is the Five of Pentacles. Cubone is a small dinosaur-like Pokémon who wears a skull as a helmet clutching a bone looking up. It’s standing on the colorful light of the reflection of a green and gold-stained glass windowpane. Langston Hughes wrote:
“We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,”
Cubone is holding onto that bone for dear life. Despite its isolation, I imagine it finding an inner strength. Maybe we need to don emotional armor to protect our feelings and get things done. Even though your world may be falling apart, the bills need to be paid, the sun rises and sets, and you have a choice to make. Will you join our dear Edie or find a way to chart your course? How did you get here? You need not remain. Ciao Baby. I imagine Cubone taking a deep breath and one last look at the light before making its way despite the fear. Ciao baby, and Namaste.
If you want to incorporate more play to help you deal with the heavy things, my current offerings are listed on my Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/thingstothinkabout. I also encourage you to share your experiences and strategies with the community. Your voice matters, and your journey can inspire others.
