ME IN MY YARD / THE HERMIT - RWS TAROT DECK (ORIGINAL IMAGE)
So much of my personal practice in witchcraft stems from developing my intuition and paying closer attention when the Universe nudges me. I’ve grown from someone who used to walk in a world full of coincidences to a person who now sees signs and messages all around. It’s been amazing, emotional, and enlightening to say the least, and my practice has brought me closer than I could have hoped to a once unfelt sense of love and purpose.
This week’s message for The Shadow Supporter community is slightly different, unaccompanied by the typical mini tarot reading. It’s full of inner reflection and a quiet respect for what our shadows can reveal.
With Mercury going retrograde in just a few days, we are currently in what’s commonly referred to as the shadow period. If you’re anything like me, this prelude can cause a bit of apprehension, as oftentimes the shadow periods bookending each retrograde can seem more intense than retrograde itself.
However, now can be a particularly powerful time in planning how you want to navigate the upcoming weeks and respond to anything uncomfortable that might surface. This time can be associated with stress, disorder, travel interruptions, mechanical breakdowns, crazy driving, and people becoming overly reactive. And though I’ve personally experienced this is often the case, it doesn’t mean we have to get caught up in the chaos. For me, I’ve found that one path to surviving Mercury retrograde comes from setting daily intentions of protection and turning inward to do shadow work that can be so powerful in alchemizing us into who we want to be.
Rolling with upcoming uncertainty has potential to produce amazing insights and discoveries. Earlier this week I was in my backyard watching my dogs play in the sun. I looked down and saw my elongated shadow next to me. With nothing obscuring it, it seemed to warrant my attention. It suddenly reminded me of The Hermit card in my tarot deck, and it was not lost on me that I was a few days past when I normally draw my cards for this community. The realization occurred that this might be why. It was clear the Universe wanted me to focus on The Hermit whether I physically pulled the card or not.
So, here’s the message. The Hermit alludes to all the meaningful reflections that come from turning inward during shadow periods and taking time to work on yourself. The darkness surrounding The Hermit is a void – providing nothing but ample space and time to reflect. The next few weeks may be hectic and bring challenging thoughts and situations to the surface. These are ultimately periods that can help us grow, but only if we lean into them rather than shove them away. We know what we bury tends to never stay dormant, and Mercury retrograde is a particularly powerful time to address and process difficult pieces of ourselves and our psyches.
Try not to carry other people’s baggage during this time, and focus on your own growth. We cannot completely withdraw from others (nor would it be healthy to do so), but be mindful to respond rather than react should things get challenging. If there are hidden aspects of yourself that have been bubbling to the surface, allow them to come. It’s okay to feel anxious, to cry – be they tears of sadness or joy – and to feel all the feels begging for your attention. It’s okay to focus on yourself even if it may feel selfish at times. Your needs matter too. It’s okay to be like The Hermit. Understanding this can be part of integrating your shadow. And only when all our parts are integrated, do we become whole.
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