WHEN SUCCESS BECOMES STAGNANT
8 OF PENTACLES / 5 OF SWORDS - RWS TAROT DECK (ORIGINAL IMAGE)
You’ve finally found your footing in your craft, and no one seems to do it better. You’ve studied, practiced, put in the time. You’ve made mistakes, reflected on them, and integrated that hard-learned knowledge into moving forward and doing better. You are a true leader in your profession.
And then one day…you’re not.
This week’s message for The Shadow Supporter community comes through the 8 of Pentacles and the 5 of Swords.
The 8 of Pentacles shows someone who has control and practiced use of their skillset. It is the carpenter’s one millionth nail driven through the wood; the doctor’s thousandth stitch in a wound; the bartender’s steady pour. It’s the individual who is always in the zone, and nothing seems to break their concentration.
That is, until the 5 of Swords shows up.
The 5 of Swords is a stubborn card born of challenge and bias. It’s the promotion given to the one less qualified; the refusal to see another’s point of view; the 5 of Swords is the “because I said so.” And it can show itself to anyone at any time.
If you’ve recently found yourself dethroned – or at the very least thrown off balance – this week’s message may be for you. You might be wondering how, after all the effort you’ve put into something, can it suddenly seem to fall apart before your eyes.
Success can feel wonderful. It can make you feel accomplished, important, and secure. But there’s a balance between feeling comfort and becoming too comfortable. And that seems to be the crux of this week’s message. Oftentimes, when we believe we know all we need to know about something, our success can lead to stagnation. When this happens, the Universe will occasionally shake things up, rolling around those moss-covered stones we’ve been sitting on for too long. Is it unsettling? Absolutely. And that’s the point. Sometimes being too settled isn’t in our best interest.
This doesn’t mean you need to abandon your trade, relationship, passions, or anything else you’re deeply invested in. It’s simply an encouragement to consider a new perspective and to focus on what you can do that you may not have tried before. Look at it from another angle. This may be the nudge you need to get out of the zone and see there’s still more to learn and do. Trust the skillset you have, but don’t stop adding tools to your belt. This is how we continue to expand our horizons, our environment, and ourselves. This is how we learn. And isn’t that one of the most beautiful things about being human?
For more posts like this and to receive a 10% off welcome gift for any live session, sign up for my free weekly newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of the website and entering your contact information. Please check your spam folder and add hello@shadowsupporter.com to your safe sender list.
Looking for a deeper dive? Personalized readings are available through the “Book A Session” page.