The cards pictured are from the ‘Rosa Obscura’ deck by Orla Bird.
Seven of Pentacles and Strength
The Seven of Pentacles signifies that we are open to taking risks and are willing to wait for our success. We are about to gain knowledge and experience that we would not have acquired if everything had gone smoothly. However, we might still feel cautious of its energy.
Failing is a messy business. It is hard, uncomfortable, and scary. Whether it’s a failed relationship, business, or personal goal, we often doubt ourselves when we fail.
We believe there is something inherently flawed about us, and we are doomed to fail forever. We cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, and how we feel now is how we think we will always feel.
But failures make us much wiser and stronger than successes ever could. They teach us how to love ourselves regardless of our outside circumstances, and they teach us how to persevere when faced with heartbreak.
Failure and delayed success are common experiences for everyone, regardless of what appears on the surface. Everyone faces struggles, relationships may end, money can be lost, and ventures might not succeed.
However, it’s what we do next with those failures that determines our experience. It hurts to fail, and we must allow ourselves to feel that. We need to mourn whatever we lost.
But we should also let ourselves feel proud, we were brave enough to try something. We were vulnerable, and we took a risk; we should take pride in that.
When we encounter a failure, we can reflect on these questions: How can we grow and change to achieve greater success in the future? How can we be kinder to ourselves when we experience failure? And how can we manage our fears so that they don’t lead to inaction?
Addressing these questions will lead us to greater strength and wisdom as we move forward. They will help us build a more loving relationship with ourselves.
Our next card prompts us: How can you listen more to your heart and less to your head? What makes you feel good deep down? What do you truly desire?
Trust is an essential part of the card of Strength. It wants us to let go of our fears by trusting that we can handle stepping out of our comfort zone. We are not fragile and will not break from doing something unconventional.
Similar to the Seven of Pentacles, sometimes we are overly aware of what can go wrong, which holds us back from living our lives to the fullest. Strength wants us to let go of our overly cautious nature and start living in alignment with our hearts.
The card is adorned in gold, featuring a lion on her chest, with her hands raised towards blooming protea flowers. She embodies a sense of being out of control and in control simultaneously. She is filled with pleasure and power.
We are called to pursue our deepest desires, to swim in the ocean and express our love to those around us. We only live in this body once, and we have the choice to live boldly.
How can you embody this card? How can you indulge without fear? How can you live in the moment and pursue what your heart desires?
Strength encourages us to take at least one brave step this week. Do not let fear or judgment hold you back. Take pride in a rebellious act and observe what unfolds.
Mantra for the week: Each day, I grow wiser and more resilient. I let my heart guide me forward.
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