Dear reader of signs,
Welcome to the Monday, the 12th of June’s observation from my daily ‘Reading the Signs’ June challenge, an exercise of paying attention with a focus in mind as the day unfolds.
I started the day with only a few hours sleep, but I had a meeting with a friend scheduled, so that motivated me to get up and start prepping for the day. Yesterday’s observation nearly made me late for my appointment. I had most of it written, and thought I would just press publish, but on reading it I realised it needed a bit more polish. In fact, I only got to the essential point at the very end of editing, and I put it in as a footnote.
It’s strange how you need to write your way to the centre sometimes. The signs are breadcrumbs that hint at deeper insights if you keep following the trail.
That’s what I’m doing here everyday in June — following the hints that I’m leaving for myself.
The card I drew for Monday was The Chariot from The Lubanko Tarot by Emily Lubanko.
This is strong major arcana card which is all about harnessing the powerful drive to achieve your goals/purpose. In this deck it is a bucking horse contained by a light and dark horse. It’s an interesting take on the Chariot card where the horse is the centre of the card — the vehicle it draws and the driver who directs the horses is not depicted.
The focus is on the energy source, what drives the chariot. You need a destination before you begin to drive, but you also need a power source, and you must steer your vehicle successfully. The chariot depicts a three-part process: destination, power and navigation.
As I drove to my meeting I thought about my small and much-loved car that is so essential to my life. It is my chariot for connection. Without it I would be stranded in my home in the countryside. Often, when I’m driving, I remind myself of amazing benefit this brings to my life. It is so commonplace that it’s easy to overlook.
Later on, I was in the gym. It was a tough session. It was warm, stifling, overcast, and the humidity was about 100% as a rainburst was imminent. As I sweated through the set routines I thought about how my body is also the chariot.
And not having enough sleep always puts extra strain upon it, so I was already starting at less than optimal. Since I began working out I’ve been trying to get better sleep and to eat at regular intervals (and to cram more protein into every meal).
Whenever my body complained and bridled at a move, I soothed it and thought: thank you for this effort, you are doing your best, I am grateful for your ability, and let’s work around your weaknesses. Let us keep trying to improve, no matter how small the increment.
And I promised to aim for better sleep. But during the long days of summer, I always find this more difficult.
I walked out of the gym, into the rain, grateful for its refreshing spray, and my body and its capabilities. Over time, it has become stronger and more flexible. I have set my goal, taken better care of my body’s needs, and I have engaged my discipline to attend the sessions.
I stepped into my car: my chariot in a chariot.
Then I turned the key.