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In drawing this card, you are invited to explore your anxieties. To face into, rather than turn away, from them. To explore how they may be able to guide you forward and what you may learn from this experience.
The photograph associated with these words shows an enormous display of the Northern Lights – one that took my breath away. With the great enormity of the show, I only noticed after taking the shot that there was a small boat in the corner. Take a look, if you will. Immediately this juxtaposition of the huge and miraculous Lights and the small boat made me feel anxious. The boat seemed so small and insignificant – out there alone and at sea. Apart and separated. Notice for yourself how when you are anxious you may feel this sense of being separate, isolated, alone, ‘apart from’ and like the little boat – ‘at sea’.
See if you are willing to explore your own anxiety. And what is making you anxious currently. Gently connect with and own your anxieties.
Acknowledge what you are anxious about.
What concerns or worries you?
See if you can simply name what you are anxious about.
This is an opportunity to meet with your anxieties to give them your attention more fully, rather than a temptation to turn away.
Commonly and automatically, we push our anxieties away – which may create the scene in the photograph – a sense of being separate and feeling very small in the face of something unknown and very big. But what if our anxiety – rather than something to be feared – is a useful if not a vital marker – a valuable measure of how far we have strayed away from home and our most natural self – a useful indicator – inviting and guiding us to return home. In befriending our anxieties, we may be giving the little boat in the photograph our deserving attention and the chance to realise how far we may have strayed and how we may instead safely choose to navigate our way home.
If you are willing recall once again what is making you anxious now?
In owning your anxiety what do you experience and discover?
If your anxiety were a lens, what do you see through the lens?
How are you guided?
And what have you learned?
Take what time you need to fully respond…
May you be more willing to see your emotions as a vital compass – helping you to re-orientate and move forward.
May you learn what value is to be discoved in being willing to turn towards your anxiety rather than away.
May you help and enable others around you to turn towards what they may automatically push away to realise the prospect of growth and development.