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Tarot and Mental Health – The Moon

Tarot and Mental Health – The Moon

Posted on by Michelle H

I had intended for this week’s post to be about The Tower. But that post just wouldn’t come out when I tried to write it.

The Moon wanted to come first. Maybe because we have a supermoon lunar eclipse this week?

This is a weird card my friends, I won’t lie. But I love it.

And at first glance, it’s easy to wonder what it has to do with anything in life, let alone mental health.

The moon in this card is actually a solar eclipse.

Historically in many cultures throughout the world, an eclipse (lunar or solar) was a bad omen. 

Think about it: day abruptly interrupted by a really weird night, only to return to day again (or chunks of the moon disappearing and/or the whole thing turning red), and you don’t know why. 

Scary stuff indeed.

The main theme of this card is fear. 

But it also asks us to look at who we are, to look at the face we show the world, and to question everything.

This card can mean many things, but ultimately for me it speaks to our Shadow.

You probably understand by now that Shadow is kinda my thing.

I think it’s one of the most important, and most overlooked, aspects of mental health.

Let’s recap a few of the ways Shadow can manifest shall we?

Projection: Seeing in others the aspects of yourself you dislike (often without “knowing” you also have these traits. Classic example? The raging homophobe who lives deeeeeep in that closet of theirs).

Anger. Anger at yourself. Your failings. Your attitude. Your everything. Everyone else sucks too, and they may need to know it.

Shame. Fear. Self doubt. Self sabotage. Self loathing.

All that and more lives in your Shadow. 

And The Moon? The Moon wants you to look at it all.

Let’s look at a few other aspects of this card. Because again, it’s just weird.

The path: That’s our life’s journey. We must walk this path. In so doing, we become our higher self.

The mountains: That’s the end of our journey. When at last we reach our higher self, we will find ourselves in those mountains.

The dog: That’s our good self we show to the world. The face we show for approval and to get people to like and care about us.

The wolf: That’s our base instincts. They don’t care what other people think. They just act.

That random ass lobster???

THAT is our shadow in all its glory.

Look at it. It’s kind of ugly. Not friendly looking. And don’t think it won’t pinch the crap out of you if you try to get near it.

But, if it were to climb onto the land in front of it, it would be perfectly situated to journey with the dog and the wolf to the mountains.

That is what this card is asking us to do. 

It is pushing us to look at what lives in our darkest depths, bring it out into the open, and teach ourselves to grow.

The Moon knows that’s scary. It knows we want to toss that lobster back in the water and run off the wolf.

It knows we want to pretend we are the dog. But even the dog is affected by The Moon, just look at it howling.

There is no escaping from the aspects of ourselves that we need to confront and heal.

To book a Shadow Reading to learn more about what is hiding in your Shadow, click here!

Ready to tackle your Shadow head on? Reset Your Mindset is an introduction to Shadow and Mindset work. Click here to learn more!

Already have some experience with Shadow and Mindset work, and you’re ready to dig deeper? Deconstructing Shadow is for you. Click here for more information!

Tarot and Mental Health: 9 of Swords

Tarot and Mental Health: 9 of Swords

Posted on by Michelle H

May‌ ‌is‌ ‌Mental‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Awareness‌ ‌month.‌ 

I decided to continue with the tarot theme to show how it taps into our psyche and can be a tool to explore trauma, shadow, depression, and anxiety.

We’re starting with the 9 of Swords.

This is the card when anxiety is high.

The subject of this card is sitting bolt upright in bed, their hands covering their face as if they’re crying or recalling a terrible memory.

There is no sleep. There is no rest. There is only the racing mind.

These thoughts build upon themselves. Growing and growing until they feel like they’ll consume us.

This is a mental battle, and the enemy is us. 

Or at least it feels that way.

We’ve all experienced some version of this sleepless night (or series of nights).

When we’re in this headspace it can be hard to find the light.

When this card comes up in a reading, I don’t give platitudes about it’s always darkest before the dawn or lights at the end of tunnels.

That is beyond unhelpful. I know because I’ve been there.

I offer my clients the space to feel what they feel, knowing they are supported and understood.

But because I’ve been there I know that it can get better, but not without effort.

Usually this card is just run of the mill anxiety that will pass. 

I help my clients to reframe what’s going on in their minds and in their lives so they can find that light themselves.

Distracting yourself from whatever is on your mind, guidance from tarot or a trusted friend about how to address the situation, or shadow and mindset work is usually what it takes to get to the other side.

But sometimes? Sometimes it’s more, and that’s ok.

Sometimes you need a professional to help and support you through the darkness.

There is zero shame in getting the help we need to be healthy. 

Mental health is just as, if not more important, than physical health.

If you cannot seem to dig yourself out of the hole you’ve found yourself in, seeking out a mental health professional is imperative.

Please reach out to a professional in your area if this is more than simple anxiety that will pass.

I offer a variety of transformative and insightful readings to help you on you life path. Click here to schedule with me!