Dragging, Dreams & Letting Go

In my six week workshop, one exercise is about creating question for each card. Today someone posted the following question for the Death card.

What do I need to let go of in order to make progress?

I was really struck by this question because I think that many of us are struggling to make headway in so many areas of our life. But what if we are dragging things along with us that we need to release? One of the things I did in therapy was to change how I viewed past hurts. By doing that, I let go of the energy they had to continue to hurt me. We also examined the idea of having an emotion in that moment and then letting it go. So if I am mad in traffic, I am mad in that moment only. Then I let it go. I don’t carry it over to lunch. I don’t allow it to build more charge by talking about it and venting about it. It was just a moment. It’s gone.

So I wanted to see what the Universe suggested that I could let go of in order to make progress. I focused on the area of personal relationships.

How unusual. When I picked up the cards, I noticed one of them. Then I shuffled about nine or so times. Guess which card turned up? You guessed it. The one I originally saw.

This is the Nine of Cups from the Gaian Tarot. The creatrix of this card is standing in a cave. She is singing a song to the waters. I always see this card as filling up. Making dreams come true. And it hit me. I need to stop trying to make dreams come true. I need to let go of the idea that I have a dream.

Sounds harsh, right?

Not really. I have to let go of that so I can understand (make progress) that my dream is already here. If I’m continually wanting to make a dream come true that’s already come true…well, I’m just going in circles then.

My dream in personal relationships has been to create a drama-free life. I wanted to surround myself with the kind of people I want to be–loving, joyful, kind. I realized today that I’ve done that. I miss a few friendships, it’s true. Still, I realize those folks were obsessed with building themselves up by tearing others down. I can’t stand that behaviour. That, along with the back-biting, back-stabbing, grade-school gossip is what I’ve been trying to eradicate from my world.

And hey! I’ve done a pretty good job of that. So I think I must let go of that constant focus and move on to the next forward thing in my life.

So to make progress, I must let go of my wishing and realize it’s here.

How about you? Pick a card. What do you need to let go of in order to make progress?

And speaking of progress, if you are doing NaNoWriMo, check out my workshop offering. I’d love to see you there.