The sweetness is always there, within us. The earnest confessions of love we once made, received and gave as children so freely are still the undercurrents of who we are. The shiny contraptions of the world may have temporarily blinded us. The search for love and the conditions we placed upon it may have temporarily stunted us. The obsessive ambition and yearning for recognition in our careers, social strata and online spaces may have temporarily blocked us.
But, the sweetness remains.
Buried, like preserved bones, it waits for our excavation; an excavation that takes time, patience, curiosity and a delicate touch. A swift excavation could miss small pieces that complete the full skeleton. A rigid mind and unwavering beliefs about who we are may pass it over completely. A heavy hand could decimate its structure, unable to piece it back together.
But, the sweetness remains, even in fragments, however infinitesimal, however insignificant in any given moment, to support us in love everlasting, a sweetness of unending light, joy and openness; offering a levity of heart when we choose to seek it out again.
About the cards...
Today, I was feeling more sensitive than usual, prickly, reactive, generally unfun. Then, in my morning practice of pulling cards for the day, Mother Mary paid me a visit, which almost always helps me get to the emotional roots of anything that may be weighing heavily on my heart. As expected, a situation emerged from an old wound, but it triggered a new conversation with my spouse, instead of it spiraling into an old pattern. Emotional healing indeed.
As I began to emerge from the exchange feeling a little raw, but nonetheless refreshed, I came across a video of a two-year-old being as charming and delightful as you might imagine simply from a place of unencumbered sweetness. Oozing with innocence and glee, free as a soaring bird, and nary a care in the world about what anyone thinks of her, she inspired this small revelation.
After I wrote it down, I pulled two cards (to accompany Mary) for more context and—not surprisingly—they are right on the nose. The Devil is living from a place of reactivity, allowing outside stimuli to dictate your emotional state, your desires, your attachments. The Devil is a fact of being human. We have egos. Those egos want what they want. Egos cling to the past and the meaning we place on people, things, ourselves and events. The ego does not enjoy change or evolution or bravery, because it means we might have to update or edit our personal story. Edits equal humility, introspection and presence. Egos aren't fond of things that take patience and surrender.
BUT, the Devil is not actually a foe, she's a mirror for learning through contrast and measuring emotional and spiritual progress. She's a friend that helps us develop confidence from within. She's an advocate (Devil's advocate anyone?) to help us conjure real and lasting strength from within. I thank her for her lessons!
Three of Wands is about optimistic expectations, timing, discernment and exploration. When we go on an excavation to uncover our inherent sweetness, it is her energy we are inhabiting. Curiosity is a key to unlocking so much within ourselves. When we look for new horizons, we find the courage to take on journeys where we don't have a solid destination. It's how new continents were discovered! Once we embark, we begin to understand what it means to ride the waves, enjoy the journey and find presence in everyday life. That is the search for our own sweetness that at one time, came so naturally to us, like a toddler full of life, finding wonder in everything.
I wish you all the joy that sweetness may bring you today and beyond.