Self-Help
Tell-Tale Signs You Are Being Gaslighted
You’re crazy, that never happened. Don’t be so sensitive. I’ve never had this problem with anyone else but you. It was never my idea, it was yours! Come on, you’re imagining things. Everyone else agrees, except you. You’re just making things up.
These are just some of the things you might hear when someone is gaslighting you. It usually happens whenever you confront them about their bad behavior, only to have your reality twisted in return…in ways that can really make your head spin!
Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that most often shows up in toxic romantic relationships, but it can also manifest in dynamics with friends, coworkers, employers, family members, and even neighbors and landlords.
At its core, gaslighting is the manipulation of your sense of reality, leaving you confused, anxious, and doubting yourself and your own perceptions. Sometimes it’s very obvious and unmistakable. Other times, it happens so subtly you may not even realize you’re being manipulated.
The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light, which was later made into the 1944 film of the same name.
In the story, a husband tricks his wealthy wife into thinking she’s going crazy by making small changes to their surroundings, like dimming the gas lights, and then denying that anything has changed. His goal is to make her doubt her own sanity, so he could have her committed to a mental institution and gain control of her inheritance.
How To Choose Your First Tarot Deck
Buying your first deck of tarot cards can be daunting, especially for beginners. However, when approached the right way, it can be a magical and enjoyable experience.
I remember when I decided to buy my first deck years ago. I received a flood of recommendations from well-meaning friends and seasoned readers, all eager to point me toward their personal favorites.
True to my rebellious nature, though, I ignored it all. Instead, I followed my intuition.
I visited a cozy metaphysical shop downtown and wandered to the back, where the tarot decks were displayed on a few revolving racks.
One particular deck instantly captivated me. It had an angelic theme, and even though the imagery and Roman numerals weren’t exactly beginner-friendly, I didn’t care. I knew instantly that it was mine.
Even though I was new to Tarot, I had immersed myself in as much knowledge as I could find before purchasing my first deck. I read every book I could get my hands on and spent hours combing through spiritual forums and metaphysical blogs.
The advice I received from seasoned readers, though sometimes conflicting, gave me a broad foundation of ritual practices and deck care.
I was especially drawn to the idea of treating the cards as sacred tools, rather than just objects. So, by the time I brought my new deck home, I already had a sense of how I needed to honor it and energetically align with it.
How To Access Your Inner Wisdom
How can you tap into your inner wisdom? How do you learn to trust your intuition? How can you better receive guidance from spirit? These are the kinds of deep, soul-searching questions that arise when you begin to awaken to your spiritual path.
As you journey to understand yourself and find healing, you’ll discover that the answers you seek are often within you. Your inner wisdom is a gift that you already have.
Your inner wisdom is a gift from God. It’s a part of you that connects you to the divine. It connects the spiritual world with your physical experience, helping you live life more clearly, gracefully, and with purpose.
Your intuition is always there. It gently nudges you, whispers insight, and provides subtle feelings or knowing that help guide your decisions. It often operates below your awareness, always humming in the background like soft music.
But in the busy world we live in, it’s easy to lose touch with that inner sense of direction. Stress, emotional pain, and the noise of external expectations can block your intuition. That’s why it’s so important to practice spirituality on purpose. Meditation, prayer, and moments of quiet are like keys that open the door to your soul’s wisdom.
If you take five minutes to sit quietly and listen to your thoughts, you will hear the voice of spirit more clearly. This voice doesn’t shout. It speaks with love, warmth, and strength. One of my spiritual mentors often said, “The voice of inner guidance is never harsh or fearful. It always brings peace, even when the message is challenging.”
Walking In Faith Through Life’s Ups And Downs
Most of us go through life like it is a roller coaster ride. We have our ups and downs, our good days and our hard ones. Sometimes we catch ourselves saying things we probably shouldn’t, or reaching for that chocolate chip cookie even though we promised ourselves we wouldn’t.
Temptation is everywhere. That little voice in our head tells us to go for it, even when our gut or intuition says it’s not a good idea. It can leave us feeling torn and unsure of what the right choice really is.
And then, on top of all our personal ups and downs, there’s everything going on in the world around us. Lately, it feels like we’re living through constant upheaval: wars, natural disasters, political division, economic stress, runaway technology, and so much uncertainty about the future. All of it adds to the pressure we already carry.
It’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed or tempted to numb ourselves with distractions. When everything feels unstable, it’s easy to lose our sense of direction or forget the spiritual tools that keep us grounded.
That’s why staying connected to faith, however that looks for you, is more important than ever. It becomes an anchor in the storm, something solid to hold onto when everything else feels like it’s shifting.
Faith helps us pause, speak with care, and make better choices. It gives us insight and direction. When we turn away from it or get stuck in negative thinking, that’s usually when life starts feeling harder and more complicated.
You Create Your Own Happiness
Too often, people find themselves trapped in a shadowed corner of life, believing that happiness lies just beyond the next relationship, paycheck, job, or home. But true joy isn’t found in any of these external pursuits.
As the Dalai Lama so wisely said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Pause for a moment and really reflect on that. It’s a beautifully simple truth, yet so many of us struggle to embrace it.
We’ve been raised in a world that teaches us to chase after happiness as though it’s something ‘out there,’ just one success or possession away. But here’s the sacred truth: happiness begins within.
This is a difficult statement for many to comprehend. “How can I be happy, if I have nothing? you might ask. “I am alone. I have no job, no money, no love.”
And yet, the answer is simple and profound: no one else is responsible for your life. No one else is responsible for your happiness. You are the sole creator of your reality.
Your emotional well-being, fulfillment, and general experience of life aren’t determined by outside forces, other people, circumstances, or luck. Living your best life starts with you.
Happiness isn’t something someone can give you or take away. What you think, believe, and do determines if you feel satisfied or unfulfilled.
The Four Levels Of Relationship Connection
Every so often, we meet someone who lights us up in an undeniably powerful way. These connections are rare, but when they happen, we sense their potential to become a significant part of our lives.
But that initial spark can sometimes give way to doubt, especially in romantic relationships. As we get to know someone more intimately, we may wonder if the connection we felt initially was meaningful or just a passing fancy?
So, what’s really going on here? What are these dynamics trying to reveal? How can we assess these bonds more practically to determine if we want to be with someone long term?
At the heart of it, there are four fundamental levels on which we connect with others. When deciding whether to invest our energy in a relationship, we must consider all four levels.
A connection based on only one dimension often feels incomplete or out of sync. Typically, we need at least two levels of alignment to feel a genuine bond.
Three levels create a profound sense of harmony. When all four levels are in sync, the connection can feel magical. The connection can feel nothing short of magical.
Exploring our relationships through this lens empowers us to make more conscious choices. We gain clarity about what matters to us and how we experience connection. This approach also helps us cultivate gratitude for the unique ways others connect with us and appreciate the different flavors of intimacy that each level brings.
What To Do When He Disappears Into His Cave
He tells you he loves you, wants to be with you all the time, and can’t get enough of you. He calls and texts you constantly, and you feel like you’ve found the perfect relationship. You love the way he makes you feel. He must be “the one.”
Then, suddenly, he’s gone. No calls, no texts, no dates, nothing. Ghosted.
And you’re left wondering: What happened? Where did he go? Was it something I said, or did?
Well, no. He just retreated into his “cave.” It is where your man goes to think, breathe, and figure out what’s going on in his head.
This is the mysterious and often frustrating time-out that men often take when they realize things are moving too fast, or when they start to feel deeply attached.
For us women, especially those who are spiritually aware and emotionally intuitive, this sudden withdrawal can be very confusing and even painful.
Women tend to thrive on connection and open communication, and we naturally want to nurture and support others. So, when the man we care about suddenly becomes distant, it can trigger our deepest fears of abandonment or rejection.
But here’s what you need to understand: his retreat is not about you.