inner strength
Holding On To What Never Changes
Nature always inspires deep thoughts in me. There’s something about pausing to watch the wind rustle through the trees or to see the sun gently filter through the clouds that invites stillness and reflection.
Today, I found myself contemplating the constantly changing seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are a month away from the summer solstice, and the days are becoming increasingly long and warm with golden light. The trees are lush and full, the air hums with the sound of insects, and gardens overflow with life.
Change is everywhere. It’s evident in the ripening of fruit, the intense afternoon heat, and the subtle shift in the season’s energy toward harvest.
It’s not just nature, either. Our lives are constantly evolving, too. Relationships shift, careers transition, health fluctuates, and dreams reshape themselves over time.
No matter where we turn, we hear messages such as “Change is inevitable,” and “Don’t be afraid of change.”
Yes, change is necessary. As spiritual beings, we are meant to continually grow and evolve. Change challenges us, stretches us, and teaches us.
But let’s be honest — sometimes it’s also deeply unsettling. This is especially true in times like these, when the world feels uncertain, divided, and fragile.
Embracing The Shadow Within
When I first began to intentionally and consciously walk a spiritual path, I remember doing so because it just felt so right. Every step I took toward ‘enlightenment’ in this lifetime seemed to bring more brightness into my life, and so many more blessings.
In those early days I was really rolling! I was expecting this to be an easy ride – all joy and light and love. It was wonderful.
What I hadn’t expected was the inevitable emergence of my shadow through as a result of all my spiritual work. And it was not something I was going to be comfortable with – admitting I had places of darkness within me, unloved aspects of myself, disowned pieces of my soul which had been abandoned and in such pain.
Through a series of, what seemed like, unfortunate events, I was given opportunities to face my shadow side. Challenges in relationships with friends and loved ones arose. I couldn’t understand it at first, and felt very alone and misunderstood. I was shifting the blame for this onto the people around me, instead of going inward.
Going inward, into the light, was totally okay, but going inward into the darkness was terrifying. My ego-self raised every defense to keep me from going there. Eventually, I could avoid it no longer.
My life at this point had endured tremendous change in the course of only a few years- so much so, that the entire landscape of my existence and the people in it were now different. While many of the changes were positive, the magnitude of the differences between my ‘old life’ and my ‘new life’ forced me into robust self-reflection.
The Tarot Is A Mystical Bridge To Spiritual Insight
Mysterious, symbolic and highly energetic, the Tarot is a high vibrational tool that can help us explore the deeper meaning behind the events of our daily lives, and the influence of Spirit in our earthly existence.
The Tarot especially offers guidance in situations where may feel lost or confused, and it serves as a mystical bridge between our physical reality and the metaphysical realm.
The cards have their own energy, a high vibrational frequency, which Spirit uses to communicate messages of guidance, encouragement, insight and caution.
Every Tarot reader has their own set of spiritual gifts and psychic abilities, and therefore we tend to each develop our own reading style accordingly.
In my own readings, I find that Spirit most often seeks to illuminate areas in our lives where changes and healing may be needed, in order to bring about the most beneficial future outcomes. This can be anything from the need to shift one’s perspective, to the need to let go, or sometimes the need to simply accept things as they are.
Ultimately, I find Spirit uses the Tarot to get us ‘unstuck,’ so we get back in the flow. When we are in the flow, or in alignment, we are creating with the Universe, instead of creating resistance. Only then are we truly moving toward our highest good and the fulfillment of our greatest potential.
The Tarot is a conduit for communication with our guides and our higher self, through which we can gain a deeper understanding of the soul lessons and the magic happening in our lives.
They Can’t Gaslight You If You Trust Your Gut!
Gaslighting can be a very destructive aspect of a toxic relationship. It basically refers to any form of “reality twisting” or “crazy-making” that is designed to confuse or manipulate the victim.
Gaslighting is used to gain power and control in the relationship by making the victim question their reality. The phenomenon is typically found in romantic relationships, but it can occur in all kinds of social relationships, including friendships, at work, and with neighbors.
Sometimes it’s done in an obvious way, right under the victim’s nose, but more often it’s done under the radar, and you don’t always know who’s gaslighting you, or even that you’re being gaslighted.
“Gaslighting” is a psychological term derived from the 1938 stage play Gas Light and its 1940 and 1944 film adaptations. The movie is about a husband’s attempts to systematically drive his wife crazy by repeatedly dimming the gas lights in their home, only to deny that it ever happened when the wife asks him if he also noticed it. Over time, he manipulates his wife to the point where she believes she is imagining things and loses her mind.
Gaslighting is a common manipulation technique used by dictators, con artists, abusers, sociopaths, narcissists, and cult leaders. It’s done in such a way that the victim rarely realizes how much they’ve actually been brainwashed.
At first, the victim may have the idea that they’re not imagining things, but that someone else is doing this to them. They may even have an intuition about who that person is. However, the goal of gaslighting is to get victims to doubt these rational thoughts and replace them completely with the belief that there is something wrong with them, either mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or physically. The worst part, in my opinion, is that it makes you doubt your own intuition.
Feeding The ‘Good Wolf’ Changes Everything!
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by parables, folk tales and fables. I realized at a young age that there is something truly inspiring about a story that not only entertains, but carries a deeper message or spiritual lesson and speaks directly to the heart.
This love of meaningful stories hasn’t diminished over time. I still find myself drawn to stories that offer wisdom, healing, and perspective.
A few years ago, I came across a beautiful Cherokee story — one that spoke volumes to me and offers guidance to many of us as we navigate the emotional terrain of modern life.
The story goes that a young Cherokee boy found himself in a dispute with a friend. The boy felt that his friend had treated him unfairly. Hurt, and burning with anger, he stormed off to find his grandfather, a revered elder of their tribe who was known for his wisdom.
Sitting with his wise grandfather, the boy poured out his frustration, sharing the injustice he felt and the fire of anger that burned within him.
The old man listened patiently, his eyes pensve and kind. Then, with a nod, he spoke:
“I too have felt great anger at those who have taken from me what was not theirs or who have treated me unjustly. But anger wears on the soul like fire on dry grass. It consumes you if you are not careful.”
He paused, then continued, “You see, it is as if two wolves are fighting within me. One is full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. This is the evil wolf. He lashes out, trusts no one, and isolates himself from the world.”
Reclaim Your Power With Higher Consciousness
To fully embrace the divine love, guidance and support that surrounds you, your heart and mind must open and expand with increasing inner confidence and soul alignment.
This natural progression follows your initial spiritual awakening and allows your higher self to unfold. As you align more deeply with the universal flow, you gain access to higher states of consciousness and greater spiritual clarity.
As you embark on this transformative spiritual path, you may feel an acceleration of energy in and around you. This sensation is not random; it is a direct reflection of the profound shifts that are taking place on a soul level.
The energy of your environment also begins to shift in response, creating a dynamic interplay between your evolving consciousness and the world around you.
Throughout this process, your ancestors, spirit guides, and angels walk beside you, whether you consciously recognize their presence or not.
One of the fundamental truths about the spiritual realms is that energy moves much faster at higher frequencies. The higher dimensions operate at a refined vibrational level that is different from the density of our everyday physical reality.
As you attune to these higher frequencies, you will begin to notice an inner transformation — one that affects your thoughts, emotions, and overall perception of life.
Rune Forecast For The New Solar Year 2025
As the Sun moves into Aries, we welcome a new solar year full of transformation, movement and empowerment. The shift to Aries signals new beginnings, renewed energy, and the courage to take action.
Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, embodies the courageous essence of initiation, signaling a time to embrace new possibilities and harness our personal power.
This period marks a cosmic invitation to pursue new beginnings, to align with the flow of change, and to step boldly into action.
The energy of Aries, infused with renewed vitality and determination, encourages us to set clear intentions, embark on transformative endeavors, and move forward with unwavering confidence.
Whether we are initiating projects, fostering personal growth, or seeking clarity about our life’s direction, Aries offers us the courage to navigate life’s transitions with purpose.
To gain insight into the collective energy shaping the journey ahead, I turned to the ancient wisdom of the runes. The four runes I cast – Raidho, Laguz, Uruz, and Kenaz – present a profound narrative.
Raidho speaks of movement and life’s journey; Laguz reflects emotional flow and intuition; Uruz symbolizes inner strength and vitality; and Kenaz illuminates the path ahead with enlightenment and creativity.
Together, these runes guide us to embrace change with resilience and to embrace the transformative year that unfolds before us.