:: Surrendering to what is ::
Hey peeps. This is perhaps the latest in the month I've ever sent out my monthly newsletter but like everyone (probably) I've been awash in Pisces season and moving verrrry slowly through this latest Retrograde. March is a tumultuous month as we begin the transition from Winter to Spring. The weather is unpredictable, the energies are all over the place, and we tend to get very restless after going within for so many months.
I've been thinking a lot about The Hanged Man. For those unfamiliar with the Tarot, The Hanged Man is the 12th card in the Major Arcana, and in numerology correlates to the year 2019. The 'card of the year' has particular wisdom and medicine for us over the year, and we can feel its influence. When this card comes up in readings, people tend to react nervously. And it's true, the term "Hanged Man" doesn't evoke very pleasant images. This is a card that deals with surrender. However, we must not make judgements upon first glance, as the medicine and meanings of this card are often deep and multi-layered.
The Hanged Man asks us to stop fighting, to stop throwing ourselves at brick walls trying to get through whatever we are going through. All this is doing is hurting and exhausting us. Of course, our natural reaction to pain and trials is to resist it body, mind and soul. But as my teacher David says, and as I'm sure you've heard me say before, "What we resist, persists." When we surrender, we move into acceptance. Acceptance doesn't mean we like or approve of whatever is happening, or want it to continue. It just means that we acknowledge the truth. When we take a second to stop, look around, and see what is really happening, we can then make choices and take actions to change what we want to change.
If we look closely at the card, the figure doesn’t look all that concerned or distressed about his current situation. In fact, he looks rather serene and unbothered. He knows that the ropes that bind him are tight and well-knotted, and that no matter how much he pulls and twists they are unlikely to become undone. He may very well inflict more pain on himself in the process. So he hangs, and takes in the view. By hanging upside down, The Hanged Man has a wonderful opportunity to view the world, or his situation from a different perspective. He had been so caught up in all the things he was doing, and wanting, that he lost sight of the bigger picture. Upside down, he is able to see things in a different light.
The main lesson of the Hanged Man is that we "control" by letting go - we "win" by surrendering. The figure on Card 12 has made the ultimate surrender and now shines with the glory of divine understanding, by being willing to let go and see things differently. The Hanged Man also tells us that we can "move forward" by standing still. By suspending time, we can have all the time in the world.
During Mercury Retrograde, which affects travel, technology, thoughts and beliefs, we can either get annoyed by the inconveniences or pause and take a second (or third) look. I have caught several mistakes both large and small I made when I was in a hurry. I have been able to gain new understandings about so much in my life. I have been able to give myself the space and time to process my grief, and truly understand the role my dearly departed played in my life. And I have seen this in my friends' lives as well.
Can you see a correlation between the medicine of the Hanged Man, Mercury Rx, and what you've been experiencing, too?
This month, I have several offerings to help us understand and reevaluate what is, what was, and what could be. Breathwork for Ancestral Healing is back, where we are invite look at our family histories to better understand ourselves and our journeys, and realign when necessary. The Roots of Our Practice is an offering presented in collaboration with Sunder Ashni and Baba Ifasanmi, to examine our current spiritual and wellness practices, to decolonize and free ourselves. And of course, we will welcome the light and the return of Spring with a very special Ostara ritual on the 20th. Read on for more information and to RSVP.
Lastly, I want to thank you all for your love and support during these past couple months as I've moved through my grief. My heart feels truly lifted and supported. Truly. Thank you.
Love,
Jordan
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