The Homebrew Witch | 13/07/20
Like a lot of people in the world right now, I’ve found I’ve been struggling with burnout recently. Constantly worrying about a pandemic, injustice and a tanking economy can really easily take a toll on your mental and physical health.
Tarot is fantastic for divination and gaining insight but it’s also a fantastic tool for self care. Lots of successful tarot readers like Jessica Dore or Lindsey Mack use tarot in this way to explore, guide and heal.
During a particularly difficult moment in my life, tarot was my lifeline too. It was a way to understand the problems I faced, cut through the noise and give me clarity where I had previously been lost. I find I’m turning to it again for that same purpose right now as the stress of living in such a historical time with an incredibly busy work life has started weigh down me.
This week, I decided to pull a reading to help us explore burnout.
How is burnout affecting us? The Ten of Swords.
Fighting in all the battles raging around us has left us feeling completely defeated. Whether you’re fighting to hold on to a job, to end racism, to support those in your community, to protect the health of others or simply to get through the day, there is a lot taking our energy and attention right now. You may be slumped on your bed feeling hopeless right now or carrying on seemingly normally with the sensation of a thousand weapons lodged in your back. Either way, it’s clear that burnout is taking a pretty devastating toll across the collective right now.
What is the cause of our burnout? The Reversed 6 of Swords.
Fighting constantly and working hard for little to no reward is starting to grind us all down. Working hard for periods of time is often far easier when you can see the results of your labour. The lack of victories for our efforts is disheartening, frustrating and ultimately leads us to feel burnt out. It completely sucks that progress is slow and that economies don’t serve the majority in our society when the reverse should be true. It’s okay to be mad.
How can we heal from our burnout? The Lovers.
In difficult times, it’s good to lean on those closest to us for support. Through our love and friendships, we can find joy and understanding of what we face. If they are able to listen, talk to those around you about how you feel. Give them a quick call in between shifts or if you are able to go for a socially distanced picnic together. Enjoy their company and share the burden. It will help rejuvenate you and help you to feel less alone in your struggles.
What barriers or challenges may we face in our healing? The Magician reversed.
For a lot of us, our burnout may have gotten to a point of severity where we feel powerless to fight it or we simply lack the resources to do so - not everyone can afford to take the day off no matter how necessary it is. It’s important to know your worth and find small acts of self care in these challenging times even if a picnic is not on the cards.
How can we overcome these challenges? The Queen of Wands.
The Queen of Wands sits with her allies ready for new energy and blessings. To move past feelings of powerlessness, find ways to embody her self assurance. Whether through spell work, journaling or simply through uttering the mantra ‘I fucking got this’ while you work, it is important that you know your worth. You deserve to get through this and you will.
If you’re struggling still, keep an eye out for a black cat like the one at the Queen of Wands’ feet. When they cross your path, know that it’s your ally here to remind you who you are.
These forecasts are for the collective. They aren’t personal so they may not resonate 100% with you but there will always be a nugget of guidance in there. I’d love to hear what really spoke to you so get in touch with me at @homebrewwitch or www.homebrewwitch.com to let me know.
Have a lovely week and I’ll see you next time.