My three words for 2024 are: sad, stressful, tough. It was the third year without my husband, and by far the most difficult. I know I need to make life changes, but it’s scary. Every time I think I can’t take any more, something else happens The well keeps getting deeper. Maybe I’m expecting there to be an end and there isn’t. I don’t mean an end of life; I mean an end to how sad and dark we can feel. And now we’re in Scorpio season! Oh, my. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Have you noticed how many times the five of cups have come up? I get that. I want to point out something I’ve learned about vulnerability, and that is that you have to be conscious of your weaknesses or needs before you can be vulnerable, otherwise you become needy, as you pointed out, which is not the same thing at all. The therapist who runs my weekly bookclub group said they have a saying in their profession, “Under stress, we regress.“ (when I said that into the microphone, it came out: undressed, we regress 😁) I think we do unless we know what our needs are, and then we can be vulnerable, but if you’re not aware of them, you’re needy, and that’s something totally different. That’s one of the things I’m struggling with. Thank you, Gemma. 💕💕 P. S. And thank you for reading the comment from the woman whose name I’ve already forgotten because my brain is not working today. I really enjoyed it. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could go to college free? It’s ridiculous how expensive it is here in the states. A college degree doesn’t necessarily help you get a better job, but you have a huge debt hanging over your head for the rest of your life. When I’m Queen of the world, it won’t be that way. 😊
The part about sharing vulnerability really resonated with me. I remember back when I was having loads of anxiety and panic attacks, my therapist encouraged me to share what I was worried about in the moment. In particular, at the time I was starting to train for roller derby and all the other women seemed so much more skilled and confident than me. It made it hard to go to practice, because I'd just freak out about not being 'good enough'. But then, while at practice, I started sharing when I was anxious and I was surprised by how many of the other women would say things in response like 'Oh god, I thought I was the only one worried!' or 'Yeah, I'm terrified too!'. It was really healing. And definitely reminded me how we're all struggling, but we just don't often share that out loud.
I guess it’s not quite the same when you’re older… but it’s never too late to go as a mature student… or even take a summer class (finances permitting)… you could put it out to the universe… Also, I don’t know what the website’s like, but the college is called St. John’s if you want to take a look for some inspo. The one I went to is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and there’s another campus (the original) in Annapolis, Maryland (where my sister went 😊). All the best 💗💫
The reading definitely resonates (we’ve been getting the five of cups a lot recently!) and I loved what you said about the strength card. I’d never heard that particular Katie quote before, but it makes sense. One of my favorite Katie aphorisms is “If I had a prayer it would be: dear god, save me from the need for love, approval, and appreciation”. As a Leo rising person, I kind of need that prayer every day 🙃
Definitely resonated with the commentary at the beginning about university; I have no regrets about my first degree for similar reasons 🤓 Three words for the year 2024: heartbreaking, exhausting, adventuring ✨
I believe that looking after ourselves is really enough to walk through shadowland (and life in general) without fear. Accepting what is without getting lost in it is all it takes. We can do this, yeah! Thank you for the great inspiration.. this deck of cards is really amazing. 💟
I had a Liberal Studies education as well. I am so great ful for it because I think it made me more well rounded. Every now and then I will go back and reread parts of old books Aristotle, Darwin, Plato...
It’s strange you mentioned Byron Katie because I was just listening to her do the work with someone last night. For me 2024 has been about painful family drama, numbing/draining the dregs of dysfunction, and anxiety about the transience of things (getting older, people dying etc.). Mixed in with it all I’ve had an increased appreciation of the beautiful place I live, by extension of our beautiful planet, and of the opportunity to be here in a human body which, though often painful, can also be so sweet ☺️
Byron Katie’s book….Loving What Is ….. is absolutely the best book I have ever read because she gives great tools to actually change your understanding easily
Hello lovely! You really spun my head saying 2025 in the beginning. I had a perimenopausal moment and honestly thought I’d got the whole year wrong and was one year older for a bit 😅 Have great weekend, love Torah 🍁🧡🍂
Hey Gemma thanks I’ll do my three words for 2024 maybe when it gets closer to the end of the year but I will definitely do them for the weekend reading tomorrow can you use the wild unknown tarot the circle version I think that version is the best they are so cool because they are even original to the original deck and thanks remedy for your story about uni I will definitely visit the US next year or in the next couple years whenever I can good luck🙂🇦🇺🐨🍀✌🏻
Hi G, don't forget the clocks "fall" back early hours of Sunday morn, lol. An extra hour in bed, in the UK, yayy ❤❤ P.S. sent you a pic/email of my trial bakes xx
I don't really enjoy Scorpio season. It always holds bad memories for me. Mom passed away October 30,1980 the shadow of it all never really leaves me. I feel sad. Dad passed September 18th. The pain of it all still remains. The family...dead. UHG!!! Time to take down the garden for a long Winters nap.
