When did you lose your lust for life? The lion has a message for you.
Tarot Wisdom with Ruth Souther
LUST for Life
You’ve just stepped off the carnival ride we call life—constant motion, around and around, seeking some sense of balance. It’s difficult when you’ve had no time to contemplate the changes, positive or negative.
Once in a while, the craziness pauses, and you get some perspective. Maybe you’re at the top of your game and feeling great about life. Or, perhaps you’re fighting your way through difficulties, and you’re not sure you see an end, but at least you can take a deep breath and assess your situation.
What’s next, you ask. What are the prompts that guide your intuition?
Look closely at your surroundings.
Which path is open, uncluttered? Or do you prefer the more difficult, hack at the undergrowth to clear the way?
Either choice is just right for you—no judgment. The point is to move forward, not backward.
Creeping along the trail, you get the sense you’re being watched. It’s that hair standing up on the back of your neck that makes you stop in your tracks. Feeling strange, you turn in circles, checking for someone—or something—following you.
And then you hear a low growl. A spine-tingling, frightening snarl that makes your heart race. The animal responsible for the heightened fear is very close. Too close.
Do you run back the way you came? Do you hide? Do you freeze and await your fate?
The shadows move, the bushes rustle, and out steps a magnificent lion. Terrified, you are frozen in place as the beast pads toward you. You wait for the attack, but instead, the lion approaches close enough to stare into your eyes.
What you see is strength, confidence, and control. The lion has no fear. He is not afraid to be seen in all his majesty. This beast that frightened you only moments ago nudges you with his head, nearly knocking you over.
After taking a step back, you realize the lion is inviting you to be present in your life—to be seen as the powerful being that you are.
What are you afraid of?
What stops you from living large?
What keeps you caged, invisible, and weak?
The challenge is to take ownership of who you are and who you want to be and dismiss the panic that stops you in your tracks.
The choice is yours. You can run from this opportunity to face your greatest fears.
Or you can strip away the mask of martyrdom and claim the life you’ve always wanted.
Boldly, you begin to divest yourself of all the excuses, anxieties, phobias, and dread that have plagued your entire life. Piece by piece, you remove your clothing and jewelry, each one representing a reason to stay small and unseen.
As each layer of martyrdom is peeled off and thrown aside, you see all those times when you put everyone else ahead of your own needs. It’s strange how it never occurred to you to let go of these old patterns. They were too well ingrained in your life to even realize how much they held you from achieving your goals. You feel uninhibited and spontaneous, naked and unafraid.
You are ready to be seen.
The lion encourages you to climb on his back and ride to freedom. His giant paws step over all the debris you’ve discarded and soon begins to race forward, carrying you to the bright new future just waiting for you to claim.
