What Path Are You On?

How to tell if you've been led astray

Energy Oracle Cards by Sandra Anne Taylor. “Love” tealight candle by Soul Love Connections, Charlotte, NC.

Tarot Tuesday

I used to write erotic romance novels. As a writer, I was drawn to the genre because steamy literature sells. And, personally, I like Happy Ever After or—as it’s known in Contemporary Romance—Happy For Now endings. I have a penchant for things working out for the highest and best good of all.

What I didn’t like about the genre was its limitations. It’s ruled by tropes, which are very specific guidelines on how to construct the plot and characters. The category of Romance actually dictates how to write the book.

Even if you don’t read romance novels, you’ve seen these tropes in movies: Friends to Lovers, Frenemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship to Lovers, Second Chance Romance, or the perennial Girl Inherits a bookstore/bakery/cottage/whatever from a long-lost relative in a coastal town across the country from where she lives. The inheritance arrives just as she’s getting dumped by her fake Prince Charming or some other major life crisis. She moves and meets her true soul mate while also uncovering some ancient family secret in the new town.

I guess some readers like the comfort of knowing what’s going to happen and watching as the characters do everything possible to mess it up. But everyone knows what’s meant to be is going to be.

The genre was way too limiting for me as a writer and a reader. I get bored easily. I crave individuality and distinction, which is why my career as a romance writer was short-lived.

A large chunk of time passed and my life changed dramatically. (This is the reality show, not the fictional version.) Now I find myself crafting stories from another source, one which I find more creditable than Harlequin Books. And I’m given the liberty of interpreting the plot on an individual basis. No two stories are the same.

To me, reading cards is like reading a well-crafted mystery. I’m given clues, signs, and some leeway for unforeseen factors (such as free will) and shown how it can work out. The best part is that I’m only responsible for setting the stage, explaining the dynamics of the circumstances, and offering possible outcomes. The actual path and result is entirely up to each individual reading the story with me.

When I first saw today’s Spread for the Collective, I was in awe of the perfection of the storyline. Here is the most accurate depiction of the true hero/heroine’s journey in the shortest, most concise plot summary possible.

Let’s read it together…the cards from left to right represent the energies of past, present, and future.

Healer of the Ages. For this reading, I see us going way back—to when you came into the world. And like every newborn baby, you had no preconceived ideas of right/wrong or good/bad. But you did come in with a mission, predetermined by you and your soul group. And you arrived with the knowledge of not only what you were here to do and how, but also with the cognizance that an unseen force had your back—the Healer of the Ages.

The irony and first plot twist is you forgot everything you knew when you came into form. But the Healer and your soul pod know in advance that this will happen, and they do everything possible to keep you on your path by presenting you with circumstances and opportunities to move forward on your mission.

Sometimes you get the hint and sometimes you don’t. You’re grateful when things work out as you planned, but not at all happy when they don’t. Fault has nothing to do with it, but you feel compelled to blame someone or something. And that brings us to the next card.

Deceit. It’s true. Sh*t happens. Promises are not kept. Lies are told. Sometimes the deceit is generated by others. Sometimes you lie to yourself.

Many times things happen over which you have no control. But you do have complete control over what you do. The irony here is that you don’t realize how powerful you are.

This center card representing the Present energy is pivotal to the plot resolution. It’s where you are today.

In this spread, the figure in the card is facing left, or looking backward. (S)he is most likely figuring out who to blame or could represent a person or situation that doesn’t have your highest good in mind.

But by turning around and away from that vision, you’ll see Card #3, the picture of the Truth, the Light that awaits in your future.

(We’ve reached the denouement, i.e., the resolution of the current plot. If you were watching this story play out on a movie screen, you’d be screaming, “No, don’t go down to the dark basement in the middle of the night with that measly, little candle. That’s where the Bad Guy is hiding!! And the power is out from the storm and the phones and internet are down too. Turn around!! Get out as fast as you can!”)

The Temple Path. The author’s explanation of this card is perfect. “Receiving this card represents your own spiritual evolution. The winding path you are on leads to a blessed temple in a lovely garden symbolizing the spiritual destiny your soul has in mind for this lifetime…What you are going through now is all part of your soul’s process. You are on your karmic path and heading in the right direction. The choices you make now are important for your personal growth and life lessons.”

I couldn’t have written it better myself, which is something I rarely say :) I’ll just add this caveat: You are always at choice. You can go down to the basement and struggle with the Boogie Man, or you can follow your true sense of direction, your inner guidance system, to the path of your highest good. Choose wisely.

I’ve lit the “Love” candle and placed a selenite wand to help guide your vision and clear your path.

Until next time…my best, Shelley