The Choices We Regret
We all know that everyone makes mistakes. Alexander Pope, in “An Essay on Criticism” said that “to err is human, to forgive is divine”. Perhaps the hardest part of forgiveness is when we must forgive ourselves.
When we are young, we fear mistakes because we want the praise of others and fear criticism. As we age, the mistakes we made along the way become woven into the fabric of our lives so that we can’t really regret them without losing who we have become. Our mistakes are part of the story that brought us to where we are.
It is easy to say that if we had not chosen that or done this our life would have turned out better. Yet, that is only speculation. We could just as easily say that in the moment we chose the best or only thing we could, and no other choice would have landed us in a better place.
It can be good to learn from our mistakes and make better decisions going forward. However, we need to be able to do that without beating ourselves up.
The worst mistakes are those that hurt others. When we are aware that has happened, we must admit to our wrongdoing, and try to make amends whenever possible. And still, we must also forgive ourselves.
The thing is that mistakes aren’t planned. We call them accidents, not on-purposes. When we make a decision, we rarely know if we will regret it later. If decision-making makes us anxious because we fear a bad choice, we get stuck in the paralysis of analysis. All we can do is make the best choice we can and do the best we can. That choice will always be based on the information and resources that we have available to us in the moment.
It this this very practice that gives us the grace to forgive and understand our past mistakes. The most likely thing is always this. In each moment, we have always made the best choices we could have, based on what was true for us in that moment.
It is easy to look back and think of the thing we could have done better. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. In reality, most of the time, most of us do the very best we can in the moment.
The good news is this.
The older we get, the more experience we have, the more ability we have to make better choices going forward. Our past mistakes can be valuable education. In that way, rather than suffering regret, we can appreciate the knowledge that guides us toward a better future.
The StaarCorner
This year StaarCon will offer a beginner class on angels! Karin Maynard Eberly is certified by Hay House as an Oracle, Angel and Tarot Card Reader. She has certifications from renowned author and Angel expert Kyle Gray as an Angel Guide, an Angel Card Master, and Certified Crystal Energy Guide. Karin is a Certified Angel Tarot Reader by Radleigh Valentine, a Certified Oracle by Colette Baron Reid, and is certified in Reiki II and Animal Reiki. She has been certified as an Angel Reiki Level One and Crystal Healer by Margaret Ann Lembo.
Karin will be sharing information and exercises to help you connect with angels to power your readings, and your life.
You can attend StaarCon in person or online. StaarCon 2023 is fast approaching. Get your tickets now!
Healing From Past Decisions Tarot Questions
We all live with regret. Very often our regrets from the past make it hard for us to be present in the now, and trust future decisions. Here are some questions you can ask your cards to help you process and heal past decisions that did not work out the way you had hoped..
Pull one card in answer, or pull a few. You can also use these questions to inspire a tarot spread.
Why did I make the choice I did?
In what way did that choice help me?
In what way did that choice hurt me?
What other choices were available to me?
What might have happened if I made another choice?
What do I need to know in order to forgive myself?
What can I learn from this experience?
The Week in Review
Tonight at 7 pm ET please join our YouTube Tarot Meetup!
If you are a member of my YouTube channel, you can watch the replay of our Tarot and Chakras Members-only Livestream.
If you missed my appearance on Good Journeys Tarot on YouTube, you can watch the replay. Rosemary is doing 78 cards in 78 weeks. The card we discussed was the Page of Wands.
There is still time to vote for me in the WDA awards. I am nominated for Best Tarot Reader and Best Tarot Teacher. Voting closes September 30.
From Around the Web
Here is a great story about a professional tarot reader.
Moving on From a Mistake, from TinyBuddha.
The Simple Tarot shares some mistakes that new tarot readers often make. I found many of these sorts of articles and agreed with very few of them. This one gets my basic seal of approval.
Guidance on the Journey
I think the tarot Fives can each give us information about the way we process mistakes.
The Hierophant, Major Arcana 5, reminds of the rules we must follow, and the rules we should sometimes break. This card can also speak to us about the way we feel when others judge us.
Temperance, Major Arcana 14, is a Five card because when we add the digits 1 and 4 we arrive at 5. Temperance reminds us that it takes time, caution, and creativity to come up with something that is a perfect blend or perfect balance. Of course, there may be mistakes along the way.
The Five of Pentacles can speak of the regret of missed opportunities. The question is, did we really miss the opportunity, or can we find what we need even now?
The Five of Cups speaks of the things we have lost. It reminds us to hold space for grief, even while remembering that there are still good things in life.
The Five of Swords speaks of the battles we must fight. The key decision is to know when to fight, and when to walk away.
The Five of Wands speaks of the inevitable conflicts and decisions that come from building something.
You can see that in each of these cards, a mistake, loss, or a poor decision is a possibility. Sometimes these cards will appear to warn us to choose carefully. Other times they will call on us to reframe the way we think about our past decisions that did not turn out the way we had hoped.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
cardandcraftacademy.com
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 39
September 28, 2022