Equanimity
When I was young, I wasn't aware of emotional intelligence. It just wasn’t something we talked about. I believe life would be better for everyone if we were all taught emotional knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Since many of us weren't taught these things as children, we must learn them later in life. This can make it difficult for people to handle their emotions and achieve their goals while also managing adult responsibilities.
One skill of emotional intelligence that seems particularly important is equanimity. Equanimity, from Latin, literally means ‘even mind’ or ‘level spirit.’ Equanimity is the ability to remain calm and non-reactive in challenging or distressing situations.
This does not mean that we do not acknowledge and respond to distress. Instead, it means we have the skill to do so in a level-headed way that offers solutions rather than drama.
The concept of equanimity appears in many spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and Christianity.
Practices of equanimity include nonattachment, mindfulness, and self-compassion. These are also good divination practices.
By taking responsibility for our energy, responses to triggers, and reactions to situations, we increase our ability to find solutions, navigate challenges, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
It's all right if we can't always maintain complete equanimity. Setting a goal to achieve equanimity helps us move toward peace and balance.
The StaarCorner
Mary Ellen Collins has been a part of StaarCon from the planning stages forward. She is a stalwart volunteer as well as an excellent presenter.
At StaarCon 2024, Mary Ellen is offering a Friday Intensive option called Tarot Plus! Divination Combos.
This intensive is for tarot enthusiasts who want to learn to integrate other forms of divination into their tarot readings. Mary Ellen will teach Tarot Plus! In three sessions. Session One is Cards and Stars, where you will learn simple astrology tools to personalize your tarot readings. Session Two is Cards and Charms. Here, you will learn charm casting and ways to combine charms with tarot. In the third session, Cards and Crystals, you will learn the basics of lithomancy (reading crystals) and several methods to combine crystal divination with tarot.
Whether you enjoy this intensive with Mary Ellen in person or online, live or during the AfterGlow, you will be thrilled with how these techniques power up your tarot practice.
Equanimity Tarot Exercise
Here is an exercise to help you find a sense of equanimity as you learn more about your tarot deck.
First, think about the qualities of equanimity – peace, calm, serenity, patience, balance, etc.
Then go through your tarot cards, face up. Pull every card from the deck that you feel represents a quality of equanimity or makes you feel equanimous.
Now look at the cards that you have pulled. Divide them into suits and see what similarities and differences you see in the cards in this subset of the deck you have created. Is one suit predominant? If so, what message do you take from that? Is a suit missing? Are their repeated numbers? What do you learn about equanimity from these things?
Pay attention to what comes into your mind as you play with these cards. Pay attention to how the group of cards you have chosen work together and what messages and insights come to you from these images when you view them as a group.
Now, take this group of cards and shuffle them together. Do not include other cards from the deck; shuffle only the cards you pulled out initially. Pull three cards from this shuffled group at random to give you personal insight into your relationship with equanimity.
The Week in Review
If you missed Global Tarot Circle last night, please watch the replay. Tomorrow evening, Thursday, at 7 pm ET, members of my YouTube channel are invited to join us for our monthly members-only livestream. This month, we will focus on the Court cards.
From Around the Web
StaarCon presenter Nancy Hendrickson shared this fabulous post about omens.
This interview with tarotist Jessica Dore in the LA Times is very interesting.
Here is a free download of equanimity practices (it mentions tarot!) from the Association of Reflexologists.
Creation and Divination
Can we use tarot to create a healthy headspace? Very often, I think we can.
I can think of three ways to use tarot to create equanimity. The first is tarot study. There are so many cards that admonish us to be patient. Many cards encourage us to find balance. As we learn the cards, we naturally embrace their messages.
The second way is through divination. When performed mindfully, divination with tarot can help us find the perspective and understanding that leads to calm.
The third way is with tarot magick. We can find the cards in the deck that most represent the energy we want to embody. For example, the High Priestess and Temperance embody the practices leading to equanimity for me.
Once you have chosen your cards, you can meditate with them, write about them, or look at them with a soft gaze and breathe their energy into your being.
Try these three techniques and see how your mood and tarot practice are improved!
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
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
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
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
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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.
Zoom parties and group instruction available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 6 Issue 28
July 12, 2023