I know it's late, but it's still Monday. Buckle up, Buttercup, because today's card is:

Eight of Swords

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The Eight of Swords reminds us that the obstacles we are facing, the very ones we think are keeping us stuck, are actually an important part of our journey. They are the trials that forge us.

I have a tendency to dwell on what I think is "holding me back".

Does this sound like you, too?

I could do so much more, I think to myself, if my kid was older and in school and I didn't have to pay for childcare. If only I wasn't held back by not knowing how to market my offer the "right" way. If I had more money, and less student loans. If the world was more fair. If I had more access. If I wasn't so tired. If eggs weren't so god damn expensive.

When this happens I sometimes find power in remembering, as a teacher of mine said recently, things are not happening to me so much as they are happening for me.

Now, before you shrug this off as Toxic Positivity, let me explain what I believe is happening here, for all of us.

Imagine your soul, which has lived many lifetimes before and will live more lifetimes after this one, chose this moment in time and in space for a reason. The specific obstacles and trials you are facing are the ones you chose, the class, per sé, you enrolled in to learn the lessons you needed to learn.

And yes, it still feels very frustrating.

Just because you chose to enroll in AP calculus, doesn't mean calculus will be easy to learn.

It can help to remember that it is a class you've signed up for, and that on the other side of it you'll have built knowledge and mastery the only way it can actually sink in: by working the problem sets over and over.

Once again, this is a very Virgo Season Message*.

How to dance with this guidance:

1. Write down all the things that are holding you back right now. Be real. Get mean. You don't have to hold anything back here, and you don't have to be fair or reasonable. What are the things that are keeping you stuck?
2. Pick one that feels the most poignant right now and imagine this not as an immovable obstacle, but as a "class you signed up for". If you were committed to working this "math problem" until you figured it out, what are some things you might try?
3. Just a thought, but is there any chance this "obstacle" or "setback" has become part of your identity? An excuse for not having gotten what you want yet? Hmmmm. Notice that. Also, notice what benefits you get from believing that this obstacle is fixed, immovable, or insurmountable.
4. When you're ready, try an EFT tapping meditation or other visualization exercise to release any ties to this obstacle (it's late at night or I'd record one now, but if you want one customized for you go ahead and reply here with what you're rumbling with and I'll make you one!)

Are you exhausted yet? Don't worry. We'll get through this together.

<3 Megan

*The last few weeks have been Very Virgo, and my Close Personal Astrologer is currently running an email course on Virgo, which is helping me learn a LOT. If you're interested in learning more about astrology (and specifically Virgo) in a way that feels like chatting to your friend at a sleepover instead of trying to memorize a bunch of charts? You need to sign up. Click here to join me in the class!​

P.S. Did you notice that last week was 8 of wands, and now we have 8 of swords? So now I'm like "what is with the number 8? What does it mean?"

Here's what I found: "the number 8 is the achiever and measures life by the goals it reaches" - from Numerology.com.

Yes. it is definitely a theme. Get stuff done (last week) and work on your Lessons (this week). I guess it's back to school for all of us. Yay?

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