Friday April 5th, 2024

Friday April 5th, 2024 - Growth, Decision, and Conflict.

As you may already know, we often experience life in cycles of learning, leaving, and moving forward. Today’s reading beautifully encapsulates these cycles through the Eight of Cups, Seven of Pentacles, and Five of Swords cards.

The Eight of Cups represents an important decision: whether to leave behind things that no longer serve purpose in our lives. Much like the stoic principle of understanding that some things are in our control and some are not, we should focus our energy on what we can change. Remember the words of Marcus Aurelius, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” In the Eight of Cups, we see a figure leaving behind a stack of cups, demonstrating the difficult but often necessary act of stepping away from emotional connections that no longer provide joy or growth.

The next card, the Seven of Pentacles, exhorts us to be patient and keep our mind focused on the larger goal. This card pertains to growth, effort, and investment, essentially, the fruits of our labour. As stoics, we understand that patience is key to our character. We work tirelessly, with consistent and determined effort. We put our energy into what brings us closer to our true selves and our long-term goals. Remember that Seneca cautioned us to “judge a man by his actions with men and his discourses with himself, and then we shall see how he stands in regard to the two things on which all his happiness depends.”

Finally, the Five of Swords speaks of conflict and tension. Although this card is often seen as negative, we can take a Stoic stance and view it as a reminder that strife is a part of life, and how we deal with these trials speaks to our character. As stated by Epictetus, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” We are presented with challenges not to break us, but to build us. The swords in the image may appear overwhelming, but remember, it is the brave who choose to walk the path of challenges and rise beyond them.

Today’s reading encourages us to make thoughtful decisions, work patiently towards our goals, and to deal wisely with inevitable conflicts. Although these challenges may seem demanding, approach them with an open heart and a clear mind.

To further delve into your reflections on today’s reading, consider the following journaling prompt: Reflect on a decision you’re wrestling with right now. Why is it challenging? What potential growth or transformation might come from this decision, and how can you deal with conflicts that may arise?