Recently I have been noticing a trend in my community of amazing tarot peeps.  There are certain cards that are repeatedly coming up for people right now.  One of the cards that has been making itself known on a regular basis is this one:

Um…. HELLO!  The Four of Swords is all about taking a rest.  Like for realz.  The kind of resting that’s not just putting your feet up on a Sunday afternoon.  This is the kind of rest that is RESTORATIVE for your mind, body and spirit.  This is the kind of message that is telling you to step out of the church of busy that our culture is so intent to worship at.

Seriously, people, get the hell out of the Church of Busy.

But what does this mean exactly?  Well, it doesn’t surprise me that this card is coming up for people at this time of year.  This is the time of year where we are gearing up for the holiday season, and usually the time of year when volunteering and fundraising for schools and organizations are hitting high gear.  Everyone wants a piece of your attention and most importantly your energy.  And for the love of Mike, you only have a certain amount to give!

We need permission to say “no” on a regular basis.  If you are the type of person who has a hard time saying no, and believes that every time your child’s school or hockey club calls wanting you to join yet another committee, that you must say “yes”, then this post is for you.

Now listen up.. this is mama talking.

The thing is when we allow ourselves to get caught up in the church of busy, it makes us feel important. Or it can also mean we don’t have time to deal with our own personal deep shit.  This is truth, and the truth hurts.  But what you are telling your own soul and spirit when you’re “too busy” is, “I don’t have time for you. You are not a priority to me.”  And guess what happens?

You get sick.  You start to have injuries.

When the Four of Swords appears it doesn’t mean you are heading for  burnout, it means you are already there.   In fact, you have probably started to experience one of the more troubling effects of the church of busy… physical illness or injury.

If you are getting sick, you must must heed the call of the Four of Swords.  You must retreat to a quiet place and reassess how you can step out of business today.  Now.  Start taking stuff off of your plate.  Start saying no.

Chances are when you do, and are honest about the reason why, the people you say no to will reveal that, guess what?  They have pulled into the burnout station too.

We all have.

And it’s time to take the next exit ramp to restful mindfulness.  And that doesn’t mean taking up yoga, or a meditation class.  Good lord.  That would be adding another thing to do on your plate!  Maybe in a couple of weeks, but the four of Swords is saying to cease and desist as much as you can right now.

Cease and desist.  Not register and enrol!

Now this doesn’t mean that meditation and yoga are not what you need right now, far from it!  You probably need more of those kinds of things.  But only, and I mean only if it does not add to your “must do’s” but adds to your energy tank.  And only you know if it will or if it won’t.   How do you know for sure if a restorative activity is the prescription for your burnout?  Well, we’ve talked about this before, thaaat’s right… listening to your body.  Paying attention to how you feel when you look at your calendar and your appointment schedule.

Take a look at your calendar and begin to cross off things that are not absolutely essential to you or your family’s health, and household and direct work related events or appointments.  For me, recently, it even meant rescheduling a lunch date with a friend.  I know, right?  A FRIEND!  That’s relaxing right?  Normally it is.  But when you are in the burnout, even a lovely lunch with a friend, not the LUNCH itself, just the impending time of the lunch that will add to your overall stress.  I’m not even kidding about this.  It’s true.  Now if a friend calls you spur of the moment, and says, “Lunch?”  And you say, “Hellz YEAH!”  And if you feel more refreshed and renewed after, then that is a whole other thing and totally go for it!

But, on the other hand, if you look at your calendar… like right now, go and have a look, I’ll wait.

How’d you do?  Anything make you feel like…”I just can’t.”  Why not consider striking it and rescheduling when your energy tank is more full?  A full tank means less stress and more ability to cope with your life and the challenges it brings. It means living more fully into the juiciness that is YOUR life.  Something we all deserve.  You too!

If you are worshipping at the church of busy, and if this post resonates with you at all, share in the comments what things you are going to begin to rearrange to honour taking care of your BIG THREE.. .mind, body AND spirit this week, and share in the comments.  I would love to hear from you!