Take a Break

From the Motherpeace Tarot, the Four of Discs; from the Toltec Oracle, 'Senteotl:'

          According to the companion booklet, this woman is closing off the world for a brief time in order to rest. It made me think of the novel The Red Tent in which women would go away from the tribe during their monthly cycle; it was a time for them to relax rather than work. I think everyone would benefit from a monthly sabbatical, even if it was only a weekend. Nothing wrong with giving our bodies a little tender care and consideration since we require so much from them. Senteotl literally means 'divine unity' and was seen as a genderless energy that was the whole made of many parts. The different gods of this culture were simply facets of one giant gem (Senteotl), each representing the nature of reality's parts. Both cards are a reminder that there should be times set aside for work, rest and play. Though some parts of life are more fun than others, we need the totality of all to be a healthy whole.

 But your brain’s ability to focus only lasts about 90 minutes before you need to take a break.

If you ignore signs from your body that you need a rest — difficulty concentrating, physical restlessness, irritability — your productivity will wane. Instead, completely focus your energy in 90-minute cycles. Set an alarm, turn off your phone, close unnecessary windows on your computer, and put a sign on your office door. When the time is up, take a needed break, even if you’re on a roll — go for a walk, take care of an easy task, read an article, etc. Once rested, get back into your focused state. ~ Harvard Business Review