Self-Awareness

From the Forest of Enchantment Tarot, the Two of Challenges (Swords); from the Mystic Mushrooms, The Deceiver:

Part of self-awareness is self-honesty, which allows us to clearly see our strengths and weaknesses as well as our motives, beliefs and emotions. Most of us might think we know ourselves pretty well, but the ego is a master of protecting and projecting a good self-image; it won't hesitate to release ideas in the mind to encourage us to run and hide (even if we have the potential to accomplish something) or jump in with both feet (even if we don't have the skills or knowledge). What we think of ourselves may be very different from who we are, which changes daily. And as Bence Nanay put it, "If we change while our self-image remains the same, then there will be a deep abyss between who we are and who we think we are." The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is a mushroom hard to identify because it can shift its shape and color as it grows. Its cap may be convex or flat and its color can range from pink, red, orange or brown. Its message is to check ourselves for self-deception: Do my actions match my beliefs? Are my choices based on emotion or on deeply-held values? What are my strengths and weaknesses?