Self-Preservation

From the Brady Tarot, the Four of Arrows (Swords); from the Citadel Deck, Aspirant:

The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you've lost it.

— Anonymous

The Aspirant advocates reaching for goals, which provides them with a purpose. But it is advisable that any ambition be balanced with self-care if we are to maintain our physical and mental health. There are many who have difficulties noticing imbalance - especially those who work to help those in need, or activists who work for justice and reform - until they keel over with exhaustion and stress. The Four of Arrows (Swords) suggests a time of temporary withdrawal. It is illustrated with a nightjar, a bird with excellent camouflaging skill. As Audre Lorde said, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation..."

More Than Once

From the Brady Tarot, the Ten of Roots (Pentacles); from the Citadel Oracle, the Aspirant:

Your life can end at any time, and it can end more than once. But it can also begin more than once.

― Michael R French

The Ten of Roots represents a time when we experience the abundance and richness of life, not just financially, but also in the world around us. At this peak, we can sit complacently for a while, but change will inevitably cause us to slide down our mountain. Yet the Aspirant suggests we can set our sights on another hill to climb. Setbacks are natural and shouldn't convince us to give up our quest - we can just take another trail. The choice to reinvent ourselves over and over is always there if we're willing to make the effort. As my mother-in-law used to say (at age 90), "Keep on keeping on."