Daring to Live a New Way

today's tarot cards

I pulled a couple of tarot cards this morning, like I do most mornings. I shuffle the cards and talk to my dad, talk to the universe, talk to God and ask whatever that energy around me and within me to … speak to me.

“These are heavy days”, I said. “So much is happening in our family, our lives, our world. What word of wisdom do I need as I step into this day?”

The cards I pulled were “The Sun” and the “King of Wands”.

On “The Sun” card there’s a child riding a horse with the sun shining from behind, guiding the way. The child is smiling, the sun is focused, and the path is clear.

In his book, “Fearless Tarot” Elliot Adam says that “The Sun’ arrives to tell you to lighten up. Stop being negative about life’s snafus as they appear. It may get dark periodically, but it won’t stay that way for long. Like the sunflowers, turn your face toward the light. Everything is working out just as it should.”

Can you believe that?

Can I believe that?

Can we believe that?

Do we dare?

Everyone has been feeling the weight of election week - there are so many charged emotions around the outcome. Some are celebrating, some are mourning … many are terrified, fearing the worst.

Sigh.

And I feel this, and my heart breaks - it breaks for those who are afraid, it breaks for the division around us.

But.

In the midst of it all.

… I can’t help but hold onto hope that love will always win.

Yes, there will be hard times.

Yes, there will be seasons of grief.

Yes, there will be moments we wish we could avoid.

Yes, there will be times when we need to fight.

Yes, there will be loss and heartache and terror in life.

BUT.

These times will not last forever, love will always win - this is something I dare to believe, I dare to hold on to.

And, please know - that isn’t meant to downplay people’s real and justified fears.

Not at all.

It just means that after the dust settles, after people sit with their grief … when they are ready to stand up and emerge once again, “LOVE” is one of the many responses we CAN choose.

It’s not the one people HAVE to choose.

It’s not the ONLY choice.

BUT.

It’s A choice.

The other day my friend Rabbi Brian said on Facebook that in the wake of the election and with the waves of fear and anger and shock that came with it, “I’m gonna double down on love. What else is there?”

Yes.

I feel this.

I want this.

May love be the light that guides us forward in the midst of our confusion and anger and grief and longing for things to be different.

A few days ago Jordan asked me about the election. She’s 7 and she came home from school the day BEFORE the election terrified about who would win. Apparently some kids in her class have parents who were planning to vote for Trump while others were planning to vote for Harris and BOTH groups of kids were parroting back things they heard from home - “if Trump wins it’s going to be SO bad for everyone” and “if Harris wins it’s going to be SO bad for everyone” … and she was clearly distraught and scared.

“What if they’re right?”

“What if there’s a war?”

“What if people get mean?”

“What if we can’t afford groceries?”

… So many things coming from the shaking voice of my little girl.

And what do you say, right?

I mean.

What do you say to a 7 year old when she’s covered in fears she can’t possibly understand or process, fears she’s not meant to bear?

Ugh.

I’ve discovered as a parent, though, that these moments are important - how do you explain these moments of hate and judgement and fear in ways that a child can process, learn from, and move forward in - in ways that are healthy and helpful?

It’s an important question to wrestle with, I think.

And so I took a deep breath and said, “look - you and I have very, very little control over what happens on election day and who the next president will be. Whoever wins will win by MILLIONS of votes, whoever loses will lose by MILLIONS of votes. However, one thing we do have complete control over? How we carry ourselves into the days after the election. We can point fingers at people who voted for ‘the other person’ and we can judge them and shame them and distance ourselves from them and talk about how much we HATE Trump or HATE Harris OR we can choose to love people and be kind. Why? Because at the end of the day, election day will come and go and although a new President will be in the White House - our neighbors will still be in their houses next door, down the street, etc. and we need to live with one another and work together to make our world a better place. And honestly? I’m not sure how that looks, especially with all the hate and anger flying around … but I have to believe that love can and will win in the end.”

Yes - “The Sun” … I believe the message of this card is that the light of love will guide the way.

And the “King of Wands”?

Well.

Not many people are happy with me these days. I’m in a place in my spiritual journey (and have been for about a year) where I’ve been very focused on ONENESS and the UNITY of all things.

In short (and we’ve talked about this on the podcast A LOT) - the Breath of the Divine, I believe, is pulsating through EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. I call it “The Cosmic Christ”, the deep breath of air that energized the cosmos with life billions of years ago.

The breath is in you.

The breath is in me.

The breath is in our friends.

The breath is in our families.

The breath is those who think like us.

The breath is in those who think very differently than us.

The breath is in our enemies.

And since we’re all connected, I believe that whatever we do to another we do to ourselves and so love and grace and kindness and curiosity are always the best ways to move forward.

Of course, sometimes our love will be met with hate and (in those cases), strict boundaries need to be drawn and relationships may need to end. We can’t walk around being doormats and just accepting everything and turning a blind eye to evil in the name of unity.

BUT.

Love - love is the thing that (as Rabbi Brian said above) I’m trying to double down on these days, even if I don’t always know what that looks like.

Because …

It’s new to me.

It’s a new way of thinking.

It feels like a narrow road not many are traveling.

I’m figuring it out.

I’m playing with the ideas.

I’m “deconstructing” yet another way of life, exploring something new.

I don’t have all the answers, not at all.

Anyways, so not many people are happy with my approach of love, unity, oneness, etc. I shared a few days ago that a progressive friend / podcast guest emailed me and told me that I’m a “special kind of vile” (direct quote) because of my emphasis on love and kindness and told me he’s unsubscribing from my work, withdrawing support, and expects me to “shame” people who vote for Trump.

Family members.

Friends.

Neighbors.

… Everyone.

And this person? He’s a PhD and Professor of Religion and a major university.

Others have dropped similar hints.

I’ve lost 12 Patreon supporters over the last year.

Our income has taken a hit.

BUT.

I don’t know. I used to stand on the RIGHT and shout shame and judgement at everyone who voted for Obama, Clinton, etc. and then I stood on the LEFT and shouted that same energy at everyone who voted for Bush, Trump, etc.

Now?

I’m at a place where I don’t want to become the same energy I left behind even if I’m directing it at a different group of people, standing in favor of a different candidate with a different set of ideals. I want to choose a different way. I’m ready for a different way. In a world that says there is an US and a THEM and that we need to side with one and shame the other, I want to dare to wonder - “what if there’s only an US … and what if there’s a way to navigate these charged moments with that in mind, without bending or sacrificing our own ideals, passions, and beliefs … while we resist hate, resist evil, etc? What if love and unity can be the focus the whole way through?”

And so the “King of Wands” - Elliot says in his book that this King reminds us that “we are competent and we belong and deserve a seat at the table in front of us. Don’t look at others and assume they are better because they have a greater position or schooling or ideas or passion or this or that. Tell the malicious voice to take a hike.”

I needed that this morning. After that email came through the other day, I wanted to give up. I wanted to go silent, to revert back to shouting at “the other side” and casting judgement and shame.

“Maybe this person would approve of me again?”

“Maybe my Patreon supporters would come back?”

“Maybe our income wouldn’t be as tight?”

But today the “King of Wands” and “The Sun” appeared to say, “no - your message of love and kindness and oneness and unity in these times has a place at the table. Other people might have ideas that are more approved of and more well-liked, but yours come from your unique experience and just as we need people talking about ‘taking a stand’ and ‘fighting back’ and all the things, we also need people like you - bringing their unique perspective to the conversation. So don’t back down. Don’t shut up. Keep refining the message, keep working it out in your life - let the Light of Love light the way.”

My friend - the world needs your voice in these times, with whatever message you have to bring; and these moments of despair will not last forever. Love will win. Love always wins. Let’s not give up.

That’s the message of “The Sun” and the “King of Wands” today.

Much love,

• Glenn || PATREON / ART STUDIO