Spirituals
I remember as a child staring into the iris of my hazel brown eyes, repeatedly questioning who I was- who I am. I would reach a point in the questioning where I would say “in that kind of way”. I grew out of the habit, and forgot about it for some time. Recently I remembered the behavior and reflected on the question, “who am I?” and the moment I would arrive at the affirmation “in that kind of way”. I would arrive at an internal point of recognition that who I am is different than who I have been: Jane is in this life, but who I am has existed before Jane. I think those moments of meditation in the mirror as a child were the beginnings of my spiritual practices, seeking my placement in the Universe, accessing my higher self and my mission here on Earth.
I am still getting comfortable talking about my spiritual practices and beliefs. Because they don’t fall into a single category, church or belief system, I have a fears of feeling like an outsider or like I don’t belong. Sharing my practices and beginning to talk about my belief systems has been incredibly liberating for me. I find these practices help me locate my spiritual self, that Self that I was asking for as a child, help me love her, and give her the nutrients she seeks.
Practice
Daily Tarot Reads
My mother got me into the practice of daily tarot reads. I would often turn to the cards on solstices, new moons, full moons or when I was facing a particular hardship or challenge. Incorporating a daily tarot pull has helped me gain familiarity with the cards, how my spiritual self is present with the cards and what ways my spiritual guides and ancestors present themselves physically in my body. Having a daily practice has allowed me to get in touch with myself and the answers I seek. Asking daily questions to the universe and my guides promotes a deeper understanding of myself as well. By posing questions daily, I engage with both my conscious and subconscious Self. If there is any question I have throughout the course of the day, I spend time arriving at the root of the question and pose it to the cards the next day. For example I was questioning my career path, value and worth as it relates to my job search. I asked the cards “what tools should I leverage in my job search”. Often the cards provide direct answers, sometimes their cryptic nature reflects a lack of readiness within myself for the answer to the question.
Meditation
Another practice born out of time spent with my mother. My meditation practice began with Deepak Chopra daily meditations, and has begun to grow from there. I love a good guided meditation with visualizations, but the deeper I have engaged with my practice, the more I have begun to settle into the comfort of simply sitting in silence and thinking about nothing at all. It has gotten to the point that I can't quite get through a day without a meditation.
Prayer
The power of prayer is amazing. I have been praying nightly for some years now, and I think it was the very beginning of my practice in terms of reacquainting me with my spiritual self. I came up with the words of my nightly prayer on my own, but the more I listened to the prayers of other women of color in my circle, I was surprised to see how similar they are. Regardless of difference when it comes to who we are praying to, the words are comfortably similar. Coming humbly from a place of love, giving thanks, recognizing our relationship with God (universe, Allah, spirit guides, ancestors), asking for guidance and protection. The more I engage with different belief systems, I pick up different tools and ways of praying.
Reading for Others
The most basic reading I love to do for others is a calculation of the soul card, and daily affirmations based upon the soul card. I love engaging with tarot cards as a meditation tool, and offering it as a sort of introduction to the cards. The first readings I did for others were with affirmation cards. I would do a three card pull with specific questions for each card, regarding approach to a specific area of growth each of my roommates was facing. “What should I meditate on for my personal growth in this upcoming week?” “What should I think about as I grow professionally?” “How can I express myself creatively?”
Would You Like a Reading
I am excited to offer virtual tarot readings and card readings, as well as personalized affirmations based on your soul card and sun sign. Contact me for more info!