“Your reality is as you perceive it to be. So, it is true, that by altering this perception we can alter our reality.” ~ William Constantine
As a tarot reader, especially in Indonesia, I came across several clients who are more interested in knowing what’s waiting for them in the future rather than finding out what can be done in their present to achieve a desirable future. “How is my financial situation next year?” “Will I find a husband soon?”, and so on. Eventually, all they wanted was to get what they have always been wanted; happiness. Yet, my answer to them has always been the same. I prefer not to predict the exact future as their future lies in their own hands. Thus, in some cases, I believe that humans are in total control of shaping their future and happiness if they let their consciousness to take control of their reality.
Reality is how we see the world and perceive ourselves as a part of the system that binds us as humans. Without a deeper understanding of reality, we are nothing but living breathing humans who live in our mind-made reality with no desires or aspirations to fulfill. We go to work, eat, sleep, just as beings. We touch and feel through our senses just as they exist without any awareness that we can pop the bubbles and see a clearer path. Hinduism introduces the concept of Maya or illusion where our lives are similar to dreams. The world is akin to a magic show, with smoke and mirrors illusion, duping us to think that our potential is limited to this reality. But we don’t have to succumb to it. We can expand our consciousness to fulfill our needs, our thirst, and hunger.
As humans, we are built with wants and needs. On an ethereal level, our desire is to love and be loved, to be happy, and to be showered with kindness by other human beings. We desire for peace and wisdom, without having the need for conflict. Everything that we do or work towards in this world, including the ones in material form, are bound to lead to our ethereal needs before we know it. Happiness can only be achieved if we know how to identify what is our ethereal needs and shape our reality to work towards it.
The first step in altering our reality is to accept our present. Acceptance and acknowledgement of unfortunate situation that we are currently experiencing is the initial step towards happiness. For instance, I used to work in a company that pays very little, but I had to stay because of my contract. Technically, my chance to leave the company is pretty slim. In that situation, I started off with acceptance. “Well, at least I have great colleagues here.”, so I thought. Step two is to continue in assessing our feelings about it. Can we find peace through acceptance? Or do we really have to do something about it? Assess the situation from the scale of ‘Thank you for this experience‘ to ‘Unbearable‘ and see where we stand. If ‘Unbearable’ is your answer, then it’s time to move on to the next step.
There are two options to choose from the second step. Either we change our perception about the reality, or move out of that situation. See if we can find a balance first before we decide for the latter. In my case, after working for a few months and realising that the salary really wasn’t enough for my expenses, I tried to change how I perceive this situation. “Although this company was pretty stingy, I can see this opportunity as a way to build my network and to spruce up my resume.” I decided to work my way to get enough clients to notice me so one day I can quit my job and relocate to their companies.
If you can’t find happiness through the first option, you can opt for the second one. The second option is necessary if you can’t be bothered to stay anymore. I had rashes all over my body a few weeks before my contract ended. Apparently it was how my body reacted to months of accumulated stress and hours of lack of sleep. Although my mind had settled with the first option, my soul hadn’t. So I answered the call, I quit right after my contract ended without any job offer waiting ahead and finally found my happiness.
Happiness is an abstract thing that cannot be attained through money, career, or by having an arm candy on our side. It can only be achieved by understanding who we are and our ethereal needs. Once we are ready to be happy, we will feel it right through our heart chakra. That one-of-a-kind warmth that keeps us from sleeping because our reality is finally better than our dreams. If we haven’t, our soul will ensure that we get the message by shaking things up, waking us from our reality in order to alter it the way it wants us to. So, are you ready for the wake up call?
Written by Foxglove Tarot
Photo credit by Annie Spratt, Erik Johansson (Featured image)
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