I’m a worrier. As an introvert, I overthink everything. As an empath I’m highly sensitive to the emotions that are around me, and right now, the predominant emotion is anxiety. I have my own anxiety, compounded with feeling the anxiety of others in my heart and body.
Many Tarot people are introverts and empaths, so I imagine you’re carrying the weight of the current atmosphere, too. Reading Tarot helps me manage all the thoughts swirling around in my mind, and I’ve been turning to the cards to try to make sense of everything happening in the world right now. There’s so much anger, hope, determination, hate, love, despair, and fear – it is sometimes overwhelming.
Worry is connected to control. I worry about the people I love, and want to control the universe around them and keep them safe. I’m anxious that I lack the resources to navigate what the world might throw at me. Being an introvert and an empath, I have a vivid imagination that comes up with all kinds of stuff. Scenarios both wonderful and terrible.
I’m sure you can relate to these feelings of worry and anxiety. It’s a shared experience.
Meditation helps. And I am dedicated to my daily Tarot card draw, usually asking how I can make the most of the day ahead, and how I can fully show up and support myself and my loved ones.
To focus on managing worry and anxiety, I created this Tarot spread. It is centred on the idea of control, what we can and can’t control. I’ve found it to be invaluable recently and I am confident it will be helpful to you, too.
Give your cards a good shuffle. Make it a meditative exercise. Breathe, shuffle, breathe, shuffle. Do this slowly, methodically, until you feel calm.
Ask the cards, “What is in my power to control today?”.
Draw that card and lay it down. Look at that card and pay attention to the first thought, word, or image that came to mind. Then, translate that into something from your daily life. Does the image reflect something or someone that you are concerned with? Does it help you make a decision or say yes or no to an opportunity? Does it show you personal resources or strengths that you have access to? Don’t leave that card until you get the answer that you need.
Next, ask the cards, “What is not in my power to control today?”.
Follow the same process as above. Do you see yourself in that card? Someone in your life? External forces? World events? The weather? Loved ones? Once you have your answer, release that card and the desire to control. Let the need for control evaporate. Surrender and trust. You will feel a profound sense of relief as you let go of the burden of control.
Then, if you like, you can pull another card for further information about those first two cards.
For the situation you CAN control, you could ask the cards for how to navigate this situation and what steps you need to take for your best advantage or outcome.
For the situation you CAN’T control, you could ask the cards how to release this situation from your heart and mind, trust that things will flow as needed, or anything helpful the cards wish to show you.
If your anxiety is severely impacting your life and your mental health, please reach out for help. You’re not alone.