“Sometimes it’s better to go deeper with a few things, and keep your focus to those few things, rather than being distracted by or perhaps even overwhelmed by many things.”
– Nicole Cody (from my journal, 24 Jan, 2025)
Hey, Lovelies.
Are you using my Planner? And if you are, have you chosen your Guiding Card for the year? (It’s on pages 20 and 21 if you haven’t done that yet.)
One of the most important cards I pull for myself in my yearly 10 card spread is the first one – the Guiding Card. This is the card in the spread that represents who you are, what your potential is in the year ahead, and clues as to who you are becoming. It helps you to see aspects of yourself that you can refine, or leave behind.
My card for the year? 12. The Hanged Man (this is from Chris-Anne’s The Light Seer’s Tarot)
Of course, when I pulled this card I had not yet begun my latest treatment regime for late-stage Lyme, Bartonella and Sarcoidosis. I knew the treatment was coming, but at that stage our plan (with my medical team) was that I was going to ‘roll on and off’ a chemotherapy drug all year, so that I’d have periods of being ill, and periods of being okay. That was what I thought upside-down meant. Minorly inconvenient, but manageable.
Yeah. 🤣
Should have paid more attention to a) my Guiding Card and b) what I wrote in my Planner and journal. Things that included me wisely writing ‘turning my life upside-down this year’ and ‘surrendering to the will of the Cosmos’ and this precious (and somewhat hilarious) nugget – ‘Stop trying to fix it. Smash it all down and build something new.’
I’m only 3 weeks into 2025 and already that treatment plan has changed to 3 or 4 months of hardcore lyme drugs (at least) before we begin the roll on, roll off chemo drugs. Which means no breaks for recovery or feeling better. It’s just one long slog until chemo.
Surrender to the will of the Cosmos indeed.
I’ve had a little chuckle at myself for that. But then I’ve gone deeper. (Because what’s the point of pulling a card to guide you for an entire year and then only looking at it once?!)
I’ve looked that card and asked myself, what else do I see/feel/sense?
Things I didn’t notice before?
- How well supported that hanging woman is, and how she can choose to create balance and stability for herself, even in the predicament she is in.
- It’s only by being upside down that she has this new perspective and can see the patterns and guidance that is now right in front of her.
- When she has found what she needs she can easily turn herself right-side up again.
- Effortless realignment. (Oh, tell me more, Universe!)
That’s helpful for me right now. That’s useful and meaningful.
No doubt, as I continue to look at my card and my notes this year more will come to me. That’s the gift a Guiding Card brings.
So, it looks like this year may be a little messier and unplannable that I had originally figured. Because, of course, surrender is ALL ABOUT GIVING OVER CONTROL. A bit hard for a control freak like me, so, well played, Universe, well played.
How about you?
What is your year looking like? Where do you plan to take advantage of these wonderful energies around pattern-breaking, healing and new directions forward? Anything you’d like support with?
Let me know in the comments, or over on Facebook.
Love, laughs, a slight moment of eye-rolling or two, and a determination that this truly be a year where I surrender to this greater energy and wisdom in my life, because, honestly, what else can I do? Love you! Nicole xx
PS – I have a big sale on right now. Details below.
I’m running a big sale at Amazon and in my Etsy store until the end of this month. Right now you’ll find my hard copy and digital copy of The Journeymaker’s Planner on sale at 45% off. Having a planner on hand will be so useful for when I run my free 30 day Planner Challenge in March. You can buy them here:
Amazon USA – Hard Copy – Free shipping for Prime members
Amazon Australia – Hard Copy – Free shipping for Prime members
Nicole’s Etsy Store – Hard Copy and Digital Copy (printable and editable) – Love letters and extra magic from me!
I’m also marking down almost everything in my Etsy store for the month, so pop in and stock up on gifts for yourself and your loved ones.
Nicole’s Etsy Store – for crystals, malas, journals, bracelets and essential oils.
Here’s a lovely review from Becca, who purchased my Planner from Etsy recently:
My word for is appreciation as I appreciate all those in my life and try to show it
Hanging in there and doing what I can each day. Trying to pull out of negative and focus on what is possible today. I let too much stop me. But right working on refining my schedule of have tos. Optimal times for walking, eating, meds, meditation etc. based on my medical needs and health issues. The rest of my days are filled with deciding what I want to do. Far more harder for me as I explore slowly. Not getting into old patterns. Of course the old fears and panic have raised their heads but I am working on finding new ways to turn them around. This will be a long slog but I am hanging in there. My word is Seek. It feels fitting for this year.
Meant to also say I revisited my guiding card and it was fascinating how much more I saw that led to new insights and positive possibilities. Thanks for the reminder.
Keeping you in my prayers, Nicole. I choose “renew” for my word of the year, not really knowing what I mean by it. The drugs my doctor has prescribed for my asthma and rising cholesterol are severely impacting my ability to function in my day-to-day life. I am cutting back on the medications, adding cholesterol-lowering supplements and am beginning to follow a mediterranean diet, hoping to be able to eliminate the medications. Wishing everyone a “renewing” of their lives.
Today a poem found me that reminded me of you.
Even in the blackest of nights
the dark
will mark you
with stars
and in
your star-studded skin
you will illuminate
everything around you
mihka
I changed my word for 2025, “easy” will be my power word,my switch word, my mantra. Contrary to all I ever believed. New thoughts, new me, I hope.
Sending you a big hug