Lessons from the Dying: a Tarot Spread

In the Tarot community  there has been conversation around, The Top Five Regrets of Dying by Bonnie Ware, and the wisdom we can learn from those who are leaving the world and the thoughts they had about their lives.

A wonderful Tarot reader, James Wells, created a set of Tarot questions to help you uncover what you can do now to remind yourself to live the life you really want for yourself based on the regrets shared to us by the dying.

James lists his spread as follows:

                                                         1     2     3     4     5

1. How can I remain true to myself?
2. How can I remember to set work aside for other important things?
3. How can I develop and maintain the courage to express my feelings?
4. How can I remember to stay in touch with people whom I love & value?
5. How can I demonstrate my choice to be happy?

I decided that I needed to hear what the Tarot had to say to me regarding these very important reflective questions. Here is what the Tarot told me..

1. How can I remain true to myself?
        Ace/Pentacles
       
Very interestingly, almost all of my draws were major Arcana cards, what this tells me is that this is some real big picture stuff in my life!

Ace/Pentacles is a card about receiving gifts and remembering that I am a person who is worthy to receive abundance, happiness and glad tidings and that the Universe is a place of boundless gifts is part of the picture of truth that I need to remind myself of. Ace/Pentacles is the reminder that I need to see the half full glass and be grateful, life is the reward.


2. How can I remember to set work aside for other important things?
        The Fool

I tend to get intense about whatever project I am fixated on. The dissipated, fun loving random energy of the Fool reminds me to stay playful, open to new experience and most importantly, to laugh at myself.


3. How can I develop and maintain the courage to express my feelings?
        Justice

I've always had a deep sense of ethical fair play from a very young age. Life isn't fair as grow to learn but at least I feel better about the life I am living if I am expressing what feels right, what is fair and know even though it takes courage to speak up the outcome, however it does end, is worth it. Lately I have had some personal friendships shake up because I expressed how I was feeling. I feel better knowing that at the minimum I spoke up and said my peace which is far greater than suffering in silence.


4. How can I remember to stay in touch with the people whom I love & value?
          Strength

Strength has been kind of my totem card for the year, as she keeps popping up in all kinds of unexpected places. I am very independent and a trail blazer so I sometimes forget to connect with those who have loved and supported me along the way. I need to tame that wandering lion and remember to return home once in awhile.


5. How can I demonstrate my choice to be happy?
        The Emperor

I was truly surprised by this card being drawn in this way but it actually makes total sense once I thought about it. I have authority issues, and have only been happy when I decided to live the life I wanted not the one society necessarily wanted to lay out for me. Once I undertook to truly master my life and live by MY terms did who I was begin to really unfurl in an honest and radiant way.


This was an immeasurably interesting and eye opening reading! Thank you James Wells for the spread!


Would you like a sneak peek into the lessons of the dying for yourself? Contact me for a reading!