I woke up this morning making an assumption. I wondered what would happen if I stopped writing this blog. It would simplify my life, and no one would miss it. Imagine if I acted on that thought without verifying my assumptions. I would be acting like the Knight of Swords and miss out on the weekly conversations with you all on our parenting journey. Every week, we explore a Tarot card because Tarot is rich in symbology and helps us tap into our intuition.
Card of the Week: The Knight of Swords
A knight charges ahead, his sword alight as the wind blows. His visor is open, and butterflies and birds are integrated into the armor and livery. The horse seems to be looking back, wondering, "Where are you taking us?"
The Pattern It Reveals
As parents, sometimes we rush into situations full speed ahead because we believe we need to take swift action. I've come into situations armed with assumptions and accusations. The horse in this picture looks back at the knight with hesitation. I imagine it saying, "Whoa, whoa, where are we going with this?"
The feathered plumage in the visor also reminds me of Hermes, the Greek messenger of the gods. Communication needs two things: the message lands and the listener understands it.
The Question Worth Asking
Where's the fire?
Sometimes we need to rein in our thoughts. If you come into a situation hot and ready to vanquish the perceived behavior, you miss the opportunity to uncover the truth. When I was younger, my sisters held me down and tickled me, and I accidentally kicked out one of their teeth.
My mom was a beat-first-and-ask-questions-later kind of person. What would have happened if she asked what happened instead of assuming that I deliberately hurt my baby sister? I finally got an apology over twenty years later. Had she simply paused and asked questions, she would have had the opportunity to transform the situation.
One Small Experiment to Try This Week
Arm yourself with curiosity when you encounter a situation. The knight wields a sword, which is associated with thought and communication. Be like the birds and get a higher perspective. Stick with the facts instead of making assumptions.
For example, if you come home to a disaster zone, take a deep breath and calmly ask questions. "I notice all the cushions are on the ground and there are broken pieces of pottery on the floor. Walk me through what happened here." Stay curious long enough to hear the full story. You may discover that the cat knocked it over and they were trying to catch it safely using the cushions like barriers, or they were roughhousing.
Ready to lead with curiosity? The wisdom of the collective is helpful. I will be hosting a Back-to-School Webinar exploring the Stop, Start, Continue tool. We can:
Stop rushing in on the power of emotions.
Start being curious, and
Continue being loving and compassionate parents.
It will be on Tuesday, August 4th, and you have access through my Skool Community. Join today and save the date - https://www.skool.com/peaceful-parenting-9319/about
About The Author
Hi, friends 👋🏽. I'm Stacy Casson, a Lean Six Sigma certified mom of five. I used to hold a PhD in creating chaos. Now, I help other busy, overwhelmed parents have peaceful evenings and avoid dramatic mornings.
