Embracing The Depths: Navigating the Drowned Man in Tarot and Life

Mama, Goddess, Queen, Woman,

Let's dive into the pages of my own memoir, where the inverted Drowned Man in Tarot feels like a mirror reflecting the struggle of someone who's usually perceived as having it all together. Picture this - a person of stature in the business or social scene, drowning in sorrow, debt, and loss. The suffocating feeling of trying to keep up appearances while facing an internal storm. It hits close to home, doesn't it?

For years, I've felt like I'm drowning, not in water but in stress, anxiety, and this constant battle to meet unrealistic expectations. You know those days when you're submerged in your own pool of ambition, dysfunction, and relentless self-judgment? It's a wild ride, and I've been on it for quite a while.

I'll never forget what my mentor said after one of my dances, "It's like you're drowning, being pulled down by something. You want to desperately get up, but you're stuck." She hit the nail on the head. I was drowning in the fear that my relationship wasn't what I wanted anymore. Gasping for air, feeling unchosen and uncherished. That was 15 years ago.

What’s been happening for 15 years? I thought I was really doing the work, but in fact, I had merely been excavating surface level. And it worked. I was promoted, I was called a leader, I earned opportunities and acknowledgments. Yet, I was still drowning; I had just learned to drown quietly.

But, you know what? We're not alone in this. Many of us are navigating these rough waters. The Drowned Man card, both in the Tarot and in the chapters of my life, serves as a stark reminder to confront our struggles and break free from the cycles that only intensify the stress. It's about emerging from the depths stronger and truer to ourselves.

Self-compassion becomes the life jacket we so desperately need in these tumultuous seas. It's that gentle acknowledgment that we're not alone. Understanding that others share similar situations, thoughts, and feelings becomes the first breath of resuscitation. So, let's navigate our way back to the surface together, my friend, with a deeper understanding and empathy for ourselves and those treading water alongside us.