Lessons of Plenty
- Erica Lauren of M’Press Tarot & Ting
In a world where wealth and resources are hoarded by few and scarcity is the programmed energy of the masses, it can be tough to conceive of an abundant life.
How do we connect to the vibration of abundance when all wealth “around” us has been created by starvation induced demand? What is “plenty” to those raised in the fierce grip of exaggerated supply and demand?
How do we convince our survival instincts to relax into the decadence of plenty?
How do we exist as community in a world designed according to “survival of the fittest?”
These are the questions rattling around my heart, mind, and soul as I dare for more while reclaiming myself.
From my reflections I gleam the following:
1|What is plenty to some is scarcity to others.
Sometimes we get sucked into comparing our lives to that of others. We become inclined to judge and find fault with what pleases and satisfies us if those in positions we aspire to- consider them settling or somehow less than.
We tune into self-improvement messages and can walk away feeling inadequate.
One of the things I constantly remind myself, and those who work with me, is that we don’t have to look down on who we are or what we have in order to improve. We don’t have to devalue what we have, to honor maintaining a connection to the energy of abundance means recognizing the worth of what’s already enjoyable in your life.
Keeping track of the inherent value of things and experiences has been a key practiced for me.
Believe it or not family gratitude check-ins DO work. Day by day, one little thing at a time I’ve found genuine comfort that I may not be rich, but I have ALWAYS been wealthy.
2|What is not enough or too much is allowed to change.
Different life cycles require different things. I had to free myself from feeling beholden to what was considered enough or too much according to my parents, my previous self, and/or those in positions I’ve moved on from.
Choosing different, at either end of the spectrum, can induce survivor’s guilt, being labeled as “fake” or “acting too good”, and imposter syndrome. They all take turns tempting us to remain in stagnancy, lack, and misalignment.
Some seasons of life will call for more, some, for less. Give yourself the gift of flexibility.
3|All tings ebb, all tings flow
I recently took part in a 21 Day Abundance challenge inspired by Deepak Chopra and facilitated by Gangsta Gurry and towards the end of the journey we meditated on an old parable. We manifest brighter, fuller days but it is integral to practice nonattachment in our highest times just as in our lowest ones; faithfully accepting that “this too shall pass”. Humankind is no stranger to the circle of life. We experience it first-hand alongside Mama Tierra with the change of the seasons. We feel the shifting pulls of Mama Luna each night.
What goes up, must come down, things come and eventually go,thus is the polar nature of life cycles. It is okay to grieve the endings of things, we just can’t forget the end is necessary.
When mourning is especially heavy I remind myself every end is also a beginning and all beginnings are opportunities for a graceful end.
I leave the parable here for your consideration:
This too shall pass
There was a king and he once said to the court sages, "I have a ring with one of the finest diamonds in the world and I want to hide a message under the stone that can be useful in a situation of extreme despair. I will give this ring to my heirs and I want it to serve faithfully. Think of what kind of message will be there. It must be very short to fit in the ring."
The sages knew how to write treatises, but did not express themselves in one short sentence. They thought and thought, but didn't come up with anything.
The king complained about the failure of his venture to a faithful old servant who raised him from infancy and was part of the family. And the old man said to him:
“I’m not a sage. I’m not educated, but I know such a message. During the many years spent in the palace, I've met a lot of people, and once I served a visiting mystic, whom your father invited, and he gave me this message; just don’t read it..save it and open it only when there’s no way out at all."
The king listened to the old servant.
After some time, the enemies attacked the country and the king lost the war. He fled on his horse and enemies pursued him. He was alone and there were many of them. He drove to the end of the road. There was a huge, deep cliff before him; if he fell there, it would be the end. He could not go back, the enemies were approaching, he already heard the clatter of their horses' hooves. He had no way out. He was in complete despair.
And then he remembered the ring. He opened it and under a stone found an inscription: “This too shall pass.”
After reading the message, he felt that everything was quiet. Apparently the pursuers got lost and proceeded in the wrong direction. Horses were no longer heard.
The king was filled with gratitude to the servant and the unknown mystic. Words were powerful. He closed the ring. And hit the road. Again he gathered his army and returned to his state.
On the day when he returned to the palace, they arranged a magnificent meeting, a feast for the whole world - the people loved their king. The king was happy and proud.
An old servant came up to him and said softly: “Even this moment is coming. Look at the message again.”
"Now I am a winner, people are celebrating my return, I'm not in despair, not in a hopeless situation."
“Listen to the old servant,” he answered, “the message works not only in moments when everything is bad, but also in moments of victory.”
The king opened the ring and read: "This too shall pass."
And again he felt a silence fall over him, although he was in the midst of a noisy dancing crowd. His pride dissolved. He understood the message. He was a wise man.
Erica Lauren
M'Press Tarot & Ting
Website: M'Press' Divine Garden
IG: @mpress.of.brilliance
Cashapp: $mpresstarot
