According to James Wanless, creator of the Voyager Tarot, 2013 is the year of Synergy, which embodies the visual and energetic synergy of The Lovers, this year’s numerological tarot card (2 + 0 + 1 + 3 = 6). Here, he writes the first of a projected series of three articles: how to ‘synergize yourself’, and offers up a suggested tarot reading to help you to understand how synergy can work in your life. — Sarah
For “Synergizing Yourself,” the focus of this discussion, here are the four great “SYNERGIZERS” that you can do for yourself and by yourself.
Love Yourself, Even the Shadow
First and foremost, embrace yourself, all of yourself, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Have the audacity to love yourself.
When you look at the Lovers tarot card, which is a universal and archetypal truth for total aliveness and wholeness, notice how the sculpture depicts a man and woman in embrace, but they are composed of the same stone, so its deeper essence symbolizes to enfold in your own arms all the different and various parts of yourself.
I know this may sound corny, but tell yourself that you love yourself. Please do not get caught up in all the hype about self-love being pathologically narcissistic, unless you are extreme. Some self-centeredness is absolutely required in today’s world, and in fact, studies have shown that narcissists are often the best leaders with the most charisma and creativity. To have just the right balance of self-love and collective empathy, look at your so-called ‘shadow side’, that part of you that you don’t really love, and in fact, may despise and disown.
Remember, we are talking synergy, and everything, even those gnarly parts of you, are energy. Tap into your ‘dark’ aspects because they are resources.