“Each day provides its own gifts.” Marcus Aurelius

Daniel Goleman, the writer who boosted the popularity of Emotional Intelligence, writes about Self Management.  I see this concept in Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Habit 1: Be Proactive.

Viktor E. Frankl also explained this theory in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy. Frankl said that we have the ability to choose. Not only that, we can choose our conscious behaviors in any situation.

Daniel Goleman calls it “Self Regulation.” Stephen Covey calls it “Be Proactive” describes the choices we have between stimulus and response. Call it whatever makes sense to you.

It’s exerting control over yourself as you develop your own Self awareness. Self-management enables you to respond with your higher self. It can supersede the automatic reactions that we use for self-preservation. Self-management is using the choice we have over our own actions.

I see this in The Magician, Major Arcana Card II of the Rider Waite deck. He has everything he needs. He is signaling with his gestures, “As above, so below.” His tools are in front of him.  This could be interpreted as mind over matter. Will he use his choices?

I also see this concept in various minor arcana cards. We exert choices in our daily lives. For example, notice the V of Cups, the VI of Swords and the VI of Pentacles. It appears that each of the characters is making some kind of choice.

Self awareness is a very popular topic in self-development and self-help. This is my first post about this rich subject.

For purposes on the Pava Pages, self-awareness is..

• At the core of tarot.  Many of us use tarot to get a view of what’s going on with our own “stuff”
• Being aware of our own emotions, what inspires us, holds us back or pushes those dangerous emotional buttons
• Looking through an honest mirror, seeing all our gifts, wants, warts, and fears
• The ability to identify responses coming from the old “lizard brain” (more about that in another post) rather than the higher brain
• A lifelong journey –  a journey of knowing and understanding one’s self

Self awareness is looking inward, and for me, one card that symbolizes this is the High Priestess.

The High Priestess is Major Arcana Card II.  She strives for balance, as shown between the two pillars, one dark and one light.

The High Priestess follows The Magician, who shows us the physical tools that will help him do what he desires.  She is able to see secrets of herself and of others, many of which are hidden.

The High Priestess is able to collect this secret knowledge.  She holds a document, of which we can see the letters, TORA, partially hidden under her garment.

This card almost explodes with symbolism, including the crescent moon at her feet lighting the hidden secrets under the water, and her robe becoming the water.

The tri-moon symbol on her head reminds me that in folk traditions and some spiritual beliefs the moon and its phases are used for planting, fertility and/or celebrating the feminine.

Watery blue is abundant in this card. Water is mysterious, yet it also promotes growth.  The High Priestess can help us see under its surface.

Pomegranates on the screen or curtain symbolize fertility and richness – of thought, perhaps.

If The High Priestess comes up in any position during a reading you might want to consider the aspect of self-awareness and self-knowledge.  Look at the cards around her for more clues. Think about your capabilities.  What are you using or not using that could help you?