BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality New Age What Is Your Calling?

I grew up in the Christian tradition, and we often heard about people being "called" into ministry--a feeling of Divine unction. I felt that call as a young girl.

As time goes by, and I learn and experience more, I'm convinced we all have callings. Medical intuitive and author Caroline Myss teaches that we have "sacred contracts" that we've made before incarnating--meaning that we've contracted to learn certain lessons. In the books Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by Dr. Michael Newton, he reports that we choose our life lessons before incarnating for our soul's perfection--and to grow closer to Source. In fact, the case histories that he shares in his books show that we actually "view" lives (almost like a video screen) and choose which one we'd most like to serve our highest good (in conjunction with our guides).

I'm just curious: have you ever given a thought to your calling/s? What about your life lessons? Has your calling/s changed or expanded? What lessons have you learned and how did you finally "get" them? Have you felt an "urge" to follow a certain path? Do you find yousrelf engaging in certain Archetypal energies (e.g. Teacher, Clown, Lover, Artist, Healer, Soldier, Rebel, etc.)?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Life purpose is one of the things that I've obsessed about off and on my entire life (I think this is due to my ENFP personality!), but I'm beginning to ease into my life more, if that makes sense.

I'll hold off sharing some of my own stories and thoughts to give others a chance. I realize that lessons and even callings can be "works in progress" and evolve over time. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Feel free to share!

Dear Janet,
I'm 100% sure that we all have our "callings", or contracts, that stem from our previous incarnations. My "Past Life" spread (I believe I've already mentioned in one another thread) suggests, that the lesson I have to learn in this life is achieving inner and outer harmony, and peace, developing spiritually and intellectually and learning to recognize the presence of the Divine in my life. The spread suggests that in my past life I was too preoccupied with worldly bustle at a certain point, and was often too subject to outer influences, to other people's opinions and things like that. In this life, I'm to cope with this problem. Let's hope I will! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Love,
Elena

Very interesting, Elena. I have to wonder if it's a universal challenge to balance the inner and outer. What do you think?

I've been pondering past life influences and contracts, especially since reading the works of Dr. Michael Newton. I made up my own spread on August 31st, taking great care with it. (Now that I look at my journal, it seems I do soul-searching spreads at the end of every month without realizing it! Looks like I'm about due for another... <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

I laid out the cards intuitively, and was surprised to find that the layout resembled a person! I'll try to replicate it:

****1****
2*3***7*8
****4****
**5***6**

My questions and cards were:

1. What did my guides and I agree upon to learn this lifetime? 3 of Swords, reversed

2. What do I get out of writing or teaching "the world"? The payoff? 10 of Wands

3. What will help me accomplish my life purpose? 2 of Swords, reversed

4. What is the purpose of domestic life? Ace of Swords, reversed

5. What is my role to my husband? The World, reversed

6. What is my role to my son? The Emperor, reversed

7. What drives me? King of Cups, reversed

8. What new belief/drive will serve my highest good? 9 of Wands, reversed

A lot of it made sense, but for whatever reason, I was disheartened. Some things didn't make sense to me. Of course, I used a brand new deck for this spread (The Gilded Tarot). Perhaps I should have used the deck that reads best for me--The Quest Tarot. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Unusual how all cards by one is reversed...

Anyway, which thread is your past life spread on, Elena? I can't remember, and I don't think I wrote it down, unfortunately. (Information overload!) I was looking through Edain McCoy's new book Past Life and Karmic Tarot, but didn't find much of use in there...

Thanks for sharing your process!

Love,
Janet

That's a really nice spread Janet. I'd like to see yours too Elena. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm feeling called to be a counselor right now. I think one of the lessons I'm learning right now is how to balance caring for others with caring for myself, because I tend to neglect myself. I'm also learning to accept caring from other people. It sounds like such a simple thing but it's so hard!Heather

I actually know 2 spreads that answer the same question. The first one looks like this:

....11......10.......9......12
8....S.....................7
.....6...5...4...3...2.......1

The reading:
S - significator
1 - the influences of past incarnations on the present one
2,3 - the major themes present in all incarnations of the querent
4,5,6 - tell us about querent's life during his/her previous incarnation
7 - the major problem from the previous incarnation
8 - the way of solving this problem in present incarnation
9,10,11 - destiny, something, that's bound to happen. Knowing this information the querent will be able to fulfill his/her mission better.
12 - possible next incartation (although this depends a lot on the present one).

The second spread is called "The Gates of Life". It goes like this:

..........3.....4...........
........2....S....5.........
1..........................6
7.........................10
8...........13............11
9.........................12

The reading:
S - significator
1-6 - karma:
1-2 - karmic influences of the past
3-4 - the querent's mission in this world
5-6 - present-day karma that is going to influence querent's future
7-9 - obstacles to be overcome:
7 - mental
8 - spiritual
9 - material
10-12 - help that can be obtained:
10 - mental
11 - spiritual
12 - physical
13 - the querent's potential or his/her primary weaknesses

As you can see, the second spread is more detailed, but it doesn't tell one anything about one's past life, while this is so very interesting! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Hope you'll find either of this two useful.

Janet, I have a question: how exactly do you read cards on the basis of intuition? I realize the question sounds odd, but still: do you think about the meaning of each particular card position beforehand, or do you do it after laying out the cards in whatever order you choose? By the way, how do you design the order? I understand that most probably this can't be explained, but just in case it's possible... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Love,
Elena

Thanks, Heather. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Any time we try to strengthen our "weak" muscles, it's hard! If it's someone else's strength...well, sure, it won't be hard for them! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It can be a challenge for healers and counselors to care for their own self, so it's really great that you're mindful of that need for self-care. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (Just don't forget it! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

Elena, thanks so much for posting those spreads. I copied them into my journal. The first one looks especially promising for me. Personally, I don't choose Significators, but that's just me. I kinda already know where I'm at/which card likely reflects my current state--and I don't like to set aside cards that could provide valuable information in a reading (apart from being a Signficator).

I'll answer your last questions first:

This is the first time I actually felt to lay cards out in a specific pattern--and was delighted that it looked like a person. Usually, when I invent a spread, it's just to answer particular questions. And, I usually just lay them in a row. (I'm not one for rituals or fancy schmancy stuff. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

As far as reading cards intuitively, this has been a process for me. When I was a minister and even in college, I just "prophesied"--gave people information without any tool. I just "saw". However, when I left traditional Christianity, I wasn't sure what to do with my gift. It seemed that people get weirded out if you just "know" things, so tools like cards are a bridge--a buffer, I suppose.

At first, I thought I was supposed to read the cards literally, which, of course, clashed with the information I received just on my own. But like my original "psychic" gifts, I didn't have anyone to tutor me. I just learned by trial and error.

Over time, I realized that there is no right or wrong way to read cards. Sometimes, a symbol, word, color, number, visage, etc. will "speak" to me. There are times when what is "spoken" will be other than what is the supposed "meaning"--or in addition to it. I may use card meanings as a foundation, but have learned to trust my "sight". (Reading cards has expanded my reading abilities--or, at least, taken them in an expanded direction. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

There's a great book out that discusses reading via intuition and symbols, among other tasty treads:


Tarot Tips

The author tells a neat story of how one of her students did a one card reading for her on the topic of upcoming jury duty. Specifically, how many days she'd be tied up with the process. Something leapt out at the card drawn...2 of "something" on the card. (The card wasn't a 2, and there was nothing traditional about the interpretation--something just leapt out at the student.)

The author was surprised, thinking there was no way she'd be done with jury duty in 2 days. Something ended up happening, and lo and behold, it only took 2 days! She has other neat stories in their, too.

Does that make sense, Elena?

Thanks Janet! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Elena! I'd like to try one of those when I get the chance. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Also - regarding reading intuitively, a lot of times lately when I read I don't use a spread. I just ask a question, shuffle, throw out a card, interpret it, then usually that leads to another question, so I ask it, shuffle, throw out another card, interpret, etc. until I'm satisfied. Or sometimes I'll start with a basic spread like a past/present/future and ask additional questions as I go.

I haven't made up a lot of spreads yet, but If I find myself asking the same kinds of questions a lot then I'll write it up into a spread to use for myself.

I do that too, Heather. Works especially good with phone readings. I bet it's the Rebel in us that bucks the structure and formality of spreads. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I have given thought to it.

I have come to realize in the last few years that my sole purpose is to make other people happy. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Not in the roll-over-and-be-a-doormat kind of way, because that is soooooooooooo UNme...but in the show-everyone-the-bright-side. Believe me, I have learned that some people don't want to be enlightened, but the ones who do learn something from me make it worthwhile and keep my smile on my face.
Jill

Thank you for sharing your purpose as you see it, Jill. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Do you think making yourself happy is just as important? If so, what do you do when what you want/prefer clashes with the desires of someone else?

Just curious...sorry if I'm being too nosy! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ooooh...I am all about making myself happy, but I think a lot of that comes with being at peace with myself. Sometimes there is a conflict or clash, but to me, making other people happy isn't about just giving in to whatever they want anyway. I am more about teaching people and making them smile, going out of my way, when possible.
:kiss:

<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Neat thread...
I do believe in callings and destinys. My intuition has lead me down my path many times.

I think the more we use our intuition the closer we are to our truth paths.

Some people come into our lives for a moment to help us down our path; some come into out lives for longer periods and are with us in other lives and in heaven (whatever you may call it) when you do finally get there.

I do also believe for me to, atleast that when I read cards (haven't in ages) that it's intuition when the card is read. I have amazed people at my insight on their past, when I didn't know anything about them.

Hi Sandy!

I agree. I also think that synchronicity--those supposed "coincidences" that are a wink from God--are signs that we're on the path to our highest good. The more frequent the synchronicities and "flow", the more aligned we are to our highest calling and purpose.

I'm realizing more and more how past life influences (and South Node in the Astrology chart?) can affect our personalities and drive--as well as other things. Sometimes it takes a good bit of work to realize that the calling you think you have isn't really the "real deal". Or, perhaps, the calling will take a form different than you expect. It's been true in my case, anyway. I'm really realizing this truth at this time in my life; it's like that quote goes "you have to give up the life you are leading for the one waiting for you"--or something like that. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Any other thoughts out there on callings and purpose?