Each week in The Wisdom of Change blog series, I share the original artwork and unpack the insights and meaning behind one of the 44 cards in The Wisdom of Change oracle deck.

This week’s card is 6 Hidden Action

Knowing that our life is not where we want it to be is bittersweet.  We normally arrive at our realisation that ‘all is not well’ following a period of nagging discontent which escalates and finally comes to a head.  It’s painful, messy and scary to face into, but there is an element of relief when we admit that things haven’t been right for a while.  We can then consciously commit to clearing up the carnage and making sure it doesn’t happen again.

Often our appraisal of what wasn’t working leads us to identify what we’d like instead. This feels exciting and liberating and despite the thoughts of why on earth didn’t I realise this before? it feels pretty good.  We are flooded with positive energy and great ideas.  We feel the power of our ambition and the strength of our commitment to ourselves.  We seek people, resources and approaches to help us achieve our new aims in life.  Our goal is not with us yet, but in the void between where we are now and where we want to be, we are pregnant with possibility and full of optimism for the journey ahead.

In the early days of profound personal change, we experience quick wins in rapid succession and big leaps of progress towards our stated aims.  We are hooked by the buzz.  The engines are running full steam and we adore the feeling of wellbeing and wonder that accompanies the new insights we are uncovering. Uncoupled from our old ways and the familiar routine that was holding us back we forge ahead. It can feel scary, but mostly its exhilarating. 

Then all of a sudden and for no apparent reason, all the forward movement seems to just stop.

The frustration and bewilderment that follows keeps you up at night. Why have I faltered when everything was going so well?  Why is everything slowing down and refusing to budge even though the adrenaline of change is still coursing through my veins? It feels excruciating to have been so brave and to have so much at stake and to feel unable to make the progress you’d planned at the pace you desire.

This is a dangerous time for the intrepid change maker.

As your blood starts to cool you wonder if you should turn back.  It’s tempting to imagine you have done the wrong thing.  Maybe you have been too hasty in your hot-headed conviction to finally break free and try something different?  You imagine how foolish you have been to believe this ‘other way’ even exists. If others haven’t found it, why should you?

Don’t stop digging one spade before you hit gold.

It’s no accident that your inner knowing brought you here.  This is the time to honour your hearts desires and let them incubate. Fan on the embers of that feeling that there is indeed ‘something better’ out there for you.  If you don’t sell out on yourself at this critical stage, the ember grows to be a beacon of light.  Give it time to gather energy; much as you would nurse a fire to burn huge logs by starting with a small pile of kindling.

Profound and lasting change doesn’t follow a predictable trajectory. This doesn’t mean that your hearts desires haven’t been heard.  There are things that happen that you can see and they are gratifying and reassuring. But there is much more that happens in service to your highest good that you can’t see.  What you need is on the way; simply by stating your desire you have called it in.  Progress towards your goal is happening in every moment.  Be patient and trust.  For now, do what you can with the tools you’ve got and the pace of progress will pick up again soon.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s connection to your inner wisdom.

As always, I’d love to hear your comments below.

If you’d like to learn more about The Wisdom of Change oracle deck you can find out more here.

If you'd like to find out more about a Wisdom of Change reading with Wendy please click here.

​