How Can We Manage the Stress of a Volatile Economy?
This week the question occurred to me, how can we manage our stress when the national economy is volatile, and things feel out of control? I pondered the question and decided to address it in this week’s journal entry, in case others are asking the same question and looking for direction. I have posed the question to my most trusted advisor, a deck of cards and game board from France, called the Phoenix Game. (Go to phoenixgame.com if you wish to learn about the origins of the game and how it works.)
Let us begin. I asked the question: How can we manage stress when the national economy is volatile, and things feel out of control? I pulled five cards and placed them in specific dimensions on the board. The first card I pulled is the Turtle which represents serenity and peace. It carries its home on its back and no matter where it goes, it is home. The imagery shows a turtle smiling while pinning down a menacing sea creature. The Turtle is at peace because it knows that even when there is chaos in the world, it can pull its head into its shell and be in a sanctuary of safety and calm. The Turtle doesn’t wait for peace to happen in the world, rather it finds peace from within. The image shows a Mayan calendar on the Turtle’s back representing the ability for the Turtle to operate in its own sense of time. The Turtle goes at its own pace, never in a rush, and enjoys a long life.
Next, I pulled the Gold card. The imagery on the card depicts a prophet riding an exotic creature along a path paved in gold. The villagers are welcoming him back after his voyage abroad. This is the hero who has completed the hero’s journey and returned home to share his wisdom and material wealth with the world. The cards are inviting us to establish and maintain the goal of success and completion. We are invited to aim for and work towards goals of financial security and abundance.
The third card I pulled was the Idol. The imagery depicts a large, blue, puffed-up, monster-like creature who is the object of worship for others. I interpret this to mean that the way for us to manage stress in economic volatility is for us to center on ourselves. That doesn’t mean that we become selfish, rather it means that we focus our attention inward, becoming self-centered (centering on ourselves, rather than the outside world. We devote our attention to the egoic desires, thoughts, and feelings in our inner world. By devoting our energy, time, and attention to our inner thoughts and feelings, (making them our idol/priority), we will be better able to manage our stress.
The fourth card I pulled was the Rose. The Rose imagery shows a large red blossom in full bloom with big thorns. There are large flying insects representing the short lifespan of the Rose and the insects. This card represents passion, desire, seduction, and the illusion of love. We chase the Rose and as soon as we have it, we become aware that it will soon wither and die. This means that to manage our stress in these uncertain times, we need to follow our passion. When this card comes as advice, as it does here, it means do what lights you up! Follow your heart. Our joy and passion can be a road sign telling us which way to turn. When you are unsure where to turn, turn toward that which is beautiful, lovely, and fills you with delight.
Lastly, I pulled the Unicorn. The imagery on the Unicorn card shows a radiant Unicorn in a barren and dry desert. Everything in the environment is a bit brighter because of the way the Unicorn radiates Light. There is a horn on the Unicorn’s head that acts as a satellite, facilitating psychic ability. The Unicorn is stepping on an armadillo which represents the Unicorn’s ability to move through life easily, unphased by any so-called obstacles. This means that for us to manage stress in a volatile economy, we must show up in the world as beacons of Light, connected to our intuition and psychic gifts. The horn points to the heavens, which is our Source for intuition. The Unicorn is so clear about their life purpose and mission, that they can meet others wherever they are without compromising themselves. This makes them good diplomats. They can be kind, considerate, and assertive because they are confident in who they are. The cards want us to know that when we emulate the Unicorn in all these ways, we can manage the stress of the uncertain economy. It is worth noting that the dimension on the board where the Unicorn was placed indicates that other people are watching the Unicorn, (perceiving us as rare and mythical creatures). You may notice in the imagery that there is a person studying the Unicorn from afar. When we show up in the outside world as the Unicorn, not only do we manage our stress, but we help others by illustrating what is possible.
In summary, we can manage our stress in times of economic volatility by anchoring our energy in inner peace; focusing on our goals for financial security and abundance; devoting our energy and attention to our thoughts, feelings, and emotions (centering in our self rather than the outside world); noticing and pursuing our passion, beauty, desire, and the things that light us up; showing up in the world radiating our inner Light, connected to our psychic abilities, and staying true to our life mission. As we do these things, we will be able to manage the stress of an unstable national economy.
By Suzanne Wilcox
