Pallas Athena (also known simply as Athena) is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war and craftsmanship. She was known for being just and compassionate, for using wisdom to avoid conflicts and for her courage when called upon in battle.

Her message today is to take a deep breath and step back from whatever human drama has its hooks in you.

It’s not your job to make everyone happy. It’s not your place to make other people’s choices for them. It’s not in your best interest to gossip or judge others.

Press pause on the story you’re telling yourself about it all. Imagine yourself circling above your life like an eagle, or looking back five years from now. What’s really important to you? What do you think might actually be happening if you look at the big picture?

Can you set down the need to be right and see the situation from everyone’s point of view?

Sometimes that’s not emotionally possible, but it can be helpful to try.

And if the hooks are in too deep and you can’t step back, then it might be time to take bigger action.

For a long time I had a friend whose decisions I was completely over-invested in. When I disagreed with her choices, I couldn’t stop judging her, or arguing with her in my head, or discussing the situation with people who would tell me how right I was. It was awful and I didn’t like the person I became around her. Even though I loved her, I had to let her go in order to step away from the drama. It was painful and I am a much happier person for it.

What do you need to do in order to detach from any drama in your life?

Even if you can’t bring yourself to do it right now, it’s helpful to have an answer. And if an answer doesn’t come, it’s helpful to keep asking the question (then listening to your heart).

As humans we are attracted to the emotional rollercoaster ride of a dramatic story. It can make us feel alive. It also hurts us to be wrapped up in it. And if we are hurting, we tend to hurt others in turn.

This card is a message to leave the drama to the movies you watch or the books you read and instead focus on being the person you really want to be in all of your interactions. 

Like Athena use your hard-earned wisdom to avoid conflict wherever possible. And when it’s unavoidable, step into it with compassion, courage and the strength that comes from knowing you’re not attached to the story everyone else is buying into.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

 

P. S. Are you struggling to feel compassion for yourself and others? Not sure exactly how to step back from the drama or listen to your heart’s (or intuition’s) messages? My Shine e-book is full of simple, bite-sized practices that will help you learn to do exactly that…and so much more.