Looks Good on Paper

I saw a funny meme this morning that said: “My resume is just a list of things I never want to do again.”

There's so much truth for me in this statement. I was always careful to never allow my career to define me. To the contrary, I pushed right up against that line throughout my working years and happily dropped my hard-earned title and certifications the moment I retired. I’ve spent the past few weeks rebuilding the LinkedIn profile I never used while working in the corporate world, to reflect my significant mystical abilities and accomplishments, and my writing work. These, my most valuable and prized skills, have taken a back seat for far too long.

This is who I am. This is what I do now. Sort of. In a world where the mundane and mystical realms appear to exist separately from one another, my focus is how to join the attributes of one to enhance the other. In both directions. For most of my career, I worked in Human Resources with a specialty in Payroll. I brought the human aspect to a deadline-and-numbers-driven job. For the same reason, my diligence allowed me to achieve measurable results in the arena of ‘soft skills’. I looked good on paper. I became so adept at this balancing act; I could do it with my eyes closed.

Over time, these skills have incorporated into my tarot practice. I’m well-versed in what makes people tick, how personal relationships affect careers, and vice versa. If you come to me for a relationship reading, you’re just as likely to get career advice, or direction to your North Star. I don’t write the rules. I don’t even follow the rules.

So, how does it work? How do I do what I do? I start by asking questions. And then I listen to the answers, as well as observe and measure the surrounding factors. This applies to every aspect of my life, whether I’m reading tarot, facilitating a connection with the ancestors (mine, or yours), or talking with my mechanic while they explain the meaning of the strange light on the dash of my car. There is no distinction between the mundane and the mystical when it comes to applying the skills needed to determine the best answer or course of action.

This still doesn’t answer how it works, does it? I’ll try again.

Every word we speak, every action we take, sets off a ripple of change. We often have only a split-second to decide how to react or respond before the impact is irreversible. This can have a detrimental effect on our lives, the lives of those who matter deeply to us, and the lives of those we don’t even know. I’m training myself to treat every interaction with the same care I give when speaking with a tarot querent, or when I talk to my dead (or yours). I’m learning to consider the impact of every single step I take, both literally and figuratively. Am I successful 100% of the time? Absolutely not. But I am becoming more aware of realizing when I’ve missed the mark, and what, or if, I should do anything to correct a misstep. Sometimes, any corrective action will just make things worse, and the situation is best left in the capable hands of the Universe. Moving on is often one of the hardest lessons to learn.

I no longer have the energy for casual acquaintances or the tolerance for more than a few minutes of banal small talk. The same goes for social media interactions. I’m a mystical practitioner, a magical thinker, and a storyteller. I’m not on social media to ‘create content’ (lord knows there’s enough of that out there}. Whatever I feel the need to say has already been said by someone more eloquent than myself. What does exist, in both the physical virtual worlds, is the need for deep and profound connections, and these take time and effort to both develop and maintain. It has already been said, but the world needs diverse perspectives and unconventional solutions and one-to-one communication, not sound bites wrapped cleverly filtered with dancing emojis. I plan to spend this third act of my life cultivating meaningful transformation within myself, and helping those around me discover their own, paving the way for real change. The value in what I do isn’t measured using a monetary calculation, but in how I show up, for myself and those I meet along The Way.

I am applying the Starfish Theory. I can’t help everyone, but if I can help this one, and then that one… then I should and I will. This is the work that brings me the joy, satisfaction and fulfilment that were missing from my corporate life. I have no regrets. Every step on that path led me to my current one. Every lesson I’ve learned has given me experience to share. It’s the sharing that’s important. For each of us.

So, I’m rewriting my resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect what I do and who I am. I’m not erasing the last 30 years, I still look good on paper (and on LinkedIn), but the emphasis is now on the work I find significant and important. It’s what I do off the paper that matters.

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Your continued support is important to me, and your feedback is always welcome. I’d love to hear your stories if you’re inclined to share. You can contact me via email at themysticsparlour@gmail.com.