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It had all the trappings of a Monday disaster waiting to happen: tax bill, DMV and 95 degrees.
It’s not that I woke up and thought, Today is going to be super challenging. Nope. I woke up optimistic, had coffee and breakfast. Did a quick morning Tarot session, then figured it would be a simple in/out at the tax office before the heat descended, then go pay car registration and be done well before my afternoon client.
I should’ve had my lunch smoothie before I left. Everything goes better with smoothies. Regardless, I did find the time to sit and meditate after breakfast — and so glad I did.
Somehow meditation has changed me. That and the realization that I’ve lived long enough to have already faced many small but deeply irritating interruptions to an otherwise orderly day. Things arrive and things pass.
Such is life — and the reactions I choose when challenges appear.
This is when past life friends show up.
One was the friendly cop. The other was the tax assessor. And the “big dog” was a connection at DMV headquarters. They KNEW I needed them. I am well beyond the days of I can do it myself.
No, I can’t. And I’m not meant to.
First, the courthouse cop. Last time I bumped into him, we ended up talking at security for 20 minutes about history, war and why humans continue to be stupid. :) Yesterday was Buddhism, karma, cause/effect in daily life and whether anyone ever gets away with anything (nope.) I reside in a deeply religious state, so it’s always a little risky to discuss these ideas but he was game for the conversation. I could’ve talked to him for an hour, though there were things to do. There was an ease and humorous vibe between us, very natural — and wasn’t surprised that I’d known him in a past life (of course).
It is the ease that gives it away.
It’s not like I wanted to pay taxes or go to DMV or any of that. I didn’t want to take hours from my business day. I can’t stand annoying bureaucratic stuff. I put it up there with going to the dentist, standing in line or dealing with my family. Unavoidable at times and always a test of my patience. Meditation in action. The walk the talk thing. This is where the mastery happens — in the little things. I mentally prepare well before — otherwise, it can be very unpleasant.
Taxes were a little tricky but the assessor was great — no one I’d met before, at least not in this life — who gave off the record advice on how to deal with a particular tax situation I didn’t understand. There was no need for them to share knowledge but they did with kindness and dare I say, a little protection.
I am always protected.
Having a car makes me realize how much mental energy it takes to have a car. Maybe it’s time for a different path.
I completely understand why the 30 and younger are not interested in having/owning a car. Between normal maintenance, unexpected repairs, gas prices, traffic, insurance, registration, fees, taxes whenever you buy or sell, and overall need to keep your car safe — it is a whole lot of mental energy.
I don’t even like to drive that much.
Yes, I enjoy the feeling of speed and the wind in my hair — but am so looking forward to having an autonomous driver. That reality cannot come fast enough for me.
However, when you have a past life friend who works at DMV headquarters — that’s when the magic happens.
I’ve moved and had several cars in different states — which meant DMV in every one.
Ugh.
Yet somewhere along the line, I realized DMV agents were human just like me — wanting to go home to their family, a nice dinner and dealt with similar issues. Charm, kindness and making them laugh became a goal for me. Not only did it make the process so much easier, they seemed startled that I didn’t berate or act superior.
I needed them. I appreciated them — especially the blunt, rude or frustrated ones. They honed my patience because I am also blunt, rude and often frustrated.
A carefully placed word goes a long way. I am not just a Tarot reader for clients and then close shop for the night. I utilize my intuition every day, in every situation.
So, somewhere along the line — a bureaucrat dropped the ball with my car. Unbeknownst to me, the plate wasn’t linked to the DMV system and a whole lot of other nonsense which meant no new registration until it was worked out. It also meant that if I had been pulled over by a cop in the last year, they wouldn’t have found my car in the system, despite up-to-date paperwork.
Another disaster avoided. I am always protected.
However, that meant another day off to travel to my local DMV and deal — but as the “reality” of the situation dawned on me, I kept saying, Everything works out for me. Always. Everything works out for me. I don’t know how this is going to work out but it’s already worked out. I said a version of this mantra for 20 minutes as anxiety put up a mighty fight for dominance. It was super hot and I was hangry.
The mantra won.
After my smoothie and a flurry of calls to different agencies, I said out loud, Bring me a mature woman who knows what she’s doing. A past life friend who has my back.
Well, I was heard.
Not only was this woman over 40 — as later learned — she literally could not do enough for me. We chatted like old friends as she told me the background of my special plate, painted by a young artist who suddenly passed. We laughed about the ridiculousness of cars, car dealers, banks and the like. We chatted about her background and how much I’ve moved around. She said, Send me this and this and I will link everything up for you tomorrow. You’ll be all set.
Do I still have to go to my local DMV?
No. I’ll take care of everything for you and fast track your registration before it’s due.
Sweeter words were never spoken.
So today, on lucky Jupiter day — she was true to her word.
I’ll trek over to the department across the building and have the agent call you for your payment, she said. Once that’s done, I’ll make sure everything is fixed and ship your tags.
You have no idea the virtuous karma I’m sending you, I said. You are totally helping me out in such a big way. Do I need to call you back ?
No, I’ll take care of it. And I need all the good karma I can get, she replied.
I’m on it. She has no idea the goodness that will flow into her life for this — and future lives, as well.