I release what is not mine to carry | One-card tarot

When faced with the Ten of Wands and 'Oppression,' we reach a point of burnout - encumbered and overburdened, facing a serious need to reprioritize or risk long-lasting effects on our physical, mental, and spiritual health.

This card asks us to examine what we're carrying that isn't truly ours to bear.

As a recovering people-pleaser – and for all those sensitive souls who want the best for everyone around them and are eternally compassionate – this is a time to set boundaries, delegate responsibilities, or simply put down some of the burdens we've been shouldering alone.

I know I have a tendency to pick up tasks and support people with their projects and passions, sometimes undermining or dismissing my own needs and goals for the sake of helping people I deeply care about.

When we consistently neglect our personal needs, we sacrifice our ability to show up fully for the people and work that matter most. Honoring our own capacity isn't selfish – it's essential.

Putting ourselves first often triggers guilt – we worry we're being selfish or egotistical. But without self-preservation, we risk falling into the oppression this card warns against.

The Ten of Wands reminds us that recognizing our limits isn't failure – it's wisdom that can save us from drastic consequences like intense health flare-ups or resorting to bedrot and functional freeze. (I have suffered from both, even landing in the ICU, 0/10 would not recommend.)

Acknowledging when we're overwhelmed and past our limits are the first steps toward finding relief and reclaiming our strength. Trust me when I say this – while the weight may feel crushing now, it becomes absolutely devastating the longer it goes unaddressed.

Even today, I suffered from a multiple-hour migraine and had to focus on rest and recovery. In the past, I would have forced myself to push through the pain, only to feel more dreary and worn for days afterward.

Learning to honor my body's signals – even when it feels inconvenient – has been one of the most important lessons this card has taught me.

For all my fellow sensitive souls and recovering people-pleasers, these affirmations can be gentle reminders:

• I release what is not mine to carry.
• Honoring my limits is an act of wisdom, not weakness.
• I choose rest and recovery as acts of self-preservation.

As much as our cultures may glorify productivity and hyper-independence, please remember we are not machines. We are human, our energy levels and our capacity fluctuates day by day, season by season, and chapter by chapter.

If you find yourself no longer able to commit to something, it is your right to change and pivot when necessary for the greatest good. I'm not saying it's easy to do this, but it is perfectly acceptable to change your mind.

That's the beauty of free will and choosing your own path – no one should do it for you.

This is exactly what this card suggests – to have the freedom to forge your own path.

Use that freedom and fly freely, my loves.

Thanks for being here.

Sincerely,

Nadine of the New Moon ♥