Where does alignment really live?

A prompt for connecting to wonder

The word “alignment” comes up a lot in my work and quickly becomes a little mouth-barfy-ubiquitous like “gratitude” or “manifest.” Don’t misunderstand; I adore those concepts, but the language can often fall flat after a minute of scrolling Instagram.

Even so, alignment is a core part of the writing I do here each week.

Alignment is important, and even though it’s been on my mind to try and write about as it relates to what I do, I can never seem to find the words.

What is alignment anyways?

Evolution

In addition to Monday’s pick-a-card readings and Friday’s deep dives, I’d like to explore other tools I turn to for healing and inspiration, including many of themes that come up in my client work.

Don’t worry, the Monday readings aren’t going anywhere. Shaping and evolving this space to serve you is just that, an evolution. I certainly won’t toss out what works.

Thanks for being here and for walking this path with me.

Lots of ideas; some might be good or helpful.

I’m a tarot reader, but my healing work also encompasses things like honoring animals, hypnosis, growing food, deep-focused work, and learning ways to help people release stuck emotions.

I also like writing stuff down.

So, I figured I’d try expanding this Monday-Friday tarot thing into new territory: some short essays and articles about what’s worked for me on my path in the hopes a bit or two might help you, too.

We’ll see how it goes.

The prompt

I recently encountered a writing prompt that took me down this writing-more road.

I thought I’d share it with you here—in case you want to try your hand at it—as well as my response to it.

Let’s see what happens, shall we?

From left: Tom and Jerry in my yard, October 19, 2024

Prompt:

Describe a moment in your life where you felt completely aligned—where everything seemed to click into place, even if just for a brief second.

Alignment is a tricky one.

I think it’s correct to think of alignment arriving in moments, nestled in the micro, rather than this big, broad life view that is meant to be always clear.

For example, my soul feels flickers of delight and peace when Tom and Jerry arrive. I’ve learned to hear the tiny, beautiful warbles they make like they’re chatting underwater. I will stop anything I’m doing just to grab a handful of seeds, open the sliding door, walk down the deck stairs, and see the two of them loping over to me with excitement.

I say it’s excitement, but really it’s hunger and I’m a reliable snack source.

But from the first hint that they have arrived—they visit the yard every day or so—I am completely myself. In my body. Connected with my soul. Whatever was on my mind vanishes for the moment and I am taken with this communion we share. They, taking nourishment, me adoring and appreciating their trust in the midst of their wildness.

It feels like a gift that they chance to eat from my hand, however jumpy the process can be. I imagine I’d be dead if I was a wild thing, trusting the way I do and endlessly curious.

But I’m not here to scare them away or hurt them or make their lives any more challenging than the roads, loss of habitat, and dire winters already do.

They are neighbors, just like any other beating heart around here. And why shouldn’t I treat them so?

And that, that flicker right there, is a glimpse of my alignment. Of how it is unquestionable and true in my body. The mind is very quiet in these sacred moments with the turkeys. It doesn’t have to do much but be.

Perhaps the big key is to notice our moments of alignment. Notice when we’re taken up and swept away and completely enthralled without calculation or premeditation but as a reflex of the heart.

From there, if we can repeat it because we notice when it arrives, our life is bound to be richer.

-N

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PS: When you’re ready, here’s some other stuff you might like:

🍂Want your own deck? Mine is now available to order  HERE! 
🍂Book a reading! Readings are 1:1 with me via zoom. View the calendar  here. 
🍂Emotional release & clarity: These are 90-minute sessions combining release and readings to help shift big energy and give you more direction. You can learn all about on the NEW site!