Four of Swords, St Croix Tarot

Conscious gradual return from isolation or withdrawal.

With a new perspective on and sense for (transparent) boundaries.

The cards have had this theme of active withdrawal many days now. (Meaning: not passive rest)
Withdrawal with a sense of mission and purpose.

To get in touch with our TRUE wishes, wants, desires, and needs (again, remember the rather explicit 'withdraw and build up an appetite' cards the other day)
And two days of turn/walk away. From distractions - people and feelings. People most in terms of 'opinions and influences' that disturb this inward turn and make it harder for us tu 'hear our intuition' - get to know what we truly feel. Separate it from what we THINK we feel - or, USED to feel.
Yep, a lot of that now. 'Old feelings'. Emotional reactions from an outdated personality, or 'parts of us' (IFS) not yet 'on board with the new us'.

Hence the patience. Taking our time.
Letting these parts adjust themselves to 'the new us'.
We do that by allowing and accepting these 'old feelings'. Refraining from acting on, or reacting to (against), them.
As we KNOW they 'belong in the past'.
Being totally comfortable in this knowing we can compassionately turn towards them, without getting entangled in them (which is easier if we are alone/not distracted).

Like in any relationship we have three choices on how to relate to our feelings - turn away, turn against or turn towards.
And the last is what we've been practicing a while now, in relation to uncomfortable feelings.

The next level of this is to continue the same work WITH 'disturbances'.
It's another ballgame to do practice 'in real life/time' ,:)
The pull from the old parts of us will be stronger, and the 'risk of falling back' seems daunting.

Why we need to do it gradually. Baby steps.
With continuous and great #compassion for ourselves.
It's like learning to walk all over again!

#StCroixTarot