You may come across members of your community who are unhappy with who you are or what you do. I’m associated with the Tarot community by default, but make it a policy to not identify too closely with any group.

Occasionally, I’ll receive an email from a stranger that is less than friendly. Now, these are not from Christians or uber-fanatics. These are from the Tarot community. One email accused me of being more commercial than spiritual and reminded me that I was not the only Tarot reader in the world, since I present myself as “the world’s greatest psychic”.

This lack of humor is really unfortunate.

Know who you are. It will protect you from the “friendly” advice of others, who seek to quell their own disharmony by creating more. All words can be helpful if you see them as teachers. However, that does not mean that you have to engage with the speaker. That’s up to you.

It’s a common joke that the more famous or known you are, the more people will hate you. So much insecurity rises up when we see others as more successful. Again, this is a projection of our own fears — and if one takes the time to actually read my blog, my fears and questions are all over the place.

Besides, there’s no such thing as competition.

I know who I am and what I want from this life. I don’t pretend to be a sage guru or lust for fame. I’m old enough to know what makes a contented experience — and it doesn’t require much. It’s learning to foster kindness and wish peace on those who don’t wish it back. It’s having enough $$ to easily pay my bills and care for those around me, including myself. It’s having the space and freedom to write and dream. It’s learning again that I am a sensitive, ever-changing, thinking creature whose engagement in this world can be risky. But I’ll do it, anyway.

Healer, know yourself.  Then when someone accuses you of being who you are not, it will pass like water around your hand.

Gentleness and ease always win in the end.