Legitimacy and Duty of Care

To Bridge a deck of cards, the key is to hold the tension of opposing forces, and then to allow them to settle into their respective positions, each card landing in its rightful place. In my Legal and Ethical Considerations course in college we discussed the concept found in Tort (Interpersonal) Law known as a Duty of Care - a legal adherence to a standard in order to avoid harming others. Holding the tension of both anxiety & confidence, rational & mystical within my body is only eased when I think of my calling as a type of Duty of Care. I have to bridge the tension, like a deck of cards.

I consider my education, my experience, & my respect for the Work deeply linked to this idea of Duty of Care: care for myself, clients, strangers, friends, loved ones. Without intentionally being Careful and Aware, we who work in the metaphysical are walking sunblind through other people’s metaphorical houses, picking up and setting down heirlooms with little or no consideration for their history or rightful place.

I don’t remember when I taught myself to Bridge my Tarot cards. I do remember the reason why: I was seeking a semblance of Legitimacy. The subtle implication that because I learned how to shuffle with a flourish, I knew what I was doing. That I could feel confident that my intuitive Knowing is valid and when people sit down with me, they can feel the dedication to my Work.

This thought brings me to a conversation I had with a kind friend of mine recently: I have been considering going through with some certification programs & was getting pulled into and focused on “spiritual counselling.” I am absolutely an advocate for continuing education, let me assure you.

But I already have a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. I spent the last two years of my college degree program focusing my attentions on trauma & addiction recovery, family systems, human growth & development. I spent a long, long time getting familiar with psychopharmacology and personally intimate with entheogens such as Cannabis, LSD & Psilocybin. I could see then that the science was beginning to fold back in on itself with treatments and procedures inevitably shifting - if financial restrictions hadn’t been a concern, I was going to go back for my Masters to work as a Therapist... Additionally, I have received trained in the Usui Reiki tradition. There is a price tag attached to my education that lends itself to legitimacy. I have to honor the time & energy I put into that part of my life - it was well worth it in the long run to help me to help others.