My friend got religion and then dumped me (and tarot)

Your best buddy is a tarot lovin’ astrology musing mama just like yourself. While others gab about babies and work, you’re spending hours discussing transits and the latest deck.

You’ll never get sick of this tarot talk until one day…your friend pulls a disappearing act.

At first, it’s subtle. Less frequent calls. No more chats about the latest super moon. She’s busy. So are you (life can be like that).

But then you notice some bible quotes on her Facebook page. No biggie. After all, you’re pretty spiritual and are always respectful of people’s belief systems. You’re especially mindful about that since you get a lot of flack for your tarot loving ways.

One day, you notice you’re completely gone from her feed.

She unfriended you.

You’re no longer part of her world, online or off.

You’ve been dumped.

You didn’t do anything at all to warrant this banishment. In fact, you’ve always been there for her. So you reach out and ask why.

And you get the “I found religion and tarot is evil” speech in return. Or dead silence and word comes through a mutual friend instead.

In some cases, your friend may even try to convert you, but, mostly…they just shut you out.

You’re crushed and don’t understand how her sudden interest in theology means that you can no longer be friends.

Ever have that happen?

I have. Not just with friends but also with clients.

It hurts to have someone that you care about dismiss you and then judge you as “evil” because of something that you enjoy. It’s especially painful when that person once upon a time indulged in the same thing and now acts like you are a criminal that needs to be avoided at all costs.

So what can you do?

Sadly, not much.

When it happens to you (which it will if you are into tarot or any of the sacred arts), you’re going to have bless them, send them on their way, and not take it personally.

That’s a tall order but it’s all you can do. (Please resist the urge to try to convince them that tarot is not evil. Respect where they are at, even if you feel bruised by their dismissal.)

In an ideal world, people should be able to co-mingle with a diverse network of people who share different beliefs.

I do. I have friends from all walks of life and from every spectrum of the religious (or political) rainbow. We may not agree on our beliefs, but there is mutual respect and kindness – as well as a whole lotta tolerance.

The beauty of having a community of unique beliefs is that you can learn from each other. Being able to be present with someone who is completely the opposite of you helps you to develop a more open mind and greater compassion.

To throw away a relationship because you suddenly developed a new set of beliefs creates a smaller, more isolated worldview. If you find yourself being instructed to ditch “the other” from your priest, guru, pastor, etc., think for a moment on how that may make them feel and how that might impact your world as well.

Be bigger.

Welcome differing opinions.

Embrace opposing views.

See from their eyes.

And if you are the one being rejected, remain loving (and loving tarot) and non-judgmental, even as you are being judged.

“What a sad era when it is easier to smash an atom than a prejudice.” ~ Albert Einstein

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” ~ Maya Angelou

Blessings,

Theresa

photo from stock photography