Filling or emptying our cups

The cup as a metaphor for our mental, emotional, and physical energies

Hello, dear moodlers.

This is Debs from Take a Moodle with Me. I write about moodling (yes, it’s a thing!) and finding small pockets of time in your everyday life to connect or reconnect with yourself.

I've been away for a week or so, attending my son's graduation in Edinburgh, so I haven't written as much as I'd have liked to. Let's see if I can rectify that this week! (I did write a fictional 100-word story on Friday if you want to read it.)

I must admit that at the moment, for various reasons, I am overwhelmed, tired and highly emotional. My cup feels empty. And the traditional "soldiering on" attitude that we’ve all been taught doesn't feel like an option.

I dislike feeling like this - it’s uncomfortable. But I'm trying to learn how to be with it all rather than trying to distract myself or being busy. Certainly not easy!

So, onto what I want to share today. As a dedicated tea drinker, I love the idea of a cup as a metaphor for our mental, emotional, and physical energies.

A cup of goodness © Deb.Aura.Art 2021

The cup can be too full - meaning that we need to empty it, to allow other things (new ideas, connections) into our lives. You may have heard the Zen proverb "You are like this cup; you are full of ideas. You come and ask for teaching, but your cup is full; I can't put anything in. Before I can teach you, you'll have to empty your cup."

Or, it can need filling - meaning we may need to replenish those stores of energy when we feel depleted. The common saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” generally refers to the need for us to look after ourselves first so that we can continue to look after others.

I find myself wondering how I can fill or empty my cup

This is the challenging bit!

Maybe my cup is too full and I need to let go of some aspects to make room for new endeavours.
Maybe it's empty?

I can usually replenish my energies by selecting something from my Feel Good (Glimmers) List. I would normally be filled with joy to be taking photographs of summer, to be thinking about leisurely summer moodles, to be excited at the prospect of it being warm enough to walk barefoot on the grass or beach.

But currently, none of them feel like they can fill the cup in any substantial way.

I find that I'm in need of new ways to fill my cup

So, I find that I'm in need of new ways to fill my cup. My gut tells me that they need to be ultra-gentle approaches, that will not leave me feeling overwhelmed. I wonder, are you feeling the same?

I believe that we are currently experiencing a Pluto retrograde. If you are a believer in astrological events, then read on. If not, jump to the Card Art bit below.

This article by Jordane Maree, filled me with hope. If this is what is happening, no wonder I feel like the poo emoji all the time! Maybe filling my cup will be messier than I think at the moment - and that is ok! Here’s an extract from Jordan’s article, highlighting the main points:

Pluto retrograde is a backward spin through the underworld. A deep dive into transformation. And a reclamation of our shadow. It is an invitation to come into communion with the parts of ourselves we have yet to accept so that we may reclaim every aspect, light and dark, of who we are.

Retrogrades in astrology represent “re” words, such as review, revise, reconsider, realign, revisit, and so on. They are the one step backward to allow for the many steps forward. They are a sacred pause inviting us to look around, review who we are and the path we are walking upon, to integrate our lived experiences, to consider past journeys that were left behind, to bring closure to what is needing it, and to arrive present, centered, and aligned before continuing forward.

Retrogrades remind us that, no matter how we try, life is not linear. Our journey is cyclic. We move up and down and every other direction possible. And our inner world is no different—especially under the influence of Pluto.

Pluto excavates. It brings to light. It asks us to be with the dark. Pluto retrograde shows us what is lying within, waiting for awareness. Waiting for acceptance. Waiting for closure. Waiting for our presence. Waiting for healing. It digs deep within our hidden inner caves, the unconscious, the emotional body, the hidden within us.

So, as I leave you to read the remainder of this post, I ask:

• Does any of this resonate with you?

• Are you pushing against the “soldiering on” attitude?

• Are you feeling the effect of the Pluto retrograde?

• How are you filling or emptying your cup at the moment?

The card art

The inverted piece of cup-shaped collage paper, covered with hand-drawn doodles, is the only nod to the words on this card (numbered 35 from the pack of 50). The pink and lime-yellow watercolours on the background are an unusual combination, especially for me.

Fill or empty my cup © Deb.Aura.Art 2023

See you for our next moodle soon. Oh please hit the heart button if you enjoyed reading this. Or even better, leave a comment - let’s get this conversation going.

Debs
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What next?

If you’re wondering what to look at next, maybe click on one (or all) of these:

• What is a moodle? It’s a dawdle, a stroll, a meander - to notice, appreciate and go where my curiosity takes me.

• Introduce yourself and your favourite way to moodle in this thread

• Find a list of all the art cards I’ve written about so far

• Visit my profile to see my Notes, who I subscribe to and recommend

• Head to the About page to find out a bit more about the project and a little bit of backstory