“Carve your name on hearts, not gravestones. A legacy is written into the minds of others and the tales they share about you.”
― Shannon L. Alder, inspirational author and therapist
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WHAT IS THE KEY MESSAGE FOR 2025?
Main Card: 53. Seven Generations – Legacy
Supporting card: 16. All That Glitters.
Supporting card: 48. Following My Truth – Believing in and following my inner truth helps me live an authentic and empowered life.
What a transformative year 2024 was for me! In last year’s card reading I wrote about releasing and letting go as a way to create space for the new to come. I definitely feel that in the past year all the things that happened in my life and all my learnings have paved the way to this year’s message – legacy.
At first I didn’t quite know how to explain the word “legacy” for the card reading. An understanding came to me during a forest bathing session at our Sacred Rest with Nature Retreat at Museflower Retreat & Spa. The word legacy came to me when I noticed a fallen bamboo branch next to our labyrinth.
When we began our forest bathing session, my friend and retreat co-facilitator Youmin asked me to share how the labyrinth came about at Museflower. Looking at the bamboo platform we built next to the labyrinth I was reminded of a gardener who worked at Museflower for many years, and he resigned since last year due to an illness and passed away this year. He was the one who helped to build the bamboo platform, and who planted yellow flowers by the lake. I then remember our ex-chef at Museflower who passed away last year. I recalled her always checking in on my family and our guests, always making sure there was enough food to feed everyone. I remembered her tenacity and her spirit of generosity, and how nourished everyone felt with her caring and her food.
Tears came up when my mind was flooded with their memories. It was tears of sadness and grief, yes. But it was also tears from feeling touched by their love even though they are physically gone. Just like the fallen bamboo branch, it’s not part of the bamboo tree anymore but this fallen branch is now serving as a bridge for ants and other insects to climb on to reach somewhere new.
This is legacy to me. Legacy is not something we will do later in the future. Legacy is in the now. Legacy is the love that touches other people’s hearts. Legacy comes from the memories of the connections that we build today. Legacy is creating opportunities for these touchpoints of love and connection to happen.
The fallen bamboo branch that inspired me
Even though I am the founder and owner of Museflower Retreat & Spa, but I know I can’t take all the credit because I couldn’t have built and run this place all by myself. It’s everyone who has been here, whether guests or staff, who contributed their energy, time, love and presence to create this nourishing space.
I do not see myself as the owner of the land. I see myself as the keeper and guardian of this land. This space I call home. And for many, a second home, a sanctuary, a place to rest, recharge and heal. It’s not all done by me alone. It’s with the help and support of other people and also the Universe. I’m grateful of all the support I receive.
I don’t know what will happen to Museflower 10 years, 20 years, or 50 years down the road. If my children or my children’s children do not want to carry on with running the retreat center, that is okay for me. What I can do now, is to continue with what I’m doing. Knowing that I am on the right path and keep moving forward. And I’m constantly reminded to trust my voice. To share my voice. And that I am safe with my voice.
To be honest in the past year, I did feel discouraged and disheartened when I felt like I’ve put my voice out there through my writing, videos, offerings but I didn’t receive much response. It reminded me of times when my words were misunderstood and I was judged by others, even criticized by others because of what I said.
It feels safer to stay silent. Because then I won’t make any mistakes. I won’t say the wrong thing so I can’t be judged.
But if I live like this, I’ll only be living according to the expectations of others. I’ll only be living to please other people and not for myself. And now it is time to end this pattern and start living for myself more.
To not just listen to my soul’s voice but to act on my soul’s guidance, even if it asks me to step outside of my comfort zone. Even if it requires me to have courage to be vulnerable again. To come out of the cave to be seen and heard by others. What if this is what we are meant to do here on Earth? What if the Universe wants us to leap first and the Universe will be there to catch us?
What is your legacy to the world today? What are you leaving behind for the future generation?
I think that it starts with recognizing what your personal values are, as reminded by the “Following my truth” card. If you have never written down your personal values before, I encourage you to take some time to do a bit of journaling and to write down what values are important for you.
You can find a list of values easily online such as Brene Brown’s website here and go through this list to see if which words resonate with you deeply. Choose about two to five core values. Then write your values out and place them somewhere you can see everyday as a reminder.
The other supporting card “All that glitters” reminds us to look beyond the superficial and stop chasing all that is “sparkly”. It is a strong reminder along with the other cards that we must stay true to our inner values and follow our inner voice. We must stop comparing ourselves with others or to be too attached to outcomes and the material world. It can be money, power, fame, that we are chasing after. More likes and followers on social media. More money by doing more and pushing our body to the limits.
We see others being successful on social media and we want to be the same. We want to follow the latest trends and fads to get that body shape we desire, to attract the partner we want, and to manifest that job, that promotion, that amount of money.
So finally we can be happy. Or are we?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to manifest material things in life. The key here is to know our intention. Is our intention for wanting this body shape, this romantic partner, this job, this money, coming from a place of love or fear? Am I doing it because everyone else is doing it, and if I don’t I fear I’ll be left out? Is it because I hate how I look now, or I’m scared of being alone, or I fear that I don’t have enough money, and these are the underlying beliefs that are driving me?
When our intention is coming from a place of love, we learn to accept where we are now, and we remember that the Universe is here to help us co-create our reality. We remember that there is true magic in the air, and that when we ask for help, the Universe will respond.
And when we are doing things from a place of love, we are leaving behind our legacy. We are living in alignment with our values, and we are acting in alignment with our words and our thoughts. We are walking the talk.
If you can share one message to the world, what would that message be? If you were asked to share one piece of advice to your children and your children’s children, what do you want them to know?
Your words are your legacy. Your actions are your legacy. Legacy is not limited to assets that we leave behind. Every day as you make a choice to follow your inner truth, you are serving others by leading as an example. You are serving the world by being your true authentic self, no matter how big and small your actions are.
Just like the bamboo platform that my gardener built. Just like the tenacious and generous spirit of my chef. Just like my dad and my mom who inspired me to create Museflower Retreat & Spa as a serene and sacred healing space for people to reconnect with nature and themselves.
What will your legacy be, starting today?
I recognize that my interpretation of the cards is largely based on reflections of my personal life experience and you may or may not resonate with what I share. I find that sometimes by sharing what’s going on in my life, others may find that they are going through something similar in their lives. It’s important to know that you are not going through this journey of life alone.
I highly encourage you to look at the cards as well and feel into the messages and energies of the cards yourself.
Read the messages and notice what sensations come up. Do you feel light or tense? Look at the images of the cards, and notice what draws your gaze. What thoughts and feelings arise? Do you like or dislike the card, or certain elements in the image of the card? Why is that and what does it remind you of?
Your intuition is your inner compass. My intuitive soul card reading only serves as a reference point, an invitation for you to reflect and ponder and to work your magic. I don’t claim to predict the future, nor can I do that. Take what you resonate and leave what you don’t.
Card reading is a great intuitive tool for us to find some clarity and guidance in our own life, but remember ultimately you are the one who get to decide and live the life you want.
Enjoy reading and feel free to let me know your thoughts, questions and sharing by email.
