Lifeboat
Interpretation & Meaning
As the living room tilted and the chandelier swayed, Anna (she/her) held on to her 45 years like they were life buoys.
“You can’t take all that with you”- the man yelled.
She let go of the pearl necklaces, the dresses and even her own memories, coming to realize that once you hit the iceberg there are things and faces which cannot be saved.
“This way, quick!”
In that pouring nightmare, she wondered who coined the expression come hell or high water, as if the two were mutually exclusive.
The lifeboat was small, slow, tackling the darkest ocean you’ll ever see.
When it was Anna’s turn to row, she asked “which way?” and nobody made a sound. As the boat moved farther and farther away from the wreckage of her life – arms sore and darkness ahead – she knew the direction was right.
This card is about self-preservation and self-love.
When it shows up in a reading, it’s time to row away from whatever damaging predicament you are living. Whether that’s a colossal accident or a bad relationship, you need to put your well-being first and do whatever it takes to save yourself.
If you’ve been sacrificing yourself for the needs of others – maybe out of fear of rejection – it’s time to state loud and clear that your own needs have value and that self-care is not synonymous with self-absorption.
When Lifeboat appears, it is probably not the right time to play offense. You should rather focus on your defense strategies by setting boundaries, defining expectations and walking away from toxic environments.
This card ensures happiness can be reached by cherishing your needs, avoiding the things that hurt you and purposely seeking out the ones that make you thrive.
Keywords: safety • security • survival instinct • safety blank • defensiveness • defense mechanisms • self-preservation • self-love • self-care • boundaries
Practical References
| Places | Bunker, Lifeboat, Safe House, Prevention Center |
| Work | Security Manager, Insurance Executive, Risk Management, Protector Worker, Lifeguard, Bodyguard, Safety Instructor |
| Situations & Life Events | Witness Protection Program |
| Activities | Self-Defense Course |
| Archetypes | The Fugitive, The Survivalist, The Runaway |
Homework & Practice
In order to embody the teachings of this card, you can:
- Write your personal charter of fundamental rights. Starting from your core values, consider one value at a time and list the behaviors that comply with that value and the ones that go against it. Ask yourself how tolerant you can be towards the latter without sacrificing your happiness or losing your sense of self. Once you have drawn a clear line between what you’re willing to accept and what you can’t tolerate, identify the situations in your life that fall on one side or the other.
- Practice communicating your boundaries in a way that is clear but also sensitive. Most people in your life are not aware of the damage their behavior is causing: be sure to explain how being mindful of each other’s boundaries is a practice designed to bring you closer rather than tear you apart.
- Try paying attention to the times when you want to say “no” but end up saying “yes” within your daily life. The more conscious of these dynamics you become, the easier it will be to resist them. Making other people happy should not come at the expense of your personal needs.
- If you feel in danger or are a victim of physical or psychological abuse, please consider turning to the authorities, asking for the help of a professional or confiding in someone you trust. You shouldn’t be carrying this burden by yourself and sharing the issue with someone is the first step towards a safer place.
- If you think your legal rights are not being respected by your employer (or neighbor, or fellow citizen…), try consulting with an expert or asking questions in specialized online communities where people may have similar problems.
Ready for your first reading?
