Burnout | Tarot in Practice #6 with

[@lesliekellar3478]

Thank you both for being so authentic real and vulnerable on both your channels. It takes so much courage to say “ Im stepping back a little” on a platform that provides income. It’s so brave! Honestly this type of content draws me in more than just the typical deck walk throughs and hauls because it’s a space that we ALL can resonate with no matter our life circumstances at the moment! Much love and blessings to you both! Rest and Recharge your batteries!

[@janetdanes7945]

You are both much appreciated for the content you do give to the Tarot community. In fact, you are the two channels I continue to watch regularly and enjoy immensely. You keep me attached to my tarot practice in meaningful ways. I’ve never given much thought to the stresses you experience as content creators, although I have seen other KZbin channels become inactive after many years and stay that way. Often this happens with no explanation. Some, like Katey Flowers, do speak up and say why they are stepping away. Knowing why is better than never knowing. So take care of your own mental, physical and emotional well-being. Do for yourself what you would advise others to do for themselves. It’s the ‘put your oxygen mask on” first before assisting others in need, ethos. It would be a very sad day to see your channels close because you need to permanently step back for your health. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the community who faithfully follow you both. ❤️

[@linda42tarot]

As a consumer of tarottube and KZbin in general, I have watched this phenomenon play out with a whole spectrum of results. Some have left completely, some have pulled back, and some have completely reshuffled😉/reinvented their practice and presence. Personally, I am all for self care/flexibility/honoring your personal life. I/we will be here whenever and however you are ready. Much love and blessings to you both!❤❤❤

[@Lisa_Papez]

I've seen it all too! :) Neither of us want to just up and walk away :D That's one of the reasons it's important to destigmatize burnout/near-burnout and the necessary adjustments that go along with it.

[@RoseTarotRealm]

I’m definitely on this journey at the moment ❤

[@alishaf3692]

This all reminds me of breathing…breathing in, pause, breathe out, pause….we’re all forgetting (or ignoring) the pauses. I have 100% felt this. Your BG3 videos inspired me to pick it up and just play….no goal, no plan, just play.

[@whalesong813]

So far in my tarot journey, I haven't experienced tarot burnout. My interest has drifted away from tarot to other things. I've then fallen down the rabbit hole of another interests. I've taken long breaks from tarot but I have never experenced the physical and mental symptoms that I had with job burnout. That being said, I don't create content around tarot, oracle and my practices. I don't have to edit, film, respond to comments, come up with ideas for videos thus my time with tarot is purely for self. That to me, is a big difference of the time sink that being a creator entails, no matter how fun and enjoyable it is. Thank you so much for having this wonderful, valuable, insightful conversation! You both simply rock! I hope you both find your fun with tarot again.

[@Lisa_Papez]

Oh 100%.. it's definitely a different experience when a practice is just for yourself versus when it also is for others. It's fulfilling and enjoyable but, if not careful, can become an overextension of energy too!

[@whalesong813]

@@Lisa_Papez I can see that. I wish burnout came with a yellow "caution" light instead of going from green, go, go, go to a screaming halt with the red light. That's mostl likely just me ignoring the yellow light. lol

[@tellbee654]

Well done, you two! I worked for many years in statutory mental health services and realised early on that I needed to book 2 wks leave at a time, to allow the first week for physical illness and then able to enjoy week 2. Later in my career I became self employed and took on far too much work...so I do know how you two feel. I’m now retired and tarot is my hobby, and just my way of enjoying the cards ( I don’t really do proper ‘divination ‘ I think). I can see when a you- tuber is getting worn down eg just throwing out a batch of decks that have been sent by publishers , with no analysis or engagement. I do appreciate with you, Lisa, just how thoughtful your videos are. Dawn Michell, I haven’t yet seen your vids but will do so in future.

[@amber.cartomancer]

Being sick may have been your body saying, " Sit down. Sit down. Go over there and sit down. I think this is a lesson for all of us... take time to sit down...if you don't, your body will do it for you.

[@jessreadscards]

I deeply appreciate this discussion. After watching, I realized that I’m in a phase of burnout and admitting that to myself feels like a relief.

[@papermoontarot4219]

It's funny, but listening to this I see the flip side is a similar challenge. Though I still get small work projects I'm basically retired and that means I have nothing to do, so I have no stress and no framework for my days. It's like one can burn out from no pressure and struggling to fill your time with projects just as you can from too much going on. Sounds like this is to some extent a "woman's" issue--trying to serve and nurture too many people and losing touch with yourself. Trying to find the work life balance is apparently something that we may never figure out and it's probably something that's fluid over time (or even changes day by day). Good luck with figuring your lives out, ladies!

[@Lisa_Papez]

That flip side makes SO much sense!! Either way, it's a sort of internal pressure!

[@moirad6579]

Great video.... we tend to underestimate the demands of year end and the holiday season. Maybe we could plan to treat Samhain as the year end, and use the Nov-Dec gap to prepare for the new year 🎉

[@Lisa_Papez]

Thank you!

[@FloraSprout]

Such a lovely and much needed conversation. I’ve been struggling for a while with balance- I can be a bit all or nothing and it’s not super healthy. It means I’m always in some stage of being too exhausted. Self advocacy, and also setting good examples for the people that watch you that we don’t have to be on all of the time is so important. Our society pressures us into constant comparison and it’s a detriment to us all! Admire you both for taking care of yourselves, putting yourselves first, and telling people that not only is it okay, it’s a valuable gift you can give yourself.

[@optimalwellnessyoga]

Great topic and conversation! I especially enjoyed the observations about shame. I think it is so prevalent in the TarotTube for space for two reasons. KZbin itself attracts people who go all-in on niche topics, and I think that is something overachievers are prone to. Then tarot attracts people who are open to growing and doing the work and bettering themselves. Both of those things makes a perfect storm for self judgement if you aren’t being mindful of how you are talking to yourself. And there the shame spiral begins. We know we shouldn’t judge ourselves and the judge ourselves for judging ourselves. And it is no wonder that we end up in burnout, no longer finding pleasure in things that once did provide us that.

[@ladysmall9853]

Soooo much of this resonates right now. I am burned out on a lot of things in my life atm. I have shifted into a space where I am less interested in reading with my decks and more into studying tarot and playing with my decks. I am studying Astrology in Tarot. I am learning about Thoth. I am playing with pairs and groups of decks and seeing what comes up without a specific question in mind. I ask what they have to tell me together, shuffle, and start flipping. Sometimes I flip all the way through, sometimes I decide I'm not feeling it and move on. And THAT'S OK.

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

This is really resonating with me right now! Maybe I need to do some studying of and playing with my decks right now, rather than doing readings for myself. I've been feeling a bit stuck or burned out with my cards. I've been trying to figure out how to kinda get started again. Maybe this is what I need to do. Thanks! 😊

[@thatwitchisfelt]

The demands that social media algorithms place on creators is insane and inhumane. I'm so glad you both are taking the time for rest and play. It's so important.

[@Lisa_Papez]

For sure! That's one of the reasons why people like Dawn and I do our best to ignore algorithms. let's be real, no one really understands them anyway 🤣 So we just do what we do and whoever finds us does! lol

[@thatwitchisfelt]

@@Lisa_Papez Hell yes

[@sem6x3ag]

I read a quote recently that said something like ..... be a master of few because no one is a master of all. The idea is to choose a focus and go all out. I think its about creating boundaries for yourself. Interesting talk.

[@BohemianRoseTarot]

Oh my gosh, both of you have had the accelerator to the floor for a long time! Book writing, deck creation, member stuff, study groups, and a daytime job. I don't think any human being could be in the fast lane that long without a need for a rest stop :) I resonate with this so much. I also have no chill lol. Even around my own content creation. Thank you for this video! ❤❤❤

[@Lisa_Papez]

Yeahhhh for sure!!!

[@GreeneyedTarot]

Thank you both for always having the “hard” discussions and bringing a sense of community to concerns and issues that others in the space may be experiencing. Burnout in many areas of my life is a real thing. I think by the end of last year, I had come to terms with my tarot practice for myself and tarot that was a “show” for KZbin. I put unnecessary pressure on myself to “keep up”. What I share now is my authentic practice, my authentic self and things that make me excited and happy. And I just look forward to it connecting with at least one other person so we have a meaningful moment together and it enriches both of us. Side note: I started playing BG3 a few months ago. As a former WoW player and Skyrim regular, it has been such a challenge for me. Also, so much fun! I regularly make the wrong dialogue decisions and end up with an entire village after me and my party and typically end up imprisoned. And the great thing is, it doesn’t matter! I have a character that I play for real and characters that are so silly and fun. Watching you two play is such fun and relaxing self-care. I currently have a call out to my friends and acquaintances to see if they are playing and we can play together. I realized how much more fun it will be after watching you two! ❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

It’s so much fun to share it with friends for sure!! Playing that game together is always the highlight of my week. And we really enjoy sharing it with you all. Also, former WoW player here too!!

[@pamelabatchelor9204]

Breaks shouldn't arrive when burn out appears its better to recognize we all need breaks and breaks and breaks scheduled into or lives so we avoid burn out, Im introverted so I need lots of down time and alone time I love you both so much and have been watching your channels for almost 4 years. Please pace yourselves so you can be here for years to come.

[@Lisa_Papez]

For sure! :) We're making the necessary adjustments... sometimes you don't realize you need a break because you're feeling good at the pace you're going, you know? Then you realize oh wait... there's not enough space in here for other things! :) That's kind of what my experience was like.

[@mermaidrisingtarot]

Beautiful topic ladies. So glad your bringing attention to this. I think we & i personally have had too much on my plate & and keep hitting burnout in several areas in life right now. How do i remove things off my plate that give me more rest, play & space. Lisa said it perfectly we do alot in service of others that we enjoy but when it comes to service of self to rest, play, relax it can feel hard to make that space & time with busy schedules & projects. My friend shared the spoon theory with me recently. I tend to give more spoons & energy than i actually have to use which leaves with with an energy deficit & completely exhausted. If im not checking things off my list of productivity & and resting, i feel like i didn't do enough. This year im really trying to find balance & im not sure what that looks like yet. But im making steps towards empying my plate of all the things i do & need to do so i can have more free time to just relax enjoy or reset.

[@Christa.Chronicles]

Thank you so much you two for making this video!! Fellow end of the year burnout gal over here🙋‍♀self-imposed high expectation can be so hard to navigate, I often find it even hard to realize it's happening! I've learned that if I'm not careful, and what happened towards the end of last year for me as well it sounds like, I can VERY easily fall into doing things out of a fear of disappointing of seeming "flakey." I just have to say too that the two of you sharing your gaming through streams has been such a balm for me as well, and I'm sure many others feel the same! Whenever I can catch it live or watch afterwards, it's like getting to join in on a communal pause for selfcare and fun! Thank you both for all you do!☺☺💖

[@Lisa_Papez]

OMG YES to communal pauses for self-care and fun!! Let's just do other fun things together for a bit! That's how it feels. :) The Jan/Feb drop is so real and I think that it's when we ignore the drops that it gets out of hand you know? I rarely notice burnout either which I tried to articulate in the vid a bit. I'm thankful for my wife and friends who check in with me or help me identify when things are getting out of balance.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Aw I am so glad you are enjoying it right along with us! We love getting to hang out with you there in that space too! ❤

[@TaraIsCozy]

Finally getting to this and I’m just soaking up everything 🥰

[@BohemianRoseTarot]

Dawn Michelle, omg you wiping off your camera lens! Solidarity! I was grateful to be guest on Benny's channel and he asked if I used a filter and um, it ended up being fingerprints on my lens 😂 Accidental soft focus 😂

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Hehe totally happens to me often! That was the second video I did in this week alone. 😁

[@tamipie]

Not a gamer... I just have too much going on IRL. I had to empty my brain for a minute. I will begin again when I am ready. I must say, Kim Tsan's Align, has been a balm on the chapped lips of my life. Just enough to make it feel good. ❤😊❤

[@elineeugenie5224]

House of cards😊

[@amber.cartomancer]

Yes!! House of cards...I feel that...

[@morphinpink]

I've been super burnt out on tarot too:( That's a part of the discourse around consumerism in the tarot space that often gets overlooked I think. Having to "keep up" and turning your tarot practice into a chore is exhausting! that on top of all other daily responsibilities it's even harder to have the mental energy for tarot. I can't imagine how tiring it must be making content about it as well! I've been hooked on bg3 as well, it pulled me right back into playing d&d! I've been sewing more as well. Just generally engaging with creativity and I think that's helping get back to a place where I can do things like reading tarot. I'm never going to drop tarot completely but sometimes you just need to pull back and take care of yourself first.

[@Lisa_Papez]

Absolutely!

[@elineeugenie5224]

Writing longish reams of poetry does me the world of good Ugh, still alive😅

[@Arignon]

Please take care of yourselves and don’t overexert yourselves! We need you in the community!

[@Lisa_Papez]

We definitely are and will! :) This space is important to both of us, so that's why we do what we need to do to re-balance when we need to. I honestly think that what causes folks to just turn and walk away is not recognizing when it's out of whack and making the necessary adjustments. Adjustments are being made and all is well!

[@pamelabatchelor9204]

I have an idea since you are both your own bosses maybe you could see those two entities and see what kind of a boss you actually are to you self and make adjustments (like actually track how many hours a week your boss is making you work). 😂

[@Lisa_Papez]

Hahah this is good advice!

[@LCtheCurious]

I love to dream up a whole bunch of projects for myself, then plan everything out and imagine how it will go...and then i get burnt out before I can even actually start "doing" the things. 😂 It feels illegitimate talking about being burnt out without having any concrete progress to show since the last time I felt burnt out, but it's a thing!

[@Lisa_Papez]

It's not illegitimate at ALL!! That makes total sense to me!!

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I resonate with what you said! I do something so similar, and up feeling so overwhelmed by all that I'd need to do to do the thing, and then just end up not feeling able to do it or even start it. You are not alone! 💖

[@LCtheCurious]

​@@thrivingselfcarereneeYes, it's the sheer overwhelm! I'm sorry that you understand, but also relieved that I'm not the only one to be like this. ❤

[@LCtheCurious]

​@@thrivingselfcarereneeYes, it's the sheer overwhelm! I'm sorry that you understand, but also relieved that I'm not the only one to be like this. ❤

[@amber.cartomancer]

I think...it's because we know the spreads, we know the practices, and we know the stuff...which means we must do all the things we know. Not enough time in the world to do them all well...or even semi-well🥰

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

This video was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! 💖💖💖 Thank you both so much! I literally took notes through the entire thing so I could remember and be reminded of all the incredible nuggets of gold in this discussion. I also have to say that I felt so many of the same things in January AND I got "the plague" for the first time at the end of January. So I spent a bunch of time feeling burned out, wanting to work eith my cards and my crystals and having no idea how I wanted to do that. I've made some small breakthroughs recently and am starting to get back into the swing of things. I just resonated so much with basically everything you both said. I think this video also helped me to figure out my Word of the Year too. I'm gonna do some reflecting and readings on that. Thank you SO much for such an amazing discussion! 💖💖💖💖

[@linda42tarot]

I wanted to do Dawn’s monthly practice but I finally decided it would be too much and it didn’t fit right now and I definitely feel “outside” the “team” tarot bubble. I realized that is a me thought though, not a real thing. 🙂🙃🥰

[@Lisa_Papez]

Totally get this!! It's that whole experience fomo I mentioned!!!

[@MarionKTarot]

This is such an important conversation to have. I am glad you both recognised it and were able to do what you had to do. For me, it felt like a bone weariness that no amount of sleep would help and anything i saw about tarot pissed me off. However because reading tarot in my job i had to cut it out of my personal life for a good 6 months. My KZbin is in the "purgatory drawer". I might start it again or i might not, i dont feel any pressure with it anymore. Both of you take good care of yourselves 💕🦄

[@Lisa_Papez]

Yes... it's important to identify where balance is needed and then implement changes and it's great that you were able to do that. It's a different experience when tarot is interwoven with your livelihood for sure!

[@the_buddhist_witch]

This is me in every way, but I have recently realized that this happens to me mostly in the Winter. I think that's because I have a rich outdoor practice during the rest of the year that grounds and centers me, but it's too cold to be outside in the winters here in Maryland. I know it's the Universe telling me to be still and relax but tell that to my production oriented brain! I realize that's why I play video games so much in the winter. It give me the illusion that I'm accomplishing something.

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

There's this conflicting energy in January especially, but also extends into February too. With the New Year, there's all this "new year, new you" and preasure to get started with resolutions and goals. Except it's Winter. The energy of the season is literally one of rest and quiet and hibernation. It is basically the WORST time of year to try to start new things. At a minimum it's a time of dreaming and planning, but NOT yet Doing. But there's this huge societal preasure to DO right in the middle of Winter, just because the calender switched. Ive been trying to focus more on dreaming and planning and WAITING to start doing until the Spring Equinox. I feel the energetic shift then into starting, planting, birthing new things. But it's SO hard because there's so much societal pressure with the New Year.

[@amber.cartomancer]

(ok, you know where I am in the video) I love the member readings. Lisa, I think you have read me twice as a member, but I am the Queen of the Lurkers...I just love the vibe and the flow...I do the same with the Tarot Oracle dude. I have had one reading from him. It's the flow of one reading after another...you ride the wave...you learn...you disagree sometimes as far as what wass shown, but I always remember, no one ASKED ME...if I was asked...the cards would have been different...the message, probably the same :). It's why we love Tarot. It's a discussion between the reader and the querent.

[@grumpyschnauzer]

What happened with Three Fat Readers? I liked that collab. Seems to just fall off the map with no explanation 😢

[@Lisa_Papez]

Hi there. I addressed this as best I could on my community tab (and on Facebook/Instagram) the day after Dustin shut the channel down. It was an abrupt and difficult experience all the way around, but Dani and I are focused on moving forward, now. Onwards and upwards!

[@amber.cartomancer]

Wait what??? You went Live and didn't call me....even though you don't have my number; that is just a technical difficulty...🤣...KZbin runs late with notifications...🤣🥰

[@Lisa_Papez]

Aww this one wasn't live :) It was a pre-recorded, so you didn't miss it! :D

[@amber.cartomancer]

@@Lisa_Papez 🤗

[@pyenygren2299]

Would you feel the tarot burnout if you didn't publish tarot videos on youtube? It's okay to say yes if it's true. 🥰