As you may have gathered it’s been intense at my house over the last week. While other peeps were celebrating the new year with champagne and friends all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sleep for a thousand years.

The position of The Star card after The Tower in Life Lessons Tarot (aka the Major Arcana) is a reminder of how important it is to take time out to recover after a traumatic event. Too many people I know (women especially) just keep soldiering on and on and on until they develop depression or go a little mad.

I don’t have that problem. It’s always clear to me when I need a break and I’m extremely articulate with my loved ones about this. Like right now for instance. As I like to say, the good thing about being raised by a selfish mother is that you learn as a woman to take time out when needed. Whether that involves a weekend away with the girls, a shoe shopping expedition or a cup of tea and a book in an unoccupied corner of the house. But most women I know feel too guilty to leave their children in the hands of others (even if it’s dad!) and don’t give themselves any recovery time from the intensity of family life. You can end up exhausted that way. Living in a mindless state. I guess that’s what The Star angel becomes when reversed: A zombie!

Tarot reminds us that not only should parents not feel guilty about taking time out from their family, they actually have an obligation to take a break from time-to-time so they can stay healthy. For everyone’s sakes.

Do you have a hard time leaving your children?