Play: Part Un

I have a pretty large family.
Any given celebration consists of at least 20 humans, 3 dogs, 3 cats, the occasional water dragon, and the bunny before he went tits-up. As you can likely relate, navigating all of those personalities, interpersonal conflicts, and lifestyles, ain't easy.

Although my family tends to get along unusually well, I always feel like I need a bit of extra guidance and mental preparation before being fed to those very loving and well-intentioned sharks.
I usually do this by listening to an inspiring book or podcast during the drive home, being reminded of the kind of person I want to be, and reminding myself not to be so easily triggered.
Or, if I do get triggered, it gives me the perspective to help me understand why, and how to manage it.
This works exceedingly well...most of the time.

Due to feeling pretty tender throughout most of this month, I felt the need for an add on to my inspiration immersion. This is where the Oracle cards come into play. I love them because they give you a quick and dirty concept to consider in relation to your current quandry. There are a number of wonderful decks out there, but my current favorite is Doreen Virtue's Daily Guidance from your Angels.
I love using these cards whenever I feel a little spacey, in need of direction, or am in search of a loving nudge. 
There are many ways of using these cards, but what I personally do is shuffle the cards and ask a question.

"What to I need to know/keep in mind for going home this Thanksgiving?"
:::shuffle shuffle shuffle:::
Sometimes one will literally fall out of the deck at my feet. Other times, I fan them out and let the wand choose the wizard.
:::shuffle shuffle shuffle::: 

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PLAY
"Beloved one, it's time to set aside work for a while. Don't worry: we will oversee your responsibilities to their completion. Playfulness, gaiety, and laughter will lift your energy so that you'll return to work with a renewed perspective and heightened energy."
The angels see that you need to play, so they sent you this card. You've been working and worrying a lot lately, and your soul cries out for fun. Feelings of fatigue, irritability, or depression are additional signs that you're overdue for some playtime. You don't need to wait until you have a free moment, because you can inject fun into your day today. Simple pleasures, moments of silliness, laughing with a friend, or watching a funny movie are examples of ways to have fun that don't require a lot of time or money. Fun and play are necessary parts of life for children and adults. These types of activities help us live healthier lives, and allow us to attain our desires more quickly. Fun is part of living a balanced life. 
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Additional meanings:
Stop what you're doing, and go have fun right now.
Release any guilt about having fun to the angels.
You deserve happiness, pleasure and enjoyment.
Make sure that your recreational activities are purely fun and noncompetitive.

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​ It wasn't until Black Friday that I realized that this concept was something I had embodied, almost by accident! Although I had considered the meaning of the card, I quickly filed it away in my brain. 
I realized that I spent most of Thanksgiving Day playing Hide & Seek with my little cousins, watching my mother make a Limber Louie puppet dance for the dogs, and learning some new party tricks from my uncle.
It was so fun to be able to show my cousins all the hiding spots my brother and I found when we were kids, and even discover some new ones they found on their own.
Experiencing the gathering through the lens of "Play" gave me permission to not take myself and others so seriously. (Like when Nana threatens to remove your new nose piercing with needle nose pliers while you sleep!)
(TRUE STORY)
I was able to have a really fantastic time, not get into any awkward disagreements, and really engage with my family on a new level. As a result
This is far from the first time I've picked this card lately, so I'm going to try to let go of the serious, and play, as much as I possibly can. What do you think? Play as a part of your wellness practice?
I invite you to take the Angel's advice, stop what you're doing and PLAY!
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Please share in the comments, what are your most favorite and silly ways to play?