Exploring the Connection Between Buddhism and Tarot

We’re told to lean in. Lean into our emotions. Feel the feels. But what does that actually mean when the emotions feel heavy, dark, or overwhelming? How do we honor sadness, fear, or anger without getting swallowed by them?

When faced with reproductive loss—whether voluntary or involuntary—Buddhism teaches us not to harden against ourselves. Harsh self-judgment only deepens suffering. Instead, we are called to practice metta (loving-kindness) toward ourselves.

From the moment we are born, we begin learning how to protect ourselves. For many of us, those early lessons came through fear. Fear of abandonment. Fear of rejection. Fear of punishment or not being enough.

Our inner child—what psychology sometimes calls the ego—learned quickly. They built patterns to shield us: staying quiet, people-pleasing, pushing harder, or hiding. These defenses were brilliant adaptations. They kept us safe in environments that felt unsafe.