CARE CARE CARE CARE

The repeated emphasis on care underscores the fundamental principles of compassion and empathy. This card can show up in environments nurturing an abundance of kindness, understanding, and support for one another, recognizing each individual’s intrinsic value and needs.

This symbol also speaks to the nurturing potential of individuals and communities, especially those in marginalized positions. By developing wide systems of care that are recognized, we can generate resourcefulness stemming from the collective.

Caring for each other creates a strong foundation for community accountability. It suggests a collective approach to challenges, where shared responsibilities and efforts involve spreading the work of care among all members.

On the other hand, the quadruple invocation of the word CARE warns of the dangers of overextending oneself. In the pursuit of caring for others, you may be risking your own well-being, leading to burnout and resentment, especially when the care work you are doing is invisible and unrecognized. This is a significant concern in community work and activism, where passionate commitment can often result in neglecting one’s own needs.

Excessive care always coming from the same side can inadvertently foster dependency, hindering the development of autonomy and self-reliance. This card also shows up to invite us to reflect on how care work can be exploited both as a term and as a practice. It is important to continuously stay vigilant in determining who is using and abusing the term and who is doing the work of care.