I read my September tarot—The Star. Supposed to mean hope, renewal, light after darkness. I almost laughed. My inbox was already open: another grant rejection, the kind that comes with a form letter and a link to 'resources.' I tried to feel inspired, like the card said. But all I could think about was how many times I’ve rewritten the same aims page, how much coffee it takes to fake optimism, how my PI’s 'maybe next round' sounds more like 'not enough.' The tarot says I’m emerging from a dark era. I’m still here, but it’s not light yet. Maybe the cards don’t know about the cost of staying. #Science #LabBurnout #ScienceFatigue