In the long list of weird things that have happened in 2021, ranking pretty highly is that my life is being guided by a 13-year-old pug on the Internet. Noodle the Pug has encouraged millions of TikTok users like me to be kind to themselves, no matter if it’s a bones day (he sits upright in his little bed) or a no bones day (he insists on just laying down). Noodle has not only taken over TikTok’s For You Page, but has gone completely mainstream with appearances on morning talk shows, being referenced by universities granting assignment extensions and major corporate meetings, and having songs written about him.
While it’s mostly harmless fun (and the trend cycle is already moving on), #NoodleTok highlights something that might not be obvious at first glance. Like tarot, astrology and manifestation, Noodle is another example of us looking for external permission to make decisions and take action in our own lives. Is that really a positive habit for us?
Seeking External Validation and Permission
There are common themes that crop up over and over in tarot, astrology and manifestation. People tend to be seeking financial or career gains; love; or a ‘break’ – rest without guilt. It’s not surprising that many of us are struggling in these areas, given the pressures of modern society. But it is interesting that we have offloaded some of the responsibility to systems independent from us.
In astrology, we believe the placement and movement of the planets and stars at the moment of our birth can determine our actions and reactions. It can be as simple as believing “I’m always late because I have a Cancer Sun” (and yes, I have said that out loud before). Studies show people turn to astrology to cope with anxiety or stress – it shifts the decision-making responsibility away from the individual, providing ‘help’ with guidance from the stars.
Initially manifestation seems like it’s about individual responsibility, but my own experience revealed otherwise. In 2020 I followed a TikTok guide to manifesting money – and got an email from my uni the following week telling me I’d won a $3000 grant I never applied for. It worked! I began practising manifestation in earnest… and looking for ‘signs’ for every decision. It can be encouraging, but manifestation does teach you to wait for an external sign from the Universe about whether you will get what you want, or ‘deserve’.
Pulling tarot cards is similar, but perhaps more honest. Good tarot readers and teachers are clear that the cards are like looking at a mirror – the messaging is intentionally vague, inviting you to apply your own meaning and find your own solution to the question being asked. The cards themselves aren’t ‘magic’, but they can be powerful tools for giving you permission to do whatever you think is best.
Noodle the canine oracle, and his owner Graziano, do the same thing in a tongue-in-cheek way. It essentially still boils down to the idea of waiting for someone or something else to give you permission to act on your desires. But why did we need permission to go after what we want? To make big decisions? Or, most depressingly, just to rest?
Permission and the Patriarchy
Here’s the thing – historically, women have had to seek permission for just about every action in their life. When it came to money, work or relationships, there was always one extra barrier between a woman and what she desired… often, that was a father, male partner or boss. In many parts of the world, this is still true.
Even now when it comes to job hunting, research shows that men will apply if they meet only 60% of the qualifications while women will only do so if they meet every criteria. Why add the stars, cards or a pug to the list of things we need to consult before we act?
Astrology, tarot and manifestation are heavily marketed towards women. Historically, astrology in particular offered a system for women to find some control, direction or purpose in their lives when the external structure provided… nothing. Today, it serves as a coping mechanism for stress – and in Australia, more women than men report experience high levels of stress driven by factors including unpaid domestic work, emotional labour, and persisting financial and safety inequalities. No wonder we’re still leaning on an external crutch.
Motivational content marketed to men (which can also be silly or toxic) does the opposite – urges them to act, now, without asking for permission from anyone or anything. So is it a step backwards, to continue seeking external permission to simply live despite fighting so hard for our rights and worth?
It Can All Be in Good Fun
The answer isn’t necessarily to abandon these hobbies even if you enjoy them. Instead, the key is self-awareness. Noodle isn’t a deity, he’s just a pug. The reason that it’s so funny, entertaining and harmless is because we all know he’s just a dog and his bones don’t have anything to do with us – it’s absurd, but we’re all in on the joke.
Participating in things like astrology or tarot with the same level of self-awareness can also be a fun hobby or an escape. Manifestation as a motivational tool, to keep you focused, paired with a plan of decisive action can absolutely help you get what you want. But you still have to take the second part, the plan, into your own hands.
Something we should all – especially women – be asking ourselves is whether we need permission to go after what we want? Would we be better off channelling that energy into learning how to act, signs from the universe be damned?
